Welcome to the Monday 27th January 2020 edition of our weekly ebulletin – full of news, views, events and involvement opportunities.

 

If at any time you need immediate support you can find out where to go, who to call, where to get information from here.

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If you would like to send us an event, involvement opportunity, blog article or anything else to share with the wider network in the bulletin, please email us at info@nsun.org.uk.

 

You can view our previous NSUN weekly bulletins and subscribe to get them sent directly to your mailbox here.

 

This bulletin is FREE. You can join as a member here – it’s free for individuals and user-led groups. If you would like to make a donation to help support the continuation of this work you can do so here.

 

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.

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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.

 

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

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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.

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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…

 

Is there any actual evidence for social prescribing yet?
By Greg Fell

 

Expert links ‘fitness to work’ decision to death of Jodie Whiting
In Disability News Service

 

I seem to be what I’m not (you see)
Review, by Vaughan Bell, of Suzanne Cahalan’s book on the Rosenhan study on psychiatric hospitals

 

Care home patients had ‘do not resuscitate’ on their files without them knowing
In Liverpool Echo

 

The gift of unknowing: why heteregenous narratives are important
by Manishka Gunasekara

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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.

 

Read more and download the report here.

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CoProduce Care 

 

Listen to this podcast with Tina Coldham on co-production and her work with SCIE and NIHR:

 

 

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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.

Find out more on the Mental Health Vote 20 website here.

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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.

 

To find out more and complete the 5 minute survey, please click here.

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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

 

Find out more here.

 

Sign the petition here.

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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.

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

 

For more information and to book your ticket, please click here.

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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

 

Register for free here

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If you have personal experience of forensic mental health services in Scotland, please consider taking part in this official call for evidence.

 

Find out more here.

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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:

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

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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:

It’s all FREE and is commissioned by the NHS. You will learn and have space for:

Register here to attend the next free Taster or for more information contact info@talkforhealth.co.uk.

 

Talk for Health Taster:
Date: Monday 3rd February
Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Location: Hargrave Hall, Hargrave Rd, London N19 5SP

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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

 

Find out more and apply here.

 

 

 

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).

email: hari.sewell@hsconsultancy.org.uk or tel 07737 281123

 

Deadline: Friday 7th February 2020

 

 

 

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). 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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 is a Norfolk-based charity led by people who face disabling barriers.

 

Find out more about the trustee recruitment opportunity here.

 

 

 

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

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Talk by China Mills. Free.

When:  Thursday 30 January

Where:  University of East London, University Way, Royal Docks, London E16 2RD 

Book your ticket here.

 

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

Register here to attend the next free taster.

 

Date: Wednesday 5 February 2020

At: Manchester Metropolitan University

Find out more here. Registration is free, and can be done using Eventbrite here.

 

When: Thursday 6 February 2020

Find out more here.

 

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

See the full flyer here

 

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

 

 

Evolving research through lived experience

CRASSH, University of Cambridge

Conference dates: Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 March 2020

Further information is available on the CRASSH website.

 

Where: Bethlem Gallery, Beckenham, Kent

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