Back on the road again! / 6 July 2011
Healing Homes: An Alternative, Swedish Model for Healing Psychosis, a feature-length documentary film directed by Daniel Mackler
Dear readers, last week was a week to remember. Had my annual health MOT with Dr Patel looking at my bodywork and my big ends - everything working well so ‘back on the road again ‘. I can almost hear the guitar strumming out the chords.
The week started well with a trip to f.e.e.l friends of east end loonies] at the Larc Centre in Whitechapel. They were showing a Daniel Mackler documentary called ‘Healing Homes’ about service user/survivor recovery and healing in Sweden. Very good movie. Check out his podcast with Will Hall on Madness Radio
I saw ‘Take these broken Wings’ also by Daniel at the Hearing Voices Conference last November at Sherwood Forest, Centre Parc about recovering from Schizophrenia without medication.
After the film there was a good discussion by ‘Speak out against Psychiatry’ lead by John who is planning a protest against the excesses of psychiatry. People with Schizophrenia are looking for something better than the BOG STANDARD pills and poor services. Scientifically DUBIOUS electrocution with ECT. Not forgetting the COERCION. Time to pull the finger out demand quality services
Early start Tuesday, back to the road again to the east end, this time, at New Inn Yard the home of ‘Amnesty International’ with Speakers Jacqui Dillon, Peter Bullimore and visiting from New Zealand, Debra Lampshire were presenting a day on Paranoia and Hearing Voices. Excellent day first class speakers who really knew their subject. The audience was about 50 with a good mixture of stake holders [service user survivors] and mental health workers.
We learnt that there are 5 million CCTV cameras in the UK, that’s 20% of the world’s total, and that psychosis was caused by trauma [and not by chemical imbalances]. Lots of insightful comments from experts by experience who know from experience about psychosis and paranoia. I think the next talk is in Brighton. Check it out on http://www.hearing-voices.org" data-scaytid="2">www.hearing-voices.org
Last Thursday I attended a retirement party for my good friend Dr Pietro Pizzo MD in Ruislip Manor. A truly wonderful guy who has helped many patients overcome their distress. He specialises in Holistic Psychiatry. I met his Early Intervention Team, namely Camilla, Chris and Tonte. Nice people. Dr Pietro was very complimentary saying I should use my knowledge and write a book. I am giving my future a lot of thought exploring about human rights and the terrible cuts by this Coalition government.
Before I hit the road I must tell you about this website I’ve discovered called www.ted.com" data-scaytid="4">www.ted.com and in particular a talk by Sir Ken Robinson called 'Schools kill creativity'
I think it speaks for itself. Bye for now HAVE A GOOD ONE. ~ Regards Joe
Comments
Rachel
/Thanks for your message Joe - please do pop into the gallery to see me sometime and also the Richard Dadd exhibition
Colin Hambrook
/Dear Patricia I think there are many reasons for we as survivors talking about ourselves in this way. It is to do with reclaiming language; throwing what is thrown at us back out into the world in a way that allows us to find pride in who we are.
It is about being open about having been labelled; not hiding in shame as it seems the media especially and society in general would have us do.
And I think it is about taking the sting out of the tail. We are being called loonies behind our backs. Rather than cower and pretend we are not who we are; we are saying "what the heck, I'll be open about it and ignore any judgments that others place on me."
Patricia Sinyangwe
/I am a carer. Very interesting blog by Joe - he lives out his commitment consistently. Now something not of Joe's making - why does anyone accept the word 'Loonie' in the F.E.E.L. name? This is not acceptable or appropriate. I have come across this before, where people use derogatory terms for mental health issues and think it's possible to change them into something positive. It doesn't work. My son has a mental health condition and he has voiced this opinion on previous occasions too.
Piotr Iwaneyko
/Great work, amazing issues, interesting matters. Congratulations- Piotr
Nat F
/Hi Joe,
Thanks for your updates and the highlighting of both, last week documentary and the protest on the 27th of July.
In fact the documentary wasn't a work of FEEL, but it was SPEAK OUT AGAINST PSYCHIATRY (SOAP)that organised the lot. SOAP is a project ideated by John H and Jake G to which Caroline F and myself have offered full support right as the thought was out.
We are looking forward to have many people involved for this protest and might many more be ready to challenge this ill systems which only aim seems to be in keeping mental health patients hooked to damaging drugs prescribed by bored professionals.
People deserve better than this.
Surely even professionals performance and satisfaction in their jobs will improve when appropriate and SANE methods will be used in treating patients.
We look forward to seeing you at the protest and please spread the word. Thanks!
Best wishes,
Nat
Sheila Beskine
/Thanks Joe, for sending this on your blog - and great you can get a blog happening ... Sheila B. SHG.
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