SUCCESSFUL Salisburybased artist Ingrid Walker, 33, is due to exhibit her work in London.

Ten years ago, she was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a form of schizophrenia, and prescribed antipsychotics to help manage the condition.

She said: “I first became ill when I was 23, following a challenging time at university and pressures at home.

“I was doing a BA degree in textiles design and it pushed me to my limits. I didn’t sleep to get the work done and ‘be the best’.

“During that time, my dad also received a diagnosis of advanced cancer.

“These stresses led to a psychotic episode during a family holiday.

“Coming to terms with taking antipsychotics has been a challenge. I’ve had to try a variety of medications to find the right one and there has been no easy way to deal with side effects.

“The worst have been feeling sedated and gaining weight. I was craving food and needed instant gratification all the time.

“I have now finally found the right medication, which doesn’t make me tired.

“I try to go for a short run every day and this helps me physically and mentally.

“I’ve been in recovery for the past two years.

“During this time I’ve worked full time in a shop, as well as teaching workshops and exhibiting my painting.

“I’ve been lucky that I have had a lot of love and support from friends, which has made a huge difference.”

It comes after it was announced that people living with schizophrenia in Wiltshire have a lower average life expectancy today than in 1930s Britain, according to a new report by the charity Rethink Mental Illness.

The +20 report shows that people with schizophrenia in the UK are at risk of dying on average 20 years younger than the life expectancy of 81.

Rethink Mental Illness is fighting for people with schizophrenia to get the care they need, so that they can have the same life expectancy as everyone else.

The +20 report highlights the many factors that put people with schizophrenia at risk – including the impact of antipsychotic medication, lifestyle, poor health monitoring, and the dismissive attitude of some health professionals towards people with severe mental illness.

Mark Winstanley, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “It’s scandalous that people with schizophrenia in Wiltshire and the rest of the country are dying younger on average than the population of 1930s Britain – an era when the NHS didn’t exist, penicillin wasn’t available and tuberculosis and smallpox were rife.

“Those with schizophrenia are being badly let down in so many areas of care, and it’s having a devastating impact.

“What is most galling is that many people with schizophrenia are dying from preventable physical health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

“That’s because, although they have a much higher risk of physical illnesses than average, they are missing out on crucial support for their physical health.

“Too many people with schizophrenia are also missing out on potentially lifechanging treatments like talking therapies and are just being fobbed off with medication alone. We would never say to someone with cancer that they can only have some of the treatments that are proven to work for their illness, but not others.

“Yet those with severe mental illness are expected to put up with second-class care.”