A Warrington nurse has been celebrating after bringing the breakthrough national positive practice in mental health lifetime achievement award home to Warrington.
Described as a leading light in male mental health and wellbeing, Phil Cooper overcame strong competition from world-renowned personality disorder specialist professor Anthony Bateman to pick up the prize. Phil can be seen here with Chief Nursing Officer for England Jane Cummins at a recent event in London 
The judges said they were impressed by Phil’s string of accomplishments including initiating the award-winning ‘State of Mind’ programme with the aim of improving the mental health, well-being and the working life of rugby league players and communities.
Phil said: “I am stunned to have my lifetime’s work acknowledged at the grand ‘old’ age of 48.
“I’ve loved every minute of the State of Mind campaign which has given me the opportunity to marry my two great passions in life – nursing and rugby league.
“As clinical lead for adult services at the 5 Boroughs trust, I feel privileged to be trusted by my colleagues to represent the nursing ‘voice’ in high-level discussions with senior management.
“But my proudest moments are when I’ve been able to help people to progress with their recovery in my full-time role as a nurse consultant in dual diagnosis – working with service users with mental ill-health who also misuse drugs, alcohol or both.”
Around 2100 players, fans and officials have been helped through ‘State of Mind’ including representatives from Warrington Wolves. Phil can be seen (right) here with Danny Sculthorpe, Jimmy Gittins and Will Stringer after delivering the State of Mind session in Portsmouth to the GB Armed Forces rugby League team inn 2013 prior to their world cup
Simon Barber, chief executive of the trust, said: “It’s hard to imagine a more innovative, dedicated and inspiring nurse than Phil. We feel incredibly lucky to have him here at the trust.