Isobel Heyman
British psychiatrist
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ToursExplore Lably’s 3D toursEarly life and education
Heyman first studied pharmacology, before training in medicine at the UCL Medical School. She trained in psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital. She earned a doctorate in developmental neurobiology at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, where she investigated rhombomere boundaries. In 1995, she returned to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, where she specialised in child and adolescent psychiatry.
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Research and career
In 1998, Heyman founded the first United Kingdom clinic for young people with obsessive–compulsive disorder. She was involved with the Tourette syndrome clinic and the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) epilepsy programme, where she pioneered research and clinical care for children with epilepsy who also had mental health needs.
One in five young people in the UK experience mental health disorders, and hospitals struggle with the demand for psychological services. In response, Heyman looked to provide young people already seeking medical care in hospital with a solution. The psychological medicine team she led at GOSH was recognised by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for "The Lucy Project", a drop-in mental health booth that provided accessible, low-intensity early interventions for young people and their families who were concerned about mental health. The booth was named after Lucille "Lucy" van Pelt, the character from Peanuts. The booth was named The BMJ's Mental Health Team of the Year Award in 2021.
Heyman is passionate about integrating children's mental and physical health services. She is committed to integration across these domains and to enhancing delivery of effective mental health treatments to children. She was made co-lead for the Cambridge Children's Hospital development project.