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Original poster

What could be different in mental health care, what helps, and what have you found to be useful reading?

848 replies

OwFriggingOw · 24/07/2012 20:32

First off - this is a thread inspired by another thread - not about another thread.

I am a lecturer who teaches mainly MH nursing students, but also Adult, Child and Learning Disability field nurses about MH, and also occasionally medical students. I have no agenda for this thread bar a genuine desire to listen, share ideas, and have an open discussion about what is helpful / less so. I worked in NHS MH for 13 odd years.

In case anyone links the other threads that inspired this thread - I have been comissioned to edit a book about people's experiences (service users and carers / family / friends) within MH services and with MH issues. NONE OF THE POSTS HERE WILL BE USED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM FOR THIS BOOK. You have my ABSOLUTE word on that. Similarly, NONE of the posts here will be used in any of my teaching.

My aim in starting this stems from several PM's and several on-thread comments about how this would be useful/ I hope it can be a helpful, supportive and productive meeting place for thoughts and ideas about what people have found helpful with regards MH care / services / support (statutory and non statutory) and what has been less helpful. Most importantly with regards the less helpful - what can be done differently?

And - beacuse I like books - maybe we can share reading ideas :)

Would it be helpful if I shared parts of my long thread from earlier regarding what I see as needed, without any other details from the thread?

OP posts:
aesopslabials · 27/07/2012 19:54

"aesops

Are you saying that you think the samaritans should get more NHS funding or less?"

not nhs funding no. government funding yes....

and bookmarked em future thank you :)

kizzie · 27/07/2012 20:02

Sorry i keep dropping in and out of this debate and not engaging properly but i would genuinely like someone to tell me why this whole question of 'professional' (or not) advice is being regarded as much more of a concern on a MH thread (rather than a general health thread.)

Because all over MN there are people claiming to be midwives, dentists, oncologists, paediatricians etc - and offering wide ranging advice. As Ive said before I take generally take their advice at face value - but with the thought in the back of my mind that i dont really know who they are.

So why no debate there.

Is it because people who may have had MH issues now or in the past are a bit thick?? Hmm

futuredream · 27/07/2012 20:04

Excellent aesops & sorry so slow .
Perhaps I should save my questions about vedantan practices for a separate mindfulness thread, lest spiritual stuff be taken as way-out ? Haven't started diff thread-maybe someone else has by now! - as seems positive to carry on here - what do we think?

futuredream · 27/07/2012 20:05

I can only think of one reason , kizzie, and see what you'resaying Sad

futuredream · 27/07/2012 20:08

This was another recommendation from resources thread- I have not read it www.amazon.co.uk/Full-Catastrophe-Living-Wisdom-Illness/dp/0739358588

fireice · 27/07/2012 20:09

I find it of particular concern because of the opportunity to mirror what might be done in work on the thread - so a dentist isn't going to try to fill your tooth via mumsnet, an oncologist wont give you chemo, but on mumsnet someone can appear to be engaging in something with superficial similarities to psychological therapy.

I also find it inappropriate because in mental health there is a particular emphasis placed on workers observing appropriate professional boundaries, and this thread seems to be significantly crossing boundaries, which I think is striking a particularly discordant note with some people?

DollyTwat · 27/07/2012 20:09

I think we should carry on here
I'd like to hear what it entails etc before buying any books

amillionyears · 27/07/2012 20:14

Could they be struck off if they were found out fireice?

aesopslabials · 27/07/2012 20:14

that last link future- v useful for me thank you as i live with chronic pain. there are only so many pain meds you can take before you fall over :-o

aesopslabials · 27/07/2012 20:15

"Could they be struck off if they were found out fireice?"

struck off from where? found out what?

futuredream · 27/07/2012 20:19

I hear your concerns fireice but my concern & others' on the blurring of professional boundaries which may have occurred this week did not involve OP of this thread and I for one will not revisit it as think it serves less purpose than current positive exchanges .

Ah great , Dolly - am in same position - well , a bit over enthusiastic - so I'd like to hear againfrom those who've been on courses but on a Friday night ... I'm sure they will post when they can , thugh

aesopslabials · 27/07/2012 20:19

"I find it of particular concern because of the opportunity to mirror what might be done in work on the thread - so a dentist isn't going to try to fill your tooth via mumsnet, an oncologist wont give you chemo, but on mumsnet someone can appear to be engaging in something with superficial similarities to psychological therapy."

surely then with that logoc we should immediately stop the threads with midwives on that are advocating best practice in homebirth especially the ones where they are posting the realities when told " i am not allowed x, y z " etc

and any threads where there are comp therapists who are listing natural remedies to x,y,z

or drs that may talk about side effects of drugs

etc etc etc

nobody is acting in a professional capacity here.

Shakey1500 · 27/07/2012 20:26

I'm still here Grin

Agree with not responding to posters who disagree. It seems to be going round in circles somewhat. Can I respectfully suggest sticking to the ethos of the thread and not engaging? The fact the thread is still here validates that MN are ok with it :)

So, I have two books, "Present Moment, Wonderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh and "The Way to Freedom" by The Dalai Lama. Which one should I read first do you think? Opinions welcome (even if you haven't read it yourself but heard from someone else that one was better to read first, that's ok too Grin )

futuredream · 27/07/2012 20:32

Hi Shakey , thanks for coming back and I for one agree we should try to carry on in a positive manner .
Have no knowledge of either book but others will have ! Did you choose from browsig around topic or were they recommended ?

Am interested in these - obviously just my own searches but am sure we can all consult suitable advisors if necessary etc
www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner.aspx
brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/com

marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22
moncollegehealth_issues/mindfulness.phpmarc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

futuredream · 27/07/2012 20:33

oops sorry , last link didn't work at all . Will look up your books , Shakey

Shakey1500 · 27/07/2012 20:37

They were recommended to me on the MH topic a while ago, I would link but I'm not great at techno stuff and I've one eye on the opening ceremony Wink

4thplaceformathanxiety · 27/07/2012 20:41

It seems what is good about the Samaritans is the opposite of everything bad that is on this thread.

Trained volunteers.
Review of calls to assure performance of volunteers stays within guidelines.
Assurance to callers that they are talking to someone whose credentials are trustworthy and no more and no less than advertised.
An organisation that is mindful of its legal responsibilities.
Acknowledgement and maintenance of proper boundaries.
Non-disclosure of caller details.

Can anyone else think of any more differences?

Nilgiri · 27/07/2012 20:45

No aggressive attacks on people wanting to discuss their experiences?

4thplaceformathanxiety · 27/07/2012 20:51

Why do you insist on calling my posts aggressive attacks?

Why can't you validate my pov?

futuredream · 27/07/2012 20:58

Sorry so slow, Shakey Your first book has some very cheery reviews.. I have found ,with vaguely similar books , that I have found it difficult to give each
contemplation the time it desrvedBlushthe each page Blush- surely
a sign of needing to be still!

www.goodreads.com/book/show/623647.Present_Moment_Wonderful_Moment#other_reviews
www.amazon.co.uk/The-Freedom-HarperCollins-Library-Tibet/dp/000

2200430/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&qid=1343417945&sr=8-1 I'm going to admit
that at one point in my life I was quite upset by my misunderstanding
of books on Buddhism - acceptance of people as being their authentic selves appalled me!Grin. Have since realised it was an area I needed to discuss with others , and would like to learn much more about the mindfulness.

Would like to emphasise posters here are not recommending anyone use spiritual practices for mh - these are materials posters are interested in & wish to discuss

4thplaceformathanxiety · 27/07/2012 21:14

surely then with that logoc we should immediately stop the threads with midwives on that are advocating best practice in homebirth especially the ones where they are posting the realities when told " i am not allowed x, y z " etc

Have seen it done. Have seen them challenged. Have seen people insist that they provide evidence. Have seen alternative views listened to, including the views of other midwives. Have seen midwives telling women that a one in a million chance of a side effect from an epidural is very likely to happen laughed off the board.

'and any threads where there are comp therapists who are listing natural remedies to x,y,z'

Here we see a twisting of the word 'therapist' to include homeopaths, when what is clearly under discussion in this thread is psychiatric therapy being administered by people who may or may not be qualified to do so, to people whose medical history they know nothing about, and on a public forum where their anonymity means they are effectively accountable to no-one, in direct contravention of professional rules of conduct

'or drs that may talk about side effects of drugs'

This I have not seen, because doctors do not butt in and practice medicine on the internet nor do they, except in private or in published papers, dispute diagnoses or prescriptions

4thplaceformathanxiety · 27/07/2012 21:15

'nobody is acting in a professional capacity here.'

Tell that to Santa Claus, Aesop.