Creating opportunities for participation and recovery CosmoWritten by users of mental health services  Issue 12  Winter 2011-2012 ’s bounty Five steps to wellbeing in Deptford and

Inside

Ladywell Unit a safe haven Page 3

Feature medication debate Pages 4 & 5

My story Looking time “In the in the eye depth of winter Page 6 I finally learned that there was in Book review me an invincible a graphic summer.” exploration Albert Camus Page 7 Cosmo 12  Winter 2011-2012 2 Five steps to wellbeing in Deptford and New Cross Deptford’s bounty

Neil Bellers has researched the Cross, SE14 6LD. Wednesdays The Library at Deptford Deptford and New Cross areas 10am, meet Barnes Wallis Lounge: (left) 9 Giffin Street, and suggests some ways to get Centre, 74 Wild Goose SE8, 020 8314 6399. involved. Photographs by Jaiteg. Drive, New Cross, New Cross community SE14 5LL. www.wfh. library service: 283 New 1 Connect naturalengland.org. Cross Road, SE14 6AS. 999 Club: (right) 21 Deptford Broadway, uk/walkfinder// Goldsmiths College: SE8 4PA, 020 8691 7734, www.999club. lewisham-healthy-walks. University of London, New org/site/deptford. For vulnerable people. Moonshot Centre: (bottom Cross, SE14 6NW, www.gold. Albany Theatre: Douglas Way, SE8 right) , Angus ac.uk/pace. Professional and 4AG, 020 8692 4446, www. Street, New Cross, SE14 6LU, Community Education short courses. thealbany.org.uk. Cafe, 020 8694 9727, www. Midi Music Company: 77 Watson’s events and performances. moonshot.org.uk. Arts, Street, Deptford, SE8 4AU, 020 8694 Deptford Hearing Voices: dance and fitness. 6093, www.themidimusiccompany. www.dhvs.freeuk.com. : go to www. co.uk. Courses and career development Deptford Reach: thames-path.org.uk. for emerging artists. Speedwell Street, SE8 Wavelengths: Giffin Pepys Resource Centre: Deptford Strand, 4AT, 020 8692 6548, www. Street, Deptford, SE8 SE8 3BA, 020 8694 8999, ecocom.org. deptfordreach.org.uk. Helping 4RJ, 020 8694 9400, www. uk. Free IT training and recycling. people rebuild lives. fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/ Steven Lawrence Centre: (left) 39 Lewisham Refugee and Migrants Wavelengths_Leisure_Centre. Brookmill Road, Deptford, SE8 Network: 1st Floor, Parker House, 144 4HU, stephenlawrence.org. Street Deptford, SE8 5DD, 020 3 Take Notice uk/the-centre-2/the-centre. 8694 0323, www.lrn.org.uk. Art studios and exhibitions: Programmes for all ages Lighthouse Social Club: Telegraph Lewisham Arthouse, (left) including multi-media, Hill Community Centre, New Cross, 140 Lewisham Way, SE14, creative arts, art therapy. SE14 5TY and Salvation Army Church, 020 8244 3168, www. Deptford High Street, SE8 3PQ. Go to lewishamarthouse.org.uk. 5 Give www.lighthousesocialclub.org.uk. Creekside, Deptford, SE8, 170 Community Project: 170 www.southlondonartmap.com: New Cross Road, SE14 5AA, 020 2 Be Active APT Studios, www.aptstudios. 7732 9716. Counselling and advice Lewisham Healthy Walks: org; Cor Blimey Arts, 020 charity with volunteering opportunities, Saturdays 10am, meet 8692 2783, www.coregallery. 190 Community Centre: 190 Evelyn Waldron Health Centre, co.uk; Creekside Artists, Street, Deptford, SE8 5DB, 020 8691 Amersham Vale, New creeksideartists.co.uk. 7180. Advice on housing, benefits and Parks and : debt with volunteer opportunities. Broadway Fields and Deptford and New Cross Time Bank: Cosmo , Brookmill Pepys Resource Centre, Deptford Road, SE8; , Strand, SE8 3BA, 020 8692 7777. The Cosmo team is Evelyn Street, SE8; Ferranti Green Shoots: Besson Street Christian Papantoniou, David Harris, Park and Sue Godfrey Nature Community , New Donna Walker, Jaiteg, Park, Bronze Street, SE8; Cross Gate, SE14 5AS, Joseph Johnny, Laurent, Fordham Park, Pagnell 020 7639 7605, www. Neil Bellers, Pamela Moncrieffe Street, SE14; Margaret greenshoots.me. The co-editors are McMillan Park, Watson’s Volunteers welcome. Kirsty Humby and Peter Robinson Street SE8; Pepys Park and MC4All: Milton Court assisted by Anne O’Sullivan Park, Grove Timebank, New Cross, Email [email protected] Street, SE8; Telegraph Hill 07534 198 125. Address Compass Centre Park, Pepys Road, SE14. Transition New Cross: 32-34 Watson Street Volunteers sharing sustainable Deptford SE8 4AU 4 Keep Learning skills. transitionnewcross.org. Phone 020 8694 6519 Creekside Discovery Centre: 14  For more information on the five steps Printed by Print Creekside, SE8 4SA, 020 8692 9922, to wellbeing go to www.slam.nhs.uk/ Front page photograph by Jaiteg www.creeksidecentre.org.uk. wellbeing-garden.aspx Cosmo 12  Winter 2011-2012 3 Unit A safe haven

Cosmo reporter Pamela Moncrieffe spoke to Jane (not her real name) who recently spent some time at the Ladywell Unit. Here Jane shares some of her experiences of life on the ward.

Pamela: What made you know that you had to be admitted into hospital? Jane: The symptoms of my illness became so bad, that I could not function in a normal way. I was shutting down mentally to cope with the symptoms. Pamela: Under what circumstances were you admitted? Jane: I contacted my care coordinator by phone who would not acknowledge how ill I was. So I went to Lewisham Hospital Accident and Emergency with my partner, and I was admitted. Pamela: After admittance how were you treated? Jane: I survived hospitalisation by spending most Which way Jane: While in hospital I helped to chair a ward of my time in the hospital garden or going out off is best? meeting with volunteers, patients and staff. the hospital grounds. You can go out freely if you Signposts I also helped my ward to win the hospital are an informal patient, but if you are under a in Ladywell trophy for World Mental Health day. We all had to mental health section it must be agreed in writing Fields. ride, run and complete various other exercises in by a member of the multi-disciplinary team. Photo: Jaiteg the hospital gym involving weights and stretching Pamela: So you did not spend much of your stay on machines at five minutes intervals. We won by the ward. Why was that? over 200 points. Jane: The time I spent on the ward some of the One of the patients trusted me enough to ask staff were kind, thoughtful, genuine and me to buy her some clothes for her. This was a understanding. Others could do with some very good experience. The best part of being in additional training on bedside manner, and hospital is making good friends. They help you respecting people with mental health problems, get through. and not patronising them. Pamela: Do you have a final message for people who The women only ward is a lot quieter, calmer might be in a similar position? and more peaceful compared to the mixed ward. Jane: In my opinion going into hospital can Pamela: What else did you get involved in while you improve the recovery process, and enable you to were there? get well much more quickly.

Local history

Focus on between the first floor windows. The Deptford Town Hall first is Sir Francis Drake. He was the first English mariner to circumnavigate In 1965 Lewisham absorbed the 1,564 the world and was knighted by Queen acres of the Borough of Deptford. We Elizabeth I in 1581 in Deptford. should be thankful that Deptford Town The other statues are of Robert Blake, Hall, a splendid Edwardian building in Lord Nelson and the fourth represents New Cross Road, has survived. the appearance of a typical admiral in the The Town Hall was intended to be year of the Town Hall’s opening, 1905. emblematic of the spirit of the Borough. A visitor can see the entrance hall It speaks proudly of the maritime past, and its gallery with four pink marble an orgy of tridents, shells, dolphins, columns, beyond which the grand cables, anchors and other nautical staircase rises. The building is now used emblems rioting all over the facade. by the hydra-like Goldsmiths College. Statues of four admirals are featured Deptford Town Hall. Photo: Jaiteg  David Harris Cosmo 12  Winter 2011-2012 4 Ask a professional Feature Being in the moment The great medication debate In his regular column, Matthew Richardson, Medication is often a controversial subject a psychologist with Northover Community within mental health. Here are some Mental Health Team, focuses our attention personal perspectives, thoughts and on mindfulness. experiences on this important area.

Have you ever walked to the end of tatistics say that there the road and then realised that you are more mental health don’t remember the journey or patients than ever watched a television programme then before. At the same time noticed you hadn’t taken anything in? the S amount of medication We spend a lot of our time on has increased. Is it that we “auto-pilot” often with our minds as humans are developing elsewhere as we go about our complexes that need new business rather than being mindfully medications or do the aware of what we are doing. psychiatrists create new This can lead to us reacting in automatic and disorders so that new often unhelpful ways as we are often doing things medications can be without thinking. Being more mindful means prescribed? paying attention purposefully and being aware of The decision to take medication or the present moment. not is made in meetings between the service user, carers and support staff. Practice makes perfect This may be an episodic meeting or This may sound simpler than it is, as it is natural the result of a chronic case. for our minds to wander and it is unrealistic to We can consent to what is offered, expect to be mindful all the time. suggest other medications or refuse However, simple exercises can help bring one’s to take medication. attention more to the present moment. Evidence to take medication is Try bringing your attention to your breathing based on restricting certain behaviours. and keeping the act of breathing in your focus for The decision involves a long term treatment a few minutes every day. for reducing the likelihood of further episodes. Deliberately pay attention to your surroundings, taking in the sights, sounds and smells as How do we measure observantly as a possible. how the brain works? Perhaps users can talk about taking medication Alternative and what the medication represents for them. Being more mindful can offer an alternative way This can happen in peer led focus groups, for of coping with stress and distressing experiences example. Whenever I have shared my anxieties as it can help us have a greater awareness of our around the effects that medication has on me, I experience. break away from the stigmatization that I In this way we can stand back and make experience of having to take medication. decisions about how to respond, rather than Also monitoring behaviour is suggested by care responding in automatic, habitual ways. coordinators and therapists. It can give people an Most coping strategies either help us avoid objective account of how day to day events can distressing experiences or wrestle with them, and change feelings. This can humanize the while both of these approaches have their experience of taking medication. It can be used to merits they can also add to our problems. recognise when the medication helps and how

Therefore mindfulness can be an negative symptoms can be managed. I have been

additional coping mechanism as it can Being mindful able to see that my feelings are numbed in certain help us to be aware of our distressing means paying moments by the medication. In this way, by   experiences without needing to attention and observing the triggers (when, why, where, what escape or struggle with them. being aware of the and how) I have been able to stop myself from  If you have a subject you would like present moment. entering situations that cause emotional distress. Matthew to write about , please email us at This may trigger future decisions of medication. [email protected]  Laurent Cosmo 12  Winter 2011-2012 5 Feature The great medication debate

very service user has their medication of choice, maybe not E of their own choice but choice nevertheless. For example I have been on a tranquilliser and an antidepressant for about eight years. Over the last five years or so Clozapine, trade name is Zaponex, has been presented to me as possible alternative. So I tried to find out about it. Clozapine was developed in 1961 and first used in the early 1970s in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Finland and the United States (as Leponex). It was withdrawn in 1975 due to its most dangerous side effect, depletion of white blood cells.

Treatment From late 1980s onwards it has been reintroduced because of its high effectiveness in treatment of schizophrenia and suicidal behaviour. he use of medication to treat mental Medication Its use involves frequent blood tests and a illness and disorders is complex and it is disciplined approach by patients (missing dose for certainly doesn’t provide a simple prescribed 48 hours requires adjustments by your doctor). solution. There is evidence to suggest to alleviate Its prescription may also involve an initial stay that T medication used alongside other treatments our in hospital for detox and close monitoring. can impact positively on mental state and level of symptoms There are ways to find out about Clozapine. The engagement. but some Patients Handbook available from hospitals Some people testify to its power and swear that people includes a comprehensive list of side effects they wouldn’t consider life without medication, feel it can (almost all of which I experience under my current whereas others feel that they only need to use cause more drugs anyway). medication until they are stable and then can problems. The relevant website is www.ztas.co.uk and move away from treatment and return to living Wikipedia has a good article on Clozapine as well their lives without it. as on other drugs. However withdrawal from medication can Service users may be made an offer they feel prove a harrowing process. The mental health they cannot refuse involving their medication so it charity Mind have produced a booklet with seems to me like a good idea to be informed. information on how to come off psychiatric drugs  Jaiteg stressing that a supportive environment is best  If you have any concerns about your medication, where carers, family and friends are aware of the speak to the health care professional who prescribes it. situation.  www.mind.org.uk/help/medical_and_alternative_  Anne care/making_sense_of_coming_off_psychiatric_drugs Cosmo 12  Winter 2011-2012 6 My story Looking time in the eye

Cosmo’s regular contributor Knowing that you have learned to crawl by Pamela Moncrieffe reflects on the seeking the help of someone, do not segregate challenges she faces with a diagnosis yourself. Just be among the yet to be labelled, the of a mental health condition. yet to be known, and the never to be labelled, never to be known. We can all manage our mind hat a label to be given. Yet if you are at one point or another. Let it be all of the time so given it you are not doomed. It is your label is just a part of the language that we are liveable, bearable, but most of all it destined to carry through life. Although some is manageable. Are you wearing times the language becomes too heavy for us to Wthis label? If yes, the first step is to start thinking carry. It is nice to know that you can always get positively. Then start managing it by knowing the help with carrying the load. signs of an attack. Can you detect the signs of an attack? If yes, then that’s wonderful, because that Awakening is like being your own boss. Every part of this awakening is important, but the Are you being shunned because of your label? most important is you, never forget that you are Can you live it down? If yes, then you have an asset to society, because learning is the most conquered the most vital of all the set-backs of this important commodity in life and you are that stigma. If you cannot live it down, then you have a important subject. Without you there would not be problem and need help, so let’s start with self a subject for teachers to teach in that particular help. Look time in the eye and compare it with area. Consider yourself an asset to society. Do not people to find the difference. You will find that the be glad, but feel a part of the running of things in difference is you can hold on to people but you society, instead of feeling sorry for yourself. cannot hold on to time. A mental health condition can be a troubling diagnosis but it is one that you can live with, with Moving on due care and attention as we did not make Say you accept this and you are moving on. Are ourselves we all could not be tailor made, some of you satisfied that there are no explanations as to us have to suffer the flaw of time. If this who this label claims? If yes, to hell with stigmatising situation is our everyone, you are a part of society – a very plight, hold on to everything important part – because man is yet to conquer that is positive. Do not see your self the reasons for such conditions, let alone the as being alone because there are cure. If no, then you are still learning. You thousands like you in the world. Try to learn to crawl before you walk. So put yourself get in a positive mind to beat the into the hands of someone who will teach stigma of the label and altogether you to walk. control it.

Opinion

The importance of windfall, glitter, dignity your local community while writing about these groups. Nurturing the My thoughts and reflections about feelings involved in being my social environment. You can bring part of a group. I feel wealth to others by taking notice of your something is being born. local surroundings. You can feel elated, The oral discussion in touch with your senses, more alive. group at the Albany, You notice the bright lights, your the newsletter group’s upstanding community and being Christmas party at part of it. Being a celebrity in your own Maggie’s, the Black User back yard. Deptford’s ethnically mixed, Forum’s group outings simple photogenic creative public. and recreations. Delicious, Writing for this newsletter allows for sweet and modest. deep thoughts, feelings of scorn, love, Deptford High Street. Photo: Jaiteg  Joseph Johnny Cosmo 12  Winter 2011-2012 7 Book review A graphic exploration

Christian Papantoniou reviews Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham. The author has both worked inside the psychiatric care system and suffered his own struggle with mental illness.

n areas this is a simple description of the problem, in others giving hope, of some sort, in many giving an image of the little tragedies No more heroes. that make up lives in this world. And that Just people there is no simple solution. Genes are not the No more like me! I triers. At last No more sanity! overall factor – there is no reason to believe you hopers. would be perfectly okay if your mother had slept with someone else. And how living on the psychological edge can do good, in spite of itself. Would Winston Churchill have been so tough, if he wasn’t going through his An personal hell? Perhaps that is the truth, the sane example of are often too sane, too adjusted. And how the Christian’s services find themselves out on a limb, suicides are own self- too determined, parents want magic pills that cure expression. everything, and the public is afraid. down side it brings to me that, neurobiology or no, Shining stars one of the first things needed for recovery is an There will be some shining stars among these absence of cynicism. The parts that end well, carry people, who will for a time use the energy from the same message, even life with Schizophrenia is their problem to change their lives uncannily but better than death. That there is something inside the majority will live and die in this little sphere. of you that is more than you have known. Strength Little victories, grimy little defeats. And the same is a good thing, not stupid. That reaching out is goes for the means of helping, reports of successes better than giving up. And when something lifts of drugs prove overblown, drugs that work prove your mood, don’t question it. Again, that’s a to have side effects that cause life changes – language I have yet to learn. All the same it was a increased appetite, or low sex drive are the most great piece. obvious. We are still people trying to fix a Swiss  Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham is published watch with hammers and chisels. by Blank Slate Books at £11.99. On the whole it’s a great piece of work. On the  Go to darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com/

Volunteering information

Have you done your Forthcoming Time Out For more information and to book your good deed for the day? volunteer training programme: place contact Angela on Wednesday 29 February: 020 8694 6519 or 0789 1544 095 or Would you like to become a volunteer? Role of the volunteer email [email protected] Time Out is a meaningful, award Wednesday 7 March: winning project, which supports Communication and listening Other volunteering opportunities people to enjoy opportunities in the Wednesday 14 March:  Voluntary Action Lewisham: community. Boundaries and confidentiality 120 Rushey Green, SE6 4HQ Time Out is looking for volunteers Wednesday 21 March: 020 8314 9411 and have a new volunteer training Values and attitudes www.valewisham.org.uk programme starting soon. Wednesday 28 March:  Volunteer Centre Lewisham: The sessions will be held at Safeguarding 2nd Floor, HE Olby 10.30am–12.30pm Wednesday 4 April: 307-313 Lewisham High Street Compass Centre, 32-34 Watson Street Review of all sessions and presentation SE13 6NW, 020 8613 7113, Deptford, SE8 4AU of volunteers’ certificate www.volunteercentrelewisham.org.uk Cosmo 12  Winter 2011-2012 8 Black Service Users’ Forum In my view Exotic adventure Managing change: in the West End coping strategies

The Black Service Users’ Forum is an organisation Joseph Like a lot of people who use for African and African-Caribbean service users in Johnny COS services, I was the borough of Lewisham. Naomi, Lintre, Darren, went to the devastated when I heard Ester, Carlos, Janis, Carmen, Joseph, Bernadette, theatre with it was going to close. Marvino, Pamela, Arthur and Mrs Ofogu attended the Black Before I began the Lyceum Theatre in the Strand, walking Service attending these services distance from Charing Cross rail station. User’s I could not even sit in a High above the stage in the circle row, the far Forum. room for short periods away land looked like a burnished Egypt or with people without feeling Ethiopia with ivory, cactuses and glossy urchins. extremely uncomfortable, so The sultry and glamorous choreography made an COS has improved my social skills. Writing for animated panorama. The musical play’s script was Cosmo has tremendously increased my confidence about a treacherous barbarian military dictator and being a trained group leader for the walking who ruthlessly kills the king Mufasa and banishes group has helped my confidence too. his son Simba into the wilderness. I think the first thing we need to do is accept the situation. Then we need to look at ways of Delights keeping in contact with people who we have met The feverish narrative presentation included from our groups to help keep a social circle going. scorching drought, masquerade witchcraft, buzzards, hyenas, cartoon puppets, hogs, giraffes Contact and camels. We were treated to dancing actors, For things like swimming we could set up our drama and soprano vocal delights. own meeting time and place and keep this going The simple, ripe characters Zazu, Sarabi, by exchanging contact details. The walking group Shenzi, Rafiki and young Nala were should almost certainly continue as we are all memorable. The actors’ devotion volunteer walk leaders. It could help if we used to their jobs means they will our direct payments to help fund things which need a lifetime’s passport to interest us such as art. We also need to look for travel the world with the show. other groups to attend which provide similar The audience was full of school girls services. We could use google to find activities, ask and boys. our care coordinators, or look in the local paper. The winter holly led to bonhomie Fortunately Cosmo newsletter is going to and buffet bulge at a Covent Garden continue, so keep checking it for new ideas. Good eatery. Amen. There was great luck with your mental health and keeping it in company, a packed audience, and good nick. The future is as bright as you make it! lyrical thrills and spills.  Donna Walker

Ask Pamela: In conversation

Pamela Moncrieffe spoke to people. Qualifications which enable you illness and my experience of dealing Laurent about qualifications to do this kind of work can be useful. with the illness helps me to help others. Laurent: It means that I have been able Pamela: Education enables you to gain Pamela: It is an advantage to try to gain to gain a job as a service user consultant access to places and knowledge which a qualification if you feel that you will in the psychiatric ward at Ladywell Unit. would otherwise be difficult to get to. be able to study a course. Most of all it Pamela: It is one thing to be an Laurent: My qualification shows is good to know what qualifications are individual with a label, and it I have the skills to work with useful and what will be helpful to you in is another to be someone with other service users. the future. the qualities that would place Pamela: My qualification has Laurent: While completing an NVQ 2 you among the employed, given me the satisfaction I in Health and Social Care I learnt skills especially someone with the did not dream that someone such as listening, taking and giving qualifications that society like me could accomplish. information and assessing situations. is yearning for.  For more information These help me when caring for others. Laurent: I have a on suitable courses ask Pamela: Nowadays many people need diagnosis of mental your care coordinator.