October Newsletter - FEEL meeting Mon 16 Oct @ LARC

Dear Friends,

Next week is the usual date for World Mental Health Day: 10 October as each year gets overly loaded with events and programs to raise awareness on mental health. You should be able to find events happening locally to you with ease. It is a shame that these mostly ignore the damages caused by the most popular way to deal with peoples problems: medications and their severe and problematic side effects.

​Following the recent event in Las Vegas there have been plenty of ​articles of professionals ​circulating in regards to the DANGERS of medications (since patients complains are ​SHAMEFULLY often ignored). I invite you to read this
suzycohen.com/articles/benzodiazepines-dangers-lies/?inf_contact_key=c29bbcf170637f6dcdd672ae796677356ca7cda05aa8a37eb15cd568e89973eb

While deaths within hospitals are often labelled as 'cardiac arrest' (that's obvious, isn't it?)​ ​so that the real effect and cause of death can be sweep under the rugs​,​ I am profoundly saddened ​that one more victim has just happened again recently and locally. ​

​In the main time APRIL - Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link web site is back on line www.april.org.uk

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) and withdrawal effects changing mood and behaviour need to be studied and understood, the website says. I would add that alternative​s and more gentle and OBVIOUS ways to deal with peoples distress should be more readily available.

​Not forgetting the CRAZY world we are living in where it's impossible not to be affected and disturbed by.

​​Next Monday 16th October at our FEEL monthly meeting we'll have a special guest: ​Paula Peters (DPAC & MHRN) will kindly visit to share some very delicate information. Paula says: "The UK was the first state to be formally investigated under the UNCRPD. The first state to be found guilty of grave and systematic human rights violations towards disabled people. UNCRPD found that the impact of the cuts on disabled people are causing a human catastrophe. Just a heads up for anyone who end up losing their home because of DWP sanctions that remove their JSA and ESA. Please ensure that you or anyone you know who is sanctioned understands that there is help. If your money is stopped you can go to the council and fill in a Nil Income form. That will reinstate rent and council tax and give access to further help like meter credits, foodbank vouchers and emergency cash payments. This info is not readily available sadly and it should be. The authorities will only deal with it if you ask specifically which is a disgrace. So if your benefits have been sanctioned then remember help is still available."

At the meeting we'll also talk about the recent WCA, ESA and UC changes that have been announced last week www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-and-universal-credit-changes-to-the-work-capability-assessment/employment-and-support-allowance-and-universal-credit-changes-to-the-work-capability-assessment-from-29-september-2017 and more. Do join us from 6:30 at LARC.

Tomorrow RD Laing would have celebrated his 90th birthday.
Coincidentally there will be an event at Kingsley Hall, not related, see below.

​-------------------------------------------------

SCN talk – Managing the Threshold £5 (free for SCN members and friends). Tickets available on the door.Saturday 7th October 7.00- 9.00 pm Kingsley Hall, Powis Rd London, E3 3HJ
Between everyday reality and that encountered in Spiritual Crisis (sometimes labelled Psychosis)Evening discussion and social with Daniel Hadjiandeou and Isabel Clarke
spiritualcrisisnetwork.uk/event/volunteer-social-day/

​---------------------------------------------------

​COUNTER | CULTURE – Curated by Dee Sada £10/£8 (adv.), £6 members

AN EXPLORATION OF COMMUNITIES, ISOLATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND ACTIVISM.​
Sunday 8 Oct, 7.30pm Cafe OTO 18–22 Ashwin street Dalston London E8 3DL
- Screening of 'Estate' dir. by Andrea Luka Zimmerman (2015) 85 mins and Q&A with Andrea Zimmerman.
- Shy Radicals: The Anti-Systemic Politics of the Introvert Militant (2017) Hamja Ahsan book talk
- Screening of 'Lift' dir. by Marc Isaacs (2001) 24 mins
- LIVE: ORAL ORAL (Dee Sada-drums/bass/electronics, Mario Siebert-guitar, Max Allen-vox, Princess Julia-vox).
www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/counter-culture/#

​----------------------------------------------

Diaspora Dialogue’ Exhibition
Wed 18th to Tue 24th October 2017 from 10:30am to 5:00pm
Winns Gallery, Aveling Centre, Lloyd Park, London E17 5JW
The exhibition will provide an opportunity for emerging artist of African Caribbean descent to show their work alongside work of more established artist, creating a platform for those who lack the opportunity, knowledge or confidence to give their work exposure. www.aliciadean-artworks.co.uk www.blaqjacq.wixsite.com/jacqueline-mcfarlane



​----------------------------------------------

London Anarchist Bookfair 2017

Saturday 28th October from 10am to 7pm. Park View School West, Green Road, London, N15 3QR​

If you look at the Meetings page you can see all the meetings on the day, so you can start planning early what you want to go to. The Film room is slightly different this year in that it will be both films and live entertainment in room P5. The Other Events page has events going on once the Bookfair is finished for your evening entertainment. These are not organised by the bookfair collective but they are raising money to support the day’s activities. If you have any access requirements, please check out the Access page. Free child care is provided from 10am to 6pm for kids from 2 to 12.
anarchistbookfair.org.uk/home.html

​-----------------------------------------------

6th British Congress on Medicine and Spirituality £40 – £140
Sat 11 + Sun 12 November 2017 from 09:00am to 18:00pm
Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, Baker Street London NW1 6XT​

A two-day event organised by the International Spiritist Medical Association (AME International) and the British Union of Spiritist Societies (BUSS) which occurs every two years.
The speakers will discuss the paradigm of integrative medicine and the goal to bridge medicine and spirituality, focusing on treatments that champion the body-mind-spirit concept www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/6th-british-congress-on-medicine-and-spirituality-tickets-31875960857

Survivors Stories Closing Party tomorrow 19th Sept

Dear Friends,

The Loonies Fest wave is ending tomorrow evening with the closing party for the Survivors Stories art exhibition.

The show will be accessible between 4-8pm (with the Three Bees Cafe open 4-7pm) and will be accompanied by more activities and entertainment. Please note that there is no alcohol involved; feel free to BYO if you like, although we wish to remind to drink sensibly and support an alcohol/drugs free environment.

Join the complimentary Qi Gong session by Jade Lotus starting at 4:30pm www.jadelotus.co.uk

Relaxed poetry reading, music and performances will start at 6pm until 9pm. Closing with LOVE AID Kirtan & Celestial Sound Healing.

The symbolism of the closing party is aimed to bring to a close these celebrations, the end of the Summer and for any difficult phase people wishes to move forwards from.

Life does not spare anyone from traumas and suffering, it's just one side of the same coin of the existence we are called in to live. New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. Lao Tzu

See you at FEEL meeting later today or at one of the events below.

-----------------------------------------------

SOLO SHOW by Michelle Baharier: Living with Trauma
29 August to 6 October 2017 Open Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm (by appointment only) at the SHARP Gallery 308-312 Brixton Rd, London SW9 6AA Private view Monday 18th September 5-8Pm

-----------------------------------------------​

KNOW MY MIND PRESENTS So U Think I’m CraZy?
“Who would have thought I would end up like this?”

Mon 18 Sep – Thu 21 Sep, 7:30pm Tickets FULL: £12.50 CONCESSION: £10Ovalhouse 52-54 KENNINGTON OVAL LONDON SE11 5SW.

So U Think I'm CraZy? is a hard-hitting, emotive play exploring the issues surrounding mental health in Britain today told through the eyes of a young black man.Using dance, poetry and music this multi-sensory experience will take you from the streets of London to the secure wing of a psychiatric hospital.Know My Mind is a theatre company in Croydon, London, shining a spotlight on mental health issues from the perspective of service users and carers. So U Think I’m CraZy? is written and directed by KMM co-founder Ekanem Hines​ www.ovalhouse.com/whatson/detail/so-u-think-im-crazy​​

-----------------------------------------------​​​

Mirkwood - Book Launch and Exhibition
opening​18 September at 18:30–21:30

St Leonard’s Church (patron saint of the mental), 119 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JN London

Bethlem Mental Hospital, or 'Bedlam', throughout its history and four sites has occupied a liminal place. Situated always on the edge of society and on the border of the City. Today's Bethlem is comprised of numerous smaller blocks situated in and around the Forest.​ This book is a study from the Forest ​. “These photographs invoke the dark forests of Norse mythology: Myrkviðr (Mirkwood, literally ‘dark’ or ‘murky wood’), the great primeval forest that was once the border of the known world, a place of transition from one world to another, from one narrative to the next. A zone of transformation, of metamorphosis between different states of mind and being. “ Willard Kane 2015​

September Newsletter + healing live gig in support of Survivors Stories exhibition today

Dear Friends,

It was an awesome experience to co-create and be part of the Loonies Fest. As by a magic spell the day unfolded beautifully on a mostly sunny day, among pre-Autumnal weather. A truly special and extraordinary day filled by likewise extraordinary, delicious and authentic souls that engaged in activities, performances or simply by being there.

THANKS go to all Artists performing and contributing with their time and wit, workshop leaders and audience that created the awesome vibrant flow throughout the day. A photo album and thank you to all the (lunatic & non) co-creators of the day can be viewed here http://bit.ly/ and more photos are flowing in from others.



The Survivors Stories art exhibition will be accessible again this afternoon 4-8pm. The Three Bees Cafe will be open 4-7pm for delicious home made cakes and dish of the day.


If visiting the exhibition today join us also for a impromptu LOVE AID Kirtan & Celestial Sound Healing session, feat. Ion The Lion & Friends, live on stage from 5pm
http://bit.ly/2xEYoBI


This weekend in occasion of London Open House Kingsley Hall and the show can be accessed from 11am to 6pm (Sat 16 ONLY). Hourly tours of the building start at noon http://bit.ly/2xhZXI1


Next Monday the 18th we'll also be back to LARC for our monthly FEEL meeting. Join us to carry on the 10th years celebration of FEEL and variety through lunacy, of life.

Please find more events and dates for the diary below.

--------------------------------------------------------

Shy Radicals & Dolly Sen discuss Anti-psychiatry DSM 69
Wed 13 Sept 2017 7-8:30pm Housmans Radical Booksellers, 5 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX London

Discussion on influence of Antipsychiatry on ‘Shy Radicals: The Antisystemic Politics Of The Militant Introvert’ with Hamja Ahsan and Dolly Sen Wednesday 13th September,7pm Entry £3, redeemable against any purchase Hamja will be joined by Dolly Sen who will be exploring anti-psychiatry aspects of Shy Radicalism as well as talking about DSM 69, her parody of the Diagnostic Manual

--------------------------------------------------------



Robertfest 2017 by Mental Health Resistance Network MHRN

Sun 24 September 2017 noon to midnight Amersham Arms 388 New Cross Road London SE14 6TY

The event will include some of Robert’s favourite bands, including ATV, Vic Goddard, The Long Decline, The Astronauts, The Ceramic Hobbs, Dave Kusworth, Jowe Head and the Infernal Contraption, Alan Tyler, Frank Bangay, Melanie Clifford, Salad from Atlantis, Dave Russell, Paul Caton, MC Razz and special guests.

RobertFest 2017 will also host the inaugural Robert Dellar Lecture, an annual lecture building on the life, times and activism of Robert Dellar. The first Robert Dellar Lecture will be given by Prof Esther Leslie at 4.30 pm at the Amersham Arms. Booking details here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/robertfest-2017-tickets-37107687091

--------------------------------------------------------

nudging meteors - gobscure. 27.09.2017 to 10.11.2017.
Art house, Drury Ln, Wakefield WF1 2TE bit.ly/2wU8wcl

House presents new work by artist, writer and performer gobscure. With an international reputation and active involvement in disability arts,gobscure’s work challenges institutional narratives of psychiatry, encouraging debate about how we talk with each other about mental health and mental distress. gobscure.wixsite.com/info

Joey s/he - gobscure. 30th november / 1st december - 7:15pm. Camden People’s Theatre 58-60 Hampstead Road London NW1 2PY

work-in-progress - spiralling out of 1981 - hard-right government savagely cutting, race hate & riots, insanities over in the states but punk not pop punk ... www.cptheatre.co.uk/production/joey-she/

--------------------------------------------------------

SCN (Spiritual Crisis Network) talk – Managing the Threshold 7 October @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Kingsley Hall, Powis Rd, E3 3HJ

From his own intense and chaotic personal experience, Daniel Hadjiandreou shares what may occur when rapid opening to other dimensions happens without the skills and support of a loving, understanding community. He offers
some suggestions on how this journey can be smoother and less traumatic.

Isabel Clarke will put such journeys into another realm of experience into a context that places them at the heart of being human - and invites a radical new look at what it is to be human. Free for SCN members and friends.

£5 for others spiritualcrisisnetwork.uk/event/volunteer-social-day/

--------------------------------------------------------

SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL

10th-29th Oct 17. Challenging perceptions, supporting art and promoting change.The festival takes place across Scotland throughout October each year, aiming to support the arts and challenge preconceived ideas about mental health. The 11th festival will take place from the 10th of October 2017, follow on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates bit.ly/2gWkSH1

PRESS RELEASE: LOONIES FEST & ‘SURVIVORS STORIES’

LOONIES FEST
CREATING HEALING LUNACY
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday 9 September 2017


All events are taking place at Kingsley Hall
Powis Rd, Bromley-by-Bow E3 3HJ
Tube: Bromley-by-Bow; DLR: Bow Church
Buses: 8, 25, D8, 205, 108

ART - PERFORMANCES - MUSIC - ENTERTAINMENT - HEALING - RESPITE

Yes! A Loonies Fest. A Loonies Day.
A event to celebrate and honour people's lunacy, creativity and individuality. An all-day free festival where visual & performing arts, documented mad history and mad culture, will come together under one roof, giving people the opportunity to celebrate & network.
NOT insulting, NOT excluding anyone either (do you exclude mothers from the party, when celebrating father's day?)

The word Loonies needs clarification, as some people still find it to be offensive. We have embraced it and for the past 10 years it has empowered, accepting the fact of being vulnerable, mercurial beings, part of a complex Universe. Read on pls... 

 

The City of London Union Workhouse opened in 1849, housing the poor and the infirm and the staff that cared for them. The institution turned into a psychiatric facility in 1936 and was renamed St Clement's Hospital. 

Since the mid 1950s hospital patients received some support from the official League of Friends. This was a group of individuals that offered a trolley service with library books, newspapers, basic commodities such as sweets and toothpaste. Most importantly inpatients received a bit of sympathy from the Friends, which vastly lacked from the general public in their life outside the asylum.

Inactive for some time, the volunteers rejoined and registered the Friends of St Clement's (FoSC) as a charity in 1987, following the concerns of a carer about the treatment of her husband within the hospital. Patients, friends, family members and staff started meeting to discuss what was beneficial and what was harmful in the hospital methods. Chaired by the awesome Myra Garrett, in 1992 Friends of St Clement's established the social club; inpatients run this in the Wandsworth Stanley Hall, coordinated by Hycinth Taylor; the creative writing group started publishing its journal in 1995. 

When in 2007 St Clements Hospital was moved to a new wing in the Mile End Hospital, FoSC temporarily had nowhere where to meet. David Kessel, that started the Mental Patients Association and published the patients' magazine called The Phoenix in the 1980', suggested that the group should reform as a new independent anarchist group, naming it Friends of East End Loonies. FoSC eventually found a new space to carry on their meetings in Mile End Hospital until 2014 when, due to lack of interest or cooperation from staff, caused the group to end. 

Friends of East End Loonies met for the first time in November 2007, at the cafe of the Whitechapel Idea Store. 

One month later FEEL found a permanent meeting space at LARC (London Action Resource Centre). Here regular meetings still take place on the 3rd Monday of each month, to discuss mental health news and plan special events, which are usually held at Kingsley Hall, involving critical and progressive figures that work in the psychiatric field.

Now, ten years on, we are taking the chance to celebrate our past decade spent together producing a special day of activities, entertainment and amusement to counterbalance the misery of life. It's not all about us! It's about everyone surviving a life often troubled by obstacles and difficulties, deserving respite and a safe space where to feel accepted. The untroubled ones are welcome too. 

The LOONIES FEST is a FREE and OPEN day for anyone that, like ourselves, believe in the human and existential rights of diversity in any colours, shapes and shades. Drop the labels and join us in creating the rose garden that we need. There might not be many roses in this garden, but being called The Peace Garden sounds reassuring right.

So, enough with the past. Time to live the present and live for the future!

LOONIES FEST
PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY
Sat 9th September 10am to 10 pm

(subject to changes on the day)

10:00am OPENING 

-Yoga/Qi Gong fusion followed by drumming circle

11:00am Drumming workshop

12noon-3:00pm:

-MARKET SPACE with stalls by mental health groups and organisations (Main Hall)

WORKSHOPS:
-Thai Boxing Fighters Academy (taster class);
-Singing session (all abilities) with Rona Topaz;
-Poetry drop-in with poet Stephen Watts;
-Wellbeing Workshop with the RECOVERY Assistance Dogs

-HEALING SPACE with a number of masseuse/healers offering taster sessions (by donation) Youth Hall, 1st floor;

3:00-4:00pm: Respite - Tea Break

4:00-6:00pm:  Survivors Voices: Performances by mental health activists: with Dave Skull, Frank Bangay, Dolly Sen, David Kessel, Molly Carroll, Laura Cristin, MC Nick Waller

6:00-6:30pm: Panel Discussion "Healing & Arts & Lunacy" with Dolly Sen, Colin Hambrook, Laura Cristin, Michelle Baharier, Nat Fonnesu.

6:30-7:00pm: Respite - Tea Break

7:00-10:00pm: Second Part Performances & OPEN MIC: Su Patterson, Jazzman John Clarke, Raga Wood, Colin Hambrook, Stephen MICalef, Kym Kovary plus more. MC Razz Poet.

How to get to Kingsley Hall 
(links lead to individual maps):

-Bow Church (DLR) to Kingsley Hall 10 min walking

-Bromley-by-Bow (District Line) to Kingsley Hall 13 min -walking

-Stratford Station (Bus D8 Stop W) to Kingsley Hall 15-20 min journey

Massive thanks go to all people that have participated, contributed and helped at F.E.E.L. meetings and events over these past TEN years, particularly to Myra Garrett and David Kessel for founding the group in the first place and for being the great support and inspiring figures they still are today.

HUGE thanks to all exhibiting & contributing artists and helpers that, nevertheless the event is not funded, they are still supporting this project and celebrating with us, covering for their costs and transport. 
We invite the Dear audience to be generous in donating during the day, please. 
Collection boxes will be visibly located :)

Visual Art Exhibition
‘SURVIVORS STORIES’
5th to 19th September 2017

‘SURVIVORS STORIES' is a group exhibition of Artists with lived psychosis/psychiatric hospital experiences.

The show aims to celebrate past and present mental health Survivors, patients, ex-patients, service users (whatever people prefer to be called like).  Among the works on show there will be some pieces from Mary Barnes, which artistic talents flourished while residing at Kingsley Hall as patient in care, during the radical experiment run by the Philadelphia Association community, led by RD Laing between 1965-70 www.theguardian.com/books/2012/sep/02/rd-laing-mental-health-sanity

Works on Show by: 
Mary Barnes, Patrick Macdonald, TEM POK, Carrie Foulkes, Fatma Durmush, Sophie Marguerite Adams, Rachel Rowan Olive, Sara T'Rula, Michelle Baharier, Pawla, Peter Payne, John Zammit, Sam Shakes, Shelana Hodge, C.F., Kerum Wallwork, Melissa Gunasena, Max Reeves, Klaus Pinter, Colin Hambrook, Mark Allan, Laura Cristin, Gobscure. Co-curated by Christina Mitrentse & Nathalie Fonnesu

Please note that the show opens on Tuesday the 5th September, 5-7pm.  
The exhibition will be accessible for viewing on the following specific times ONLY: 

-Saturday 9th September, 10am-10pm (Loonies Fest)

-Tuesday 12th + 19th September 4-7pm

-Saturday 16th September 11am-6pm for London Open House event openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/3515

The Three Bees Cafe will be open most of the above times for delicious homemade cakes and hot drinks (regularly opens only on Tuesdays 4-7pm). Please note that alcohol is not served at the cafe. You are welcome to BYO. Drink sensibly, please.

For queries about the exhibition(only), please contact nat.kingsleyhall@gmail.com

Special thanks for the kind support from Kingsley Hall Community Centre Board and the Three Bees Cafe for allowing the exhibition and the Fest to take place in this exceptional place with their priceless suppor kingsley-hall.co.uk/index.htm


Loonies Fest details: bit.ly/2sh1Bbk
Fest FB event page: bit.ly/2vgCeEC
Art Show FB event page: bit.ly/2xEYoBI
PRESS RELEASE: bit.ly/2eslF1j

Email: f.e.e.l.campaign@gmail.com for more info

August Newsletter: monthly meeting 21 August & "Survivors Stories" Art Show 5-19 September

Dear Friends,

Submissions for our "Survivors Stories" group art show generated a pleasantly inebriating Art overdose. Thank you to the artists that have shared their great work from around the UK, Europe, USA and Asia. We have had an awesome response. Looking forward to install the show with the selected pieces.

The exhibition will be running in the main hall at Kingsley Hall Bow from September 5th to 19th. Please note that the show will be accessible for viewing on specific times ONLY:

the whole day for the Loonies Fest on the Sat 9th, 10am-10pm; Tuesday 12th + 19th September 4-8pm;

Sat 16th September (also London Open House event) 11am-6pm.

By appointment group visits can be discussed too.

To RSVP the opening on September 5th 5-7pm and for further queries, please write to nat.kingsleyhall@gmail.com


As we are finalising the plans for the Loonies Fest, which is only three weeks away, join us for the monthly FEEL meeting next Monday 21st at LARC from 6.30pm.
We have not secured public funding for the running costs of the Fest and we are still committed to delivery the day free of charge. If anyone wishes to sponsor deaf access and/or artists fees or travelling costs, it would be greatly appreciated. Do get in touch if willing to support us, please.

Massive round of applause to the organisers of the recent Fools Gold, the Gala For Mental Health and its new awards, and the forthcoming Robertfest 2017, taking place on Sunday 24th September at the Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Rd, London SE14 6TY (noon to midnite)

Madness brings enough misery, pain and suffering to our lives. If we don't celebrate and discuss it openly, honestly and constructively ourselves, who will?

Please, do share/circulate our link for updates bit.ly/2sh1Bbk
Many thanks.

July Newsletter

Dear Friends,

The Loonies Fest is seven weeks away; lots of prep work in the way. We are still recruiting helping hands and minds that can ease the unfolding of the event; do get in touch if you wish to get involved.

The call for submissions for artists and stall holders has now been extended to 5pm on 15 August. More details can be found here bit.ly/2uf9AUr also attached if you wish to print it out.

Before sharing news and updates for this month, we wish to congratulate Sarah Yiannoullou, Managing Director of the National Survivor User Network (NSUN), for her recent honorary degree awarded by the Middlesex University, wishing Sarah all the best for a further successful career.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Stuart Low Trust Annual Celebration 
Friday 21 July, 6.30-9.00pm, St Mary's Neighbourhood Centre, Upper Street, Islington N1 2TX

The Annual Celebration and Outstanding Volunteer Awards, hosted for the final time by retiring Chair of Trustees Virginia Low, takes place this Friday. The evening will feature a performance by magician and psychological entertainer Gareth Foreman.

Refreshments will be served from 6.30pm. AGM 7.15-7.30pm; performance by Gareth Foreman 7.30-8.30pm.

Details here www.slt.org.uk/event/stuart-low-trust-annual-celebration/

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Talk for Health Special - Express Yourself
Voice workshop Thu 27 July 2017 18-20 PM
St Luke's Community Centre 90 Central Street London EC1V 8AJ

Do you want to feel more confident and expressive in your communication? Do you want to more more dynamic in getting your message across? If yes, join Cat and Helen for this engaging, free workshop.

Drawing on techniques from the Fedenkrais Method and Linklater Voice Work, they will help you focus on body awareness, movement, breathing, and how it relates to your voice. They guide you to explore the habitual patterns of tension in the body that can limit your expression and hope to offer you an insight into how to free your body and your voice.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a willingness to unwind in a warm & supportive environment! This workshop is open to all so please feel free to bring a friend (or two). Do please just make sure you register so that we can make sure there are enough refreshments for everyone. ​Free registration here​

-------------------------------------------------------------------

​Kingsley Hall: An Island? Exploring Archival Accounts of Life at the Hall - Mon 31 July 18:00-19:30PM

UCL SELCS Common Room, Foster Court (ground floor, G24), Malet Place Malet Place London WC1E

Dr. Adrian Chapman (Florida State University) Kingsley Hall was radical therapeutic community established by R. D. Laing in 1965 (and that ran until 1970) in the East End of London. Here I turn to archival accounts of life at the Hall by residents and visitors. These accounts are from a book (never published) about Kingsley Hall and other communities established by the Laing network in the 70s. In his introduction to the book (the most stable title of which was Asylum: To Dwell in Strangeness), Laing engages in a debate with his former collaborator, David Cooper, who had spoken derisively of the Hall and other communities as “happy islands”, isolated zones of pseudo-freedom. Following a consideration of the aims, scope, history and marketability of the book project, I take the island metaphor as my starting point for exploring archival materials. This route allows me to trace significant connections and dissonances among several contributors to Asylum: To Dwell in Strangeness, and offers rich possibilities for interrogating the nature of the Hall and the radical psychiatry associated with R. D. Laing. In particular, I want to examine debates around the politics of the Kingsley Hall project; the relation of the Hall to its surrounding area in the East End; as well as the relation of Laing and his project to mainstream psychiatry, and to 1960s counterculture.

Book seat here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kingsley-hall-an-island-exploring-archival-accounts-of-life-at-the-hall-tickets-36362870324

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In the News:

The mental health first aid programme is a pet project – if the NHS services were properly funded in the first place, it wouldn't be needed.
Article by Jay Watts www.independent.co.uk/voices/mental-health-first-aid-theresa-may-depression-anxiety-nhs-underfunded-services-turned-away-a7842571.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Thrive London engagement events

Thrive LDN is a citywide movement for mental health, supported by the Mayor of London and the London Health Board. Thrive will host a community conversation aimed at encouraging people to work together to improve health and happiness in the borough. At this community conversation people will hear about the aims of Thrive LDN and then discuss how we can all work together to make them happen in the borough. The organisers hope to see broad representation across the borough including from the council, NHS providers and commissioners, businesses, local people, service users and carers, voluntary and community sector, faith groups, schools and social landlords. The events are in the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham and Tower Hamlets.

Tower Hamlets Tues 25 July 6-8pm PDC - book here

Barking & Dagenham Weds 26th July 3:30-6pm - book here

Consultation: the London Mayor's vision for a Diverse and Inclusive city

Have your say on the Mayor's vision for Diversity and Inclusion online consultation is now open till 11 September 2017

The Mayor wants to hear from individuals and organisations that can help him and the GLA group make London a more inclusive city.
www.london.gov.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/all-consultations/consultation-mayors-vision-diverse-and-inclusive-city

-------------------------------------------------------------------

PIP ROLL OUT BEHIND SCHEDULE

The roll out of PIP is running far behind schedule, the DWP have confirmed. All existing DLA claimants should have been ‘invited’ to claim PIP by April of this year. But a poster on the Rightsnet forum has confirmed that this target is now history. Instead the aim is now that all working age DLA claimants will have received their invitation letters by late 2018, with the final assessments and transfers not being completed until mid-2019. However, we reported last month that there had been a huge fall in the number of DLA to PIP cases being sent to Atos and Capita since January of this year. So, whether the DWP will stick to this new target remains to be seen.

UC ROLL OUT MASSIVELY BEHIND SCHEDULE

Instead, the total number of people in receipt of UC is just 540,000 according to the latest DWP figures. The UC roll out is more than 90% behind schedule and is not now expected to be completed until 2022. Though even that target seems massively optimistic, given that the vast majority of claimants so far have been the simplest claims, and there is no indication that the DWP’s software systems will cope with a huge increase in complex cases. Citizens Advice published a report earlier this month asking the government to pause the roll out of UC because of the major problems it is causing even the most straightforward claimants, including 57% having to borrow money while waiting for their first payment. The DWP, however, have dismissed the concerns of Citizens Advice and confirmed that the roll out of full service UC will increase from 5 areas a month to 50 areas a month from October.

Source: Benefits and Work

-------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTICE OF HEALTHWATCH TOWER HAMLETS AGM

Please note that the formal Healthwatch Tower Hamlets AGM will be conducte prior to the Your Voice Counts event at 11:00 am 9 August at The Hub, Victoria Park next to the Park Café, Rothbury Rd, London E9 5HD. You are invited to attend.
Email: info@healthwatchtowerhamlets.co.uk
Web: www.healthwatchtowerhamlets.co.uk
Tweet us: @HWTowerhamlets

-------------------------------------------------------------------

NSUN AGM to take place this September
This year, the AGM will take place in Sheffield on 27 September. Put this date in your calendars!
We're looking forwards to seeing you there.
NSUN MANIFESTO can be read here

-------------------------------------------------------------------

​Launch of Revised Understanding Psychosis Document​ Friday 13 October 2017 11am- 4pm
BPS London Office, 30 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4UE
Find info here: shop.bps.org.uk/cpd-workshops/launch-of-revised-understanding-psychosis-document.html

CALL OUT FOR ARTISTS

LOONIES FEST 

CREATING HEALING LUNACY

Kingsley Hall Community Centre

Powis Rd, London E3 3HJ

VISUAL ART EXHIBITION:

‘SURVIVORS STORIES’

From 5th to 19th September 2017

To mark the 10th anniversary of our collective F.E.E.L. (Friends of East End Loonies), are hosting the LOONIES FEST, a major diverse event to celebrate the joint work and achievements of the past decade.

We would like to invite Artists to submit their works for the group exhibition ‘SURVIVORS STORIES’.

The call is open strictly to Artists with lived psychosis/psychiatric hospital experience, as we will be celebrating past and present Survivors, patients, ex-patients, service users (whatever way people prefer to be called like). The show will run between 5th to 19th September 2017.

On Saturday 9th of September the exhibition will be accessible from 10am to 10pm.

During the day there will be a variety of entertaining and engaging activities, a market space (12-3pm), poetry, music, performances (4-10pm), workshops, and a panel discussion on the theme of the benefits & importance of the Arts as Healing Mediums. Particular emphasis of the day revolves around Healing.

Remarkable pro-active Artists in the Survivor's movements like Frank Bangay, Dolly Sen, Michelle Baharier, and many more are our guests among poet David Kessel, which founded F.E.E.L. in 2007 with Myra Garret.  

MARKET STALLS: open to mental health groups (small, independent, non-for-profit organisations) wishing to share their info during the Loonies Fest.

Market space runs 12-3pm on Saturday 9th September. Please submit your ideas!

SUBMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR ‘SURVIVORS STORIES’ EXHIBITION:

Artworks should be in the medium of drawing, painting, photos, text based works, book arts and textiles. Size of 2Dimensional works should not exceed 120cm x 120cm. All 2D artworks (excluding textiles) should be submitted framed with a wire and D-rings attached at back of frame or canvas. Each artist will exhibit only one artwork. If selected, the artwork needs to be delivered to Kingsley Hall Community Centre, Powis Rd, London E3 3HJ on Monday 4th Sept. and to be collected on Tuesday 19th Sept. 
Send us 2-3 jpg images, low resolution, of the work you wish to present specifying: Title, Medium, Size, Hanging Requirements.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF ARTISTS AND STALL HOLDERS:​

15th August 2017 by 5pm

PLEASE SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: nat.kingsleyhall@gmail.com

FURTHER INQUIRIES TO: f.e.e.l.campaign@gmail.com

LOONIES FEST web page bit.ly/2sh1Bbk

Facebook event page bit.ly/2vgCeEC

We look forward to receiving your ideas and celebrating the festival together!