F.E.E.L. - Friends of East End Loonies

Saturday, 10 November 2018

November Newsletter

Dear Friends,

This month FEEL is turning 11 years old. For the occasion we are re-launching our blog, with a slight makeover. Unfortunately most of the older posts need a retouch...another lifetime required for editing!

Also sad coming across the many defunct or 404 - Not Found links.

Many thanks to those of you that have contributed over the years and to those still supporting us, even when unable to join us in person, whether that be over weeks, months or years.

We will raise a toast on Monday 19 November for our monthly meeting at LARC and everyone is welcome to join in.

We didn't host any major public events, since the Loonies Fest, yet we had very interesting monthly meetings this year. The time spent learning and becoming familiar with the CRPD, and the Global network of Survivors and allies, is still productively occupying our time and interest. Material still available at crpdcourse.org. Patience will bring its fruits.

But never mind WE hosting events - London is ever busier with interesting stuff and events abound, that once again, little breath is left over to do more.

October's World Mental Health Day has became a bit like Christmas.
Messages inundated social media for a "happy mental health awareness day" and suggestions to seek help if required. Yet, I doubt many of those people know what actual help is out there, or what is the first port of call, if not GPs prescribing pills!

And about the PILLS there's been more and more augmenting in regards, and more there will be. These are some options we certainly support:

- Antidepressant withdrawal review: authors respond in detail to Mental Elf critique

cepuk.org/2018/10/18/3406/

- Many doctors may be failing to warn patients about the risks of antidepressants, new APPG research suggests

prescribeddrug.org/many-doctors-failing-to-warn-patients-about-the-risks-of-antidepressants/

- Antidepressant Drugs Work According to Latest Study: A Critical Re-Appraisal

kellybroganmd.com/antidepressant-drugs-work-according-to-latest-study-a-critical-re-appraisal/

As suspected, the last minute appearance - for most of us - of the global mental health summit (videos available here globalmhsummit.com/home) had little, if any, relevance to the rights and interests of people receiving mental health services. Rather it was the usual political sideshow to disguise the money and interest of those profiting economically in the industry.

We applaud and thank the immediate action by NSUN, which circulated these letters of protest

- www.nsun.org.uk/news/global-ministerial-mental-health-summit-open-letter

- www.nsun.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=3103fcfd-dee4-4aed-a44e-0157f8236362

27 - 29 Nov Broughton Hall, Skipton, Yorkshire, UK (sliding scale fees)

Among the speakers this year: Will Hall, Rufus May, Dr Joseph H. Berke, Karen Taylor & Ron Coleman

compassionatementalhealth.co.uk

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Petitions & Consultations:

-Turn Up The Volume on women’s mental health (consultation ending on the 14 Jan 2019)

https://womensmentalhealthnetwork.com/consultation/

- Call on the government to take action: "Parts of my job were withheld from me because the manager in charge didn't believe that I could do it because of my deafness"

https://secure.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/page/30809/petition/1

- Make it a legal requirement to have a second safety critical person on trains

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/231479

- Stop the detention of people with autism & learning disability’s in ATU’s

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/231406

- Letter to Danish Minister of Health against dismissal of Peter Gotzsche

www.ipetitions.com/petition/letter-to-danish-minister-of-health-against

Thursday, 8 November 2018

Jazzman John The Greatest!

John Robert Clark, Aka Jazzman
20 March 1948 - 3 August 2018

John was much more than a poet and entertainer. John was a kind and gentle friend for so many people, an ally in people's challenges and an inspirer for many artists. A leader in his many fields.
And the best Master of Ceremonies, oh yes!

Jazzman's funeral took place on Friday 12 October, at Honor Oak Crematorium. A lovely gathering of friends and allies easily filled up the little chapel, leaving many standing up by the back and the balcony.
How weird seeing your coffin disappear under the ground, gone in a few seconds right there in front of our eyes, John. A brief farewell to your bones and flesh, that are now reduced to ashes. Farewell to your humour, the beats and the jazz, while your Spirit is alive with us, stronger than ever.

A series of tributes for John took place in the past weeks. Here some moments of the latest that took place on Saturday 27th October at the Kingsley Hall in Bow, "Altogether Elsewhere - A Memorial Tribute Event for Jazzman John" www.facebook.com/events/870690493131049/
The evening was kindly organised by a group of Jazzman's friends with the support of Kingsley Hall, where the book in memory of John is now stored. During the evening there was also the launching of the zine designed and hand assembled by Vyvy Lewis and Chrissy Weller that collects some artworks and thoughts from over 30 different artists, friends and colleagues of John.

A big warm farewell to Jazzman from all of us from FEEL💗

Photo album here: www.facebook.com/pg/feel.campaign/photos

Friday, 5 October 2018

October Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Between October and November the #WhatWENeed campaign will run globally on social media. Launched by TCI Asia Pacific and supported by many individuals and organisations around the world, the campaign is calling for full CRPD Compliance on the Inclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities and anyone can join in tciasiapacific.blogspot.com/2018/10/join-whatweneed-campaign.html

Activity is going to be more intense around the world’s first global ministerial mental health summit (which initially suggested the #TheWorldNeeds ashtag), to be held in London 9th and 10th October. This summit is by invitation only and according to GOV.UK "will help countries work together to deal with stigma and confront other issues to do with mental ill health." More on the Summit here globalmhsummit.com/home

In the meantime an important milestone has been reached in Peru' in the battle for the legal capacity reform, to set a great example to the rest of the world www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23501&LangID=E

The new legislative decree no. 1384 recognises and regulates the legal capacity of persons with disabilities in equality of conditions: it recognises full legal capacity of all persons with disabilities, abolishes guardianship for persons with disabilities, and introduces different regimes for supported decision-making bit.ly/2MO5K11.Guardianship of people with disabilities is over! www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Lu4swxaQA

Another important step follows the results of the incisive research carried out by James Davies and John Read in reporting the severity of antidepressant's withdrawal effects prescribeddrug.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Davies-Read.pdf

A string of articles have been covering newspapers pages these days in regards to the 'extreme' side-effects of antidepressants and the growing problem of addiction to prescription drugs. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) out-of-date guidelines about depression are now due to an update, as new evidence should be issued.

Meanwhile the welfare and social security situation in the UK is going towards a further complicated mess. The government move to merge the several benefits available under Universal Credit (UC) is pushing the most in need in even further stressful and vulnerable in complicated situations. CAB (Citizen advice bureau) was announced that they'll be providing advice to UC claimants from 2019, resulting an easy and cheaper service to rely on for DWP bit.ly/2DZE8C2

With its criteria/regulation still changing, the UC system only seems more tricky, specially with the sanctions system that make people trip over at every turn.
It is obvious that the austerity policies are doing nothing else than preserving the privileged state to the wealthiest, while crumbling down any other level of society alike.

DWP has recently been forced to release updated Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) mortality statistics, in response to a Freedom of Information request from disability campaigner Gail Ward. The statistics revealed that 111,450 ESA claims were closed following the death of claimants between March 2014 to February 2017 bit.ly/2yelfW0
The #StopAndScrap Universal Credit campaign is still very high on most of us agenda.People needing help/advice on welfare benefits please reach anyone in this list recoveryinthebin.org/advice-links/

Arrangements for Jazzman John's funeral have now been finalised: the ceremony will take place from 10am, Friday 12th October at Honor Oak Crematorium, Brockley Way, London SE4 2LJ. The Birds Nest, 32 Deptford Church St, Deptford SE8 4RZ, will be hosting an after show event following the funeral from early afternoon until around 7pm.

'Altogether Elsewhere'- A Memorial Tribute Event for Jazzman John is then on Saturday, 27 October 5-10:30pm, Kingsley Hall. Doors open: 5pm (please come and bring some food and drink to share before hand and take a moment to write in the journal in memory of John - will be stored at Kingsley Hall) Tribute performances: 5-10:30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/870690493131049/

The next FEEL monthly meeting is taking place on Monday 15th October, 6:30-8:30pm at LARC. Please join us.

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BLACK History Month 2018

- Keisha Thompson, reading from Lunar, an exploration of mental illness, love and forgiveness: https://bit.ly/2IDxNel
- Healing Our Broken Village, 10th Annual Black Mental Health Conference bit.ly/2zRU6KD
- Celebrating Black History & Culture at The Dragon Café https://dragoncafe.co.uk/this-week/
- Black History Month LISTINGS: www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/listings/region/greater-london/

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4.48 psychosis, a play by Deafinitely Theatre, written by Sarah Kane
18th Sept - 13th Oct, New Diorama Theatre, 15-16 Triton St, London, NW1 3BF. Also at Derby Theatre on 19th and 20th October.
4.48 Psychosis is performed in British Sign Language and spoken English for the very first time www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk/Event/448-psychosis
Deafinitely Theatre are also having a series of free talks, with BSL interpreting:
BREAKING THE SILENCE - Panel Discussion 5th October 2018, Old Diorama Arts Centre. Time: 5-6.30pm. (FREE, BSL Interpreted) SOLD OUT. Watch Live Broadcast Here
A SAFE SPACE TO BREAK THE TABOO - Symposium 9th October 2018, Wellcome Collection. Time: 4-6pm (FREE, BSL Interpreted) BOOK NOW Watch Live Broadcast Here
MAKING VOICES HEARD - Panel Discussion 12th October, Old Diorama Arts Centre, 5-6.30pm (FREE, BSL Interpreted) BOOK NOW Watch Live Broadcast Here

Find a personal review of the play in "Is there enough awareness about DEAFNESS, COMMUNICATION & MENTAL HEALTH?" bit.ly/2pyLoe4

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DETAIN ● RESTRAIN ● INJECTIONS ● PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS!
Wed 10 October, 17:30 – 19:30, Whitehall (adjacent Richmond Terrace) London SW1A 2H
FREE STUDENT SOAPBOX PROTEST about MENTAL HEALTH treatment and so-called 'care' on WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY in London! Everyone welcome, just turn up! www.EventBrite.co.uk/e/50570930013

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Survivor's Poetry @ the Poetry Cafe' (every second Thursday of the month). An evening of Poetry and song. MC Alastair Murray. Featured Guest Louisa Harvey. Music from Dave Russell.Thu 11th Oct, 8 – 10.30pm. Arrive 7.30pm 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
FB: Survivor's Poetry Gigs

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Declaration: A fun, frank and fearless journey through ADHD and Mental Health. A play by Sarah Art with Heart

Friday 12th- Saturday 13th October Friday 7pm, Saturday 2pm & 7pm @ Stratford Circus Arts Centre £15/£13 conc. Age Guidance: 14+ Trailer: bit.ly/2pApNlu

Booking: stratford-circus.com // 020 8279 1080

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Mental Health Act Review EVENTS
Following the publication of the Interim Report in May, 18 topic groups were set up in July based on each of the main themes. Proposals from the Topic Groups have been finalised. Two events were held during August which set out to engage with mixed audiences on the review’s thinking so far and another two are planned for October. Two more stakeholder events have been set for:

Tuesday 16th October, London, 1-4pm Book here
Wednesday 17th October, Exeter, 2-5pm Book here

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NotTheAnarchistBookfair

London Sat 20- Sun 21 Oct: many events on various themes, times and locations. More info at:

www.anarchistfestival.wordpress.com

www.facebook.com/anarchistfestival

www.twitter.com/anarchistfest

Imagining anarchist models of madness and unrecovery, by Anarchist Festival & RITB

Sat, 20 Oct, 11am-1pm, SOAS University of London Thornhaugh Street, WC1H 0XG London https://www.facebook.com/events/310093293088236/?active_tab=discussion

Mental Health, Capitalism, Resistance, by Anarchist Festival & Mental Health Resistance Network Sun 21 Oct, 2-4pm, Room 273, SOAS University, Thornhaugh Street, WC1H 0XG London https://www.facebook.com/events/297900354342648/
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Survivors History Group meeting (open to anyone)
Wed 24 Oct 10am - 5pm, Wesley's Chapel, Kwanglim Room (on the first floor), 49 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AU
For more info contact Andrew Roberts tel. H: 020 8 986 525; M: 07505527755; E: studymore@studymore.org.uk
Home address: 177 Glenarm Road, London, E5 ONB http://studymore.org.uk/

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NSUN Members Event and Annual General Meeting: Theme 'The Future of Peer Support'
Thursday 25 October 10am-10.15am arrival 4.30pm finish. The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8JE
If would like to secure your place please email info@nsun.org.uk with the subject title Members Event 25.10.18 booking.
https://www.nsun.org.uk/Event/nsun-agm-and-members-event-2018-future-of-peer-support

NSUN trustee recruitment 2018
NSUN is recruiting Board positions: Chair, Treasurer and Trustees www.nsun.org.uk/news/nsun-trustee-recruitment

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Bobby Baker's Great & Tiny War
Friday 7 September to Friday 9 November, 133 Sidney Grove, Newcastle upon Tyne
Great & Tiny War is an ingenious, immersive, multimedia audio-guided installation set to transform a house in Newcastle. Commissioned by 14-18 NOW, this major new work is peppered with happenings of unpredictable proportions. It's inspired by real stories, passed down through Bobby Baker's family and shaped by the domestic and emotional labour of conflicts. Book tickets here: https://wunderbar.org.uk/gtw/great-tiny-war/

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Trauma-related Complex Dissociation: origins and consequences, by Mind in Camden www.mindincamden.org.uk
9th November 10am to 4:30pm, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square WC1R 4RL London
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trauma-related-complex-dissociation-origins-and-consequences-tickets-48868902202

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ECT Debate replay
The 57th Maudsley debate, held at Kings College London last month proposed: “This house believes that ECT has no place in modern medicine”. The debate can be replayed here www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWT_UZus94A MIA (Mad in America) interview with Professor John Read and Doctor Sue Cunliffe can be heard/read here

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Psychosis and institutional racism, by ISPS UK www.ispsuk.org
Tue 13 November 10am - 5pm, Amnesty International, 25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA
Speakers: Dr Suman Fernando, Dr Philip Thomas, Dr Alison Faulkner, Sara Haq, Dr Colin King. Other speakers tbc.
Book tickets (£10 – £70) here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/psychosis-and-institutional-racism-tickets-49278758092

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PETITION:
Add Mental Health Education to the mandatory teaching curriculum for all schools in the UK
https://www.change.org/p/get-mental-health-education-on-the-school-curriculum-mentalpetition

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Maastricht University Antipsychotic Withdrawal Survey

Have you ever taken antipsychotic medication and ever stopped taking it or tried to stop?Are you 18 years or older? The survey is now available in English, Spanish, Dutch, Italian www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com

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Petition:

We request a ban on issuing psychiatric drugs to children under 5 years old

Challenging Over-prescription of Psychiatric drugs in Education (C.O.P.E.) is a new public policy pressure group who aim to change public policy in the area of child and adolescent mental health. Please help safeguarding children and challenge the inappropriate use of psychiatric drugs in the young, signing the petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/227972

Source: https://www.madintheuk.com/2018/09/c-o-p-e-activism-group-launches-petition-to-safeguard-children-from-prescribed-psychiatric-drugs/

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

4.48 Psychosis, by Deafinitely Theatre

Playing in London, between 18th Sept and 13rd Oct 2018 (a week after World Suicide Prevention Day,, on 10th Sept www.iasp.info, and World Mental Health Day on 10th Oct https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day), Deafinitely Theatre possibly picked the best of times to launch their newest production: Psychosis 4.48, (http://www.newdiorama.com/whats-on/448-psychosis).

This works for the broadening of mental health awareness in the D/deaf community, as well as creating more D/deaf awareness in the mainstream fields.  

4.48 Psychosis is the last play written by Sarah Kane before she took her own life. The play was staged for the first time in 2000, about 18 months after Kane passed away. Since then the script has reached several theaters around the world, adapted in several languages and variations. 

For the first time this play is produced primarily for the D/deaf public, whilst remaining also accessible to the hearing audiences. 

It offers a combination of voice, captions, BSL (British Sign Language) and VV (Visual Vernacular); just how ideally every play should be delivered, for my liking.

With this said, note to be added is that there still are times of abstractness where language is a tumultuous stream of thoughts and emotions. at times meaningful, at times senseless, just the same way the scattered mind often becomes during psychotic episodes.

To contrast the rambling words, the beautiful visual bursting of feelings and emotions expressed in the acting, fully immerse the senses and attention of the spectators. The constant turmoil of emotions is so vividly expressed, whether it is anger, paranoia, frustration, the anguish of the mind can be sensed almost incessantly for the full length of the play.  
 
Deafinitely Theatre's Director, Paula Garfield, has bravely produced a very innovative version of this play, casting two hearing (Jim Fish, Matt Kyle) and two Deaf (Adam Bassett, Brian Duffy) actors. 
Like well-defined yin & yang elements, clearly doubled up by two on stage, we experience the dark and the light forces, the warm and the cold, the passive and the active, and the female and male ones, although there is no absolute gender referencing in this.

There are times when all these characters are really manifesting the natural cacophony of personalities within one same individual as in an altered, anomalous state. It’s even striking seeing a seemingly perfectly paired couple in appearance, with Fish and Bassett on stage, especially when, as if swapping roles, the fine line of differences between the Doctor and the patient momentarily disappear.

 Brian Duffy, an award-winning artist, filmmaker, physical and Visual Vernacular performer, offers glimpses of the exceptional bouts of the manic force; that supernatural energy that the simple body almost finds impossible to bear and contain, while the mind is taken over by the shadows of a twisting brain.

From a survivor of psychiatry/ex-patient point of view, I couldn't fail to sense the claustrophobic and oppressive feeling of being locked into that sickly-sterile space; the uneasiness of dealing with often fake-and-emotionally-absent or domineering-hostile members of staff (tip: this can never be a welcomed care attitude that gain success - not generalising either neither here, as many nurses are very caring indeed), and the warm camaraderie of peers, going thought the same ordeal.

There is not a right or wrong interpretation of the play of course. Each viewer will take in what they capture more strongly out of it, with possibly very differing responses and emotions stirred among survivors/patients, mental health professionals, carers, family members and/or friend of a patient. Something tells me that possibly everyone fits in one or more of these short categories these days...

Massive congratulations to Deafinitely Theatre for touching such a delicate subject! Especially since mental illness is still covered by stigma, ignorance and neglect in both, the D/deaf and hearing worlds alike. Also of relevant importance is the necessary action towards breaking those barriers where men, often more than women, are so reluctant to disclose, deal, or ask for help, when experiencing emotional anguish and turmoil and life difficulties.

A series of post-show Talks & Discussions have been planned, hosted by Deafinitely Theatre Director Paula Garfield, joined by academics and professionals in the deaf mental health field (FREE, BSL Interpreted events www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/deafinitely-theatre-10641135155). 

For more information about Deafinitely Theatre 4.48 Psychosis www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk/blog/the-448-production

DEAFNESS, COMMUNICATION & MENTAL HEALTH

There are many reasons that may trigger mental uneasiness in anyone, such as anxiety, depression and stress. It's fundamental that everyone takes the right precautions to take care of his or her wellbeing and mental health, just as we care about our physical health. Better seek for appropriate help when required, as there are plenty of gentle ways to take of ourselves and shift these phases, just by being more mindful of our lifestyle.

However more profound life experiences marked by severe trauma, abuse or neglect, if not dealt with the adequate care, can lead to signs and development of mental illness.

Some mental illness seems to be socially produced, mostly due to the inequalities of life conditions that people experience. There are also a myriad of symptoms masquerading and often being (mis)diagnosed as mental illnesses, when the root cause might have an emotional, physical or spiritual origin. It is not just "all in your head".Drugs and alcohol abuse can also be triggers. Some people forget that prescribed medications are also drugs. With the play touching the delicate topic of suicide and self-harm, it is worth considering that very often the original cause of some difficulties could be the side effect of some medications. Majority of psychiatric medications also affect the brain, having very diverse responses in different people, and over prolonged periods of times. Please consider expanding this important link www.april.org.uk

People generally ignore or downside the importance of hearing in ageing and how it affects people wellbeing. Apparently there's links of people manifesting signs of dementia as their hearing deteriorates while ageing. Isn’t this alarming?Apparently by the age of 70, 70% of people have hearing loss. See www.scie.org.uk/dementia/living-with-dementia/sensory-loss/hearing-loss.asp and www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h3029/rr No wonders if many elderly people live in isolation, as often it's due also to their difficulties in hearing.

Other than age related, deafness may be originated from a multitude of causes. It can be either congenital, hereditary or acquired through life in an accident or due to an illness. Then we have the Deaf and the deaf. Anyone wanting to expand that (why not?), here there’s some dedicated description for it  www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/opinion/d_or_d_whos_deaf_and_whos_deaf.shtml The rest is all variable uncertainties, in my opinion ;)

There certainly is a higher incidence of mental health distress suffered by D/deaf people of any age, as in many occasions these end up living in abusive relationships, experiencing exclusion, isolation and discrimination. The language/communication barriers generally cause these issues, especially when adjustments necessary in schools or work places are not taken into account.

Sadly bullying and discrimination are often experienced since younger ages, but this can either be avoided and prevented. NDCS (National Deaf Children’s Society) is a good place to start to contribute towards a better World for those perhaps needing some deaf awareness www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/communication/deaf_awareness/ 

In an ideal world everyone would be a fluent signer, not just to be able to sign with a Deaf person, but really for the beauty of it, as it is a fully expressive form of communication. Among other things, the advantages of using a signed language, rather than speaking, offer the chances to communicate in: noisy places, even far apart across a large rooms; through windows; underwater; while eating/with a full mouth and more!

It is fundamental that everyone does his or her part in taking action towards improving everyday life. It’s not only going to benefit our own wellbeing; society at large can function better, when fair awareness and responsibilities are efficiently taken into account.

Last December the United Nations declared 23 September International Day of Sign Languages wfdeaf.org/news/un-23-sept-as-international-day-of-sign-languages/... so officially this year International Day of Sign Languages was celebrated. Just passed, but it's always time for non-signers to learn some fingerspelling, just to get started for example!

LINKS AND INFO

To understand more about Psychosis see: www.ispsuk.org If you are feeling suicidal or know of someone who needs help, browse Help to find a crisis centre anywhere in the world www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ 

The Samaritans offer a round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year port of support, available via phone, e-mail and slow mail and at local branches. If you need a response immediately, it's best to call them on the phone (FREE to call). You don't have to be suicidal to call for a chat www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you

NHS 111 can also be useful for emergencies of various natures. It also offers a BSL interpreter service and the typetalk or textphone facility www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/nhs-111/

SignHealth psychological therapy has a dedicated service for BSL users www.signhealth.org.uk/our-projects/psychological-therapies-service/

Please, bear with me if you find any grammar or content inaccuracy. There certainly is much more to say about both, mental health and deafness. Not intending to lecture anyone here, yet more awareness is needed and the topic could be discussed more. Wishing to send some hope and support to those that may be feeling vulnerable or seeking for help. We are never alone. Thanks for reading!