About the Founder

Hi, I’m Stephen Marks, the founder of Marks Mental Health Training and Consultancy Ltd. I’ve worked in mental health for over a decade, and I’ve seen first‑hand how knowledge, confidence, and understanding can transform the way we support people experiencing mental illness. I founded this company to provide bespoke, clinically informed training and consultancy that is relevant, accessible, and genuinely useful for the people who need it.

Skills & Experience

I qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in 2013 and have enjoyed a varied clinical career. My true passion developed in liaison psychiatry, working within general hospital settings to assess and support people in acute mental health crisis. Many of the individuals I worked with had self‑harmed or attempted suicide, and over my years in liaison services I conducted thousands of risk assessments and helped safeguard some of the most vulnerable people in our healthcare system.

I later trained as an Independent Nurse Prescriber and Advanced Clinical Practitioner, expanding my expertise in mental illness, assessment, and clinical decision‑making. I am also trained in Root Cause Analysis and have contributed to investigations aimed at improving safety and learning within mental health services.

A core part of liaison psychiatry is supporting colleagues who are not mental health specialists. I developed and delivered a teaching programme at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, covering topics such as suicide prevention, risk assessment, communication, crisis support, and relevant legislation. I discovered a real passion for distilling complex mental health concepts into clear, practical guidance for busy professionals who need essential knowledge without extensive training.

I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Manchester Metropolitan University, where my teaching and research interests include suicide prevention, risk assessment, medication, person‑centred care, and health inequalities. I have published on these topics and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, recognising excellence in teaching and learning support.

Alongside my academic role, I work as an Associate Expert Witness, instructed by solicitors to prepare reports for clinical negligence cases involving mental health care. This work requires impartial, evidence‑based analysis of standards of care, particularly in cases involving suicide or serious harm. I have provided evidence in Court, and this medico‑legal work highlights my expertise in mental illness, suicide prevention, and clinical governance. My expert witness work is undertaken through Bush & Co.