Andrew McCulloch
Andrew McCulloch of the Mental Health Foundation talks to Clarissa Dann..
What made you choose this role?
Mental health is at the heart of everything. Mental illness imposes a huge economic burden but is not quite as complicated as mental health – which is an asset everyone has to a greater or lesser extent. As for the role, I used to be director of policy at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and I was looking for a step up; a leadership role.
Why the mind?
I can’t say exactly why, it is just a fascinating subject. I read psychology at university and did a PhD afterwards as I was offered an ESRC studentship which paid all the fees. Then I had some careers advice which suggested I liked quick wins as well as some long wins. So I got on the Civil Service fast stream programme and was then assigned to the Department of Health, staying 16 years.
What do you enjoy about the role?
I was looking for something where I could use my core skills of policy work and public affairs; being a civil servant is a very useful training and charities value those skills. However, running my own organisation is also very motivating as it is completely independent.
How do you think you have made a difference?
I have been at MHF six years and in that time I think the organisation has turned around and grown. Although it had many assets, including a great history and correct choice of model brought by a previous CEO, it was in need of consolidation. I have increased our impact in Scotland as it is important we are a UK-wide organisation. We’ve invested in communications and fundraising because we have got to have more of an outward face. We had hardly any researchers when I joined and I have built the research team up again because we want to be an evidence-based organisation. We don’t try and give messages to the public that we cannot justify in some shape or form. I have also developed a policy function that wasn’t here before as we needed the ‘asks’ to go with the research.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing charities today?
We are facing massive changes across society with issues like climate change, immigration, the economy and fossil fuel availability. At the moment, dementia absorbs over half the mental healthcare budget, and by 2030 it will be up to 75 per cent. I think there will be a squeeze on donor income generally which can’t be expected to hold up forever. It is going to be more difficult to compete for public sector funds and I have already responded by diversifying our income streams.
What is your view of the commissioning process?
It is particularly bad when it is run by central government because it adopts a rigid tendering process with very short timescales not designed to find the best-quality response. The private sector has learned that the approved tendering model does not always work and that long-term business relationships with occasional market tests deliver a better model. We do our best work for local authorities on this basis. It is not helpful to complain under the Compact if you lose out as I don’t think it has sufficient teeth. I would like to see full cost recovery being implemented but I am not going to sit here and hope it comes along in the near future.
How do you switch off from the day job?
Seeing my friends, having a drink, playing tennis with my kids. We have a small cottage in Liguria, near Genoa, and get out there about five times a year. I trained for last year’s Great North Run which is a tough uphill half-marathon and have been running ever since. I find it makes me more credible with the marathon runners who raise money for us.
What about books, films and music?
All the Flowers are Dying by Lawrence Block is about a detective who is a recovering alcoholic. I’ve also been reading some poems by John Clare because we hoping to collaborate on plans to turn his cottage into a resource centre. I love the cinema – we help run a film festival in Glasgow every year. My favourite films are Hitchcock’s Vertigo, and Once Upon a Time in America. I have general middlebrow tastes in music and radio and enjoy 20th century classical music as well as Bruce Springsteen – I went to the concert a few weeks ago.
Best of times?
You are having the best of times when you are not having the worst ones. Generally I go along being contented and sometimes happy and just doing my own thing.
Worst of times?
You really know when those happen. I had a nervous breakdown and was off work for six weeks, but took two years to recover properly. It was a depressive episode that can happen to anyone.
Andrew McCulloch was talking to Clarissa Dann
Author: Andrew McCulloch
Dr Andrew McCullogh has been chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation since October 2002, following six years as director of policy at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.
He spent 16 years as a senior civil servant and was responsible for mental health and learning disabilities policy at the Department of Health from 1992 to 1996.
His PhD study related to spychological adjustment to old age.
Andrew's other experience has included being the chair of Mental Health Media. He enjoys tennis, long-distance running and time with his family
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