As we are approaching our March meeting, on Monday the 16th at LARC 6.30-8.30pm, we would like to announce a forthcoming event we are planning for Friday the 24th of April 7-9pm, on the theme of the Open Dialogue approach. Certainly there is a lot to talk at our meeting and learn about it.
We now have received confirmation from Dr Nick Putman to be a guest speaker together with several members of his training team, as they will be happy to give us an introduction of the approach and answer audience questions in regards.
Full details will follow soon.
An initial Open Dialogue pilot in Britain has just completed the first year of training and this week the first national conference on the subject took place in London reporting on first impressions. Feedback of the event can be read here
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The RCP have put out a call for evidence on the status of inpatient psychiatric care in England and alternative options and it is likely this will become an election issue (the Shadow Minister for Health was asking questions in Parliament on Friday about the lack of beds in CAMHS). There is an opportunity here for those with experience of inpatient wards to write in about the urgent need to ensure people can have access to a safe, healing, therapeutic space if they ever need it. It’s a real opportunity for Soteria and Survivor Led Crisis Services to be raised. So, please consider submitting evidence to this (evidence is being submitted between 4 Feb and 18 March). More details rcpsych.ac.uk/policyandparliamentary/commission.aspx
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Some of you might remember the proposal to have a friendly and accessible after-hours drop-in centre for people in mental health distress. While the project is still being worked on The Lifehouse was launched this month and it will now meet every Tuesdays 6.00-8.00 in the Three Bees Café at Kingsley Hall, Bow.
The Lifehouse is meant to be meeting a place for anyone suffering mental distress or acting as a carer; an anti-discriminatory open forum that encourages respect and sharing in a non-judgemental environment, where community and inclusion have long been practised. The Lifehouse is a peer group of user led participants, seeking and offering mutual support in a friendly and informal atmosphere. There is no charge to attend and meals and refreshments can be purchased at the reasonably priced cafe; contributions toward the meeting room are welcome. Kingsley Hall, Bow. http://osm.org/go/euu64iZMt Underground, Bromley by Bow; DLR, Bow Church; buses, Bow Church and other local stops. For enquiries contact Nick on 07926886372
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In the main time Eastbeat has been running regularly every first Tuesday of the month for over one year now, offering fine musicians and poets performances at our esteemed Kingsley Hall, Bow. This month a wonderful banner was created by David Amery dedicated to Mary Barnes and her fabulous choice of colours, to celebrate the current exhibition of her works at the Nunnery Gallery. A photo attached portraits the wonderful trumpeter Marcello Patruno, while Jazzman John Clarke, the compère in residence, has promised an ever richer bill for the next event on 7th of April 7-9pm, right after Easter.
There are still another couple of weeks left to visit the energising Mary Barnes show. For those unable to do this due to distance or disabilities, we'd like to thank Andrew Roberts and Dina Ibrahim for the comprehensive review they have put together and shared with us studymore.org.uk/marybarn.pdf
studymore.org.uk/marybarn.htm#BrisBarn
Mary Barnes will also be one of the discussion topics at the next Survivors History Group London meeting on Wednesday 25.3.2015 from 1pm to 5pm at Together, 12 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BE
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A new Channel 4 documentary about Bipolar Disorder, by Psychotherapist Philippa Perry, is available to be watched online for a few more weeks. Limiting to the very different experiences of three diverse patients, the documentary shows among other things the distinct symptoms that people might experience, compressed under a single limiting label. Once again it can be perceived how the necessity to treat and help each individual with delicate consideration is paramount to the beneficial results achieved www.channel4.com/programmes/being-bipolar
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Have you seen the SMILEY TEARY BADGE yet? The "ONLY US" campaign is being launched soon in order to sensity people on Mental Health Awareness Week which starts on Monday May 11th. This aims at breaking the stigma that separates the ill from the well. The leaflet attached says:
"There's "them" — and then there's "us". They are mentally ill and dangerous We are well, happy and safe"
Is this really true? Or is the uncomfortable truth that there's a continuum, a scale along which we all slide back and forth during our lives, sometimes happy, occasionally depressed or very anxious; mostly well balanced but with moody moments; usually in touch with reality, but at times detached or even psychotic. When we separate ourselves and imagine humanity divided into two different groups, we hurt those labelled as sick, ill, even mad. We allow stigma, prejudice and exclusion to ruin potentially good and creative lives. But we also hurt ourselves, because we stress ourselves out with false smiles and the suppression of our own vulnerabilities. Don't be afraid of your vulnerability, your sensitivity, your mad side. Be bold, and, if you've ever had your own experience of some kind of mental health issue, whether or not you were diagnosed....... get yourself the SMILEY TEARY BADGE
There is no them and us THERE'S ONLY US
- Order the badge at www.buttonbadges.co.uk — 20 badges for £10 (Just quote 'SMILEY TEARY BADGE' (you don't need to send them the image)
- Give the badges to your friends. Keep one for yourself. Think about the implications.
- Monday May 11th (the start of Mental Health Awareness Week) put on your badge. Wear it all week. Find other badge-wearers. And talk to each other. We all have something in common. They are ONLY US
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This Sunday the 15th we are invited to the "FIRST ANNUAL CONTINUITY MAD PRIDE PUNK TEA DANCE - A MATINEE" at The Lexington, 96-98 Pentonville Road, London N1
The show will launch the new compilation CD CONTINUITY MAD PRIDE featuring live performances by THE CERAMIC HOBS, HYSTERIA WARD and JOWE HEAD and 13 more bands, and all paying guests will be given a free copy. Advance tickets £6
Looking forward to see many of you at our monthly meeting on Monday as the discussions promise to be of great interest. Talking stick rule will be enforced and 10p penalties will be applied to those that fail to comply ;)
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