Dear Friends,
We've had a good meeting last month, celebrating David Kessel's birthday and discussing the cracking of the system we are living in.
Many thanks to Sam Shakes (samshakes.wordpress.com ) for coming along and talking about the free Writers Group she is running at St Joseph's Hospice, open to anyone experiencing grief. One session is happening this afternoon 2-4pm and every fortnight in the Garden Room in Mare St, London E8 4SA, a.shalts@stjh.org.uk.
We also wish to share a reminder of the weekly support group Nick Waller has now been running with the Lifehouse, now over 3 yrs old.
This drop in free service meets every Tuesday from 5.30-7.30pm at The Bromley by Bow Centre, St Leonard’s Street, London, E3 3BT.
On arrival please phone Nick on 07926 886372.
Among other things we've discussed forced and damaging drugging (Daryl's PSSD awareness campaign Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction pssdblog.blogspot.co.uk is still active) and the FDAAA 2007 law that now seems to be enforced since Feb 2018 (only 11 yrs delay!) fdaaa.trialstracker.net Let's remember that trails have a very short lived testing period, while severe damaging result often show up years later, if not right away. Who's paying the consequences of these?
It's no surprise that movements such as absoluteprohibition.org and many others organisations are arising. These might come predominantly from Survivor of psychiatry perspectives, as mental illness are still heavily stigmatised and issues silenced behind closed institutional doors. The real and never ending business in marketing around mental health is a complete JOKE! Here perhaps is where the cracking of the system (psychiatry) is very much needed and we should welcome it, not forgetting to wear a safety helmet!
Next, FEEL will be supporting the "Spirit of Philip Morgan" special event on Saturday 5 May, remembering our friend Philip that passed away one year ago. The event is taking place at the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives, 277 Bancroft Road, London E1 4DQ between 12noon-4pm.
Do join us for the FEEL monthly meeting next Monday 16th April at LARC from 6:30pm and find more info/events to follow.
---------------------------------
Lets Take the PM to Court - Ministers Must Respect International Law
We are the Gulf Center for Human Rights (www.gc4hr.org) and we are challenging the government’s decision to weaken the Ministerial Code by completely removing the requirement that ministers comply with international law. Since 2011, we have been documenting serious violations of human rights committed against human rights defenders across the Gulf region, detained, tortured or facing the death penalty. We know why government officials must respect and promote international law...Read more and support this cause www.crowdjustice.com/case/dontcrossoutthecode/
---------------------------------
Meeting to promote a rights based approach to the Mental Health Act, by NSUN & Inclusion London
Thu 12 April, 1.45pm - 4pm, 336, Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA - in the conference room.
A meeting to put together ideas for letters to the government and Professor Sir Simon Wessely and for a press release which advocate a human rights approach to current plans to reform the Mental Health Act.
To join email gould.dorothy@gmail.com
www.nsun.org.uk/news/nsun-organises-meeting-to-promote-a-rights-based-approach-to-the-mental-health-act
---------------------------------
London Group of the Spiritual Crisis Network (Monthly meeting)
Friday 13th April. Arrive 7pm for 7.15pm start till 9:15pm (following dates: May 11th; June 8th; July 13th; August 10th)
London Buddhist Centre, 51 Roman Rd Bethnal Green London E2 0HUIf you're planning to attend you might contact londonSCN@gmx.co.uk; you can call 07930 415 506 if you come late and have difficulty accessing the building. Do not attempt to contact this number except on the evening of the meeting, as it won't be switched on. Wait at reception if you arrive early (before 7pm). Please try not to interrupt the end of yoga session in the basement.The national SCN website is spiritualcrisisnetwork.uk Please do take a look. The London group was set up in line with the ethos/aims expressed there.
---------------------------------
Deaf Day 2018 www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/deaf-day-2018
Saturday 14th April, 10am – 4pm, City Lit, 1-10 Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 4BAFor 22 years Deaf Day has attracted thousands of deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing people of every age from across the UK. People come to socialise, exchange information and celebrate deaf issues. Come and visit a range of exhibition stands with organisations and groups demonstrating products and services. FREE Admission. FREE entertainment, workshops and BSL interpreted taster courses throughout the day. Crèche available. ALL welcome! For more info please email deafday@citylit.ac.uk
---------------------------------
Five Ways to Wellbeing Festival - Cool Tan Arts
Saturday 14th April 11am-5pm, 155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RSThe Five Ways to Wellbeing are a nationally-recognised set of guidelines for anyone looking to improve their wellbeing. This Festival is an opportunity to find out more about them, and how you can pursue them in your everyday life and local community.See program and book activities here www.cooltanarts.org.uk/events/five-ways-wellbeing-festival/
---------------------------------
Speak Out Against Psychiatry meeting (Held every two weeks in general)
Sat 14 April, 2.30-4.30pm, The Cock Tavern, 23 Phoenix Rd, NW1 1HB London.
If the upstairs room is not available meeting will move to the back of the downstairs room to the left of the front door or down the road to The Somers Town Coffee House, 60 Chalton Street, NW1
email: speakoutagainstpsychiatry@gmail.com
Twitter @soapgroup
FB www.facebook.com/groups/speakoutagainstpsychiatry; www.networkagainstpsychiatricassault.org
@CherylPrax
Please sign e-petition to send to UK Government - abolish Electroconvulsive Therapy - ECT – Electroshock www.change.org/p/hm-government-abolish-psychiatric-electroconvulsive-therapy-ect-electroshock-to-the-brain
---------------------------------
Book Launch: "An Ever River" by David Russell
Monday 16 April, 7:00 PM, Dragon Cafe, Crypt of St George the Martyr, , Borough High Street, , London SE1 1JA
Contact: enquiries@palewellpress.co.uk; Ph. 0771 332 7217
The exciting long-awaited launch of poetry pamphlet "An Ever River" by David Russell, Editor of Poetry Express Newsletter. David writes passionate surreal Eco-poetry to communicate his urgent concerns about all types of environment: natural, artificial, human, urban, mental and emotional. www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/events/readings/?id=13806
---------------------------------
Colouring Books that Cross the Line: 'I love psychiatry colouring book' by Dolly Sen
Dolly Sen describes herself as an artist who likes 'put psychiatry over my lap and slap its naughty bum'. She is a writer, film-maker, mental health consultant and trainer, with lived experience of psychosis, mood disorder and PTSD. Dolly's 'I love psychiatry colouring book' highlights all that is wrong with psychiatry, interspersed with some humorous pictures.Order your copy at amzn.eu/1GHSYAv
You can find out more about Dolly's work on her website dollysen.com
Source: disabilityarts.online/colouring-books-cross-line/
---------------------------------
Stop and Scrap Universal Credit – DAY OF ACTION
Wed 18 April 2018 – London: Meet 11am outside the visitors’ entrance to House of Commons dpac.uk.net/2018/03/national-day-of-action-to-stopandscrap-universal-credit-march-1st/
Local action outside Kentish Town Jobcentre to be confirmed Sheffield: dpac.uk.net/2018/03/18-april-universal-credit-national-day-of-action-sheffield-demo/
We’re taking part in the UK day of action to ‘Stop and Scrap’ Universal Credit (UC) called by Disabled People Against Cuts and others. UC cuts benefit to disabled people, mothers and children, including disabled children, and increases sanctions. We will remember single mum of four Elaine Morrall who died after her UC was stopped for missing a Jobcentre interview while she was in hospital intensive care.
---------------------------------
Soul Relics Museum pop-up exhibition
April 16- May 20th, 9 am - 5 pm on weekdays+ Health Stories Exhibition Reception Wed 16 May 5-7 pm for mental health awareness week (RSVP here: goo.gl/p2vVX5)King’s College London, SGDP centre, DeCrespigny Park, 111 Denmark Hill London SE5 8AQ
Crowdfunding page to support the project www.youcaring.com/soulrelicsmuseum More info soulrelicsmuseum.me/home
---------------------------------
fill yr gob first then speak for maximum effect, by gobscure
24 April, 19:30 pm, Camden People’s Theatre 58-60 Hampstead Road London NW1 2PY Price: £12 / £10 with an austerity crutch (only one, apparently hard-working families demanded it) & coal from newcastle we’ll examine erasures of memories to discover poetic truths – remembering is more urgent than ever. this performance is inspired by one of our closest friends who was taught by her tyneside miner-dad before world war two: ‘never speak with yr mouth-half full. fill it first & then speak for greatest effect.’ luxury biscuits will get sprayed! trailer at www.dailymotion.com/video/x6gugbq there will be 4 work-in-progress presentations in the one night & all on the one ticket.
Part of: COMMON PEOPLE: A festival exploring working-class experiences
Tue 17-Sat 28 April www.cptheatre.co.uk/wp_theatre_season/common-people/
Also from gobscure: "rouse yer cwm" print on demand publicationA scratch-torn-faded cut-ups culled from european public texts this past decade+ - a collective for the broken narrative alls living thru & widely distributed. & print on demand - yr paying for paper / printing / mailing £2.90
www.lulu.com/shop/gobscure/rouse-yer-cwm/paperback/product-23553526.html
---------------------------------
National ‘Oppose Driver Only Operation’ Rally
Wednesday 25th April, 11.30 am at Old Palace Yard, London, SW1P 3JY opposite the Palace of Westminster (in front of the George V statue). This important rally coincides with the 2nd anniversary of the start of RMT strike action against Driver Only Operation. Since then members in six companies have taken action in opposition to this privatised rail assault on jobs, safety, security and accessibility dpac.uk.net/2018/04/national-oppose-driver-only-operation-rally-wednesday-25th-april/
---------------------------------
The Mental Health Act: A Human Rights Perspective - presented by the National Hearing Voices NetworkFri, 27 April, 10am- 16:30pm, AGM will follow at 5pm @ Amnesty International 17-25 New Inn Yard London, EC2A 3EA
"In this one day event, we invite you to join us to explore the mental health act from a human rights perspective. We will be creating space for discussion, reflection and exploration of the impact the Mental Health Act has had on each of us (and those we care about), and the changes you would like to see happen in the forthcoming review."
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-mental-health-act-a-human-rights-perspective-registration-42935021806
---------------------------------
Spirit of Philip Morgan
Saturday 5 May, 1 - 4pm, Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives, 277 Bancroft Road, London E1 4DQ.Organised by the Friends of Philip Morgan, THACMHO (Tower Hamlets African and Caribbean Organisation), Philip's relatives and the Survivors History Group (SHG). Details and program studymore.org.uk/spirit.htm
During the month of May 2018, Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives will display the Power Writers Exhibition in memory of Philip and other African writers who had connections with Tower Hamlets area in the 18th century www.ideastore.co.uk/local-history. The SHG meeting on 5th May will be the official launch of the exhibition and will include an introduction to the Tower Hamlets Libraries and Archives African and Caribbean Community collection.For more details and the SHG future meetings, please visit studymore.org.uk/mpu.htm#NextMeeting
---------------------------------
Inspiring Change Festival
Sun 13 May - Sun 24 June, ten venues in Surrey and London. Inspiring Change features the work of eight performance companies plus a wonderfully diverse range of speakers, workshop leaders, poets and artists. Inspiring Change is a Festival of plays and wrap around events celebrating a positive and compassionate approach to mental health www.mindfitness.training/inspiring-change
---------------------------------
National Hoarding Conference - Improving Person-Centred Outcomes, by HoardingUK
Mon 14 May, 9 am-16:30pm, Emirates Stadium Hornsey Road London N7 7AJ
Nationwide event for people affected by hoarding behaviour and for supporting professional services. The theme this year is 'Partnership Working'. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/national-hoarding-conference-improving-person-centred-outcomes-tickets-41878500723?aff=erellivmlt
---------------------------------
APOD - Peer-supported Open Dialogue
If you attended the POD Conference this year or if you didn't make it and are interested in the slides that were used on the day, please find them on their website as well as the slides from previous conferences apopendialogue.org/pod-conference-2018/
