Big Questions in Psychiatry: Responsibility in psychiatry exploring blame, compassion and mental illness

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ coat of arms – featuring the serpent-entwined Staff of Asclepius, the Greek God of medicine and healing – also bears the College motto, ‘Let Wisdom Guide’. Wisdom is often personified as a female figure – Sophia (Greek) or Hokmah (Hebrew) – a figure that is the source of practical knowledge and a moral compass, emphasising ethical conduct and thoughtful living.…