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

[OwFriggingOw]

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?

Hey maryz
Excellent post

I myself do not have MH issues.
So as a person outside of that,I operate from a "trying to help" position,and
so,if there is anything I can do for Daisee,I will,whether she is a stranger or not,makes no difference to me.

And no,I am not overinvesting of myself,or whatever that MN phrase is.

As I've said repeatedly, this thread has NOTHING to do with my book, academic work or teaching. Not going to repeat that again. As Maryz has said - it's not a thread about, or for, any one poster in particular. Perhaps that thread, if you feel its needed, needs to occur elsewhere. This is a general, generic thread, a pooling of resources, links and experiences, and a collaborative effort to share thoughts and perspectives.

I really hope this thread - which was I think really positive, useful and helpful - can stay that way. Just looking up some links as promised now.

Peer Support Workers

List of a range of Advocacy Services for Carers

Action for Advocacy, including info on becoming an advocate

Will stop about her for now,and hope MNHQ answers.

RETHINK

MIND

MDF The Bipolar Organisation, also known as Bipolar UK, with a range of info on self-management courses and local support groups

Thank you Maryz, I really appreciate the offer - I won't, however, as I don't want this thread to be anything other than supportive - and as promised in the OP, I WILL NOT use this thread for any other purpose.

I'm so grateful for some of the links posted - really helpful to know about these types of organisations :)

A couple of other books that I've come accross recently and found helpful:

"Psychosis: Stories of Recovery and Hope" by Hannah Cordle, Jane Fradglet, Jerome Carson and others

[[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speaking-Our-Minds-An-Anthology/dp/0333678508 "Speaking Our Minds: An Anthology"
Jim Read and Jill Reynolds]]

Both really inspiring collections of people's own experiences, positive and negative, and how they've survived, recovered and moved forwards in some very diverse ways.

And I've totally learnt to do links :) Not bad for a technophobe!

OwFriggingOw,who is commissioning your book?
I dont want potentially vulnerable people being sucked in,when the only thing we have to go by,is,as you say,your word.

Yes,I realise it now looks like I am trying to derail,but tbh,sometimes there are bigger issues that matter.
How can you prove,OwFriggingnOw,that people can trust you,when they only have your word to go by?
Some people are about to open up to you big time,and they dont know you from Adam.

Last year, Rethink did a campaign called fait treatment now. For some reason I can't find it on their website. I googled and found the pdf file which I couldn't link from. It's a really interesting report with some shocking case studies.

Just google Fair Treatment Now if you want to read it.

We are all adults and can choose what to reveal.