Tuesday, 23 May 2017

May Newsletter

Dear Friends,

May has been an intense month and it is not over yet. It was sad to wake up to the news of yet another 'terror attack' today, whatever the reason behind it, with the loss of more innocent lives in Manchester.

We were very pleased with the turn out and participation to the recent events at Kingsley Hall and wish to thank all involved. Thanking warmly Dr Moncrieff, Dr Ruth Cooper and Marion O'Brien for their time and contributions at the RADAR + PIP event on 12th May, we'd like to share some footage kindly collected by ‎Sian Whitehead‎ http://bit.ly/2qKbzju. Also find some stills from the event http://bit.ly/2rwBDjp



The community screening of The Divide also brought together a varied audience and interesting discussions.
Thanks again to everyone that has somehow contributed to these.

Recently Myra told us about a woman (Service User) which considered our name to be offensive (we are calling OURSELVES Loonies, not certainly offending anyone, are we?).
Now, in plan for sometimes, yet still in sketch, I would like to announce a special date: Saturday 9th of September we'll be hosting the Loonies Fest, which will take place at Kingsley Hall. More updates will circulate soon.

Among many things we'll remember the 10th anniversary since the total shutting of St Clements Hospital, which coincides with the origin of FEEL us Loonies joining our dissenting forces in a not-hierarchical (someone calls it disorganised, sic!) way and we are still here! Isn't it amazing?

Hopefully that 'offended' woman will get the chance to change her mind, perhaps get some education in regards of mad culture and embrace her lunacy in the process.

We probably have done already our part in these ten years and deserve a bit of respite for the short lives we are meant to live.

For those riding the wave please do check the events listed below.

NSUN annual survey closes 24th May 2017
Last chance to have your say. Participate in shaping NSUN.
Take the members' survey for the leading independent national mental health organisation.
Comments will remain anonymous. Data will be stored until completion of the annual evaluation work.
It will take approximately 10 minutes http://bit.ly/2qKnMVq

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Horizon: Why Did I Go Mad?

This past 2nd May, BBC 2 showed Horizon: Why Did I Go Mad? at prime time. The recently released documentary is still available for viewing on i-player for a few days and is also BSL (British Sign Language) accessible. We hope that it will be released on general, unrestricted viewing soon and more examples of madness, successful and/or not to be displayed in the future. Huge congratulations to all involved in the execution of this work, and kudos for the mentioning of a possible drug-free existence bbc.in/2oHGauA

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Introduction to User/Survivor Research in Mental Health Mind in Camden

Trainer: Jayasree Kalathil is a researcher, writer and activist in mental health with over 15 years of experience.
She runs the virtual collective, Survivor Research.
Thursday 1 June 10-4.30 pm @ Conway Hall, 25 red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

More information and booking (various prices) bit.ly/2rwc6a6

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Making Sense of Madness: An emancipatory approach


A one day training led by Jacqui Dillon and Rai Waddingham
Theme of the training will be voices, visions, paranoia, unusual beliefs and altered states

Fri 7 July 09:45 – 16:30 @ Hackney House, 27 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3LT
More information and booking (various prices) bit.ly/2rLz4ak

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DSM69 by Dolly Sen’s Manual of Psychiatric Disorder


Dolly Sen is a well known artist and activist working and exploring what it means to experience mental distress and the effects of being labelled with a psychiatric diagnosis. DSM69 is a small booklet, a notice of intent, containing a selection of Dolly’s art and several manifestos. Pre-orders of DSM69 can be purchased from this website: bit.ly/2qf8gxd
and from Amazon here: amzn.to/2qK774a

Also by Dolly Sen
Please sign and share Dolly's petition, addressed to the HCPC & Nursing Council

The Nursing & Midwifery council hold accountability and fairness as their values. They are both regulatory bodies, set up to protect the public. Please withdraw support for Work Capability Assessments bit.ly/2pU151j

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Breaking Convention 2017

The 4th International Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness

Breaking Convention is a biennial multidisciplinary conference on psychedelic consciousness, featuring more than 150 presenters from around the world, happening between June 30 - July 2, 2017

University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, London
For more information, visit bit.ly/2qKmDxf

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ANTIUNIVERSITY NOW


Antiuniversity Now is a collaborative experiment to challenge institutionalised education, access to learning and the mechanism of knowledge creation and distribution.

Initiated in 2015, Antiuniversity Now was set up to reignite the 1968 Antiuniversity of London with the intention to challenge academic and class hierarchy and the exclusivity. A rich and varied programme can be found on www.antiuniversity.org

Some recommendations among a long list of interesting events on various themes:

-Politicising Anxiety: From Precarity to Care bit.ly/2qQNeJe
Anxiety is everywhere at the moment, but too often it is seen strictly as a condition of the individual. This event will be a talk and workshop on politicising anxiety; on framing it as a social phenomenon. Anxiety takes different forms and we see these multiple anxieties as weapons of the ruling class, as the result of a crisis of reproduction and a condition of capitalism itself. One response to this, we suggest, is collectivised care.
Sat 10 June 1-4 pm @ 7 The White Building, Queen's Yard, White Post Ln, London E9 5EN

-Speak Out Against Psychiatry 6th birthday Speak Out & picnic bit.ly/2qKh15O
Six years ago SOAP (Speak Out Against Psychiatry) held their first Speak Out in front of the Royal College of Psychiatry (then based in Belgrave Square) followed by a picnic in Hyde Park. The event will be repeated to celebrate the 6 years of fighting an inhumane psychiatric system. There will be plenty of posters to read and people to have a one-to-one with and the chance to try the 'diagnostic wheel' which is just as reliable as the DSM 5!
Sunday 11 June. Meet 2-5 pm for Speak Out @ Speakers Corner (nearest tube Marble Arch) then move to park for picnic after (weather permitting)

-Psycho-coercion & Psycho-resistance bit.ly/2rwao8k
An event to explore and build resistance to the increasing use of psychology to coerce and compel us through moral mantras like the 'work cure' and the use of psychometric tests, mood monitoring and mindfulness. Featuring talk and discussion from academics and activists working to question psycho-coercion. As well as a screening of Harry Giles' Everything I bought and how it made me feel.
Mon 12 June 6-8 pm @ Red Gallery, 1-3 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DT

-Using Art in Mental Health Activism bit.ly/2rcWOae
If you are brutalised or abused by the mental health system and want to challenge and resist that, what can you do without it being pathologised as part of your condition? Join Dolly Sen for two hours of reflection on the relationship between art and mental health activism.
Monday 12 June, 7-9 pm @ Dragon Cafe, The Crypt at St George The Martyr Church, Borough High St, London SE1 1JA

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