December Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Another year it's coming to an end and we would like to thank all of you that have helped and supported us, contributing to FEEL's activities throughout the year.
Meetings have been steadily well attended and engaging and we have shared some interesting times during our events.

Our last monthly meeting is next Monday 15th December at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1 1ES, 6.30- 8.30pm. It will be good to hear the feedback after last month 'Sanity for Beginners' event and discuss plans for 2015.

The most recently circulated BPS document "Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia" is a sign that changes are in motion in the mental health system and public engagement is crucial in speeding up the process. Read and share the document widely, please. It is brilliant that initiatives as the New Paradigm Alliance and Open Dialogue are taking shape more readily. The first British conference on Peer-supported Open Dialogue is happening in central London, next year. Set for March 11th from 9.30am-5pm, tickets are free and can be reserved here: www.peersopendialogue.com

Recommendation for this weekend is the closing of the Schizo-Culture: Cracks In The Street exhibition at Space Studios with a series of events and discussions 12–14 Dec 2014 SPACE, 129–131 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 3RH

To conclude we leave you to enjoy the latest beautifully edited copy of the Survivors Poetry Express Newsletter wishing you a safe, relaxed and sober season.

Best wishes & Happy 2015!

Post-event updates

Dear Friends,

We wish to thank all of you that came along to the Kingsley Hall last Friday, nevertheless the rain and cold.

Thank you to Liam Kirk for chairing the event, Dr Kevin Zdaniecki and David Amery for their talks, Steve Woodhams for the updates about the LifeHouse Centre, The Mudlarks for their live music, David Kessel, Sarah Barratt and Madeline Kenley for their poetry reading, David Baker for overseeing all audio and visual and letting us access to a warm hall, Georgina Sullivan for facilitating access for the hearing impaired via live captions, and the brilliant team of helpers Miriam, Claudio, Myra. Thank you to all!

A transcript will be available in the next few days. Please, send us an email if you wish to receive a copy: f.e.e.l.campaign@gmail.com. Next meeting at LARC will be on Monday the 15th of December.

The William Blake Congregation warmly invite you to William Blake's 257th Birthday gathering on Friday 28th November at 1pm in the Blake room at Tate Britain. Bring poetry,music,song,cake. We will repair to the Morpeth Arms nearby afterwards. Free.

Blake Birthday Celebration are also taking place later today Monday 24th Nov at the Dragon Cafe. From 7-8.30pm. Poetry,music & dance to celebrate Blake's Birthday with The Children, John Constable, Grassy Noel, Micalef & more.



Save Our Surgeries (SOS) campaigners promise new wave of action to defend practices threatened by MPIG cuts. A new meeting is planned for Wednesday 26 November at 7.30pm, taking place at Lauriston Primary School, 55 Rutland Road, E9 7JS Hackney. Speakers will include Meg Hillier MP (Lab, Hackney South & Shoreditch), Dr Louise Irvine from the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign, retired Hackney GP Dr Mike Fitzpatrick, Tower Hamlets GP Dr Sally Hull and Virginia Patania from the Jubilee Street Practice, which ignited the campaign when it announced it would be forced to close if MPIG cuts went ahead. SOS is calling for all changes to GP funding to be put on hold, pending the review of GP funding that is due to start in 2015. The campaigners say any new funding formula must take factors like deprivation into account, and that all practices should receive fair funding to meet the needs of their patients, whichever contract they are working to.


Fight Back! Feel Better! Campaigns against a political and economical system which causes sickness. They are having a launching event with discussions, performances and stalls on Thursday, December 4 at 7:00pm Unite the Union, London Regional Office, 33-37 Moreland Street, London, EC1V

Latest updates

Dear Friends

Returning from the WHFS AGM today, I felt very inspired by the amazing work that is carried out by several remarkable women in our borough of Tower Hamlets, along them is Myra Garrett, co-chair of the charity. Do please have a look at their website and consider sending out a donation to support their work www.whfs.org.uk/

We would like to reach you with one more reminder about our public event "Sanity for Beginners" at the Kingsley Hall tomorrow evening, Friday the 21st. We also wish to send our best wishes for a prompt recovery to Denise McKenna that, due to ill health won't be able to join us for the event.

Alongside Dr Kevin Zdaniecki, other speakers for the evening will be David Amery, talking about "Homelessness and mental heath" and we are going to have a little update in regards to the Lifehouse project carried out by some of our members.

The William Blake Congregation warmly invite you to William Blake's 257th Birthday gathering on Friday 28th November at 1pm in the Blake room at Tate Britain. Bring poetry, music, song, cake.We will repair to the Morpeth Arms nearby afterwards. Free. All are Welcome.

We would also like to wish a very happy first anniversary to our cousins at Eastbeat that will be celebrating on Tuesday the 2nd of December from 7pm with some fine musicians presented by the extraordinary Jazzman John Clarke. Part of the evening will also have a tribute paid to Isaac Rosenberg, local First World War poet & visual artist. The 'Three Bees' cafe' will be serving nutritious reasonably-priced food from 4pm.

Looking forward to see many of you tomorrow.

Simon Hughes MP Q&A at CoolTan Arts, SE17

Thursday 13th November 2014
 

Dear F.E.E.L.,                          

This afternoon at CoolTan Arts, SE17 Simon Hughes MP attended a Q&A meeting with the clients. Below are my two questions to Simon Hughes MP: 

 (i) The Care Quality Commission have recorded that 16.2 per cent of Community Treatment Orders in England are made against black people. Contrast that with the number of black people in English society and tell me that the psychiatric wing of the National Health Service is not institutionally racist. What can be done to eradicate the conscious and unconscious racial bias among doctors?

 (ii) I have a personal question. Could you ask Nick Clegg if he remembers ‘Sookie’? For your benefit Sookie at prep school was Nick’s best friend. Sookie in later life was my best friend and he passed away this year at the age of 48. At death he was on 17 different types of medication each costing the taxpayer several hundred pounds a month and it is clear that twenty-five years of being on numerous psychotropic drugs caused the early demise of my friend. 

As a consequence of my questions I have been invited to meet with The Rt Hon. Nick Clegg DPM to discuss Open Dialogue and the issues raised in my questions. This meeting could be as early as next week. I would advise in relation to the first question the MP challenged the statistics quoting that 11 per cent of the British population are from BME groups however, he did say the figure was unacceptably high. It should be noted although BME groups may be at the level of 11 per cent in society, the proportion of black people I believe is around 4 per cent, and that black people are 7 (seven) times more likely to be diagnosed as being 'psychotic' than their white counterparts. Simon Hughes MP intimated that I and others would be invited to put our views forward at a series of meetings within government.

By Liam Kirk

November Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We are celebrating F.E.E.L. 7th Anniversary this month and we would like to invite you to join us next week for our November meeting at LARC on Monday 17th and our event at the Kingsley Hall on Friday 21st.

We would also like to congratulate with Myra Garrett for receiving a well deserved Community Champion Award in Tower Hamlets for her outstanding contributions in remarkable projects such as the Friends of St Clements, the WHFS (Women’s Health & Family Services), the service users run centre Bow Haven, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the more recent Save Our Surgeries, to name a few.

November is also William Blake month and celebration and activities dedicate to him organised by Helen and Micalef will take place at the Dragon Cafe each Monday this month.

There will be a closing event at Tate Britain on Friday the 28th at 1pm for Blake's 357th birthday itself.

INSIDER - An art exhibition on mental wellbeing by artist Sidsel Meineche Hansen at the Cubitt Gallery, 8 Angel Mews, N1 9HH, Tuesday - Sunday, 12­.00 - 6.00pm or by appointment. The exhibition deals with mental wellbeing and features an 8-minute animation film, prints and sculpture. During the week the gallery is able to welcome visitors (individually or as a group) and offer a small talk and answer any questions. Runs until Sunday 16 November. You are invited to join a FREE TOUR of the exhibition with the curator Fatima Hellberg on MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER at 4.00pm. For more information please call Fatima on 020 7278 8226

The National Involvement Partnership have publicised The Language of Mental Wellbeing document: this can be accessed here

Next Survivors History Group is on Wednesday 26.11.2014, 12 Old St, London EC1V 9BE at 1pm.

October Newsletter

Dear Friends,

At FEEL monthly meeting this week details for the forthcoming public event were discussed and finalised.

Sanity for Beginners - Keeping Sane in a Money Mad World will take place at the Kingsley Hall on Friday the 21st of November 7-9 PM (Details at the bottom of the page). There will be two main speakers, Denise McKenna and Dr Kevin Zdaniecki, and there will be time dedicated to Q&A and contributions from the floor.

To follow, a list of relevant events and information:



Tomorrow Thursday 23rd October MAD PRIDE in association with SURVIVOR’S POETRY are hosting ‘A Celebration of Creative Lunacy’ For World Mental Health Week @TOTTENHAM CHANCES, 399 Tottenham High Road Tottenham N17 6QN 8pm – Midnight - ADMISSION FREE -

SWAN - The Social Work Action Network are hosting the event 'The Crisis in Mental Health Services' in London on Saturday 8th November. It will feature speakers including Peter Beresford (Professor of Social Policy and Chair of Shaping Our Lives), June Sadd (Survivor Trainer and Researcher), and Disabled People Against Cuts, among others. It will take place at the John Barnes Library, N7 0JN; the nearest tube station is Caledonian Road Link
The BPS Division of Clinical Psychology are officially launching a new report ‘Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia’ 27th November 2104, Friends Meeting House, London Link
The King's Found has produced a report following stakeholders involvement to help develop a vision for London’s mental health over the next 5–10 years. The report can be read and downloaded here

For those already suffering the S.A.D. there is some hope: Bobby Baker's "The Expert View" light-box installation opens this week in Dalston Square and Library 24th October - 16th December Link




“Sanity for Beginners”
Date: Friday 21st November 2014
Time: 7.00 – 9.00 PM (doors open 6.30 PM)
Speakers:
Denise McKenna (Mental Health Resistance Network)
“Implications and limitations of the medical model”

Dr Kevin Zdaniecki (Chartered Psychologist AFBPsS (Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society); DCP Member)
“Finding a New Focus in Current State of Psychiatry”

Venue: Kingsley Hall, corner Powis and Bruce Roads, BOW, London E3 3HJ
(Nearest tube stations: Bow Church and Bromley-By-Bow)
There will be an interval with music and refreshments.
No entrance fee but donations will be welcome to cover costs.

September Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We would like to remind and invite you to our September meeting, taking place next Monday the 15th at LARC, 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1 1ES, 6.30-8:30pm. We have plans in place for one of our talk/events to take place in November, final details will be discussed at the meeting.

In the main time we would like to invite you to the London Open House at The Kingsley Hall in Bow on Saturday the 20th of September. Six guided tours will run by the hour from 12pm to 5pm allowing access to the whole building, including the space used by R.D. Laing in his experiment between 1965-1970 and the little cell used by Gandhi in his short stay in London. Kingsley Hall was also used by Sir Richard Attenborough for his 1983 film "Gandhi". FEEL will hold a stall there too and the Three Bees Cafe' will be open for food and refreshments events.londonopenhouse.org/building/15799

Is anyone taking part to the CLIMATE CHANGE march on Sunday the 21st September? Some of us will be there with the FEEL banner. The march starts at 12.30pm in Temple Place, WC2R Embankment, followed by a rally In Parliament Square www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/08/activists-promise-biggest-climate-march-in-history


The Outsiders Poetry and Deaf Visions events held last month are still reverberating. A blog post with feedback from different sources has just been uploaded for those that have missed it. Gave me goose bumps reading some of those reviews. Thank you to each of you that dedicated time to share the feedback and helped making the day happen.

DEAF VISIONS REVIEWS

We have had a beautiful and interesting long day event during Deaf Visions. We have asked the courtesy to some participants and helpers to share their feedback after the event and here to follow there is a small collection. Thank you to all the kind words and positive participation.

Anyone wishing to share more feedback, please do send us an email. Thank you!

Also a collection of photos can be found on Facebook www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.614995148616649.1073741835.491628407619991&type=1

While a couple of recordings have been uploaded on YouTube:
Caroline Parker's performance.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCYs52PJxPg





Frank Bangay's performance.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT_NDg2tELk

A more recent interview about the day event for Deaf Unity can also be accessed from HERE

I'd like to thank you for inviting me, for choosing my professional service, and for offering me the opportunity to be part of an inspiring day of art, music, culture, shared experience.

The section you organised and managed was a precious opportunity to explore universal languages and to learn to overcome barriers, to raise awareness about identity and human dimensions, about the importance of signs and codes, as well as promoting an inclusive culture of accessible information for everyone.
It is very important to learn everybody perspective, and it was very interesting to learn about representation or misrepresentation of a community in media and in cinema, i.e. when a non-deaf actor/actress impersonate a deaf person, too often directed and/or acting in a way to communicate to a non-deaf audience only.

Technically the event was running pretty smooth; it was just a matter to become accustomed with the available audio-video equipment already in the room, and to integrate it with the gear I have supplied in order to make it possible to run live music, singing and other activities.

Thank you again for your invitation and my compliments for organising an inspiring event that could be entertaining, thoughtful, a learning experience, a life experience.

My kindest regards
Stefano Barone
Sound Engineer - Producer - AV Services

"I found the Deaf Visions Event to be one the most unique and rewarding experiences I have been to, or asked to participate in London. This is partly due to the fact that I have never been to a deaf event before but also because the interpretations of the events/and performers left a lasting impression on me. I have never seen an expressive, mimed performance of Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights' in my life nor seen the words transcribed simultaneously on a large background to such effect. Not only was 'the actress' able to convey the feeling of the song right in front of the audience but I was able to actually see the words on the screen and also appreciate what a great poet Kate Bush is as well. "Heathcliff hits me, Cathy," came to life for me in a way that I have never experienced.

"Also other musicians and poets were lucky enough to have a person taking the dictation and so even the banter between acts was captured so that all could appreciate it. It added a lot of depth to the event and I would describe it as an 'immersive experience.'"

"On a personal note I was able to debut some new work and I think this was captured by the person who was writing everything down so I hope that if I mumbled, which I occasionally do, people could read it and the person doing the signing was able to read the text to convey the meaning."

John Stiles
Author of Taking the Stairs and Scouts are Cancelled, among other works.

I was impressed with the whole organisation of the event. There was proof of attention to details and good preparation resulted in things to run smoothly on the day. The whole atmosphere was a very enjoyable experience and everyone seemed to have a good time.

The presence of BSL interpreters and the live captions highlighted the issues encountered by deaf people that had never thought about in the entertaining way. It was fascinating to see it happening in front of you. Nathalie has been thinking about everything.

The gongs workshop impressed me so much. The whole experience transported me to a different dimension. I will very much like to use the same in my future feature film.

People had a fantastic time as they could interact with each other and not just being part of an audience. People were not expecting free refreshments either, so caught everyone by positive surprise.

Nick Waller
FEEL member and Film Director




Overall the event ‘deaf visions’ was better than I expected it would be. At the beginning of the session/event we had a good mixture of deaf and hearing people watching the screening of Together and they all stayed to discuss issues surrounding the film and the portrayal of deaf people in film. I can’t remember seeing such a mixture of people participating in all the deaf film festivals I’ve attended around the world (France, Italy, Malaysia etc). As a filmmaker and for deaf films in general, it is important that we encourage society and the bigger communities out there to watch our films, to have opinions and to embrace our culture. Normally these screenings, debates and workshops are exclusive for deaf people.

With regards to the deaf people at the event I noticed that they were not the type of people who would travel to the UK’s only deaf film festival in Wolverhampton (Deaffest) and even though the films were well known in the community, many stayed behind to watch them again.

In terms of improvement the location perhaps was unsuitable for the screenings as the light made it difficult to see the projection. Ideally we’d have access to a cinema and have more time to search for rare and unique films. However overall I felt the end result was positive and encouraging.

Ted Evans
Deaf Filmmaker and Director – workshop leader.


Nat, many congratulations on the very successful event you organised on 3 August. I know you have been concerned for some time that other events we have worked on should be accessible to hearing impaired people. However these past events did not have budgets to support the technological resources needed to make this possible, so this continued to be a source of considerable frustration for you.

Securing the funding to realise your ambition was a major achievement in itself, and the response of the hearing impaired community showed their appreciation. The networks you used were astoundingly successful in attracting their participation. I certainly had not appreciated the capacity for the right technology in the hands of professionals to open up a whole range of experiences for them. The atmosphere was so exciting seeing people really accessing and soaking up the heart of an event. In fact, I think the hearing members of the audience had a greater appreciation of some of the poetry and other presentations because of their multi dimensional nature. You certainly achieved your ambition to create an accessible open mic event.

The afternoon was extremely well organised. The atmosphere was terrific. The refreshments were delicious and nutritious, and I was very pleased to play a small part helping with making the tea.

Myra Garrett
FEEL member and outstanding woman :)



I thought the whole event was really good, innovative and with great atmosphere. It was lovely to read, to sign, writing & great that that happened. Also the films showing nearby locations, I was so glad to see. I know Cristina also felt the same & very positive. Hope for it again next year! I think it was very important that it happened there as it did.

Stephen Watts
Poet and Outsiders Poetry performer


It was an inspiring and important part of Shuffle and the turnout was amazing. We would like to integrate it more fully into the mainstream Shuffle audience next year - but we're pleased with the quality and participation.

Kate MacTiernan
Shuffle Artistic Director




On 2nd August, Audrey and I arrived at the Shuffle festival from Birmingham. We arrived at approximately 1pm and started exploring the place and all it had to offer straight away! It was packed with creative resources comprising of innovative ways to help raise awareness on mental health issues and also give invaluable advice to participants, who may know people who suffered, do suffer, or may come into contact with this issue in the future. The day ended with helping Nathalie with her preparation for the big day.

On the Sunday, we arrived at the community centre very early where The Deaf Visions was to take place. There were several of us who had volunteered to assist Nathalie with her project to ensure that everything ran smoothly. We all worked as a team helping to clean the hall, set up chairs, make hot drinks, bring in snacks, sort lunch for the team, answer any basic enquiries made by deaf goers in BSL etc.

I also took part in the following programmes as a member of the public: massage, gong bath, viewing films, question and answer sessions and watched songs performed in sign language among other things.

The gong bath was a very different and awesome experience. There were gongs and musical instruments of all sizes laid out in the middle of the hall and we sat in a circle around it. We were given instructions and were told to close our eyes. I could hear and feel the rhythm gradually building inside me. I felt myself being lifted and flying just above the ocean. My senses were enlightened, renewed and refreshed. I felt so amazing that I had to open my eyes to check whether it was all real. I would definitely do it again as it was an awesome experience.

Thank you Nathalie for the splendid experience. The event was a true success. You deserve goodness for all the work done. If you need any further help do let me know. Glad I have been part of it. I do look forward to the next one.

Parminder Jalf
Event Team-member

I was greeted upon my arrival at the community centre with an offer of tea and biscuits, with fresh dates and dry roasted peanuts available when required; my immediate impression was one of feeling welcome and at home.

Two very distinctive, innovative and extremely creative elements to the whole event stay with me very clearly impressed upon my memory because in addiction to the warm welcome they are related to it.

Firstly the poets, drawn from the very foundations of East End artistic traditions, represented own finest local artist with decades of experience and tremendous creative insights they gave us their heart and Soul mirrors of any time and place.

Many came from the marginalised parts of our locality, mental health, being an element given a voice where that is not so common at events anywhere.

The audience were delighted and with deaf translation throughout, the atmosphere of inclusion and participation hung heavy in the air, a difficult thing to achieve and successfully attained by the self evident pre-planning that must have gone with the event to accomplish this balance of wholeness with audience and participants at the microphone.

The second very strong and beautiful element to the event was the debating after the film showings. The achievement here was astounding, it was not possible to distinguish who was and who was not deaf.

Impressed by the efficiency and swiftness of the translators, the real enthusiasm of the audience, as it created a feeling of enjoyment for all and a sense of real constructive debate taking place.

We hunger and need such awareness of inclusion more broadly in and within our society. This event serves as a fine and shining example of how that can be achieved.

Through empathy, consideration, vision, inspiration, much background research and organisation, bringing all of those parts together such harmony was achieved and can be attained in the future with the support and encouragement of like minded people.

I left the event feeling that positive change can and will be achieved within our society step by step.

Jeffrey Parkinson
Local resident




The ambitious event included a whole spectrum of acts covering music/song/dance/spoken word & poetry.

Host & poet/performer Jazzman John opened with a new poem entitled: ‘Fit to Burst' then introduced the first booked act: Guitarist/Singer, Graham Jones (a regular supporter of 'F.E.E.L. Group events). He did a cover of The Beatles song 'Help', followed by his own original song 'Shine On You' which Graham had adapted to incorporate a sing-along chorus, which had the enthusiastic audience joining in loudly!

All acts (apart from dancer Shakti Zapata's (which opened the second half) were accompanied by both 'sign' & printed screen recording of the words, which as you can imagine kept the hard-working practitioners busy throughout the proceedings.

Next up was Clive Murphy (a friend of poet & mental health campaigner David Kessel) who read a few wryly-comic poems.
Local poet & character Stephen Micalef (with his distinctive long wispy beard) read a group of his intensely idiosyncratic poems (many with a local flavour & references) - a reader who is always good value & supremely entertaining.

Next to take the mic position was the esteemed poet & translator, Stephen Watts, who read one long poem entitled: 'The Bird of East London' from his recently published acclaimed Poetry Collection from Carcanet Press. I was lucky to have attended the launch in Bloomsbury earlier in 2014. The poem Stephen read with enormous vigour & subtlety (cognoscente of the job the signers & stenographers had on their hands) & was jam-packed with numerous East End sights & scenes, along with a good smattering of local residents & was totally enthralling, with the crowd almost gasping in awe at its conclusion.

Aptly following Stephen was his good friend & fellow poet (and the first lady to approach the mic, the delightful & talented, Cristina Viti, whose poetry I have long admired along with Stephen’s. She proceeded to read a selection of her moving & quite complex poems with enormous vitality, belying her slender frame.

By now the event was in full swing &more people seemed to be arriving in the bright & airy space by the minute.
Next up was the aforesaid local legendary poet & mental health campaigner, David Kessel. East-End based & always vociferous defender of Human Rights in general & avid supporter of those he identifies as downtrodden among the local community. David read some of his very distinctive poems (some with a clear political slant) & it would be right to mention here that many of the readers present (myself included) had contributed to a Poetry Anthology specially dedicated to David by many of his friends & associates down the years, which was privately published in July, 2013 in Stepney under the title (taken from one of David's own poems): 'Ravaged Wonderful Earth' - a stellar Collection, copies of which were available (from David's good friend & fellow poet/campaigner, David Amery on the day at a very reasonable cost of £5 per copy - an A4 size publication which includes archive photos).

The interval time was now fast approaching so it was time for compere, Jazzman John to step up along with our resourceful sound technician/engineer Stefano Barone (also a member of London-based Italian Indie/Rock Band: '37 North') who would provide ambient sounds on his impressive-looking shiny white electric guitar. John chose to perform a lyrical, moving poem: 'It All Depends' & as they say in the movies: "it went like a dream."

However, midway thought the second & final poem: 'Take A Hike' the gremlins took hold in the form of an electrical/power overload of some description, so it was decided to go straight to the much-needed interval for both performers & audience members!

During the interval from approx. 3.15pm to 3.35pm the stage space was cleared to make way for the aforementioned dance extravaganza/art piece to be performed by the astounding & daring dance exponent, Shakti Zapata, who kept the audience attentive & aghast at her wondrous originality & dance skill.

When everyone had recovered their composure after witnessing the dance spectacle, the next booked act to take to the mic was another supremely talented local legend, Mr Frank Bangay, one of the chief instigators of the much-respected 'Survivors Poetry' organisation, which has aided so many of those associated with mental health problems or difficulties for many years now.

Frank proceeded to provide a storming set that somehow managed to lift the audience even further from its already lofty height. He has always been connected with music & live musicians & this occasion was to continue that process as Frank had brought along a wonderful accompanist called 'Natasha' who played superb slide guitar while Frank vocalised & played along on wailing blues harp (harmonica). We were treated to a really wonderful mixture of poetry & song from Frank & had time allowed I'm sure the crowd would have loved to have heard even more of the same. Frank Bangay (with his talented accompanist) proved once again what a superb artist & performer he is & is rightly renowned for.

Another great mover & shaker behind 'Outsider Poetry' (previously mentioned with regard to the publication: 'Wonderful Ravaged Earth' took centre stage, namely, David Amery, a stalwart supporter of many related local events & happenings. He treated us to a 'performance collage' as only he can do. Expect the unexpected where David is concerned on stage & you won't be far wrong. After an act that often leaves the audience both scratching its head in awe & amazement, I told the audience that I'd finally realised what David does: “He’s a storyteller, surrealist poet/artist."

I then introduced the truly International poet/singer/cabaret performer/visual artist, the magical & inimitable Anne Pigalle (who frequently graced the cover of many fashion magazines in the 80s). Anne came on wearing her own dazzling customised jacket, emblazoned with her own art & the irrefutable title: 'The Last Chanteuse’, which she often goes by along with 'The Queen of Soho’. Her next album (after a lengthy break) is in the course of production/mixing & promises to be an absolutely sensational selection of numbers.

After reading a selection of her famously erotically charged poems Anne then proceeded to finish with one in French & amazingly there was a lady on hand to translate while doing 'sign' in French! Howzat!

The event was now approaching its conclusion, but I noticed that miraculously we were still on time to finish by 5pm.

The final poet/writer was the long-legged Canadian, John Stiles, yet another steadfast & consistent supporter of 'Outsider Poetry' events & known for his particular brand of quirkiness when on stage. John told us he has been working on what is his second novel, which I believe has been going on for a number of years now. He decided to read a snippet from the new novel, delivered in his previously mentioned quirky style. We were thus introduced to many unusual down home characters that were squeezed into the lively section John read to the audience. It definitely seems that readers have a peculiar treat in store once his book is finally completed & published.

So we arrived at the final featured act, which set up in double-quick time, with Mike Parsons on guitar & vocals & his affable regular accompanist, Roberto Simonatto, on electronic keyboard. They regaled us with a variety of original songs & a memorable haunting version of Roxy Music frontman, Bryan Ferry's 'Jealous Guy'.

To wind up proceedings our host/compere, Jazzman John Clarke stepped forward to thank all concerned, in particular, chief event organiser, the tireless, Nathalie Fonnesu, her brother Claudio on the film camera, Stefano Barone for stepping in to cover the PA & Sound & not least the wonderful signers/translators/caption typists/stenographers.

John then reprised & pounded out the elusive second section of 'Take A Hike' poem. An appropriate cry perhaps after much of the audience having been seated for the best part of three hours!

That finally brought the curtain down on what had been an immensely enjoyable & active afternoon from an array of talented acts. This culminated in an excellent & thoroughly deserved traditional round of applause, with wild waving from the deaf section!!!

JAZZMANJOHN CLARKE
"OUTSIDERS POETRY" HOST/COMPERE/PERFORMER


OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

12pm:
Gong Bath to awaken and balance the senses. Sit back, relax and get immersed in the healing frequency and vibrations. With Otto Sound Therapywww.ottosoundtherapy.com

12-2pm ONLY: Healing Corner
Book a free taster session of Indian head massage or Acupuncture with Pathway Trust and Claire Hancock.

1pm:
Shakespeare: Found in Translation
Dir. Cathy Heffernan, 2014
Documentary telling about the making of
Deafinitely Theatre “Midsummer Night's Dream" in British Sign Language at the Shakespeare Globe last June. Includes interviews with the company's Artistic Director Paula Garfield and members of the cast.

1.30 pm:
Sign Song Diva Caroline Parker MBE
www.simplesite.com/carosparks

2pm - 5pm:
Outsiders Poetry: Music, poetry and performance by local artists and mental health campaigners. The event will be assisted by BSL interpreting and captioning. Hosted by F.E.E.L. (Friends of East End Loonies).

5pm:
Together: Directors Lorenza Mazzetti, Denis Horne, 1956
Semi-documentary film, showing London's East End post WW2 through the lives of two deaf friends. Is that BSL that they are using to communicate?

6pm:
Tête-à-tête with Deaf Director Ted Evans, multi awards winner and maker of "The End".

7pm-10pm:
"Best of Deaf" projecting a selection of award winning British Deaf short films and a series of popular comedies.
7:00pm: Retreat, 2013, Dir. Ted Evans
The structures that bind society have eroded, the valuable have been pushed to the fringes. At these crossroads a young woman lives between an unforgiving world and the confines of a dark community. With obsession rapidly over taking reason, Isobel must decide which world she wants to be part of.

7:24pm: Chasing Cotton Clouds 2011
Dir. Samuel Dore
A Deaf boy grieving for his father creates a fantasy world to cope with the alienation he feels. As he struggles at school and at home, he tries to find his way back from a world made out of cardboard and glue into the real world.

7:48pm: Champion of the World, Dir. Bim Ajadi, 2012
A young Deaf athlete who fights her way back from injury finds herself in a dilemma about what lengths she will go to in order to win. When hurdler Sophie is injured after chasing a shoplifter, she has to recover before she can get back to racing on the track. As she nears her return, she faces conflicting advice from her coach and her father.

8:15pm: My Song, Dir. William Mager, 2008
Ellen is a successful dancer, yet she feels left out at home and at school until she starts learning to sign. My Song tells the recurrent story of deaf identity and acceptance in the signing world. It was inspired by real events.

8:40pm: The End, Dir. Ted Evans, 2011
‘The End’ portrays the impact of a revolutionary ‘treatment’ that offers Deaf people the chance to become hearing. As a group of Deaf children grow up, we find out how the ‘treatment’ affects their futures as they decide whether to take it or not.

9:05pm: Still Here, Dir. Louis Neethling, 2012
Comedy-drama about a group of ageing Deaf Club performers who have been touring together for over 30 years. When Ruby falls ill, their lives are thrown into turmoil, because she has been the one keeping them together.

9:35pm: The Kiss, Dir. Charlie Swinbourne, 2014
A blind date hinges a comically conversation with a deaf couple sitting two tables down. How far can the latter couple take the prank they decide to play?’

9:45pm: Hand Solo (R15) Dir. William Mager, 2011
What if a Deaf man became an internationally adult film star, all because he’s very very good with his hands? Hands Solo is a short comedy mockumentary about one lucky person who makes it to the top.

We take the chance to thank EastendHomes for allowing us to access to Southern Grove Centre for this occasion.

Please also check the full programme for the ‘Day of the Dead’ taking place across the street in the Cemetery Park www.shufflefestival.com/day-of-the-dead

If you found the captions and BSL interpreting useful, please do let us know by writing to: deafvisionsuk@gmail.com

To find out more about F.E.E.L.
f.e.e.l.campaign@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/feel.campaign
friends-of-east-end-loonies.blogspot.co.uk

AUGUST Newsletter

Dear Friends,

The past couple of months have been filled by extremely hard work this side, all for a good cause and result.
It brought huge gratification organising what I believe was our best to date Outsiders Poetry event for the Shuffle Festival, last Sunday the 3rd.

Give it to the weather, which lately has been pretty much amazing, although unfortunately it was the reason to keep some away.
Give it to the location, the brand new and sophisticated Southern Grove Community Centre and the nearby oxygen-filled greenery available in the majestic decked-out Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park.
Give it to the fact that for the first time we were able to welcome the diversity of the hearing and deaf audience, and made comfortable under the same roof, thanks to the presence of Gary Morgan and Nicola Williams (British Sign Language interpreters) and Norma White and Louise Pepper (alias the palantypist ladies = amazing highly skilled individuals able to type at the fast pace of 250 words p/m); inclusiveness could not be ignored or go unnoticed.

Then the other day I was asked if all the struggles of the past couple of months were worth the efforts.
F.E.E.L. has now been having events for over six years and for every and single one I dreamt to be able to offer full communication support. A dream coming true...was it worth the effort?

What I am most thankful for is the trust and help received from Team Shuffle in giving us freedom to organise Deaf Vision, which stretched further the usual poetry event. And of course Arts Council England for offering the means for the day to unfold.

We had a wonderful gong bath with Otto Haddad, taster therapies from Jessica, Louise, Monica and Eve (from Pathway Trust) and Claire Hancock.
A wonderful performance from Sign Song Diva Caroline Parker MBE (here her grand finale) and an interesting discussion led by deaf film-maker Ted Evans to follow the 1956 film 'Together'.

We wish to thank the very special artists of the Outsiders Poetry starting from the amazing Jazzman John Clarke, the compère for the day, Graham Jones, Clive Murphy, Stephen Micalef, Stephen Watts, Cristina Viti, David Kessel, Stefano Barone (sound engineer for the day, plus accompanied Jazzman on electric guitar, until the ultra sensitive sound system shut down); the gender-themed dance piece by Shakti Zapata, Frank Bangay accompanied on guitar by Natasha, David Amery, Anne Pigalle, John Stiles. Mike Parsons & Roberto Simonato closed the event reminding us that Eastbeat is back and running from Tuesday the 2nd of September at the Kingsley Hall. Apologies flooded from Eamer O'kleeffe, Peter Campbell, Max Love, Unique Technique.

Sharing here an outstanding performance by Frank Bangay, particularly enjoyable with BSL interpretation. Well done Frank! 'Comfort Eating Blues'

A huge thank you goes for the support offered by East End Homes, which allowed us accessing their modern Southern Grove Community Centre in Mile End London E3. For further info about accessing the space do get in contact with Paul Wilson paul.wilson@eastendhomes.net and see their website www.eastendhomes.net
Paul and Victoria active support throughout  the whole day was pretty amazing and deeply appreciated.

Last but not least must thank for the amazing team of volunteers that stayed with us both on Saturday and Sunday: Neil, Audrey, PJ, Joe, Claudio, Stefano and of course the ever-present Myra and Nick helping around tea break. Thank you to all!

Your feedback on the day is pretty much welcome and must mention John Stiles' comment "It was very well-organized, cool to see the words on the screen and I won't forget the movie about Sign Language and finding out about "different sign languages" and hearing, seeing, and reading Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush ever again in the same way. I just grew up into a full adult in about fifteen minutes."

FEEL monthly meeting is now on in ten days time, on Monday the 18th; it looks like we have a few fresh things to talk about and also an invite to hold a stall for Kingsley Hall Open House, next month. All welcome although no communication support available unfortunately.
Meet as usual at LARC, 62 Fieldgate St, Whitechapel 6.30-8-30pm

Make the most of the Summer!

Happening this week!!!

Dear Friends,

Please find one last reminder and details for our forthcoming Outsiders Poetry, happening in the Southern Grove Community Centre, Southern Grove E3 4PX, Sunday the 3rd of August, 2-5pm.

This is only 5 minute walking from Mile End tube station; pay attention to the clear Shuffle Festival signposts that have been distributed around the area to find the site with ease.

Our event was initially planned to happen in a tent, within the cemetery park grounds. However considering the mobility issues some of our members face and the distress some people experience in finding new locations, we considered ideal having the event in a more accessible location instead, with accessible toilets and so on.

Southern Grove Community Centre will be open all day 12pm-10pm, with a programme of activities and film projections aimed to engage the deaf community, but obviously open to everyone. On the day we will be providing ear plugs to the hearing audience, in order to let you experience the event in a more visual way, and give a rest to your ears. We look forward to the feedback.

PROGRAMME PREVIEW -
Sunday 3rd of August 12pm -10pm

12pm: We start the day with a Gong Bath to awaken and balance all senses. Make sure you find a comfortable position, seated or lying down ready to start by 12pm sharp. Sit back and relax and get ready to be immersed by the healing frequencies and vibrations that aim to set mind and body free. Very curious to hear Deaf peoples feed back to this. Courtesy of Otto Sound Therapy www.ottosoundtherapy.com/

The lucky ones that arrive nice and early to the festival will get the chance to book a free taster session of either Indian head massage or Acupuncture, with one of our five therapists, between 12-2pm ONLY. First comes first served.

1pm: Following Deafinitely Theatre successful sell out " Midsummer Night's Dream" in British Sign Language at the Shakespeare Globe last June, come along to watch "Shakespeare: Found in Translation". The documentary that tells all about the making of the play, during the research and rehearsals time.

1.30 pm: Join us for an intimate performance by Sign Song Diva Caroline Parker, MBE www.simplesite.com/carosparks/

2pm - 5pm: Outsiders Poetry. Following the successful participation at the Summer Shuffle 2013, local well know artists and mental health survivors will be sharing some of their work. Music, poetry and performance will be assisted by BSL interpreting and captioning. Some front seats will be reserved to visually impaired and less mobile people, let us know if you require one, pls. Come along to see Jazzman John Clarke leading the afternnon that will see among others performances by David Kessel, Frank Bangay, Eamer O'Keeffe, Stephen Watts, Cristina Viti, Graham Jones, David Amery, John Zammit, John Stiles, Max Love.

5 pm: "Film "Together" (1956) A black and white film telling the story of two deaf friends, filmed around our very Mile End area, post WW2. Is that BSL that they are using to communicate?

6 pm: Tête-à-tête with Deaf Director Ted Evans, multi awards winner maker of the drama "The End".

7 pm- 10 pm: "Best of Deaf" projecting a selection of award winning British Deaf short films and popular comedies.

The Shuffle Festival opened yesterday with a large feast offered to the community: it will be offering films, events and activities to suit the whole family, giving the chance to experience the beauty of this (forgotten-to-some) oasis of peace. We take the chance to wish the very best to volunteers and organisers for their hard work in making this happen.

Please note that mental health films will be projected as part of the festival on Saturday 2 August from 4.30pm in the Southern Grove Centre. The event is free of charge and can be booked online to secure a seat or just turn up for Shuffle your Mind www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/16499/chk/8012

Check the full programme on www.shufflefestival.com/programme/

Get out and about during this beautiful Summer!

Latest News

Dear Friends,

It's with great trepidation that we can announce that Arts Council England has now granted some funds for our Outsiders Poetry on Sunday the 3rd of August, 2-5pm. This allows us to make the event fully accessible to the deaf, deafened and hard of hearing audience, thanks to the provision of BSL interpreters and live captioning. Apparently captioning are also very beneficial to people affected by autism ( thanks Adrian W. for the info).

Please do join us at next week meeting, on Monday the 21st at LARC, 62 Fieldgate St, Whitechapel as the programme for the day-long event can be finalised. Also do get in touch if willing to offer some help during the day of mixed activities. See leaflets attached for our FREE Poetry and Deaf films and entertainment taking place now in the Southern Grove Community Hall ( new flyers attached - full programmes available soon). More informations about the 5 days long Shuffle festival can be found online www.shufflefestival.com/programme/

West London disability and mental health activists Joe Kelly has sent an invitation for the next London Unite Community Activists meeting: happening tomorrow, Thursday 17th July at 7pm at 33-37 Moreland Street, Education room 1, London EC1V 8BB

For info: Pilgrim.Tucker@unitetheunion.org Ph. 07970 126249. See letter attached.

The Survivors History Group meeting is also due on Wednesday 30th of July 1-5pm at Together, 12 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BE

Stay engaged and motivated.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE OUR SURGERIES

Show your support by joining the march on SATURDAY 5TH JULY  at 2pm from Altab Ali Park, Aldgate East to London Fields Lido for a rally at 3.45

This demonstration is in support of surgeries in Tower Hamlets as well as Newham and Hackney that are facing budget cuts and as a result they may be forced to close soon.

You can also show your support by signing the online petition, please click on the following link: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-inner-city-gp-surgeries

 THE PROBLEM:

Due to Government changes in the way that General Practice is funded some inner city and rural practices in England will suffer big budget cuts from April 2014. Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG) was brought in 2004 to ensure that practices in deprived areas with a high turnover of patients were adequately funded to deliver high quality General Practice services.

All of the evidence shows that one of the biggest factors affecting health outcomes is deprivation. However, the Government are phasing MPIG out over the next seven years. Less weight will be given to deprivation and more to age. This means that Tower Hamlets, which is one of the most deprived areas of the country, loses out to more affluent areas with a greater proportion of elderly patients, even though the high levels of deprivation in Tower Hamlets means that more people here have serious long term illnesses at a much younger age.

Cuts in funding to General Practice will mean cuts in the services that your surgery is able to offer you and your family.

For example, Jubilee Street Practice is a large, award winning practice on Commercial Road. They have some of the best outcomes in the country for many chronic diseases and patient satisfaction levels of over 90%. Due to the phasing out of MPIG they have calculated that they will lose nearly £1 million over the next seven years. This means that services will get cut and the surgery is at risk of closure.

THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN! A THREAT TO ONE IS A THREAT TO ALL!

There are 98 GP practices in England that are as badly affected by MPIG as Jubilee Street, many of these are in London and five are in Tower Hamlets. Other practices in the borough are also feeling the strain. If five practices are forced to cutback or close there will inevitably be more pressure on the rest, risking collapse of the whole system and opening up the possibility that our GP services will be taken over by private providers such as Virgin or Care UK.

This comes amidst a climate of huge cuts to the whole of NHS funding and creeping privatization of NHS services. Privatization leads to poorly paid staff and services cut to the bone in order to make a profit for shareholders.

The NHS is the best loved institution in Britain, even more so than the monarchy. Despite what we are told, the NHS is one of the most cost effective health care services in the developed world and there is plenty of money in society to pay for it. It is the envy of other nations. Since 1948 it has been there for all of us when we have needed it, regardless of ability to pay, from the cradle to the grave

July Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Please find details of forthcoming dates and events for your diary.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE OUR SURGERIES

Show your support by joining the march on SATURDAY 5TH JULY at 2pm from Altab Ali Park, Aldgate East to London Fields Lido for a rally at 3.45. This demonstration is in support of surgeries in Tower Hamlets as well as Newham and Hackney that are facing budget cuts and as a result they may be forced to close soon.

You can also show your support by signing the online petition, please click on the following link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-inner-city-gp-surgeries


Friends of St Clements General meeting is adjourned to next Monday the 7th of July, 4.30pm. Please come along to the c/o Outpatients Department, Burdett House, Mental Health Unit, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, E1 4DG.

SolidariTea was officially launched in Southwark by the Mental Health Resistance Network this week. The drop in centre will now be offering practical support to people seeking help in regards to the WCA and benefits issues, or simply a cuppa and a chat, every Monday between 2pm and 4.15pm at 97 Dawes House, Orb St, Walworth, London, SE17 1RD. Info:solidariteasouthwark@gmail.com
Ph. 07966180429

Healthwatch Tower Hamlets Mental Health Task Group is being relaunched since Community Options has been chosen to manage the project. Ange Jones has been allocated as Project Coordinator for the running and facilitation of the group.

The group will be re-launched on Wednesday, 16th July 2014 11.30-2pm at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG Ange.Jones@community-options.org.uk

Healthline has launched a video campaign for bipolar disorder called "You've Got This" where bipolar patients can record a short video to give hope and inspiration to those recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Visit the homepage and check out videos from the campaign www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/youve-got-this

The Outsiders Open Mic will take place on the closing day of the Shuffle Festival on Sunday the 3rd of August, 4-7pm, in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Southern Grove, MIle End E3 4PX. Get your swimming gear ready to experience a deep in the pool being dug for the festival www.shufflefestival.com/location/

Come along to our monthly F.E.E.L. meeting to help finalising the plans for our contribuition to the festival and discuss further issues on Monday the 21st of July at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street E1, 6.30-8.30pm.

Enjoy the weather and please remember to keep hydrated!

The Dark Side Protest

Tuesday, June 24
at 9:00am - 1:00pm
Royal College of Psychiatry, 21 Prescot Street, London, E1 8BB

Darth Vader invites you to join him in protesting outside the new headquarters of the Royal College of Psychiatrists during their 'College Tours' and AGM ahead of their International Conference. Nearest tubes Tower Hill, Aldgate, Aldgate East. Nearest DLR is Tower Gateway.

We have decided to protest outside their new headquarters during the AGM rather than the conference at the Barbican as it is not conducive to protests www.rcpsych.ac.uk/.../internationalcongress2014.aspx

Dr. Peter Gotzsche has created a controversy and sparked criticism over what he sees as a damaging over-prescription of drugs by psychiatrists.

Gotzsche recently compiled a list of ten common myths held not only by the general public, but also trained psychiatrists concerning the safety of psychotropic drugs, and the rationale for their use.

As an internist, Gotzsche remarked that since he was outside of the political orthodoxy of the world of psychiatric medicine, he was free to express what he believed to be the sentiments of many psychiatrists who must remain quiet in their objections for fear of hurting their careers.

1. Mental diseases are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain
"We have no idea about which interplay of psychosocial conditions, biochemical processes, receptors and neural pathways that lead to mental disorders and the theories that patients with depression lack serotonin and that patients with schizophrenia have too much dopamine have long been refuted."

2. It's easy to go off antidepressants any time you want to
Here, Gotzsche points to drug trails involving agoraphobics and people suffering from panic disorder, whom were not depressed. Fifty percent of the patients found it difficult to come off antidepressants even though they were gradually reducing their doses. It could not be that the patients saw their depression returning, as they were not depressed to begin with.

3. Psychotropic drugs are to mental illness as insulin is to diabetes
"When you give insulin to a patient with diabetes, you give something the patient lacks, namely insulin. Since we've never been able to demonstrate that a patient with a mental disorder lacks something that people who are not sick don't lack, it is wrong to use this analogy."

4. Psychotropic drugs reduce the number of chronically ill patients
"In 1987, just before the newer antidepressants (SSRIs or happy pills) came on the market, very few children in the United States were mentally disabled. Twenty years later it was over 500,000, which represents a 35-fold increase. The number of disabled mentally ill has exploded in all Western countries."

5. SSRIs don't cause suicide in children and adolescents
"The companies and the psychiatrists have consistently blamed the disease when patients commit suicide. It is true that depression increases the risk of suicide, but happy pills increase it even more, at least up to about age 40, according to a meta-analysis of 100,000 patients in randomized trials performed by the US Food and Drug Administration."

6. SSRIs don't have side effects
"Patients care less about the consequences of their actions, lose empathy towards others, and can become very aggressive. In school shootings in the United States and elsewhere a striking number of people have been on antidepressants."

7. SSRIs are not addictive
The worst argument I have heard about the pills not causing dependency is that patients do not require higher doses. Shall we then also believe that cigarettes are not addictive? The vast majority of smokers consume the same number of cigarettes for years."

8. The prevalence in depression has increased a lot in recent history
Gotzsche points out that this is difficult if not impossible to determine, as the criteria for being diagnosed as clinically depressed has been drastically lowered over the last 50 years.

9. The main problem is not overtreatment, but undertreatment
"In a 2007 survey, 51% of the 108 psychiatrists said that they used too much medicine and only 4 % said they used too little. In 2001-2003, 20% of the US population aged 18-54 years received treatment for emotional problems."

10. Antipsychotics prevent brain damage
"Some professors say that schizophrenia causes brain damage and that it is therefore important to use antipsychotics. However, antipsychotics lead to shrinkage of the brain, and this effect is directly related to the dose and duration of the treatment."

As for a solution, Gotzsche states that he is not against the use of psychiatric drugs, but that doctors must do everything that can before resorting to their use, and only then as a short-term solution.

More info speakoutagainstpsychiatry@gmail.com

June Newsletter

Dear Friends,

June's meeting for the Friends of East End Loonies is taking place next week, on Monday the 16th, between 18:30 - 20:30 pm, at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street E1.

Please join us as we'll be celebrating two friends 70th birthdays, discussing future events and making the most of our gathering.

We've got the confirmed date for our Open Mic at the Shuffle: this will be on Sunday the 3rd of August, on the closing and uber-filled day of the festival

Does anyone want to be part of a documentary telling FEEL story? Jo is coming along to present his filming project.

Congratulations to CoolTan Arts for winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service http://www.cooltanarts.org.uk/
A couple of their events happening soon:
-Mad Hatter's Tea Party: on Saturday 14th June, 1pm-6pm: four free workshops and the official opening of the new art exhibition, 224-236 Walworth Road, London SE17 1JE

-Largactyl Shuffle – Summer Solstice Midnight Walk: Saturday June 21st 2014, 11.45pm – 5am, Sunday June 22nd 2014
Start: Tate Modern (outside The Turbine Hall entrance), Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Ends: Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ

Lots is happening around London with the new Anxiety Festival, curated by the Mental Health Foundation, running up to the end of the month http://www.anxiety2014.org/

More locally, Community Options are promoting two events this week:

-11^th June 11am-4pm Wellbeing Sports Day for Mental Health Service Users and staff through Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham at The Copper Box, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford E20 3HB

 -12^th June: Your Say Your Day at The Brady Arts Centre 192-196 Hanbury Street London E1 5HU, 2-5.30pm

NSUN and the University of York are inviting people who currently access mental health services (or have accessed them in the past) to take a course ran by MindApples on wellbeing, mental effectiveness and resilience. The training is free. Please register before 23 June using this LINK 

ASA (Advertising Standard Agency), is trying to limit the scope of natural health practitioners, not allowing to use terms such as therapy, diagnostic, treatment, etc, or claim to treat medical conditions. However natural therapies are the ones likely to help most of conditions with the least, if any, side effects. Consumers when unsure are easily tricked by the media. Now an investigation on ASA has been called. Watch this video and please sign the petition www.asa-the-truth.org.uk

Is Gluten Making You Depressed?

psychologytoday

I recently consulted with a 24 year-old patient diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. He was prescribed a different medication for each diagnosis: Adderall for ADHD, Valium for anxiety, and Zoloft for depression.
He was on three medications, one for each diagnosis, yet he continued to struggle with attention problems, anxiety, and depression! Moreover, he wanted additional medication to help him sleep.
Before prescribing medication for any patient, I recommend a comprehensive panel of blood work to rule out hormone or nutritional deficiencies.
In the case of my 24 year-old patient, I discovered that he was anemic with very low iron and zinc levels and a significant B12 deficiency. For a physically healthy, meat eating young man these were unusual lab results.
Why hadn't his other doctors caught these results? His previous psychiatrists never ordered any blood work and his last visit to his PCP was for the flu and blood work was not done.
Based on his nutritional deficiencies I ordered additional tests. Further testing revealed that he was positive for antibodies to gliadin, a protein found in wheat often used as a marker for the presence of celiac disease. A biopsy confirmed that he had celiac disease.
Celiac disease, commonly thought of as only a GI disorder, can cause profound psychological symptoms. One of which is depression.
In celiac disease the body's immune system mistakenly attacks a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. In its attack on gluten, the immune system damages the small intestine, producing intestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramps and swelling, pain, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Once damaged the small intestine may not absorb essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins as well as it should.
The health consequences of celiac disease, however, extend beyond gastrointestinal issues and may affect every organ system, including the brain.
Other consequences of celiac disease include:

• Anemia
• Anorexia
• Arthritis
• Behavioral changes
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Infertility
• Joint pain and inflammation
• Migraine headaches
• Missed menstrual periods
• Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
• Osteoporosis
• Seizures and other neurological problems
• Skin lesions
• Tooth decay and discoloration
• Weakness
• Weight loss

Researchers have long observed an overlap between celiac disease and depression. Reports of depression among celiac disease patients have appeared as early as the 1980s. In 1982 Swedish researchers reported that "depressive psychopathology is a feature of adult celiac disease and may be a consequence of malabsorption." A 1998 study confirmed that about one-third of those with celiac disease also suffer from depression. Adolescents with celiac disease also face higher than normal rates of depression. Adolescents with celiac disease have a 31% risk of depression, while only 7% of healthy adolescents face this risk.   
How does depression relate to the damage done to the small intestine in celiac disease? The intestinal damage wrought by celiac disease prevents absorption of essential nutrients that keep the brain healthy, especially zinc, tryptophan, and the B vitamins. These nutrients are necessary for the production of essential chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, a deficiency of which has been linked to depression.
In particular, low zinc levels have been linked to depression. In addition to keeping the immune system strong and the memory sharp, zinc plays an important role in the production and use of neurotransmitters-brain chemicals that help modulate mood. This is why low levels of zinc have been linked to major depression, and why supplemental zinc enhances the effects of antidepressant medications in many people. A 2009 study found that zinc supplementation significantly reduced depression scores in people who had not been helped by antidepressants in the past.
Sadly, in cases of depression related celiac disease these nutritional deficiencies are often ignored by physicians who are more comfortable in treating the symptoms of depression with medication.
Why does this happen?
Physicians may think that the nutritional deficiencies are unrelated to depression. Celiac disease is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as disorders with similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia nervosa, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or Crohn's disease. Physicians, as with many people, tend to separate the gastrointestinal issues of celiac disease from the psychological problems and treat them separately.
If celiac disease is suspected, a blood test is administered to look for the antibodies to gluten-anti-gliadin, anti-endomysial, and anti-tissue transglutaminase. High antibody levels indicate the presence of celiac disease. However, the only way to make a definitive diagnosis is to perform an endoscopy of the intestinal lining.
Once diagnosed, how do you treat celiac disease? The tragic news is that no treatment will cure celiac disease. But the disease can be managed with a gluten-free diet. By avoiding foods containing gluten, the symptoms of celiac disease, including the psychological symptoms, will resolve and the body can heal some if not all of the intestinal damage. Most people who begin a gluten-free diet feel better almost immediately, although the psychological symptoms may require months of nutritional support before seeing any improvement.
After making a definitive diagnosis for my 24 year-old patient, he was started on a gluten-free diet. After nearly two years, he's no longer on any psychiatric medications and no longer has three psychiatric diagnoses. His symptoms of anxiety and depression slowly subsided with a gluten-free diet.
Undiagnosed celiac disease can exacerbate symptoms of depression or may even be the underlying cause.
Patients with depression should be tested for nutritional deficiencies. Who knows, celiac disease may be the correct diagnosis and not depression.

www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201105/is-gluten-making-you-depressed