When riding the bike, everybody’s equal OVERCOMING BARRIERS IN MINDS AND SOCIETY 8th International Together Against Stigma Conference Copenhagen, Øksnehallen September 21st, 2017 Bo Rasmussen – participant of the bicycle run Anja Kammacher – project manager A physical movement against stigma “The fact that people with a mental illness will get the idea of changing their lives by starting a bike ride, train up to this and define a goal to bike from Vestegnen [east of Denmark] to Skagen [north of Denmark]… There would be a lot of healthy persons who would find that prohibitive to set a goal like this. For the fund, that was worth to support” (Steffen Nørgaard, Director, The Fund of Spar Nord) Shared Care of Psychiatry THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT • An enhanced intersectoral collaboration of psychiatry of Vestegnen • A shared focus on health promotion and prevention of Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Psykisk sygdom og ændringer i livsstil, Vidensråd for Forebyggelse, 2012) Health promotion together COPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPEMENT • Seven municipalities • Course of health education • Mental Health Services - • Capital Region of Denmark Quit smoking – together • • General Practice Yoga • Cooking and eating together • Exercise in hot water pool • Service users of the psychiatry • Spinning • Employees • Etc. • Leaders og managers • Third sector • Private sponsors and companies The meeting where it all began And so we did… On the bike everybody’s equal • 4 users of of social psychiatry, Glostrup Municipality • 4 employees of social psychiatry, Glostrup Municipality • 1 leader of social psychiatry, Glostrup Municipality • 1 mayor of Glostrup Municipality • 1 Chief Executive of Glostrup Municipality A short movie Bo Rasmussen – my story FROM PTSD AND ANXIETY TO BIKES AND FELLOWSHIP • 55 years old • Entering the system in • Former entrepreneur 2008 with own business • A life in isolation and hopelessness A winner in the couch WAKING UP ”THE SLEEPING GIANT” • The feeling that winter • Started believing • A kind of inner glow • My old drive was about to return • For the first time something felt right From duty to joy • I got in contact with my • Changed perception will power from inside to outside • I stopped feeling sorry • I gave my thoughts a for my self break The fellowship gave meaning to the cycling BEING A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER • Equality • Stopped thinking • The kindness • Stopped reflecting • Like a family • Loyalty and commitment • The power of action • From challenge to value • I got in contact with my old values • I could feel a new and better version of my self Made it! I CAN WIN. AND I CAN WIN WITH OTHERS I’ve stopped thinking about what’s right and wrong • Fighting my self stigma • Aligning external with internal expectations Now ALL I WANTED WAS GOING BACK TO NORMAL, BUT WHAT IS NORMAL? • New normal • Studying to become a psychotherapist • Learning to listen to my intuition • Still on the bike • Realizing how my resources can be used • Chairman of the former bicycling club • Role model • Working as bike coach for • Likes the new and better other mentally vulnerable version of my self people Thank you for listening! Contact Anja Kammacher at [email protected] for • More information, details on the projects and more stories • More movies • Pictures • Evaluation • To get in touch with Bo • Visit facebook: Vestegnen til Skagen – et psykelløb for sundhed.