A Bedford physiotherapist has been highly commended in the University of Worcester Alumni Awards for his leadership in mental health care.
Rees Bettell, who studied physiotherapy at the university between 2020 and 2024, was recognised in the Rising Star category.
The award celebrates his rapid career progression and commitment to raising awareness of how physical health therapies support mental health recovery.
Speaking about the recognition, Rees said: “I feel truly grateful and very humbled to be receiving this award.
“There have been so many people and factors involved in my recovery and progress that I do feel slightly uncomfortable taking all of the credit for it.”
Now working as a mental health physiotherapy team lead at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, the Bedfordian works primarily in psychiatric units supporting patients in severe crisis.
His career path was deeply shaped by his personal journey after recovering from his own struggle with addiction in October 2022.
During a university placement with a community mental health team, he realised how physical movement interventions directly improved patients’ mental health symptoms.
Rees explained, “I had something that was relatable to the people that I am seeing. I have been scared, and I have felt lonely, and I have felt distrust in services, and I have felt hopeless.”
He added, “All of the people that I see feel those things. Having that lived experience allows me to empathise with them a little bit better, but it also allows them to trust me.”
Broader mental health training
As lived experience lead for Chartered Physiotherapists in Mental Health, a specialist subgroup of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Rees is now advocating for broader mental health training across the wider profession.
He believes physical and mental health are inseparable within patient care. Rees said: “They are one thing. They are not two separate things.
“We know that if you have got poor physical health, the likelihood is you are going to have some sort of mental health deterioration as well.”
He also highlighted the persistent inequality in resources between physical and mental health services across the healthcare system.
Rees noted, “The physical health services or resources within mental health hospitals are not up to the standards of physical health hospitals.”
University of Worcester vice-chancellor Professor David Green CBE DL praised alumni award recipients for their contribution to society and patient care.
Professor Green said: “Every winner, every highly commended recipient, and indeed every nominee reflects the values that have defined the University of Worcester throughout our 80-year history: compassion, ambition, professionalism and a commitment to improving the lives of others.”
Reflecting on his time at university, Rees credited his studies with providing the supportive environment he needed to rebuild his life.
He said: “I think my experience at Worcester gave me much more than a professional qualification, clinical experience and the foundations of a strong professional network.
“It gave me the space away from home to make mistakes, hit rock bottom and, ultimately, recover.
“Without the support of the people I met in Worcester, both within the university and in my personal life, I imagine my life would look very different to how it does today.”
