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 Dorney. The 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) 
dpac.uk.net/2019/07/picnics-are-a-health-outcome-join-the-mhrn-summer-picnic-hyde-park-14th-august
 

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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
www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/william-blake-artist

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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 Voices, by Balanced Minds, £10 – £25
Thu, 26 September, 10:00 - 16:00, Golders Green Friends Meeting House, 17 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
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/i-is-for-insult-questioning-borderline-personality-disorder-tickets-65177776484

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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
www.justgiving.com/campaign/free-our-people-now

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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 2020, 10:00 – 17:00, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL

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Monday, 15 July 2019

FEEL meeting tonight!!!

Dear Friends,

It's 3rd Monday again, which means we are meeting for our monthly FEEL meeting later today at LARC, 6:30-8:30.
As usual some of us are meeting for a curry just before the meeting at Salamar, corner of New Street and Fieldgate Street.
Anyone is welcome to join in, if wishing so, from around 5-5:30pm.

Today among other things we'll talk about hoarding, the Commission on Social Security UK and the future of FEEL.




Are you a hoarder? It looks like we almost all are...
The hoarders group (meets at LARC on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month 7-10pm) suggests applying the traffic light system of sorting and a couple of useful books to learn dealing with clutter & possessions.
The Commission on Social Security UK is a new project led by Experts by Experience. At present a "White Paper" is being drafted and everyone can contribute with ideas/suggestion on how to make the welfare benefits system better, filling this questionnaire warwick.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0BNZ7EnuWbbhsBn
If you are aware of people that don't use the internet, hard copies can be provided, contacting Inclusion London and Disabled People Against Cuts representatives.
Please note that the deadline for the consultation is Wed 31 July 2019. More info here: commissiononsocialsecurity.com

FEEL is turning 12 years old in November.
Time to think about our future and make plans?
Or shall we celebrate the closing cycle in a nice and appropriate way?

What more? Come along this evening and let's discuss together.
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Thursday, 4 July 2019

July Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We wish to thank all that contributed to the warm June meeting (NOT due to heatwave/weather conditions), with special appreciation to Chris Hansen's presentation.
Chris very kindly joined us during her UK training tour and we are very grateful for her sharing time and knowledge with us. We also took epic souvenir photos before saying goodbyes; Myra, David, Kieran and others had already gone home by then, unfortunately.
 
 

 

Chris has courteously shared the link of the 'Peer Respite Manual' document https://tinyurl.com/y7kvlvv6
Alternatively a Kindle or paperback edition of it can be found on Amazon www.amazon.com/Peer-Respite-Handbook-Understanding-Supporting/dp/1478792647 
Check the Intentional Peer Support site for more info www.intentionalpeersupport.org

And staying on the topic of peer work from the global platform perspective, MInd Freedom has just released the Voices for Choices video series 
Last April Mind Freedom launched the Organizing Guide for Psychiatric Survivors, free to download here mindfreedom.org/resources/mfi-pocket-organizing-handbook

We will be back to LARC as usual for our monthly meeting on Monday the 15th July 6:30-8:30pm.
Please join us and check out the other forthcoming events and updates below.


EVENTS & OTHER NEWS


Family Carers’ workshop - An Introduction to Co-dependency (£70)
Friday 5th July 9:30am - 4:00pm, Park Crescent Conference Centre 229 Great Portland Street London W1W 5PN

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Poetry writing and performance skills workshop (free - leaflet attached)
Saturday 6 July 13:00-15:00pm, Disability Action In Islington, Unit 3 Marquess Estate St Paul's Road, London N1 2SY
An exciting one-off workshop to produce poems by people with lived experience of being on benefits to HAVE A SAY IN POETRY in the new White Paper to be written by Survivors and Disabled People and presented to parliament. Funded by DPAC. ALL WELCOME! Also includes performance skills training

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Webinar: Expanding and Improving Carers' Breaks, by Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)

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Survivors' Poetry Live at the Poetry Cafe www.facebook.com/events/471849520050321
Thu 11 July, 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 artist Paula Peters. Facebook: Survivor's Poetry Gigs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Disability and…Psychiatry with gobscure
Episode 2 of the Disability Arts Online & Graeae series of podcasts review, interview and transcript here 
All episodes available on Soundcloud soundcloud.com/user-831628451-710741442

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Westminster Forum event: London 
Next steps for mental health services in England - prevention, specialised services and service user engagement

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Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic
11 April - 15 September 2019, Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE.

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Ruby Wax How to Be Human: The Show

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State of the Art exhibition calls for contributions 

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Missing Voices Survey, by University of Worcester and Shaping Our Lives
If you are part of a Deaf and Disabled People's Organisation we would be very grateful if you could complete the survey:

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5th International Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness 
16-18 August 2019, London

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Mental Health Crisis Summit 2019 (£5 – £20)
by Health Campaigns Together, Mental Health – Time for Action, and Keep Our NHS Public
Saturday 28 September 10am – 5pm, Royal Free Hospital School Of Medicine, Rowland Hill Street, NW3 2PF London 

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Petitions & More

Justice for Jodey Whiting. Independent inquiry into deaths linked to the DWP
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/243337

Investigate Atos PIP assessments
Don't merge the assessments for PIP and ESA

Introduce an English version of the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/258079

Debate the impact of lack of qualified communication support for all D/deaf ppl

British Sign Language Should be taught in Primary and Secondary schools in UK.

Ban Hair Discrimination In The UK

KSJ - Breaking Chains Fundrising
www.gofundme.com/ksj-breaking-chains

RECOVERY Assistance Dogs for Wellbeing are raising funds to build a Canine Agility Gym in Leicester
 www.spacehive.com/dogs-improve-wellbeing


How safe and secure did you feel during your psychiatric hospitalisation?
Please take this 5 min survey www.howsafeandsecure.com


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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, London  E1 1ES U.K.
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Sunday, 16 June 2019

May/June Newsletter

​Dear Friends,

The past couple of months have been very intense with social, political and environmental dilemmas overwhelming the news and our attention, hence a reduced participation in some fronts was required.
We are very excited to be talking about Peer S​u​pport from international speaker and Intentional Peer Support Director Chris Hansen at our monthly FEEL meeting tomorrow, Monday 17th June. We will be welcoming Chris and hopefully Shery Mead, founder of the organisation​ (which due to health conditions might not be able to stretch over her already full day of work, but we really hope to meet too), while they are in London delivery a week long training.
We are very humbled and grateful for this opportunity. Please join us at LARC, 62 Fieldgate Street​,​ E1 1ES​ ​for this ultimate chance www.intentionalpeersupport.org

​The Compassionate Mental Health ​event is ​happening in London Kingsley Hall on ​Monday 24th June, 10am to 6pm. 

FEEL members and those that can't afford the full price ​are invited to buy a bursary ticket ​at compassionatementalhealth.co.uk/register using the discount code FITC90 which will generate your bursary for £35​. Lunch is included in the ticket. Booking by Friday 21 June​ will allow organiser to confirm numbers for food.

The Antiuniversity Now festival ​is on ​15-22 June www.antiuniversity.org​. ​
Part of the festival today, Sunday 16th the "Other Ways to Care Beyond the Neo-liberal Madness" is happening ​from 10 am to 6 pm at Arts Catalyst, 74-76 Cromer Street​, London​ WC1H 8DR. A gathering to promote alliances and solidarity in the struggle for mental health care beyond the neo-liberal madness​, some of us from FEEL will be there www.eventbrite.com/e/antiuniversity-2019-other-ways-to-care-beyond-the-neo-liberal-madness-ii-registration-62110801078
Looking forward to see you at any of the above and/or soon!

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Sunday, 2 June 2019

Peer Power - with Chris Hansen

Peer Power - with Chris Hansen
Monday 17 June 2019, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
LARC 62, Fieldgate Street, London E1 1ES
At the monthly F.E.E.L. meeting this month we will be talking about the importance of peer support with Chris Hansen. Chris is the Director of the organisation Intentional Peer Support, which was developed in the 1990s and is based in New Hampshire, USA.

A former member of the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP), Chris was also involved with the New Zealand delegation to the drafting of the UNCRPD - the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 13, 2006, and entered into force on May 3, 2008. 
More about Intentional Peer Support www.intentionalpeersupport.org

The meeting is FREE (donations welcome) and open to anyone. 
Email f.e.e.l.campaign@gmail.com for any query.

F.E.E.L. - Friends of East End Loonies meetings take place the third Monday of each month 6.30 - 8.30 pm at LARC, 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, London E1 1ES

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Wednesday, 15 May 2019

R.I.P. Tom Collins

We are extremely sad to share the news of the passing of the talented musician, performer and fellow mental health activists Tom Collins, at aged 51.

 Thomas Michael Collins (27 December 1967 - 25 April 2019) service took place at Lambeth Crematorium, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0BY on Monday 13th May 2019.

 A condolence page can be found here
memorials.co-operativefuneralcare.co.uk/memorial/25-04-2019-ThomasMichael-Collins





                            SOAP protests at the Royal Courts of Justice April 2014, courtesy of Cheryl Prax


                                  SOAP protest, February 2016, Australia House, courtesy of Cheryl Prax





  Tom's photo from Facebook

 Tom's photo from Facebook

Condolences to Thomas's family and friends from all of us.
Rest in Peace Tom 💗🙏 








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