Dear Friends,
We hope you have entered 2019 in good health and good spirit.
January is a dreaded month for many. The 3rd Monday of January has even been labelled "Blue Monday", and that happens to be when our next monthly meeting is taking place.
Please, join us on Monday 21st at LARC, 62 Fieldgate St, London E1 1ES from 6:30-8:30 pm, and together we might turn that Monday turquoise-like.
Something will be announced on the evening as well (clue: being free on Tue 22 Jan might help dispersing some blues...)
Please note that we are planning a public event on the theme of the Mental Health Act review. This will take place on Friday the 22nd February 2019 at Kingsley Hall, 7-9pm. Save the date pls.
Confirmed speakers are Dorothy Gould (NSUN), Akiko Hart (Mind in Camden, Hearing Voices Network, ISPSUK). More news and details will circulate soon.
2018 ended with some peculiar events, among the various political crises and uproars around the world, not mentioning refugees, brexit, Christian's walls or yellow vests here... The Globe is rumbling allover.
We've heard that Dr Peter Gøtzsche was expelled from the Cochrane Collaboration and a petition in protest was started: www.ipetitions.com/
Now the Institute for Scientific Freedom is going to be launched in Denmark next March. Sure something to look forward/follow as close as possible www.deadlymedicines.dk
Scottish Psychiatrist Dr Peter Gordon officially presented his resignation as a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists last November and how did RCP responded?
Dr Gordon has been raising awareness about the need of a Sunshine legislation (regulations requiring openness in government or business) for several years.
Such laws certainly would bring down the barriers of deceit and expose important truths behind psychiatry. Many psychiatrist, psy-nurses and other mental health professionals silently quit their involvement and/or career in the field. Psychiatry has created such a toxic and damaging environment to work in - not mentioning the poor souls that are meant to be receiving care, and instead are subjected to torture, experimentation and damaging effects from the forceful drugging and often inhumane treatments. So well done and all the best to Dr Gordon and his remarkable work.
Another great news is the recommendation from the All Party Parliamentary Group for the NHS to integrate more complementary, traditional and natural medicine theanp.co.uk/Blog/6959600 It is time that Ethical and natural, safe and real healthcare/medicine are offered for people's sake, not corporate greed. This is a good cause to support.
BBC TWO is showing the Film "I, Daniel Blake" tomorrow Sat 5 Jan 2019 at 21:45pm www.bbc.co.uk/
Most activist and campaigners might have already seen it. Worth watching it again and pass the link around.
Please note some of the awesome events listed below.
Looking forward to the first Compassionate Mental Health in London and special guests next week.
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Speak Out Against Psychiatry Meeting
Saturday 5th January 2019 , 2.30-4.30pm, The Cock Tavern, 23 Phoenix Rd, NW1 1HB London.
Held every two weeks in general but considering making this once a month – to be discussed.
Be prepared to buy a drink and make a small donation to the publican’s charity for use of the room.
email: speakoutagainstpsychiatry@gmail.com; Twitter: @soapgroup
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Studio Upstairs - 30 Year Anniversary Exhibition
Studio Upstairs 30th anniversary exhibition is at Stour Space, 7 Roach Rd, E3 2PA Hackney, till 13th January
Exhibition includes both artworks from the Dalston and Croydon studio. Studio Upstairs is an arts and wellbeing charity working in London, with studios in East London (Dalston), South London (Croydon) and Bristol, which aims to provide holistic support to adults who are experiencing enduring mental or emotional difficulties www.
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Compassionate Mental Health - Safe Spaces for Suffering & Joy
Thu 10 Jan 2019 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Kingsley Hall, Bromley-by-Bow, London E3 3HJ
Speakers and facilitators include: Will Hall, Dr Joseph H. Berke, Akiko Hart and core Compassionate mental health team members, Malcolm Stern, Andy Bradley and Brigid Bowen. To book tickets www.tickettailor.com/events/
Some limited bursary places for people with personal experience on a low income, please contact Brigid Bowen ask@compassionatementalhealth.
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Survivors' Poetry Live at the Poetry Cafe (every second Thursday of the month - see leaflet attached)
Thu 10th Dec, 7:30-10.30pm. Arrive 7pm to sign up for floorspots (1.50 floorspots / 2.50 concessions / 3.50 the full ticket).
The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton St, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9BX Facebook: Survivor's Poetry Gigs.
An evening of Poetry and song. MC Alastair Murray; resident musician Dave Russell.
Featured Guest the brilliant hiphop and spoken word artist POTENT WHISPER: 'Changing the world one rhyme at at time' www.potentwhisper.com
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London Group of the Spiritual Crisis Network (Monthly meeting)
Friday 11 January 2019 Arrive 7pm for 7.15pm (future dates, usually on the 2nd Friday of the month: February 8th March 8th April 12th), London Buddhist Centre, 51 Roman Rd Bethnal Green London E2 0HU.
If 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.
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Psychology, Equality and Social Justice
Sat 19 Jan 2019, 12:30-5:30pm, London School of Economics, Wolfson Theatre, 54 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ. Dismayed at the state of the world in 2019? Appalled by food banks and hostile environments and homeless people dying on the streets? Here's a resolution for 2019: let's use our work to make a difference. Come to 'Psychology for Social Justice and Equality' at LSE, Jan 19th. A meeting to launch new initiatives. No fees/tickets etc needed. For details contact evangelos.ntontis@canterbury.
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Support Stansted 15
15 human rights defenders peacefully and non-violently prevented a mass deportation flight at Stansted Airport in 2017, but have been found guilty of 'endangering safety at aerodromes' under serious terror-related charges. Their action enabled at least 11 asylum seekers to be given the right to stay permanently in the UK and highlighted injustices in the immigration and asylum system. Please protest against this outrageous verdict that suggests a link between non-violent protest and terrorism. You can help by signing change.org petition to reverse the verdict and can donate to the defendants' costs here.
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Help CHRUSP advocate at the UN
The Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (CHRUSP) is a non-profit fighting for the worldwide abolition of involuntary confinement and involuntary 'treatment', an atrocity of great magnitude that is commonly overlooked or worse, considered to be a positive good by well-meaning people.
Please donate to help CHRUSP sending delegates to UN meetings and create resources for continued advocacy by users and survivors of psychiatry
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UK Premiere: 'Fattitude' Body-Positive Documentary Screening
Sat, February 2, 2019 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Everyman Kings Cross 14-18 Handyside Street London N1C 4DNUK
Premiere of the US 'Fattitude' Documentary exploring weight-stigma, body positivity, and fat activism hosted by the charity AnyBody UK
www.eventbrite.co.uk/
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Symposium about Scientific Freedom And the inauguration of the Institute for Scientific Freedom.
Saturday, 9 March 2019 at Bethesda, Rømersgade 17, København (Israels Plads), Denmark
Peter C. Gøtzsche, Peter Breggin, Robert Whitaker among other speakers
- www.deadlymedicines.dk
- breggin.com/G%C3%B8tzsche/19-
March-2019-Symposium-and- opening-of-the-Institute-for- Scientific-Freedom-programme. pdf - www.madinamerica.com/
2018/12/institute-scientific-freedom
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OUPS Annual Conference - Parapsychology
10th-12th May 2019, Warwick University
The conference will put research described as 'paranormal' under the microscope of critical scrutiny. Phenomena to be discussed include near-death experiences, poltergeists, and the veracity of readings by mediums. This will be presented to be of interest to both academics and lay persons www.oups.org.uk/
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Transformation, Illness and Identity
6th July 2019 Holiday Inn Riverlights, Derby - Day Session (9-5) TBC, Derby - Evening Session (7.30-10.00)
CALL FOR PAPERS (Day Session) POETRY/PROSE (Evening Session)
Please send all submissions to Hannah via compassion_well@hotmail.co.uk before the 4th February 2019 compassionatewellbeingcon
***Best wishes for a healthy, happy and productive 2019!***
F.E.E.L. - Friends of East End Loonies
FEEL meets the third Monday of each month 6.30 - 8.30 pm
@ LARC 62, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1 1ES, London UK
friends-of-east-end-loonies.blogspot.co.uk
www.facebook.com/feel.campaign
@ LARC 62, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1 1ES, London UK
friends-of-east-end-loonies.blogspot.co.uk
www.facebook.com/feel.campaign
