Welcome to the Monday 27th January 2020 edition of our weekly ebulletin – full of news, views, events and involvement opportunities.
Help and support
If at any time you need immediate support you can find out where to go, who to call, where to get information from
here.
Bulletin items
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info@nsun.org.uk.
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Sometimes, we may feature items that you (and we) may not necessarily agree with but we feel it’s important to make our members aware of what is happening out there.
Our work
A great way to have a look at what’s been happening over the last year is to go to our
News page, and visit the pages below.
NSUN News
Thank you to all of those who signed
the Open Letter about Peer Support Apprenticeships. We have over 100 signatories – including peer support workers in the community & services, peer support leads and managers, academics and allied mental health professionals. I have sent it to the Institute of Apprenticeships and the Trailblazer group who put together the proposal, and I’ll keep you posted on developments.
Did you watch the
Channel 4 documentary Losing It on Tuesday 21st January at 10pm? A number of members raised concerns about consent and the ethics of filming adults and children in distress. NSUN Trustee Dawn ‘Quinostante’ Willis wrote this review:
Looking Through the Lens at Briena. Episode 2 of Losing it is being screened tomorrow. If you watch it and would like to write a review for our website,
send me an email. As
Dawn Willis writes: “What is the lasting legacy of this documentary for Briena? How, at 11 years old, could she be expected to understand how a decision made whilst she was so young may still affect her life at 15, 20, 40? Will she love and embrace the experience, or will she wish it could be wiped from all memory, hers, ours and way beyond?”
Warm wishes
Akiko
ICYMI: Update about the Mental Health Act Review’s recommendations and progress towards a White Paper
The Department of Social Care has been working intensively on the Mental Health Act (MHA) Review’s recommendations. The original aim was for a White Paper drawn from the recommendations to be available by December of last year, but this timetable was interrupted by the calling of a general election. According to the latest information we have, the White Paper is now due to be published during the next three months. However, the exact timetable will depend on the new government.
When the White Paper is made available, there is due to be a 12-week public consultation period as well. The final MHA Review Advisory Group meeting last year was cancelled, again because of the general election, However, when the White Paper is published, there may also be further meetings with Advisory Group members, including NSUN.
NSUN is continuing to campaign for serious human rights shortfalls in the MHA Review recommendations to be addressed. As part of this, NSUN has now produced a campaign film to explain and publicise our concerns. You can watch this film
here. It would also be very helpful if you can circulate the film as widely as possible.
Featured blogs and articles
We are always looking to feature members’ blogs and articles so please email us at
info@nsun.org.uk if you would like to share yours.
Dawn ‘Quinonostante’ Willis questions how Channel 4 obtained consent to film a vulnerable 11 year old girl going through a mental health crisis…
What are the determinants of mental health?
New report from Centre for Mental Health
Why do some groups of people have a much higher risk of mental health difficulties – and what can we do to reduce the disparities?
A new report from the Centre for Mental Health’s Commission for Equality in Mental Health examines the many determinants in our lives which influence our mental health: from positive parenting and a safe place to live, to experiencing abuse or the impacts of austerity.
Podcast: Tina Coldham on Coproduction
CoProduce Care
Listen to this podcast with Tina Coldham on co-production and her work with SCIE and NIHR:
Mental Health Vote 20
Ensuring everyone has the chance to vote
People in mental health units were 7 times less likely to vote in Ireland’s 2011 election. Mental Health Vote 20 is a new campaign in Ireland working to change this and ensure that for anyone, mental distress is never something that prevents them from voting & having their voice heard.
Making mental health research more inclusive
Take part in survey
Research shows that psychological therapies can improve mental health problems. Unfortunately we do not always know which therapy works best for whom.
This survey by a mental health researcher at the University of York is to inform an application for research funding. To make mental health research more inclusive, we need to find out who is included in mental health research, and how we could improve the way research is done.
Petition to investigate the lack of prosecutions under sections of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to investigate why there have been no prosecutions under either section 315 or section 318 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Closing Date for Online Petition: 12 February 2020
Surviving and Thriving in a Mad World
Hearing Voices Network
We know that social inequalities and adversity (inc poverty, discrimination, racism and other forms of hate and intolerance (including homophobia, transphobia and sexism), prejudice, poor housing, isolation, loss, trauma and abuse) can be related to difficult voice-hearing experiences.
It’s important that the conversation doesn’t stop there.
This event explores some of the many different ways people and their experience of voices, visions and similar sensory perceptions are affected by a world that can be ‘maddening’.
Importantly it looks a how we can take care of ourselves and one another.
When: Saturday 1 Feb 2020
Time: 10.30am – 4.00pm (followed by HVN AGM at 4.15pm)
Venue: Universty of East London, Stratford
Taking Control of Psychiatric Medication
Join the conversation
What’s this event about?
This is a free event organised by The Living Room in response to conversations in relation to issues around taking psychiatric medication.
It will be a space to respectfully share experiences, wants and needs and to consider what we can do together as a community to address individual and group needs, wants and wishes.
Who is it for?
If you’ve taken, or are taking psychiatric medication, know someone, or work in some capacity with psychiatric medication then you are welcome in this space.
Date: Wed, 19 February 2020
Time: 19:00 – 21:00 GMT
Venue: Niamos Radical Arts & Centre, Warwick Street, Hulme M15 5EU
Call for evidence for the Forensic Mental Health Review in Scotland
If you have personal experience of forensic mental health services in Scotland, please consider taking part in this official call for evidence.
Call out for participants in films about the effects of austerity
Tell your story
Nine MA social work students are each making a ten minute film about austerity for their MA dissertations.
The motivation for this group film research project stems from the understanding that quite a lot of research was conducted to question and challenge the rationale used to justify austerity. In addition, there is a lot of quantitative data about the scale of the cuts in public spending and the number of people affected by them. But, much less is known about the personal experiences of those affected by austerity and how such individuals, groups and organisations tried to respond to these cuts. To gather such data, students want to collect filmed evidence which they believe will better capture lived experience and the felt impact of austerity.
At this early stage, each of the students is just looking for their specific perspective and the individuals/organisation/areas they will film for their film.
Ideal character/organisation for such a film would be:
- an individual/organisation or area that were directly affected by austerity and is/are attempting to work through these challenges/difficulties
- based in London/ Greater London
- actively involved in campaigning/mobilising/organising as part of their attempts to deal with the challenges
- willing to invite the student to film them for a period of time
Individuals, groups, organisations or their representatives that are willing to consider taking part, please get in touch to discuss in the first instance with Dr. Yohai Hakak who leads and supervise the group at
Yohai.hakak@brunel.ac.uk
Free programme is talking for wellbeing
Talk for Health
WHAT’S THE IDEA?
It’s important to take care of our emotional wellbeing, just as it is to take care of our bodies. One way of doing this is to connect in a truthful and empathic way with others.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Anyone who wants to take care of their wellbeing and support others.
WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS?
Come to a Taster or one of our Specials. Then you can:
- Come to TALK FOR HEALTH CAFES; continue talking for wellbeing
- Do our in-depth 4-day Talk for Health Programme, followed by ongoing groups.
It’s all FREE and is commissioned by the NHS. You will learn and have space for:
- Honest talking – being the real you
- Empathic listening
- Basic counselling skills
- How to set up and be part of an ongoing group to talk for wellbeing
Talk for Health Taster:
Date: Monday 3rd February
Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Location: Hargrave Hall, Hargrave Rd, London N19 5SP
Jobs & Recruitment
Lived Experience Designer
Mind
We are looking for 4 people with lived experience of mental health problems (direct or indirect) to help us shape and deliver a research and development programme.
Together, we’ll be inviting a range of people to develop and test new ways for our supporters to interact with us shape our future direction.
You’ll co-design and deliver activities to help us understand and test the kind of opportunities we should offer our supporters and the best ways to get them involved. You’ll help us develop our participation programme in a meaningful way and ensure the voices and ideas of people with lived experience are heard and incorporated.
Closing date: 9am Thursday 6th February 2020
Interviews: 20th & 21st February 2020
Website designer
Movement for Social Approaches in Mental Health (MSAMH)
The Movement for Social Approaches in Mental Health (MSAMH) is a new grass roots UK social movement to raise awareness and campaign for better access to social forms of support and social interventions in mental health services and redress the power balance that sees medical definitions and services being disproportionately funded and dominant.
MSAMH is seeking a provider to build our brand new website. We have limited funds as we are an emerging grassroots organisation and are appealing to a potential provider who feels some alignment with the aims and values of MSAMH and as such, would be prepared to offer us this service at good rates.
For more information or to discuss this opportunity, please contact Hári Sewell (member of the MSAMH Core Group).
Deadline: Friday 7th February 2020
Peer Support group volunteer
Unreal
Unreal are looking for a volunteer to help out at their monthly peer support group in London. Unreal is a UK charity for depersonalisation and derealisation disorder (DPRD).
Trustees x 2
Together for Mental Wellbeing
Together for Mental Wellbeing are recruiting two volunteer positions on our Board of Trustees
Trustees with lived experience of mental distress.
At Together, the longest established mental health charity in England, we want to ensure that everyone who experiences mental distress is valued, can live the life they choose and can determine their own future. We will only achieve this ambition by being service user-led in all we do, and putting the insights from those with lived experience of mental distress at the heart of our decision-making. That’s why we are looking to appoint two new trustees with lived experience of mental distress to join our Board in a voluntary capacity.
For more information on this role and how to apply please follow this
link or contact Diane Swanton at
diane-swanton@together-uk.org.
Closing date for applications: Friday 7th February 2020.
Interviews are scheduled for: Wednesday 11 March 2020.
Projects & Activities Assistant
Underground Lights
This position will assist with the administration and delivery of our work with members at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.
Six hours per week in blocks of ten weeks
£10.60 per hour
Interviews: to be held on Friday 7th February
Deadline for applications: Thursday 30th January at midday
Find out more and apply
here
Equal Lives: Trustee Recruitment
Norfolk
Equal Lives is a Norfolk-based charity led by people who face disabling barriers.
Find out more about the trustee recruitment opportunity
here.
Support Worker
London
A visually impaired person is seeking a support worker for job related duties. These include guiding, navigating to meeting locations, taking notes, supporting to get food and drinks and reading printed materials. There is a guaranteed 7 hours per week at £14 per hour and travel is also funded. The days of work could be a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and may not be always one day per week, it could be two days one week and none the next. You must be self-employed and able to invoice for your time. Reliability and punctuality are essential, training in guiding skills can be offered. This would suit someone based in London or nearby. For further information please call Becki on 07956 424511 or
email her
Events
“Cultural context becomes like footnotes”: Global guidelines, and the standardisation and decontextualization of mental health
Talk by China Mills. Free.
When: Thursday 30 January
Where: University of East London, University Way, Royal Docks, London E16 2RD
Surviving and Thriving in a Mad World
Hearing Voices Network
When: Saturday 1 Feb 2020
Time: 10.30am – 4pm
Where: University of East London, Stratford
(Followed by HVN AGM at 4.15pm)
Find out more
here. Book your ticket
here.
Talk for Health Taster
Date: Monday 3 February
Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Location: Hargrave Hall, Hargrave Rd, London N19 5SP
INPP conference: Expertise by Experience:Challenges and Prospects for Mental Health Research Methodology
Date: Wednesday 5 February 2020
At: Manchester Metropolitan University
Time to Change: Time to Talk Day 2020
When: Thursday 6 February 2020
‘Whose Mind is it anyway? John’s story.’
Documentary screening in London by Mind in Camden and London Met University. Chaired by Susan Fernando. Free.
When: Thursday 6 February 2020
Time: 17.00 – 19.00
Where: London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB
Book your free ticket
here
Action for Asperger’s AGM 2020
When: Saturday 8 February 2020
Time: 10am – 2pm
Where: Kettering Park Hotel, NN15 6XT
Pan-London Campaigning event
Inclusion London. Open to all Disabled people and allies to promote equality and inclusion across London.
When: Wednesday 12 February 2020
Time: 13.00 – 16.00
Venue: The Greenwood Centre, 37 Greenwood Place, London NW5 1LB
Find out more
here. Book your FREE place
here.
Club night in aid of NSUN
Life Experience
When: Saturday 15 February 2020
Time: 22.00 – 04.00
Where: Five Miles, 39b Markfield Road, London N15 4QA
More info on facebook
here. Tickets available through Resident Advisor
here.
Experiences of presence in grief: When relationships continue, what are the consequences?
Talk by Dr. Jacqueline Hayes
When: Tuesday18 February 2020
Time: 17.00 – 18.30
Where: IMH seminar room, Caedmon Building, Institute for Medical Humanities, Durham University, Leazes Road, Durham DH1 1SZ
Find out more
here. Free, all welcome. Wine and nibbles provided
Fair Society, Healthy Lives (The Marmot Review) 10 years on
When: Tuesday 25 February 2020
Where: Church House, Deans Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ
More details will be available here.
Evolving research through lived experience
CRASSH, University of Cambridge
Conference dates: Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 March 2020
Exhibitions
When: to 25 April 2020
Where: Bethlem Museum of the Mind, Beckenham, Kent
Where: Bethlem Gallery, Beckenham, Kent
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