Thursday 8 August 2019

August Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We wish to send massive congratulations to the Deaf men that just finished completing the Two Deaf Foots John O'Groats to Lands End walk across Britain.
Mark Hodgson started his journey from John O' Groats on June 5 and was later joined by Daniel DorneyThe aim of their challenge was to raise awareness about the "mental health crisis" faced by the deaf community, following thesad news of a number of deaf people that took their lives across the country lately. What set the alarm was the passing of Daniel Webster earlier this year, when took his life after being denied access to direct BSL services by his local CCGwww.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/danielmjwebsterfund

Donations of this latest foundrise will go to SignHealth and Deaf4Deaf charities, which provide services for Deaf/BSL users also remotely, via video-chat, with the hope to reach as many Deaf people in need of talking therapies and support  www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/2deaffoot?utm_term=7PvnpAdPg

Deaf suicide survivor Richard D France asserted how the services received within the Deaf unit at Springfield Hospital, in South London, made a whole difference in his care and health improvement. He talks about his experience in a documentary released recently www.bslzone.co.uk/watch/getting-personal-pilot
Once again healthy and clear communication seems to be essential while offering help and support, rather than pills and forced treatments.
Specialised Deaf units also provide a healthy ratio between patients to nursing staff on wards, something that it's generally missing in general/mainstream wards, where nurses often work 12-14hrs shifts (if not doing a double shift covering for staff shortage doing TWO straight shifts), while overloaded with bureaucratic duties.

Most of the mainstream services, conferences and events are not accessible to the Deaf community, creating massive gaps to the information that reach them.
It must be stressed that not all deaf people use sign language and deafness in se is not necessarily the cause of mental illness in the individuals.
It is important to carry on these conversations and strengthening the arguments, as change is happening, even if at a slow pace.
Concluding the topic with the You Have to be deaf to understand the deaf poem, written in 1971 by Willard J. Madsen, professor of journalism at Gallaudet University.

As always we look forward to see many of you for our monthly F.E.E.L. meeting which is taking place on 
Monday the 19th August at LARC 6:30-8:30pm.
Also stay tuned for the forthcoming Art and Protest - Exhibition at the Bethlem Gallery, curated by Dolly Sen, opening next month.
Our FEEL banner with the Loonies Proverb will be exhibited there possibly encouraging the sprouting of more seeds. Details below.


EVENTS & OTHER NEWS

Call for Solutions - Ideas and suggestions for a better welfare benefits system
The Commission on Social Security led by Experts by Experience are gathering ideas and suggestions for a better social security system.
The deadline for submissions has now been extended until the end of August warwick.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0BNZ7EnuWbbhsBn

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Survivors' Poetry Live at the Poetry Cafe 
Thu 8 August, 7:30-10.30pm. Arrive 7pm to sign up (1.50 floorspots / 2.50 conc/ 3.50). 
The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton St, Covent Garden WC2H 9BX. 
Guest artists Jeanetter Ju-Pierre. MC Dave Russell. Facebook: Survivor's Poetry Gigs

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1960s and 70s Underground Press, 
by UCL Institute of Advanced Studies 
Tue, 13 August 12:30 – 14:15 pm, IAS Common Ground, South Wing, Wilkins Building, UCL, Gower Street, LONDON WC1E 6BT

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'Picnics are a Health Outcome', a Mental Health Resistance Network pic-nic 
Wed 14 August, Hyde Park www.facebook.com/events/3235989503085510
MHRN are challenging NHS England to remove the statement in their NHS long term plan that cites work as a health outcome for mental health treatments.
Everyone is welcome to join the pic-nic & performances in Hyde Park (flyers attached) 

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Spirituality & Recovery Peer Support Group
*Last Wednesday of the month 2pm - 4pm  (optional mindfulness: 1.30pm-2pm)
The Canvas Cafe 42 Hanbury St, London E1 5JL. Enquiries: elft.SpiritualPeer@nhs.net
2nd Friday of the month 3pm - 4.30pm (optional mindfulness: 2.30pm-3pm)
St John's Church, Broadway, Stratford, London E15 1NG Enquiries: elft.SpiritualPeer@nhs.net
 
 
 
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LHVN NETWORK MEETING, Speaker: MICK MCKEOWN
Wednesday 4th September, 2pm - 5pm, Mind in Camden, Barnes House 9-15 Camden Rd, NW1 9LQ
Please let us know if you will be attending, and encourage your group members to attend lhvn@mindincamden.org.uk
It is a meeting for group members, and anyone interested, as well as facilitators.

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WILLIAM BLAKE EXHIBITION 
11 September 2019 – 2 February 2020, TATE BRITAIN, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG

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Art & Protest: What’s there to be mad about?

7th September - 8th November, Bethlem Gallery, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX
Open 10am - 5pm Wednesday - Friday. Including first and last Saturdays of the month.

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'Putting Power into Participation' focus group
Friday 20th September, 11am to 3pm, Voluntary Action Islington, 200a Pentonville Road, London N1 9JP
Shaping Our Lives and the University of Essex are looking for people with lived experience of using services to take part in a focus group in London on Friday 20th September. They want to find out about how involvement and participation can lead to direct policy change. This workshop will explore ways in which service users might be enabled to directly challenge policy decisions that affect them. The emphasis will be on identifying processes in and around participative democracy. 
Refreshments and a light lunch is provided. Travel and support: Reasonable travel and support costs will be funded. There is an involvement payment of £25 for those people who wish to accept it. Contact Becki Meakin on 07956 424511 or at becki@shapingourlives.org.uk 

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Engaging with Voicesby Balanced Minds, £10 – £25
Thu, 26 September10:00 - 16:00, Golders Green Friends Meeting House17 North Square, London NW11 7AD

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I is for Insult: questioning "Borderline Personality Disorder", With Rachel Rowan Olive

27th September 2019, 10.30 - 17.00, Cardboard Citizens, Cardboard Citizens, 77A Greenfield Road, Whitechapel, London E1 1EJ

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Mental Health Crisis Summit

Sat, 28 September 10:00 – 17:00, Royal Free Campus, UCL Medical School, Rowland Hill St, Hampstead, London NW3 2PF
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mental-health-crisis-summit-tickets-61871782166

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'DROP THE DISORDER' - THE BOOK!
You can pre-order your copy of the new Drop The Disorder book www.pccs-books.co.uk/products/drop-the-disorder/
Find out about their upcoming events in different towns and cities around the UK www.adisorder4everyone.com/events

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7th British Congress on Medicine and Spirituality, by BUSS - British Union of Spiritist Societies

9 + 10 November 10am-5:30pm, Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, W1 6XT London

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/7th-british-congress-on-medicine-and-spirituality-tickets-56246935097

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The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) online tool
Released recently for people with mental health or mental capacity issues: It gives tips on how to identify whether an issue you have with your care or treatment is a human rights issue. It provides suggestions on how to use a human rights approach to overcome these challenges knowyourhumanrights.co.uk

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Matthew Leahy death public inquiry
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/255823

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Callout for people in self-employed, zero hours or gig jobs. Share your experiences of being on Universal Credit

If you are in a self employed, zero hour or gig economy job and you are claiming Universal Credit, DPAC are interested to know your experiences of claiming UC while self employed. Is it working OK? Or not? Please email mail@dpac.uk.net and share your experience.

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Free Our People Now - Institutions are No Solution  fundraiser

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Reparations For An Oppressive Psychiatric System Petition

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How can the Power Threat Meaning Framework be applied to experiences perceived to be transcendent/ transformative, or spiritual, and how could it be used to support this?
Fri, 17 January 202010:00 – 17:00Conway Hall25 Red Lion SquareLondon WC1R 4RL