Britain’s youngest MP has been signed off work for several weeks on the advice of her doctor after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Nadia Whittome, 23, who has represented Nottingham East in the Commons since 2019, said she had been “battling some persistent health issues” for several months, and that while she had “been attempting to manage them” alongside her duties as a politician, it had recently “become clear that this is not feasible”. The Labour backbencher said that despite one in four people experiencing a mental health problem each year, “there is still a great deal of shame and stigma”. She said she hoped that by “being open about my own mental health”, others would “feel able to talk about theirs”. The decision was “incredibly difficult” to make, Whittome admitted, but she said her constituents could continue to contact the “fantastic staff” working in her office as normal. “I cannot wait to come back to the job I love, representing the community that means so much to me,” the MP added in a Twitter message posted on Tuesday morning. She also thanked the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, his adviser Jenny Chapman and party whips for their “support in enabling me to take this course of action”. Whittome, who was elected in December 2019 and is the youngest serving MP, received supportive messages from colleagues, including Starmer, who said he hoped she “gets well soon”. He added: “I respect Nadia’s bravery in speaking openly about her mental health and I look forward to welcoming her back to parliament.” Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, sent “love, solidarity and strength”, and said that “even by just publishing this statement you’ve shown so much bravery and you will have helped so many other people”. Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who sits as an independent MP after having the party whip suspended, hailed Whittome as “bold and brave”. He tweeted: “By being honest about looking after her #MentalHealth she helps all those who are struggling.” Whittome, a former care worker and a hate-crime project worker, was described as “one of Labour’s brightest new talents” by the shadow environment secretary, Luke Pollard. He said: “She is brave and courageous. She has my full support and best wishes.” Her transparency was praised by the chief executive of a leading mental health charity. Mark Winstanley, of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “The enduring stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace can be hugely damaging, preventing people from accessing support and leading them to prioritise work over their own wellbeing for fear of judgment. “Being signed off from work for poor mental health is not a sign of weakness, but a recognition that wellbeing should always be a priority. We welcome Nadia’s openness around her diagnosis and wish her well in her recovery.” • You can contact the mental health charity Mind by calling 0300 123 3393 or visiting mind.org.uk