Time to Talk Day

[feral chile]

It's Time to Talk Day today.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/timetotalkday

We're meant to hold a 5 minute conversation to raise awareness.

I have brought this up elsewhere in threads, today, but I don't think it's a popular topic of conversation.

[feral chile]

My own experience of mental health - I suffered from severe post natal depression after my first baby, and I still worry about it coming back. My father suffered from depression for years.

I've also suffered from stress at various times, but as that's not classed as a recognisable mental illness, I don't have a mental health diagnosis.

There's still loads of stigma attached to mental health. people are still frightened of it, and frightened to talk about it.

or maybe think it's irrelevant to them.

But it can kill. And deaths can be prevented.

So it's worth 5 minutes, surely?

[MrZigster]

One in four. Isn't it!

One in four people will experience this.

A hugely worrying statistic when coupled with the cutbacks in mental health funding.

A powder keg waiting to explode (it might already have done so and we're just awaiting the shockwave).

[feral chile]

One in four. Isn't it!

One in four people will experience this.

A hugely worrying statistic when coupled with the cutbacks in mental health funding.

A powder keg waiting to explode (it might already have done so and we're just awaiting the shockwave).

It's getting better as far as depression and anxiety are concerned. I was in my local hairdressers the other day and they were discussing a child self harming. They were calling it attention seeking, and they were going to stop their kids from playing with them.

i didn't really know a lot about it, so I looked it up when I got home. And it's not attention seeing at all, quite the reverse. But it's often a way a person deals with pain after an abusive experience.

I feel ashamed that I didn't say anything at the time, but it's misconceptions like this that we need to talk about.

Particularly conditions such as psychosis etc. Anything with psycho included as a prefix makes people assume that the sufferer is a homicidal maniac. This is very rarely the case, but unfortunately the rare times when someone with a severe disorder hurts someone, it becomes newsworthy.

[feral chile]

I haven't been in work this week, so don't know if any activities had been organised - did anyone know or participate in this yesterday?

[feral chile]

A suggestion on how to help:

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/but-why-dont-you-just-cheer-up-and-other-things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-depression-10026514.html?fb_ref=Default

This bit is the bit I'm never sure how to present:

'Just let them know you’re there

Sometimes it’s just as important to know that there is someone there if you need them. It feels like a safety net. Sometimes depressed people want to be alone and not talk to people for a while, but it makes life a lot better and easier to know that if you do need someone they are just a text away'.

Edited February 6, 2015 by feral chile

[eFestivals]

It's Time to Talk Day today.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/timetotalkday

We're meant to hold a 5 minute conversation to raise awareness.

I have brought this up elsewhere in threads, today, but I don't think it's a popular topic of conversation.

[feral chile]

I should have sexed it up a bit

[grumpyhack]

My daughter has just completed her mental health nursing degree and starts her first nursing job next month. She feels very strongly about the need for talking therapies, as opposed to just giving people medication. But with funding cut backs....

[feral chile]

My daughter has just completed her mental health nursing degree and starts her first nursing job next month. She feels very strongly about the need for talking therapies, as opposed to just giving people medication. But with funding cut backs....

I know someone who's attending a CBT course through the NHS, so there are courses out there - this is a relatively new course, I think it's classed as a confidence building course, but it's essentially a talking therapy.

It's strange, because psychology is starting to recognise social context as part of mental health, and is moving away from the medical model. My son recently qualified as a clinical psychologist, and the course consisted of looking at how people dealt with their pain, and the context of that pain ie could they be physically removed from it in some way.

[feral chile]

I'm not sure if this is the most appropriate thread for it, it could have gone in General News, so if people object to its relevance here I'll move it:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/02/05/tory-mp-mark-spencer-starve-dark_n_6622468.html

Labour MP Lisa Nandy, shadow civil society minister, told fellow parliamentarians about how a vulnerable person in her constituency of Wigan suffered after having his benefits taken away under the controversial sanctions regime.

“Several times this year I have had to refer a gentleman with learning difficulties to Denise (the local Reverend) for food due to him having sanctions on him for turning up late," a local councillor had told her. "The gentleman can’t tell the time and is a recluse. He has been found sitting in his flat in the dark with no electric or gas. He won’t ask for help."

In response to Nandy's speech, Spencer said that people like him needed to learn "the discipline of timekeeping", and suggested the education system needed to improve to cure the constituent's learning difficulties.

there are a few issues here, I think it's that the DWP are not following the Public Sector Equality Duty or the Equality Act policies. At the very least, this person might have suffered indirect discrimination, because the DWP seems to have a general rule that puts vulnerable groups at a disadvantage.

That's why we have to value diversity as well as equality, so everyone gets fair treatment.

But also, to have an MP display such ignorance, and callousness to this man's plight, and that of others like him.

Don't MP's receive any kind of basic training before they take up their job of running the country?

While I don't want us to turn into a meritocracy as far as access to public office goes, once you have public office, shouldn't you have to become a specialist?

And yes, I know there are advisers, but surely just the basics?

Edited February 6, 2015 by feral chile

[kaosmark2]

Don't MP's receive any kind of basic training before they take up their job of running the country?

Did you see the article a year or so back that said politicians should receive morality training to put them on a par with bankers and lawyers? Simultaneously hilarious and terrifying.

[feral chile]

Did you see the article a year or so back that said politicians should receive morality training to put them on a par with bankers and lawyers? Simultaneously hilarious and terrifying.

it really is terrifying.

[feral chile]

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/dad-refuses-give-newborn-son-syndrome/story?id=28756025

[LondonTom]

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/dad-refuses-give-newborn-son-syndrome/story?id=28756025

"What happens when a baby like this is born here, they will tell you that you don’t have to keep them," he said. "My wife had already decided, so all of this was done behind my back."

Jesus christ what the fuck is wrong with Hospitals out there?!

Yeah thats sound advice to give to the mother when shes no doubt shocked from the news...

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I know someone who's attending a CBT course through the NHS, so there are courses out there - this is a relatively new course, I think it's classed as a confidence building course, but it's essentially a talking therapy.

It's strange, because psychology is starting to recognise social context as part of mental health, and is moving away from the medical model. My son recently qualified as a clinical psychologist, and the course consisted of looking at how people dealt with their pain, and the context of that pain ie could they be physically removed from it in some way.

The social context of mental health has been recognised for some time. If you get the chance I would read some of R.D.Laings work, especially his theory of schizophrenia.

An issue though with the treatment of mental illness is who is the lead. There is a great deal of politics involved and each profession wants ownership. The model of illness I use is the Biopsychosocial which combines all aspects. However it does highlight the priorities given to the various branches. We are still looking at the medical model as the root "cause" when it is not that successful. I remember reading that medication is only successful in around 40% of people with schizophrenia which does suggest that the medical model is not the best option.

I was training at the time the NAO report came out that triggered care in the community. That policy promised so much yet has not delivered. At the time the medical profession were highly critical of the idea that they would not be the primary contact for a patient and that it would be Social Services. However Social Services never received the resources that it should and 30 years later we have the shambolic state of affairs that we have now.

[TheGayTent]

I have experience of bi-polar, body dysmorphia, depression, bulimia, anxiety attacks...it's common, and it's far less understood than many other conditions.

[feral chile]

The social context of mental health has been recognised for some time. If you get the chance I would read some of R.D.Laings work, especially his theory of schizophrenia.

An issue though with the treatment of mental illness is who is the lead. There is a great deal of politics involved and each profession wants ownership. The model of illness I use is the Biopsychosocial which combines all aspects. However it does highlight the priorities given to the various branches. We are still looking at the medical model as the root "cause" when it is not that successful. I remember reading that medication is only successful in around 40% of people with schizophrenia which does suggest that the medical model is not the best option.

I was training at the time the NAO report came out that triggered care in the community. That policy promised so much yet has not delivered. At the time the medical profession were highly critical of the idea that they would not be the primary contact for a patient and that it would be Social Services. However Social Services never received the resources that it should and 30 years later we have the shambolic state of affairs that we have now.

I read something recently from the BPS, I'll see f I can find it - I might have posted it here somewhere.

ah, here it is:

http://www.bps.org.uk/networks-and-communities/member-microsite/division-clinical-psychology/understanding-psychosis-and-schizophrenia

[feral chile]

I have experience of bi-polar, body dysmorphia, depression, bulimia, anxiety attacks...it's common, and it's far less understood than many other conditions.

I've suffered anxiety attacks, I have to try really hard not to focus on one thing for too long. I'm a dab hand at distraction techniques and 'switching off' strategies.

It often has to be all or nothing though.

I have a friend who's bipolar, he's most likely to be treated when he's in the manic stage, because that's the one that bothers other people the most. And also because he's so euphoric that he's resistant to treatment and oblivious to risk.

Edited February 10, 2015 by feral chile

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I read something recently from the BPS, I'll see f I can find it - I might have posted it here somewhere.

ah, here it is:

http://www.bps.org.uk/networks-and-communities/member-microsite/division-clinical-psychology/understanding-psychosis-and-schizophrenia

Much of that is essentially what Laing said way back in the '60's. He advocated for a psychotic episode to be worked through with the patient as at the end of the day there may be some meaning to it. He helped found therapeutic communities, in which staff live on site and everyone has an equal say. I attended one a while back as a patient (at York Retreat) and medication was not allowed. The skills I learned have really helped and until recently I was able to live with my bi-polar medication free. However since my stroke it has been more difficult and I am at present having a psychotic episode in which I am hearing voices.

[zero000]

Much of that is essentially what Laing said way back in the '60's. He advocated for a psychotic episode to be worked through with the patient as at the end of the day there may be some meaning to it. He helped found therapeutic communities, in which staff live on site and everyone has an equal say. I attended one a while back as a patient (at York Retreat) and medication was not allowed. The skills I learned have really helped and until recently I was able to live with my bi-polar medication free. However since my stroke it has been more difficult and I am at present having a psychotic episode in which I am hearing voices.

Hi Rufus, your local nhs trust should also have a crisis team which you can access, which could be found with a bit of googling. I hope this helps if you need some support .

Edited February 11, 2015 by zero000

[feral chile]

Much of that is essentially what Laing said way back in the '60's. He advocated for a psychotic episode to be worked through with the patient as at the end of the day there may be some meaning to it. He helped found therapeutic communities, in which staff live on site and everyone has an equal say. I attended one a while back as a patient (at York Retreat) and medication was not allowed. The skills I learned have really helped and until recently I was able to live with my bi-polar medication free. However since my stroke it has been more difficult and I am at present having a psychotic episode in which I am hearing voices.

I hope you feel better soon rufus.

Yes, I remember Laing, was it him who talked about the double bind? Ah, wiki says Bateson. Laing did talk abut the lose-lose situation though, so related.

I have mixed feelings about medication. And seeing everything as illness, when we live in a society where we have to keep working through grief, it's not really socially acceptable to show emotion, and we have to suppress our natural response to stress continually.

My own understanding is that psychosis is the brain trying to understand something that can't be made sense of, which would fit in with the above.

Edited February 11, 2015 by feral chile

[feral chile]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so resurrected this thread, as there isn't a general one:

For that awkward moment when your child stops you pretending disability is invisible:

http://themighty.com/2015/04/7-things-to-do-when-your-kid-points-out-someones-differences2/?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

We're not good at this, so we try not to stare/look away.