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Issue 4 time 2010
Healing the emotional scars of war Spotlight on: Together Tigers Food and mental health
Soap washes hands of clichés
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CONTENTS
Features 6 Healing the emotional scars of war 12 Cover story: Soap washes hands of clichés 14 Strength and Hope exhibition at Our Space 18 Food and mental health 22 Focus on Personalisation 22 6
Contents 12
8 Regulars 4 Together Communicates: news in brief 8 Spotlight on: Together Tigers 10 First Person: your life stories 20 Share Together: the story of Freda and Charlotte Mew 24 Involvement Update: news and opportunities for service users and staff 28 The Notice Board: your pictures and 14 news
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timetogether ISSUE 04
Recession, Public Services and the Third Sector
CHIEF EXECUTIVE - LIZ FELTON
he recent economic problems personalise services. to have hit the world are well Our sector is well placed and strong T known, along with the eye at empowering citizens, and reaching watering sums of money used to bail into communities and will probably find out the banks and to refloat the personalisation easier to achieve than FEEDBACK of BBC Picture Publicity photo courtesy cover Front economy. This has left a multi state run services. We always welcome feedback billion pound deficit facing the So, should the sector be pushing to >about timetogether from our country and a fear that we will see create a scenario whereby we would readers. So if you'd like to contact severe top-slicing of public service see fundamental changes to the system the team to get your point across funding with greatest threat to that delivers public services and to the or would like to contribute an mental health services and with style of delivery? It has to be better, article, photo or letter, you can third sector contracts feeling does it not, than the type of slashing of contact us at: particularly vulnerable. services we have seen before that often [email protected] But might there be an alternative disadvantages our sector and our scenario and, if so, might this represent service users the most? In this scenario, a significant opportunity for our sector a significant opportunity is created with to influence and contribute to the sector offering solutions to bring transforming public services in a way about the kind of system change that that improves outcomes for service gives greater personalisation, supports users? people’s and communities’ own The task facing the next capacity and achieves cost reductions. government from whichever political This is why we are working with other party, will be a radical rebalancing of organisations to position the voluntary Editor: the public finances likely to result in a sector as the natural partner with Claire Monger radical rethink of the role of public government in making this happen. Together: working for wellbeing services with much greater emphasis on The sector needs to rise to the 12 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BE outcomes. challenge and charities must ensure 0207 780 7366 Incremental improvements in public that the public is on our side by being [email protected] services will not be sufficient. Systemic open and accepting of change. We will Proofreaders: innovation and new systems of need to demonstrate that we can Rosie Shelley and Sarah Fuggle production will be needed, including diversify our funding streams and are support for volunteering and mutual not undermined by duplicating services Design and Production: John Myers support by people for, and with, each or by quality issues. We will not escape [email protected] other. the requirement to operate our services In this scenario, the role of families efficiently and to demonstrate value for and communities would assume money and to deliver measurable greater importance, with social support outcomes. structures complementing the role of All of this depends also on public services. We could see a shift strengthening capacity and resources in from an emphasis on the rights of the the third sector with government individual to one much more concerned setting the right framework and timetogether and its contents are the sole © of for the common good of our conditions. We will be pushing for this Together: working for wellbeing. No part of communities. too. this magazine may be reproduced in any form In public services, the drive would be without the prior written permission of for cheaper and also better, and for a Together: working for wellbeing, registered pro-active focus on prevention, self- charity no: 211091. management and individual control. There would be a rethinking of the job roles of frontline workers to provide increased discretion and power to
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TOGETHER COMMUNICATES
Sky’s the limit at How befriending helps Hastings Resource Bob Thrussell at Hastings Resource A series of minor strokes left Tom Powell, a former Centre worked together with Richard college lecturer, battling with depression. Tom says: “I Broad from Lawn Court and others to address a problem a number of their was at a very low ebb in life. I just couldn’t do clients were facing, fear of flying. They had picked up from a number of anything at all and was falling to pieces.” people and their families that anxieties Help was at hand from Rochdale about plane travel were preventing them Community Support Service (CSS), from going on holiday. So the team which runs a befriending service in worked together to encourage 10 people, partnership with the local Rotary Club. including one person who had not flown They encouraged Tom, who has always in 23 years, to take advantage of the 1p been a keen artist, to take up painting flights offered by a budget airline and again. Thanks to this support he accompanied the nervous flyers on a regained his interest and art and in flight to Dublin. They didn’t stay long, just October 2009 put on an exhibition of a couple of hours, before taking the return 20 paintings and prints at the flight home. But it’s really helped increase Touchstone Gallery in Rochdale. Tom people’s confidence. The next step is to continues: “It came to a point where I try and get some funding to turn it into an just couldn’t cope. But thanks to overnight stay. Together and Rochdale Rotary Club, life is looking a lot more encouraging and Successful bid at I’m enjoying painting again.” The befriending partnership was Lancashire CSS the brainchild of Mike Tomkinson, Congratulations to the team at Community Support Worker at Lancaster CSS who have received Rochdale CSS, and a committed funding from North Lancashire Primary Rotarian. It now looks to go from Care Trust (PCT) for a Carers’ strength to strength after a vigorous Engagement and Involvement Worker. assessment saw it meet the Approved This brand new role will focus on Provider Standard (APS) from the team behind it. Mike recently received developing the skills and knowledge of Mentoring and Befriending a well deserved Together staff award of carers so that they can better influence Foundation, a testament to the hard £500 for his outstanding contributions the planning, development and work and determination of the whole to the organisation. improvement of mental health services across North Lancashire.
Monday 8th to Sunday 14th March 2010
Since 2007 Together has held a Thanks to the commitment of its members, the week that has seen projects up and views of everybody at Together have been down the country hold events and represented, including front line staff, people activities promoting better mental accessing mental health services, as well as wellbeing for all. In 2010 Mental Wellbeing members of senior management, which has led Week is set to take place from 8th - 14th to some really positive developments.” March, and this year we’re encouraging more See the four page pull-out feature and poster external groups and organisations to get about Mental Wellbeing Week 2010 included in involved too. this edition of timetogether. Visit www.together- Claire Monger, Project Manager for the week uk.org/wellbeing-week to download a pack that says: “This year we’ve had a real mix of people explains what’s happening, and how to get on the steering group, which has been fantastic. involved.
www.together-uk.org/wellbeing-week
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TOGETHER COMMUNICATES timetogether ISSUE 04
First Direct Payment success at Verneuil Avenue Staff at Verneuil Avenue in Stowmarket are thrilled to report that one of their tenants, John Harvey, has managed to obtain a direct payment for a two day break in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth. As Tracey Norman, project co- ordinator says ”We’re so pleased with this Linda Bryant result. It was the first direct payment we’d applied for, the procedure wasn’t as daunting as we thought, and it took just three weeks from application to being told Fresh successes for the John had been successful.” Forensic Mental Health Moving on from Practitioner service (FMHP) Swiss Cottage Colleen Lee, Project Co-ordinator at Swiss Too many people with mental health issues find themselves in Cottage residential home, is delighted at the recent success of two people at the contact with the criminal justice system. Published earlier this year project. Sue and Mark had been living at the Bradley Report presented the results of an inquiry into the the service for a number of years, but diversion of offenders with mental health problems or learning thanks to their hard work and commitment, plus the workers at Swiss disabilities away from prison into other more appropriate services. working intensely with them to help them prepare, they have now moved on to A Health and Criminal Justice National Entitled ‘A common sense approach’ it supported living accommodation. “The Programme Board has been set up to takes a four-step approach to help staff team would like to say a fond goodbye to deliver the recommendations outlined in identify and better support the people Sue and Mark and wish them all the very the Bradley Report, and due to the with mental health issues that they come best for the future” says Colleen. expertise of our FMHP service in into contact with. Believed to be the first supporting those with mental health of its kind, it was written by Linda Bryant, needs within the system, Together has Service Manager, with support from the been asked to join the Advisory Board to Communications Team. It was launched A little education this group, which is fantastic news. at a conference organised by the London goes a long way The FMHP team has also recently Criminal Justice Board in 2009 to great produced a mental health guide for acclaim, and is currently being developed A group of five people who visit our frontline criminal justice staff in London. further. Sittingbourne Resource Centre paid a trip to a local school to talk to a group of students about mental health issues. Reading Resource once again They joined Jane Gregory, staff member, to talk about how stigma and meets the matrix standard discrimination affects their lives and recovery, and stressed to the students The matrix standard is the unique the centre is run. how important it is to seek help for quality framework for the effective Cath Cooper, Employment Co- mental distress at the earliest delivery of information, advice and/or ordinator, at Reading Resource says: opportunity. guidance on learning and work. We are “The assessor said that if you see the Jane says: “One of the students said pleased that Reading Resource Centre award as a high jump, we cleared the that if she had been told beforehand has been re-awarded this standard after bar with a lot of room to spare, and that we were coming she would have an intensive two-day assessment. As would like other organisations to see been afraid, but having met us she part of the assessment all staff were how we integrate user-involvement into realised that people with mental health interviewed alongside around 12 of its our work. We’d like to thank everybody issues were OK. It was a positive day for members. It was also commended for who has contributed to us achieving the everyone concerned and the teacher, the way in which members (service standard, especially our members.” myself and the service users involved users) of the project are involved in how are all eager to repeat the experience.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON...
Sian Wynne at Together talks to Simon Weston OBE about the challenges he faced to recover from the mental distress of combat, and the ways he thinks post- conflict mental health services need to improve. Healing the emotional scars of war
In September 2009 the National depression was an obvious and definite charity work, really,” he says. “It was the Association of Probation Officers given and that it would happen in the way second I became useful again, the second published a report stating that most that it did.” I was able to do something and not look veterans do not receive adequate Combat Stress is the leading UK for the obvious reward. When you see that counselling or support when they leave charity specialising in the care of you can get so much mental reward from the armed forces. This came after the veterans’ mental health. Approximately doing something for others, it can be the MOD released data in 2008, indicating 60% of those they help suffer from Post- turning around of one’s life.” that 4,000 new cases of mental health Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Other It is not just individuals that have issues were diagnosed among armed co-existing conditions include depression, been affected by Simon’s story. While he service personnel during the previous alcohol and/or drug abuse, anxiety and is frequently approached by those who year. With British troops continuing to phobic disorders. have found inspiration and hope in the serve in the Afghanistan and Iraq “Many veterans arrive at one of our way he lives his life, his work nationally wars, the need for mental after care treatment centres very apprehensive,” and internationally to raise the profile of for servicemen and women has never says a spokesperson for the charity. “One the long term impact military service can been more pronounced. of the most therapeutic elements of their have has been far-reaching. Simon Weston has become a stay is comradeship and the recognition His lived experience of conflict has spokesperson for veterans of conflict that they are not alone in their given Simon’s strong opinions on veteran across the UK. After suffering horrific experiences. Being among a peer group is care a unique and undeniable credibility, injuries in an attack on the Sir Galahad an excellent platform on which to base and he continues to voice these opinions during the Falklands war, Simon’s ongoing their care and treatment.” today. charity and campaigning work over the Simon Weston also found peer “The care on offer is improving, but it’s last 27 years earned him not only an OBE support invaluable in his recovery. not enough,” he says. “Whether or not it in 1992, but a reputation as someone “I can’t speak highly enough about will ever be enough I don’t know.” willing to speak out about his own my friends and the guys from the Welsh “Physically, you can fix broken bones experiences as a serviceman and how he Guards, they were outstanding,” he says. to a greater degree. The mind is not so has rebuilt his life. “The support and the friendship that I had obvious because people just don’t notice “My lowest point was probably when I there was for everyone to see, and was it, and they don’t notice it when it was suicidal,” says Simon. “And that was long-lasting.” happens over a long period.” simply because I’d had lots of attention, “You need your peers. You have to be While mental distress may not be and I’d had fantastic treatment, but when around people that understand.” visible on the surface, it should not be I came home and was in the quiet of my Being open about his experience of overlooked, he says. own bedroom, I was drinking a lot and it war and the personal journey he has been “These things need to be looked at as was a very dark and lonely place for me.” on since 1982, Simon has not only helped par for the course. People need to get “Sadly there was nobody to pick up to educate others, but has facilitated his some sort of counselling before they leave the pieces. There was no realisation within own mental recovery. the forces. I know people won’t like that, the MOD or the medical services that “It started when I got involved in bit I think it’s something that we have to
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HEADER TO GO HERE timetogether ISSUE 04
do because PTSD is happening to some of the toughest and strongest and most unexpected people.” “You need to give people the opportunity to decommission their mental state from the armed forces, back to civvy street. So let’s be pro-active. They say that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” The psychological effects of war impact on more than just the serviceperson in question. It is usually down to loved ones to offer emotional support, but they may not be equipped to deal with the challenges this may involve. Simon was lucky enough to have a loving family on hand to help him, but he thinks those close to veterans should be offered guidance in how best to deal with a partner or family member suffering from PTSD. “I don’t think it’s offered enough now, but I do think families should be given a short bit of instruction. They are the ones “Physically, you can that tend to spend the quiet moments fix broken bones to a with that person.” Combat Stress have established a greater degree. The number of carer support groups across the UK, having recognised the important role mind is not so obvious that loved ones play in supporting because people just veterans in mental distress. “Many veterans’ problems can remain don’t notice it, and masked for years, and their families may try to deal with matters at home,” says they don’t notice it the Combat Stress spokesperson when it happens “Experiencing trauma affects relationships. Often it is the partner who over a long period.” acts as a buffer between the veteran and the world. Circumstances can lead to social isolation as friends fall away. The strain of a veteran’s mental health issues can be felt by the entire family.” Media coverage and continued investigation in to the psychological effects of war are raising the profile of mental aftercare both in the UK and America. Thanks to Combat Stress and the work done by Simon along with other ex- servicemen and women brave enough to speak out about their mental health, public awareness of the issue is growing. “I was terrified when I first started to do things in the public eye,” admits Simon. For more information on the services “I didn’t desire to be a public figure, it just seemed to happen. But what I did do was offered by Combat Stress, visit recognise that there was a genuine www.combatstress.org.uk opportunity to do something that was good for me, to do good for others, and try to make a difference in this world.” “And if we’re here for anything, it’s to make a difference.”
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The Together Tigers football team is made up of players accessing mental health services inexplains the Bournemouth how a good area, idea, alongside TogetherSimon McCormack staff and other members of the community. teamwork, and a grant from the Football Foundation is helping to break down notions of stigma, and the barriers that keep them in place, on and off the pitch.
The Together Tigers, so called for our distinctive black and orange kit, were established four years ago when a small group of staff and service users met to play on a weekly basis in Bournemouth. This was organised by Doug Lowe (then the manager of Together’s Clifton House residential service) out of his love for footy. As with most new teams there was an ebb and flow of players to begin with, but over the next two years a core group including Doug, Cliff, Darren and Richard (our two-footed striking machine), as well as a team spirit began to emerge. We then worked to promote the Tigers to Community Mental Health Teams and day hospitals, hoping to attract more players, which resulted in a further growth period with Greg, Pete, Mike and Sam coming regularly. At the start of 2008 we heard about the Football Foundation Fund. The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports’ charity. Funded by the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government, the Foundation directs £40m every year into grassroots sport.
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SPOTLIGHT ON... timetogether ISSUE 04
and each is allowed to develop from the centre. Everyone has a part to play, from lifts to practice to training, to the voluntary system of subs, to bringing an Doug and Ryan McCormack, who was to become air-horn for support. Now two of our players have registered to become FA coaches. the organising force behind the team, made an Within Together Tigers there is little in the way of appointment to meet with the Foundation, and did a division or hierarchy, our team is a variety of presentation in the hope of getting some money to contributing people defined only by a willingness to play develop the Tigers further. They were successful and football together in the same colours. One of the many were awarded a grant of £9000 over a three-year positive results of this has been connecting with and period. From this point the Tigers became more pro-active, being valued by the community. One very sunny day in October 2009 the team organising and joining community tournaments, arrived at the Linford Christie Sports Stadium to take performing well and winning a couple. It was also part in a competition organised by Queens Park Rangers around this time that we first organised a memorial (QPR). Arriving slightly late forced us into a quick game for Dan Mawby, a friend who had died at thirty- change behind a convenient shed before taking part in five from cancer, which now takes place annually. The team continued to grow and it began to a special five-a-side competition. There was the usual attract and include people in the local salmon run as twenty teams, plus supporters, gathered community who had no previous association around the fenced astro-green pitches. A blending of with the mental health sector. As numbers team kits, Brazilian yellows, Spanish reds and royal increased, we moved our practice sessions to blues, alongside shouted greetings and hullaballoo. a bigger venue and added a Brazil style away At the QPR competition one of our teams lost out in kit to our orange home kit. the group stage, but the other progressed into the The Tigers then became founder members knockout stages before being beaten, however of the Unity League, an independent league, participation in the day doesn’t end here. These events which is now in its second season. This produce a spontaneous kind of community. What comprises of four teams from a variety of begins with twenty competing teams transforms over backgrounds in an eleven-a-side, informal set up time into a supportive gathering of people. Throughout with an emphasis on enjoyment, fair play, the day relationships have sprouted through talking and inclusion and respect. In a practical way it echoes playing, competing and sharing. The result is that the Together’s whole person approach and its core finalists are cheered on by those they played against principle of valuing people, respecting their earlier. Rather than the traditional boundary of team colours there is a diverse palette of support. experiences and differences and valuing their Ryan McCormack, Support Worker and Team diversity. These principles have proved fertile ground Member says: “The best part of all of this is that you for what is now a flourishing Tigers team with structure have people mixing who may not normally mix. This is and spirit where each person contributes to the whole part of Together’s ethos of people and communities who value mental health and wellbeing. When you look at our mob and what underpins it, you see those values for what they are, and you get to see how it works.’ “The missing of chances is one of the mysteries of life” Sir Alf Ramsey
9 0282_Together_Magazine_Issue 4:Layout 1 13/12/09 19:54 Page 10 FirstPerson What’s your story? One of the most powerful ways to fight the stigma and prejudice that surrounds mental health is for people to describe their real life experiences. First Person is a regular spot in timetogether where we encourage our readers to do just that.
Would you like to write an article based on your own life that offers hope and support to others? Or perhaps you’d like to express your views on a topic that directly affects or concerns you? To find out more about contributing to this part of the magazine please call Claire on 0207 780 7366.
The Madhouse of Love BY PETER G MACKIE
In this exclusive first-person piece for me two and a half years of tact and along with the lack of educational facilities, timetogether, the author Peter G Mackie persuasion before I was eventually released. had after-effects which have lasted through shares his experience of being wrongly I felt that I was guilty until proved innocent, the rest of my life. After my release, I had admitted to an Adolescent Psychiatric a feeling that has stayed with me all my life, problems again with my father who would Unit, and falling in love, in the 1960s. to some extent. keep threatening to put me back in hospital At the age of 12, after having an There were a lack of educational if I ever dared to disagree with him. argument with my father while on holiday in facilities at the Unit. I had been the first in Due to all of this – along with the fact the north of Scotland, he threw me down on the class at Maths at school, and if I had not that I was continually bullied at the the ground violently for no apparent reason spent so much time in hospital, I could Technical College to which I was sent on and kept holding me down. Being probably have ended up using my talents as release – it took me a long time to build up frightened, I started shouting and a Maths teacher, for instance, but as things confidence in myself. I ended up running screaming, like any 12-year-old would have turned out, I have been condemned to a life away from home when I was 16 and again done in a similar situation. of doing menial jobs interspersed with being sexually abused, the first time having The next week, I was taken to see a periods of unemployment. been by another boy in the hospital psychiatrist in an Adolescent Unit in a While I entered the hospital as a happy dormitory. different area of Scotland from where I had 12-year-old, I became more and more After staying for a short time in a grown up. My father described the incident depressed all the time I was there and commune with Bill Dwyer, organiser of the to the psychiatrist, saying that I had been ended up feeling that I was starting to lose Windsor Free Festival, I moved into a room “shouting and screaming like a madman”. my soul. After being in hospital for just over in South London where, later that year, at Of course, his side of the story was a year, I started to form a relationship with a the age of 17, I wrote my book The believed. I wasn’t listened to and I was kept girl who was also a patient there, but this Madhouse of Love based on my own there for two and a half years without being relationship was soon put a stop to by the experiences in the hospital. The memories given a reason. I was terrified that I was staff, leading us both to contemplate kept flooding back to me and I just felt that I going to be kept there for the rest of my life. suicide. had to write it all down. It all happened I thought from the start that there was During my stay there, I made some spontaneously. nothing wrong with me, but when I tried to friends with some of the other patients of I originally published The Madhouse of tell that to any of the staff, they told me about my own age, but friendships were Love myself in 1993. It has now been re- repeatedly that, if I kept saying that I short-lived due to the number of patients published as an e-Book by the leading thought that there was nothing wrong with being admitted and discharged all the time mental health charity Chipmunkapublishing. me, they would keep me there for longer. and patients weren’t encouraged to see As my first concern was to get out of the each other after they had left. For further information about Peter’s place somehow, I had no choice but to I would say that the lack of long-term book please visit: pretend to go along with this, but it still took friendships and relationships at that age, www.chipmunkapublishing.com
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FIRST PERSON timetogether ISSUE 04
Dawn Christie is supported by Together’s North Leeds Respite and Community Support Facing up Service in Leeds. She wrote this article with the assistance of her friend, Tom Halloran. to me The importance of remembering the past BY DAWN CHRISTIE
Life’s been tough for me but I’m extremely resilient and I seem to take it on the cheeky chin without too much complaining. I’ve battled with depression almost all of my life, but throughout my experiences I’ve always found taking part in creative and artistic activities to be helpful. Over the years I have enjoyed drama, art, dance and BY PAT KEEFE performance, and I’m a member of respectfully remembered and not forgotten. Leeds Survivor Poetry Group. I think that I feel that even today there are far too Pat Keefe is supported by Together’s for me, and for a lot of other people, many suicides and sheer neglect in Rochdale Community Support Service. Here being able to express yourself creatively psychiatric units, in people’s homes and in she reflects on how things can change when can be lifesaving. jails. These failings speak for themselves you get the support that you need. In my home city of Leeds there were and expose a shoddy system lacking in some really interesting, creative events human compassion. I think remembering I was suicidal once. When I look back on happening around World Mental Health what’s gone wrong in the past like we are this time in my life I find myself thinking Day 2009 and I decided to get involved doing at High Royds Hospital is just so ‘what a self-pitying bitch’. I criticise with one of them. I heard that the local important because by educating people myself for thinking of running away Mind Association were looking for people to what went wrong in the past, we can go from my problems in that way. But I try perform at an event to help raise funding for some way to preventing the same things not to be so hard on myself these days. the Friends of High Royds Memorial Group. I happening again. Instead, I thank God that I am no longer decided to take part as the suicidal and have learnt to say ‘thank group’s aims are really close to Daughter of Zion! you’ for my life. my heart. Oh sweet daughter of Zion. I am still not completely well but I no The Friends of High Royds is Your beautiful tree of oak weeps in the forests longer want to kill myself. I know that there a charitable group raising money Of complete abandonment, darkness and despair. are lots of other people in the world, just like to restore the derelict chapel and She will hug her tree so close, though. me, who have learnt how to face up to their land connected to the former Like the sister she never had ……….. problems and live their lives. hospital of the same name. I feel like I had to open my eyes to get Originally known as the West By Dawn Christy better and see that times can be good as Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum, well as bad. Sometimes life isn’t easy - it High Royds Hospital opened in isn’t plain sailing for anybody. But each and 1888 to care for the ‘mad poor' and didn’t At the World Mental Health Day every one of us can live some kind of life, close fully until 2003. I was a patient at this fundraising event there was poetry, dance and all we can do is try to live the best sort hospital myself at one point, and my and song both performed and enjoyed by of life that we can. memories of it are far from fond. survivors. I did a piece of dance that I My family has not had a good time of The chapel and garden the group is choreographed myself, which I’m told was things either; nothing has been easy for any raising money to restore is the final resting sharp and powerful. I got a lot of really of us. But without the help of my family, place of 2,861 people; each and every one positive feedback about it, which I was friends, neighbours and others I would not of them was a patient at the hospital. really pleased with, and I’m proud to say be here now. I would be dead. They have Sadly, after dying at the hospital, they were that between us we raised £220 to support taught me not to look on the black side of buried in unmarked paupers’ graves, as the Friends of High Royds Memorial Group. life all the time, how to like myself, how to many as three deep. In my opinion, this is a Thanks to our event, and all the other ask for help. I am lucky; I wish everybody sign of the respect that was not given to people who have worked hard to raise could get the support they need. them when they were alive or dead. funding, the total amount that is needed to If I hadn’t learnt to accept help from Amongst the other aims for the Friends make a start on the restoration work has people, I would not be here today. By of High Royds is to commission a memorial been found. The first piece of work to take sharing my story I hope it helps other sculpture to all those buried there, a fitting place is to turn the chapel into a museum people who are feeling now like I did. If you tribute to people forgotten in life and now that will stand to remind visitors what goes are reading this and you think you need death, and to those now living who are now wrong when people with mental health help please ask for it, don’t be scared. I coping with mental illness and depression. issues are not treated with the respect they want you to know this - you can learn to We, as survivors, needed them to be deserve. want to live again.
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Soap washes hands of clichés BY MICHAEL YEOMAN
A question. Which mental health condition comes on suddenly, lasts between a fortnight to a month and ends in either murder, suicide or a magic pill that takes the problem away rarely to be seen again? The answer may not be obvious to anyone who has never watched Hollyoaks, Emmerdale or any other soap on the planet. It’s called Soap Opera Character Mental Illness and can often be seen on television - but never in real life.
Yet we expect this of soaps. As the honest portrayal … is to be commended.” first Bipolar viewer I spoke to, called Jo, But several months on – with all the accurately summed up: “It’s important to research and consultancy – did the story remember that it’s just escapism. You portray ‘an accurate and honest’ image? cannot expect 100% accuracy.” Kate Horton who was diagnosed as But this year, Eastenders producers being Bipolar when she was 16, said and scriptwriters embarked on a storyline “Eastenders did show the extreme of that involved Stacey Slater’s descent into Bipolar and missed a lot of the little Bipolar Disorder. Crucially the research for details which happen to us daily. Also, the storyline involved collaboration with how she was treated by the doctor, how various Mental Health charities including she managed to get one tablet that However, both Kate and ‘Goose’ Mind and MDF, The Bipolar Organisation, "cured" her when it takes a lot of us many included many positive points about the with a brief that promised just that - a appointments over months or even years storyline, particularly from an emotional truthful portrayal of someone going to find medication that works, was also viewpoint. Kate said “Stacey’s character through Bipolar Disorder. inaccurate.” was researched well and did put one side At the story’s inception in May 2009, Another complaint posted by ‘Goose’ of Bipolar across. It helped me come to Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer on the MDF forums was how “I found the terms with my diagnosis knowing I’m not commented on how great it was that fantasy of being able to call your GP and on my own. It showed me from an Eastenders was exploring this mental get a team of professionals together outsider’s perspective how bad I had health issue. He further stated: “The extremely bad as it may lead the public to become before I was treated.” degree of research and consultancy believe that you can get help that It is clear that within the remit of undertaken to ensure an accurate and quickly!!!!” conveying Bipolar accurately and producing a drama, Eastenders has reached a brave new world. The practicalities, the day by day issues that Bipolar sufferers must go through may have been swept under the carpet for drama’s sake, but the emotive pull, the actions and thoughts of Stacey Slater played superbly by actress Lacey Turner has struck a real resonance with people who have Bipolar. The topic is not always covered so thoughtfully. At the time of writing this article, there is a storyline in Hollyoaks that deals with a character that has schizophrenia, complete with an ‘imaginary evil friend’
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called Eli who tells him to do wrong things. I brought this up with Jo who just In Focus: laughed. “It’s funny you mention that. I have a friend who is a Mental Health Social Worker who watches Hollyoaks. My friend thought their storyline was so bad Survivor view and inaccurate that she wrote in to complain. Now out of 100% of all the BY SADIE GOWER soaps I’ve ever seen, Eastenders has handled mental health in the best way.” Eastenders, which I watch, often has more the feel of a small village than part of London's East End; sometimes it feels more like the 1950s or early 1960s. However, the
Photos courtesy of BBC Picture Publicity Photos courtesy unravelling of one of its central characters to Bipolar Affective Disorder, certainly made me prick up my ears. Stacey Slater has been a fiesty, lively young woman, with many highs and lows. She arrived In Albert Square in 2004, when she moved in with her uncle Charlie. She had been living with her mother, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), who had been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder some years previously, and things had become unmanageable for Stacey. While there were parts that seemed a little strange to me, I was absolutely 'blown away' by actress Lacey Turner's enactment, as we watched Stacey's behaviour become more chaotic and desperate, and her mood darken into paranoia. On the face of it, we saw a young woman rushing around yelling, throwing things, causing havoc. She still looked attractive in her micro mini dresses, but when Stacey walked down the street barefoot, having been rejected by married ex- lover Max again, she looked so bereft and vulnerable. Stacey had been rejected by Max on the night that her young friend, Danielle, died. It was clear to see etched on Stacey's face, the turmoil of her painful emotions. She had been losing patience with Danielle and her airey-fairy fantasies of life, but now she felt she had let her down badly. Stacey felt the same about the disappearance of her brother, and also about her mother's crisis that followed this, which led to a spell in a psychiatric hospital for Jean. As the turmoil inside Stacey increased, she became all the more frantic, and if she wasn’t the soulmate of Max, then she must be the soulmate of Bradley. Her ex, Bradley still had much affection for Stacey, but he was leaving with his new partner for a life in Canada very soon. He and Jean were agonising over how to tell Stacey that her marriage to Bradley had been ended by a divorce. Stacey, having resisted medical intervention for some time, did begin to take medication, but when she heard about Bradley's imminent departure, she stopped taking her pills. Stacey's feelings spiralled downwards into paranoia, and that led to the night that she was bundled off in a police car, heading for the psychiatric unit on a Section. There were so many painful feelings going on at once for Stacey, and I was very moved by the depth and flexibility of the directing and the acting. Since these articles were Although my many years have been with Uni- written actresses Lacey Polar Clinical Depression, and not Bipolar Disorder, Turner and Gillian Wright, I very much identified with Stacey. I could see what who play Stacey and Jean I had felt so often clearly portrayed by Stacey, and Slater, were awarded the the day after I had watched her being driven off in Making A Difference prize that police car, I found I woke up worrying about her at the Mental Health - so much of an impact had the drama made. Media Awards.
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Much is being done to reduce stigma endured by mental health service users in the UK, while in other parts of the world the topic is still completely taboo. The situation faced by people accessing mental health services in Uganda was explored in a recent exhibition at Together’s Our Space Gallery.
To coincide with World Mental Health A cultural exchange Diagnosis awareness and treatment, and Day 2009 Strength and Hope: Mental Hannah visited Uganda to help child and adolescent mental health. Health in Uganda, a photographic document the work of the Butabika Link, They have also facilitated the opening of exhibition by award-winning press and a mental health training and education a drug and alcohol ward. documentary photographer Hannah exchange programme between the UK Importantly, the Link has also Maule-ffinch, went on show. and Uganda. facilitated eight people with experience The exhibition documented life for The Link was set up in 2004 by East of mental health issues from East people experiencing mental health issues London NHS Foundation Trust after a London to visit Butabika and champion in Uganda’s difficult conditions in a request from the Tropical Health the benefits of service user involvement, series of 40 stunning images. The shots Education Trust to host two Butabika whilst themselves learning more about provided viewers with unique access into Hosptial staff members for several the groundbreaking work in the country life for patients at Butabika Hosptial, the weeks. The aim of this was to help them led by service user organisations country’s only National Referral Mental find out more about how mental health including Mental Health Uganda, and Health Institution, and also gave an services in the UK operate. the Ugandan Schizophrenia Fellowship. insight into the vibrant and inspirational That was the start of a five year Paul, an East London mental health spirit of the people and communities journey that has seen the Link create service user who took part in the who are challenging the stigma they training and project work in many areas exchange, said: “It’s the most exciting face, whilst forging an independent of mental health in Uganda. During project I have had the privilege of future together. exchange visits, East London NHS working on since I became a service user Foundation Trust staff have provided representative, with potentially huge specific workshops and demonstrations benefits for both countries involved.” of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dual continued on page 15...
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Rewarding Hannah said of her visit to Uganda: Recently at “Photographing the work of the Butabika Link has been one of my most rewarding shoots to date. I was lucky enough to Our Space... gain access to the reality of mental health support in Uganda and I wanted to ensure that my images were as true a reflection of the people I met, as possible.” As well photographing scenes at Butabika Hospital, Hannah accompanied East London NHS Trust Occupational Therapist Louise Blanks and Ugandan The Really Affordable Art show Health professionals on trips to visit Work by artists supported by Together service users in remote villages. projects, including Castle Resource and Photographs from this experience were Reading Resource, made up this credit- also included in the exhibition and crunch blues-busting art fair of photography, paintings and sculpture. highlighted the importance of traditional Nuala Hamilton, a contributor to the show, support for people with mental health said photography had been "a huge help" issues within Ugandan culture, such as in her struggle with depression. "It helps faith healers, and the support of people me in lots of different ways," she observed. within the communities they live. Cerdic Hall, the Co-ordinator of the Butabika Link says: “The photographs captured so well the incredible strength and resilience of Ugandan sufferers of mental illness. Despite stigma and misunderstanding, they still strive to participate in community life.” The Individual Within Artist Tracey Brown displayed visual art, personal correspondence and private accounts from her six year journey through paranoid psychosis. Her work explored labels, life and relationships within a suburban community as a reflection of UK society and its attitude to individuality and difference. This was achieved by examining inter-relationships with her neighbours, health and social care services, and the police, as well as her ‘voices’ during the period.
Art Saved My Bacon Jewish artist Sandra Robinson mapped her journey through her childhood, cultural heritage and periods of mental illness to recovery and happiness through life-size sculptures, paintings and poems. This was the last exhibition organised by Amy McKelvie, our fantastic Volunteer Gallery Co-ordinator, who has now left us to take up a position with Tate Britain.
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FUNDRAISING
Fundraising
BY SARAH FUGGLE, FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVE When I joined Together in September 2009, my first task was to take over the organisation of our Walk for Wellbeing, a walk touring the bridges of the Thames in celebration of World Mental Health Day.
On a bright October morning, 25 sprightly Together supporters met at City Strategic Funding Hall near Tower Bridge and set off on either a four or eight mile route that For big chunks of funding we approach would see them cross some of London’s funders like The National Lottery and most iconic bridges. I hardly saw the two the government’s Third Sector who decided to jog, but it was a fun Investment Fund as well as a whole day and we raised £1500. variety of individual charitable trusts – A huge thank you to some national, some very local. The approaches need to be centrally co- everybody who took part. ordinated (nothing annoys a funder Not forgetting another more than multiple applications from huge thank you to everyone alongside Amerjit Chohan, the different people in the same charity!), who decides to run a new Head of Fundraising, and fit in with our New Direction marathon or raise funds Communications and strategy. Prioritising these bids is locally throughout the year – Marketing. something that’s agreed between the too many to mention I love fundraising and one Strategy Implementation Group and the individually, but you know of the reasons I joined Fundraising Team. So if you think you who you are! Together is because I’m sure need strategic voluntary funding to Most of Together’s we can raise a whole lot more make something happen, alert your line funding comes from contracts than we do now. The people I talk to manager or fundraising and it will be put for our services, but a key part of our New really care about our work, and know the forward for consideration. Even if an Direction strategy is to increase what’s huge difference it’s made to their lives, so application isn’t taken forward centrally, known as voluntary funding; the money we’ve got lots of good things to share. we’ll give you guidance on how to take it we receive from supporters, events, This isn’t something the fundraising team forward yourself. legacies and charitable trusts and can do on our own, because for As a Fundraising Executive my role is foundations. It is vital in helping us take fundraising to work well it needs to involve to identify suitable funders, and make forward our ambitious plans for service everyone in the organisation. We need an initial approach to them to see if the user involvement at every level of our your inspirational stories as well as project meets their funding aims. Then I work. information on what you need funding will work with a number of people So, it’s an exciting time to be a for. We need photos and feedback. Most including the Head of Fundraising to submit an application that gives us the fundraiser at Together and the good news of all we all need to remember that most best chance possible of getting the is that the central fundraising team has people give because they’re asked – so money. doubled in size to two people. Since we’re planning new materials that’ll make December 2009 I’ve been working it easier for everyone to fundraise.
Community Fundraising There is strong tradition of committed get in touch. So please don’t forget to send us your Together staff, service users, volunteers and We rely on people to keep us up to date fundraising stories and news, Everything is supporters raising money from local with stories about interesting activities or of interest! communities to support local projects. events, so we can share the success stories. Whether this is by holding a car boot sale, With every application for funding that I Let us know what you’re doing to sponsored run, or anything else inspired make, I send off a copy of timetogether, to fundraise for your project or service. and original, every penny counts. If you show in detail the range of work we do. It Email your fundraising achievements, need advice on how to go about organising makes us stand out against other news and pictures to: a community fundraising event – please organisations who are asking for money. [email protected]
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Outstanding Advocate honoured at awards Dave Leigh, Together Advocacy Worker at Ashworth Hospital was nominated in two categories at the Mersey Care NHS Trust Positive Achievement Awards 2009. This annual high-profile awards ceremony celebrates exceptional individuals and teams who have made a positive difference to improving mental health and disability services in the local area.
The two categories Dave was in the Service, packed in to the Concert Room running for were Equality and Human at St. Georges Hall, Liverpool to hear rights and Creativity and Innovation. the results of the public vote at a He received both nominations for his glittering awards ceremony. outstanding efforts to put together an On the night there were 10 awards exhibition of art created by patients at in 5 categories up for grabs, plus an Ashworth in order to overall winners' winner, highlight the role that art which was chosen by the can play in the audience using a keypad rehabilitation process, voting system. The team whilst giving an insight was on tenterhooks as into the creativity, skills Dave’s nomination made and needs of people with it to the final three in complex mental health each category, before the needs. judging panel announced The end result, Take to Jennifer and he had been highly Art, went on show at the Dave at the commended in both. Together Our Space awards Dave says: “There Gallery in March 2009, and were hundreds of was the first time ever that an nominations for each category so I exhibition specifically focusing on work was delighted to get as far as we did. produced by patients in a high secure The whole experience has made me setting had been produced. feel motivated to keep the standard Just two months after the and momentum up and to continue exhibition went on show, Dave and to develop advocacy into next year. other members of Ashworth One of the things that stood out for Independent Patient Advocacy me was seeing how staff came together to celebrate their achievements from the domestic to senior management. This was impressive. Every person I Since this article was written Dave, plus spoke to said that this event Ben Robinson, Jonathan Burke, David made them feel that the Leigh, Joanne Wharton and Jennifer work they are doing is Manning at Ashworth Independent valued, that they are valued Patient Advocacy Service have been by service users and also by awarded a special staff award of £500. Mersey Care NHS Trust. The team were recognised as a whole Personally, it’s done my for their work on Take to Art. wellbeing the world of good!”
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Food and Mental Health MAIN AUTHOR: LARA JUST
A diet that shuns fruit and vegetables in favour of a diet full of fried food, processed meats, refined sugars, chocolate and excess of wheat and dairy products will not only make you fat, but can also make you more likely to suffer from depression, new research suggests.
In November 2009 the British Journal of investigate the link between overall diet and more on food, it could be the best health Psychiatry reported the results of a study mental health, rather than the effects of prevention and investment in the long-term. conducted by researchers at University individual foods. It raises some obvious Recently a client in my clinic complained College London (UCL), which analysed data concerns about the impact of diet on the of low energy and moods, while being on a on diet among 3,500 middle-aged civil future mental health of the UK population. limited budget for food. Later it came out servants. Lara Just, Nutritional Therapist at that this client allocated more money per Each participant in this study completed YourFoodAnalyst.com, says: “A major week towards cigarettes than to foods. a questionnaire about their eating habits concern is that people in the UK are Stopping smoking and minimising alcoholic and a self- assessment report for depression consuming less nutritious, fresh produce and drinks when going out can save you a lot of five years later. The results suggested that more saturated fats, salts, highly refined money that could go towards good eating an unhealthy diet increased the sugars and processed wheat products. These food. In any case, good, health- chances of becoming depressed by almost have a highly ‘inflammatory’ effect on our protecting food needn’t be 60%. bodies, if not sufficiently balanced from a expensive. Even small changes to What’s more the team found that those range of vegetables and fruits, ‘good’ fats your diet and eating can who ate the most whole foods or a diet rich (like those from oily fish, nuts and seeds), make a big in fresh vegetables, fruit and fish, were 26% wholegrains and good quality proteins. difference.” less likely to report symptoms of depression. This is especially true in times of While the team noted that various recession, where we’ve seen the fast food aspects of lifestyle, such as taking exercise, industry expanding as the increase in people had an effect on reducing the likelihood of cutting their budgets fuels new business. To becoming depressed, they concluded that protect ourselves against the risk of both diet plays an independent role. physical and mental health issues, we have The team at UCL claimed at the time of to respect our bodies and what we put in its publication that their study is the first to them. If this means spending a little bit Increasing awareness Awareness about healthy health are acknowledged as demanding more funding on Trust Food and diets in connection to mood and being key to overall wellbeing – research on food and mental Mood Clinic, and the behavior in the UK has been no direct link has been made health. Leicestershire NHS Nutrition raised though television series between the two. Despite mounting scientific and Dietetic Service are two that such as Jamie Oliver’s School In 2008, the Associate evidence, very few individual do). But by learning more about Dinners and many other Parliamentary Food and Health NHS providers in the country the topic yourself, learning new programmes. The UK Forum published their report offer treatment programmes recipes, and finding out what government has also produced a including evidence to date on based on the association works for you, you can take your number of public health the influence of nutrition on between diet and mental health own steps towards better initiatives such as the ‘5-A-Day’ mental health. The report makes (Doncaster and South Humber mental health. campaign (Choosing Health) in key recommendations to the an attempt to improve the Department of Health to Web links - find out more about food and mental health: health of the nation. Though in improve current public health Mental Health Foundation: www.mentalhealth.org.uk this Department of Health and NHS initiatives making clear Mind: www.mind.org.uk initiative both diet and mental links to mental health and Food and Behavior Research: www.fabresearch.org
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Lara’s top mood Laras top 5 tips for nutritious boosting foods food more cheaply 1. Oily Fish! 1. Frozen foods... (2-3x a week of salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines Can be cheaper if you can’t afford to buy things or herring). fresh, they can often contain more nutrients too. Great value are frozen dark red berries that you can add to breakfasts and deserts,these are 2. Green Leafy Vegetables normally quite expensive when fresh. (spinach, dark salads, cabbage, broccoli, etc). 2. Visit your local market 3. Good quality Protein The food there can be cheaper and fresher than that you buy in the (lean free-range, ideally organic poultry (e.g. supermarkets. chicken, turkey), eggs, lentils, beans, nuts and seeds). 3. Increase your shopping frequency By foot if possible, the fresher the better. Go twice rather than only once a week 4. Wholegrains – Go Brown! to shop. It not only gives you fresher foods but also means improved Choose less grain foods, if you do go for exercise levels, saving on the gym membership! Going twice instead means you wholegrain versions (bread, pasta, rice). White carry less than when going for one big shop a week. refined versions have lost most of their nutrients, 4. Make it fun despite the law that manufacturers have to add Get the whole family involved in cooking, saving you time and some nutrients back into it. For example chromium, important in blood sugar control, is making it into a social event. If you live alone, listen to some music lost by 80-90% in white refined products. while you prepare and cook food and then freeze some portions for later. That saves you cooking 5. Yoghurts from scratch every day, minimises waste and BUT the natural ones not the sweetened, it is also saves you money. much cheaper to get 500g of natural organic yogurt (£1 even at Waitrose at the moment) and 5. Buy a cook book Learning how to cook will save you money in to sweeten it yourself with a piece of fruit; throw over some nuts or seeds and a spoonful of the long term. I recommend the following unsweetened muesli for a light breakfast or snack. books: 6. Dairy The Top 100 Recipes for Brainy Kids, by Christine Bailey, 2009, Duncan Baird Publishers, London, £6.99 - not only for kids! Comes in a Keep milk products to a minimum and ideally nice small handy ring-bound copy with easy recipes. Christine studied with have fermented versions (e.g. natural yoghurt, me and is also a Nutritional Therapist. She is also a chef and has been a health some cheese). If having milk or soy, have a cup of semi-skimmed or full-fat milk with 1 tsp of honey writer for over 15 years. and some cinnamon in the evening before going The Top 100 Low-Salt Recipes, by Christine Bailey, 2009, Duncan Baird to bed. It helps with mood and sleep. Publishers, London, £5.99. Optimum Nutrition for the mind, by Patrick Holford, 2003, Piatkus, London, £12.99. Simple, tasty, recession-proof recipes Brain Boost Breakfast Options Pick-me Up Light: 200-250ml (1/2 a large pot) of natural yoghurt, 1 piece of fruit of your choice (e.g. firm banana, dark Lara Just is currently finishing her BSc red berries – defrosted from the previous evening), (Hons) Nutritional Therapy at the Centre add a small handful of mixed nuts (e.g. almonds, for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle walnuts) or seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, linseeds) or Management, validated by Middlesex 1 tsp of nut butter (almond, cashew). University. Lara is also a certified neuro- linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner for life coaching. She has a special interest in mental health and cancer. For more information Brain Booster: you can visit her website: www.yourfoodanalyst.com 2 poached, boiled or scrambled eggs on 1-2 If you would like an extended list of top tips to stay healthy, medium slices of wholegrain rye bread. Add some would like to request more information about the studies referenced tomatoes and mushrooms (if you like – lightly fried in this article, or have any questions about it, please contact in olive oil) and some herbs on top. [email protected] Photographs courtesy of Anatol Just courtesy Photographs
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SHARE TOGETHER
November 1884 Freda Mew (aged 5 and half). Charlotte Mew (aged 15). Caroline Frances Anne Mew (Anne) (aged eleven). They are the grandchildren of the architect of three English lunatic asylums. This is the story of Freda and Charlottte's own mental distress, told by Andrew Roberts of the Survivors History Group, using Charlotte’s poems and Freda’s medical case notes from the Isle of Wight Records Office. The story of Freda and Charlotte Mew
A family in turmoil Mrs. Mew was looked after by Anne and This history has taken historians many Charlotte until she died 1923, after decades to extract, the Mew family kept which the older sisters continued to live it very secret and Charlotte would not In September 1898, the Mews' father, a together as companions. They had provide any biographical details to her London architect, died after a long and resolved many years ago that they publishers. painful illness. After he died Charlotte would not marry, for fear of passing on and the middle sister, Anne, remained in the taint in their blood-line. Freda Mew's medical case notes survive London with their mother. for the eleven years from 1898 to 1909, Henry died in a Peckham asylum in a period when Charlotte and Anne were They had a 20-year-old brother, Henry, 1901 from tuberculosis, a common still alive. Surprisingly, they do not who had been confined to an asylum asylum disease. mention the event of her father's death. before the death of their father. Their The "supposed cause" of her insanity youngest sister, Freda, aged 19, was In 1927, Anne, like her father, died of was "probably hereditary", there being a living on her aunt and uncle's farm on cancer. Distraught, and deluded that family history of insanity in her brother the Isle of Wight. Two months after her cancer germs were attacking her from [Henry]. father’s death Freda became ‘insane’ the air, Charlotte swallowed disinfectant and was sent to a nursing home. In in a mental nursing home in 1928. She January of the following year she was was buried with Anne. Freda, the last certified and admitted to the private remaining family member continued to wing of the Isle of Wight County live at the Isle of Wight asylum until she Asylum. died in 1958.
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Freda Mew from her Asylum people in high-lifted feet and arms thrust out as if to beat always against a threat of bars.” case notes Charlotte's poetry Adults regretted being near him, but as he walked along the street, a child From Freda's first weeks on the ward, in One of Charlotte's poems On the would often trot beside him. Every day February 1899, she sat "without Asylum Road encounters patients he went to see the deer, and when he apparently reading" the book or outside the asylum and describes them went to church it was to see the lights. newspaper she held. The doctor as "incarnate wages of man's sin" - a Through "his dim long twilight", concluded from what she did say that reference to the recent discovery that Charlotte writes, "this, at least, shone she had "delusions of persecution". syphilis was the cause of ‘General clear", the children and the deer Paralysis of the Insane’, a disease that "belonged to him". Freda's intense withdrawal deepened. destroyed many in early 20th century By March 1899, she did not speak at all, asylums. They took Ken to the asylum and the and she continued silently withdrawn for poem wonders, in "that red brick barn eleven years. Sometimes, however, she The most controversial of her asylum upon the hill - can one own the deer, would suddenly act, jumping out of bed poems follows "Ken" on his life's journey and does one walk with children still as and rushing for the windows or seizing to the asylum, suggesting that the one did here - and if some night when articles of nurses' clothing saying they asylum destroyed him. It was a poem you have not seen any light they cannot were hers. that her editors refused to publish. move you from your chair, what happens there?" At the end of the fourth month, Freda's Both poems put mad people in another case notes became quarterly. This world to that the sane - one of different The sensitivity to meaning that means Freda was now regarded as a perceptions - the mad world being one Charlotte describes in Ken is something chronic case. In 1902 she was noted as in which Charlotte wrote some of her she often writes about in herself. It is a "perfectly stuporous". She had "dirty poetry. After her brother Henry's death, sensitivity I experienced in my habits", wetting and soiling herself. A she wrote a verse she described as "a companions when I first became a young woman in her early twenties, she lapse from ... sanity and self-control" patient in a mental hospital. We should was described as "utterly demented". when "the mind and senses can stand not romanticise something that can no more". When Charlotte speaks of lead people to kill themselves, but From 1907, Freda spent all day in bed. asylum people, the "saddest crowd that neither should we refuse to listen to it. She resisted any kind of examination, you will ever pass", she is listening to Reading Freda's notes, I wonder if but her body appeared to be wasting voices within and without. someone came along who listened to away. No organic disease could be her, and maybe that was a part of her found, but it was difficult to tell because Charlotte describes a mutual lack of rebirth in the airing court. There is a Freda kicked and bit anyone who came perception. “The mad cannot see into note of sympathy in her last case note near. the sane, or the sane inhabit the world that is absent from all that precedes. of the mad. We crack jokes together, But in 1909 another Freda emerged. For testifying to our common humanity, but years she had notes like this one in May: we are divided from one another by dark "Lies in bed and never speaks - is spiteful glass.” and bites." In August, although still “spiteful and silent”, she has changed Sometimes Ken, like perhaps Freda, has position and "sits in [the] airing court "evil fits" and people cannot "move him with a fixed stare". Two months later from his chair" - He sits there, "biting his and it is noted that she "has a funny rosary to bits" and, the poem accuses, way of getting up suddenly and dancing "you did not look at him". The dark glass across room or airing court - has been of our perception is because the sane do up daily and is all the better for it." And not look at, or try to understand what on that hopeful note, the case notes insane behaviour means. end. Ken's behaviour is intense with It is, of course, complete coincidence meaning. She writes that people should that, at about this time, life began to have noticed that he was "pointing to A fuller version of this article at look up for Charlotte and Anne as well. A the Christ" [on a crucifix] and trying to http://studymore.org.uk/fredamew.htm few days before the last case note was say "take it away". For Ken, Charlotte provides references. written, Charlotte had a poem published explains, nothing was dead. If he picked with the verse: up a broken wing, he called it "a bird". If you have experienced mental health He has a horror of death images issues at any point in your life, and Yet you would wake and want, you said, matched by his affirmation of life. would like to join the Survivor History The little whirr of wings, the clear Group, you can contact Andrew at: Gay notes, the wind... Like Freda, "he scarcely spoke". He [email protected] walked weirdly "groping, with knarred,
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FOCUS ON PERSONALISATION
Social care services have been directed by government to allocate the money that is spent on service users on the types of support and activities that they feel is best suited to them, rather than prescribing set packages that may or may not be useful. It’s all part of the government’s personalisation agenda. By 2014 our aim is that all people using Together services will have the option to direct their own support and be able to access our services using personal budgets and direct payments. So in 2009 we organised two conferences in London and Manchester about how service users do and can lead what has been described as the biggest shake up to health and social care in 60 years. Shuna Kennedy and Matthew Hyndman explain.
London Should service users lead the personalisation agenda?
BY SHUNA KENNEDY
On November 18th around a hundred people’s real experiences and practical and fifty people, four speakers and personalisation strategies. eight workshop facilitators came Alex Seggie, a service user forum together for Together’s first national worker with Together, started the day personalisation conference in London. with an honest account of her personal Chaired by Together’s chair of struggle and failure to get funding for the Trustees, Prof Antony Sheehan, the things she felt she needed. delegates’ verdict was that ‘it felt Dan Fisher, Director of The National different’ from other conferences. Empowerment Centre in Massachusetts, The content was practical rather than USA, and one of two key mental health Dan Fisher theoretical; all the speakers had lived advisors to the Obama administration, experience of mental health services and championed the value of paid peer McNeill from Scotland spoke on behalf of spoke from the heart. The speakers didn’t support and shared his research into the over 1,000 voices of experience in focus on policy and finance, but on principles of empowerment. Shaun Scotland. He called for service users to put their head above the wall, but be prepared to be criticised, and for commissioners to trust and empower service users more to determine the type of support they require. David Crepaz-Keay of the Mental Health Foundation rounded off the morning with humour and punch. He was quite clear that the single biggest block to personalisation is simple: governments just do not trust mad people to make decisions for themselves. At the same time for personalisation to work control needs to be transferred. He recounted how he’d spent seven years convincing his psychiatrist he wasn’t mad, despite the fact he knows he is – from time to time! And called on the audience to ensure that service users must decide what a successful outcome looks like because that is the person with the ultimate control. People had travelled from all over England to attend and, in addition to the
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many who came as service users and family members, it was evident from the Manchester open way people shared their experiences in the afternoon workshops that a significant number of professionals had also used mental health services. As Ben Putting the people Collins, one of the facilitators, remarked afterwards “the openness with which into personalisation issues were discussed was unusual. I guess it felt like a safe environment.” MY MATTHEW HYNDMAN When we asked delegates whether they felt this had been a truly service user event 94% felt it had been, with 86% feeling that they felt inspired by the day. The day closed on a light note with interactive drama. Three service users put together a variety of performances related to personalisation, showing angst, conflict and choice. The audience were then invited to chip in to change them. ‘Choice’, for example, changed from people being pulled in different directions to the calm of a service user selecting from a pick’n’mix salad bar. There were Co-production is a model of practice in importantly, how that can be done. cheers from the audience as Sean McNeil which service providers work with So a key part of our conference was got up from his seat with tenners to give service users in the development and creating opportunities for professionals, away. “What do you see?” asked the provision of social care services, in such as commissioners of mental health director to the audience. “A Scot handing effect, a working partnership. The services, and people accessing services to out money!” caused a ripple of laughter. scope it offers for furthering the work together on new ideas and share And so the conference ended on a high personalisation agenda, by developing examples of best practice where this note. services that suit the differing needs of approach is happening. To hear from one Reflecting on the event afterwards, individuals and providers is huge. another, face-to-face, the issues that they Anne Beales, Together’s Director of As somebody who has accessed face. What works, and what doesn’t. Service User Involvement, felt it had been mental health services in the past, and Promoting co-production amongst a really worthwhile day. “Lots of contacts, who now works as an Involvement worker commissioners of mental health services interesting speakers, but most of all it was at Together, I was pleased to be asked to was a key aim. From my own personal challenging. It was not the normal organise a conference on the topic in experience I know that very often we are format. People were being told that they Manchester. consulted but then excluded from the were the experts driving the agenda, and My event planning group included decision making process where our ideas we wanted to learn from them.” people with a mix of experience in may not be implemented, and not much A transcript of the speakers, plus their accessing mental health services, feedback given as to why. slides, is available on www.together- including those with experience of ‘self- Only in a handful of areas in the UK is uk.org. We also created a short DVD on directed’ support, and professionals there already true co-production of the day, which includes interviews with all working in the area. mental health services and one of the the speakers. Whilst our aim was to promote co- most pleasing aspects for me about the production in mental health, it soon conference was that we were able to bring became apparent that until people had a along a commissioner who involved clear idea of how personalisation could service users in developing services within benefit them, and an understanding of their area to speak about its benefits. the jargon used, we were not going to People accessing services also spoke move onto the next stage. If people about the wider benefits of self-directed accessing mental health services, and support at the event, and real-life many working in the field don’t experiences always best illustrate the understand the terms, how can this positive effect on recovery and wellbeing. agenda move on? One example was where a person One answer is to give practical accessing services used his budget to pay examples of where this approach is for membership of a golf club. Through working and to hear first-hand the life- the membership he made new friends, he changing effects of having more choice got fitter, he regained his self-respect and control over how you are supported. through achievement. Exactly the To demonstrate the positive effects of outcomes any mental health or social care working together to develop services, and provider or worker would want for a client.
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SERVICE USER DIRECTORATE Involvement update Established in 2004, the Service User Involvement Directorate (SUID) at Together is our unique department which is led, staffed by and for, people with direct experience of mental health issues. The SUID and Together as a whole are committed to promoting service user involvement and leadership within the organisation, as well as externally. We use this regular spot in timetogether to update you about our ongoing work, and let people know what opportunities for involvement are currently being offered.
Members of the National their journey and involvement, while they Peer Support Steering Group appointed to also receive and can provide peer support Drawing on the overwhelmingly positive that directly increases confidence, enhances evidence on the effectiveness of peer Together’s trustee board personal responsibility and improves mental support, the SUID is currently exploring the We are delighted to announce that two wellbeing. delivery of peer support provision in a members of our National Steering Group A meeting for staff and people variety of settings and with a range of have been appointed to Together’s board of accessing services, about the plans to different partners. trustees. Their appointment can be seen as upscale the Wellbeing Approach to A very successful milestone meeting another step forward for involvement within Involvement is scheduled for the 24th that brought together 20 key user led Together, as well as a positive example of March 2010. services, forums and organisations, took how people with lived experience are able to For more information please contact: place on the 4th of November 2009 at take the lead. Together. In a very positive and enthusiastic At the time of going to print, the final Elina Stamou, atmosphere, service users and providers set preparations are being made for induction Peer Support Development Manager: the pace for the future of mental wellbeing and we can’t make their names public, but E: [email protected] and mental health through peer support, full details about all of our new trustees will T: 0207 780 7358 or positive dialogue and true partnership be on the news section of www.together- M: 07590 961 353 working. The Directorate will be building on uk.org at the earliest opportunity. the outcomes of this meeting, in partnership with service users and providers Good Practice in Service User to develop, and to deliver peer support Up-scaling the Wellbeing Involvement Training services led by service users in day centres, Approach to Involvement Together has recruited a team of both community, brokerage and personalisation The first of the six priority areas in staff members and people accessing services, medium secure environments and Together’s New Direction strategy services to deliver “Good practice in Service as alternatives to acute admission. emphasises the importance of the User Involvement Training”. For more information please contact: Wellbeing Approach to Involvement They have been trained to deliver a one- programme for the future of the charity. day training program, which looks at Elina Stamou, Building on the successes and lessons practical ways that Together projects can Peer Support Development Manager: learned in the past five years, we are now support service user involvement. Two E: [email protected] developing the programme further, together training teams have been established across T: 0207 780 7358 or with appropriate training for staff, tools and the country (one in the north and one in the M: 07590 961 353 guidance that will effectively support south) and these teams will be delivering Together services accessing the programme. training to Together’s projects from January The Wellbeing Approach to Involvement 2010 onwards. New Deputy Director of comprises a dynamic whole systems The training will take place at projects, Service User Involvement programme and a set of principles that lie and the course is open to both staff and Dominic Walker has been appointed as at the heart of Together’s mission, to service users. Deputy Director of Service User support service users to lead their journey There are only a limited number of Involvement for the London and South towards greater wellbeing. sessions available. If you’d like to book a region. Dominic joins the team from the It provides service users with tools, session please contact: East London NHS Trust, where he was the training, volunteering opportunities and People Participation Lead. Dominic joined support to develop the skills and experience Matthew Hyndman, the team in January 2010 and is looking they need to lead positive and healthy lives. Involvement Worker: forward to supporting people to create a Key and very empowering elements of the E: [email protected] broad range of involvement opportunities in programme are that service users ‘own’ M: 07595 654 475 London and the South.
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Cutting the Risk – a DVD thanks to the service user involvement in this exciting opportunity please contact: based training resource on making it happen. Jessica Berry and the [email protected] conference team would like to thank all the self-harm minimisation service users who helped out for their hard In 2007, the London and South region work. Another service-user focused Volunteers needed in Service User Involvement Directorate, was conference on personalisation took place in Lancashire successful in obtaining a grant for £85,000 London in November 2009. The SUID runs two projects in the from the Tudor Trust to produce a training Read more about both conferences Lancashire area; the East Lancashire DVD on self-harm minimisation. The project on pages 22 and 23. was carried out in consultation with the Feedback Co-ordinator Service and the National Self Harm Minimisation group, a Lancaster and Morecambe Mental Health UK wide user group of people with direct Service User Forum. Both services work Leadership Training towards improving mental health services in experience of self-harm. During the summer of 2009, Together Cutting The Risk is about finding new the area by encouraging and supporting ran a 12 week service user leadership people to have their say. There are currently ways to engage positively and productively training course in Manchester for service with individuals who self-harm. Self-harm is a broad range of volunteering opportunities users in Rochdale, Oldham and Stockport. available in the area, from attending often used as a survival strategy yet is The course covered a number of modules treated with fear, annoyance and, at times, meetings, developing training programmes, such as emotional literature, media and working with people who experience distress outright hostility. The DVD seeks to internalised discrimination, mental health emphasise the importance of and promoting the projects. If you’ve legislation, presentation skills, self- esteem experienced distress yourself, live in communication, shared understandings, and and self-confidence. mutually agreeable practice between Lancashire and would like to make a The course was designed to help service difference please contact: Elliot Matthews professionals and service users. users take leadership within their lives and The overall driving motivation for on 07545 926 600 or Andrew Turner on within mental health services. Course 07545 926 601 for the East Lancashire Cutting the Risk is to show how a Harm facilitators Angela Newton and Matthew Minimisation approach, undertaken within a Feedback Service. Hyndman were impressed by the To find out more about the Lancaster needs-led framework, enables the physical commitment shown by participants. risks that surround self-harm to be reduced. and Morecambe project please contact: Matthew said "It was clear that everyone Alex Seggie on 07545 926 602. Produced and Project Managed by Sara benefited from the training, some of the Stanton, she comments: ‘“Cutting the Risk is participants even formed their own support a thought provoking piece of work. As an group after accessing the training”. A similar Volunteers needed for one-day innovative initiative led by people with direct course took place in London over the experience of self-harm, the aim of the DVD summer. event in Liverpool is twofold: to address the lack of information The next round of Leadership Training In Control is a social enterprise with a that is currently available and to inform will be happening in Yorkshire and London in mission to help create a new welfare system practice around self-harm minimisation. early Spring 2010. Sessions being covered in which everyone is in control of their lives, There is so much frustration in these areas include service user involvement, self esteem and can live as full citizens. Together has for professionals and service users/survivors and confidence, presentation and public been invited to run a workshop and host a alike.” speaking skills, monitoring and evaluation stand at the In Control BIG EVENT on For further information or to buy a copy and emotional literacy. For more Tuesday 16th March 2010. of the DVD please email: information, and to apply for a place, please The workshop is entitled ‘Putting the [email protected] contact: Personalisation Jigsaw Together – becoming a truly service user focused and customer led Angela Newton provider’ and we’re looking for volunteers to Personalisation Conferences M: 07739 506 583 help us run it. In June 2009, Together’s “Putting the E: [email protected] If you would like to find out more about People into Personalisation” conference was this event and how you can be involved in a held at Manchester Conference Centre and variety of different ways please contact: was attended by 130 delegates from across National Service User Steering [email protected] England. Find out more about In Control at: Many service users took voluntary Group www.in-control.org.uk positions within the conference, which was Together’s National Service User key to its success. They included Heather Steering Group meets several times a year Murray and Steve Radford who provided the and provides an opportunity for service users keynote speech. Heather and Steve spoke to influence Together at a strategic level by about how individual budgets would benefit feeding into our board of trustees, Corporate service users to achieve their optimal Management Team and various other wellbeing. decision-making groups internally. The Heather and Steve along with Merseret Group also influences external mental health Legesse facilitated workshops at the developments by responding to current conference on the Wellbeing Approach to matters. Involvement and the future of self- Membership of the National Steering development. The conference also featured Group is currently being reviewed to ensure two drama pieces from service users from that this continues to be as effective as our Barnsley project. It was a great success possible. If you’d like to find out more about
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LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
An update from the learning and development team NVQ Advocacy Qualifications
Together is one of only a few providers some services. As we are still one of only able to offer the Level 3 certificate in a few providers nationally that are Independent Advocacy and Level 3 approved to offer this qualification, I think Diploma in Independent Mental we’re also in a strong position to explore Capacity Advocacy - Deprivation of opportunities for offering the training Liberty Safeguards. externally as time progresses.” Pete McAllistair and City and Guilds gave the NVQ team Judy continues “The implementation of Lesley Dickenson, approval to offer these courses in 2009. the qualification has involved some trainees at Southend Judy Pearson, Internal Verifier for creative thinking, as resources have been Advocacy Awards says: “Being approved limited. But we have successfully Lesley Dickenson, an advocate at to offer these qualifications is really registered a number of advocates from Southend Advocacy Service who is taking important, because we are now in our Southend Advocacy Service, and staff part in the course comments “I think position to offer training for what is at our Ashworth, Darlington and having this qualification will certainly add considered a statutory requirement at Broadmoor services too.” to the strength of our service.” THE Big EVENT Following the end of inductions for new staff and people whose roles had changed as a result of Together’s New Direction strategy, the Learning and Development Team
organised a one-day internal conference at Liz Felton and the Thistle City Barbican Hotel, London. Jagadish Jagadar
Entitled ‘The Big Event - of people with lived there was a choice of audience, the afternoon saw Where Strategy Leads Us’, experience of mental health organisations available to people work in groups on its aim was to bring issues and was kicked off buy support from, she chose creative tasks to help them together everybody as a with a speech from Ginette, to say with Together visualise how, ideally, we’d group at the end of our who accesses Together because of our positive like our planned changes to period of restructuring, to services. attitude towards people pan out. look to the future and with experience of mental examine the different parts Ginette was a client of our distress. The feedback from people of the strategy that will see Newbury Supported who attended The Big Event us develop and grow as an Accommodation Service After a morning discussing has been extremely positive organisation over the next before moving out to live key points in the strategy and we’d like to thank five years. with her partner. She is now and how they are going to everybody who attended for accessing Direct Payments work, which saw our their enthusiasm and The discussions and so that she can buy in what Corporate Management positivity on the day. activities on the day were support is best for her. Team and others field co-facilitated by a number Ginette said that although questions from the
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Donation form I want to support individuals with mental health issues to achieve fulfilment and an Subscribe to improved quality of life.
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Please return this form to: Additional copies of Sarah Fuggle, Together,12 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BE. timetogether I do not require a personal acknowledgement of my donation. Back issues and additional copies of this magazine are available. To save time, money and the environment, you might like to download an electronic PDF version instead, available at: www.together-uk.org Registered Charity No 211091 Issue 4
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Monday 8th to Sunday 14th March 2010
Every March since 2007 Together Theme for 2010 - what works for you? clients, staff, volunteers and supporters We want to get people talking about the importance of looking up and down the country have come after how they feel emotionally, which is why we’re using the together to organise a host of activities Mental Wellbeing Week 2010 to ask, what works for you? How do you retain a sense of mental wellbeing? Or how have promoting positive mental wellbeing at you regained it after a difficult period in your life? What advice our services, and in the communities would you give to others based on this experience? There are lots of ways in which you can help and inspire others with your they live. experiences and make a real difference during the week.
And if you don’t know works for you yet, use Mental Wellbeing In 2010 Mental Wellbeing Week Week to take the time to find out. There will be plenty of (formerly known as Wellbeing Week) opportunities to learn from others or try out new ways to looks set to build on the successes of improve how you feel mentally. previous years and is inviting even more Either way there are lots of ways to get involved, which are external groups and organisations to explained and explored further in our welcome pack. Download a copy of our welcome pack and find out more about the week get involved too. at: www.together-uk.org/wellbeing-week
Why do we organise this week?
Just like physical health, mental health and wellbeing affects everybody. But we know that while people are usually happy to Pull out discuss their physical aches and pains, they’re less outspoken this poster and about their mental wellbeing. That’s why Together organises Mental Wellbeing Week, a week promoting positive mental place on a notice health for all, which aims to get people to take steps to improve board where how they feel, and talk more about the topic as part of their day to day lives. everyone can see it! 0282_Together_Magazine_Issue 4:Layout113/12/0920:02Page30
Monday 8th to Sunday 14th March 2010 What works for you? Mental Wellbeing Week 2010 is a chance for people who know what helps them keep a positive sense of wellbeing in their lives to share their tips with people who are struggling. We believe that more people sharing their first-hand knowledge and experiences of how they maintain, or have got back a positive sense of experiences of how they maintain, or have got back a positive sense of 0282_Together_Magazine_Issue 4:Layout113/12/0920:02Page31 mental wellbeing after a difficult time, will inspire others to take better care of themselves. During the week we are encouraging groups and organisations to organise events and activities that promote better mental wellbeing in their local communities, supporting people to speak out about their experiences in the media, and to share their tips for better mental wellbeing on our website.
This is a great opportunity to get involved and support mental wellbeing for everyone in 2010.
For more information please visit: www.together-uk.org/wellbeing-week Email: [email protected] Or Call: 0207 780 7368
Together works alongside 3,500 people with mental health problems every month, encouraging their journey to greater wellbeing.
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At a glance: What’s happening during Mental Wellbeing Week
Speaking Out: Get Involved: Voices of Experience Spread the word about wellbeing by organising an event or activity We live in a media age, so we’re working with people who’ve put their hands up to act as spokespeople, and are happy to talk During Mental Wellbeing Week inspire others to take better care publicly about their mental health issues and how they’ve of their mental wellbeing by sharing what works for you, or to try personally got to grips with them. out new things that might help you improve your own sense of wellbeing, by organising an event or activity. All of our spokespeople for Mental Wellbeing Week are people who have faced tough times mentally and come out the other side. They’ll be talking to others about what’s worked for them Who has planned the week? on their journey back to a more positive state of mental wellbeing, and about a piece of research designed by our Since July 2009 a mixed group of people connected to Together National Steering Group. All thanks to a charitable grant from has been meeting every two months to plan Mental Wellbeing the National Lottery Good Causes. Week 2010. Some members work at projects in supportive roles, others are supported by Together. They are joined by people from the Service User Involvement Directorate and staff from Speaking Up: departments at the National Office. Sharing online what works for you. Funding to support events and activities Post an online wellbeing tip, or share your personal experience of improving your mental wellbeing, on the dedicated Mental Funding is available to support events and activities organised by Wellbeing Week pages of the Together website. Help inspire Together staff and service users but applications must be other people who might be having difficulty coping. Make a received by 10 January 2010. Your project or service will have difference by using the web to let people know the ways in which already received information about how to apply, if not, speak to you look after your mental wellbeing, or have regained a positive your Project Co-ordinator or Service Manager for details, or mental state. contact the Mental Wellbeing Week Team directly.
Log on to: www.together-uk.org/wellbeing-week
Join our Facebook page Key contacts Become a fan of Mental Wellbeing Week 2010 and keep If you have any queries about Mental Wellbeing Week 2010 abreast of what’s happening by joining our Facebook page. please call: 0207 780 7368 Visit www.together-uk.org/wellbeing-week Or email: [email protected] for details of how to join us.