This was absolutely THE highlight of the whole conference for many people. We really ought to see about getting THIS video from VICSERV even if we get nothing else from the conference. The debate would run a close second ... and come to think of it, the session with Swinburne was eye-opening as well ... oh, what the hell, let's get ALL the videos ...

Anyway, to my notes -

{Get Amy's details from the conference program - you can also get it from their website - click here}

She told a bit about her history and what people had made a big difference in her recovery. One of the first was when at a job interview she was told that her story is an asset, not an embarassment and something to hide or be ashamed of. She was hired because of her experience of mental illness because the other staff did NOT really know what it was like so her perspective was seen as an asset to the team.

Another time, when she was speaking at a conference, somebody said "But Amy, you're one of the beautiful consumers. You don't represent 'my' people". She replied to this by describing her journey from being catatonic and totally unresponsive in a hospital to where she is today and her conviction that anyone can make the same journey as long as they receive the right support when needed and the encouragement and trust to find the "healer within".

She said it had been a rewarding journey and that is why she shares it with others. She said she is not here to criticise but like the U.S. we have a long way to go. Amy said "managed" care meant "mangled care" and that it took the humaness out of "human services". She stressed that "I don't have the answer for you" and mentioned Polyanna - but my notes are unclear on that. The more I look at my scribbled words, the more I'm convinced we need the video! :)

She stressed a point many have been making - to stop seeing people in terms of their diagnosis. "I am NOT a schizophrenic. I'm Amy first." Then she spoke about internalised stigma as in my "Quotes" section above. "When I am called a schizophrenic, I begin to see myself that way ... So statements like, "I work with a bunch of schizophrenics" are extremely damaging and de-humanising to all involved - even to the person making such a statement.

She asked plaintively, "Why do we allow consumers to become victims to their diagnosis?"

Language can either hurt or heal. People learn to feel powerless. Much greater sensitivity is needed in all areas of mental health services.

She then went on to talk about loss of social role and that to this day nobody has ever declared her 'mentally competent'. We have no ceremony to mark a person's recovery from mental illness. It is not recognised or even seen as a real possibility by most ...

Then, Amy went on to describe the system changes she envisages. She also gave her definition of 'recovery' - 'When a person finds a way to contribute to society that society deems valuable'. {Personally, i'd have a different definition but that's cool - after all Amy is in favour of people thinking for themselves. :) }

Next, we heard the results of a survey of the top 4 things consumers want and it is just the same as what 'everyone else' wants - a JOB - a PLACE to live - a CAR - a SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

{While listening to all this, various thoughts occured to me - here's one I wrote down - "If we feel we can only love certain people for crtain reasons or who meet certain criteria or who happen to 'push our buttons' ... can we really call that 'love'?}

She then went on to say waht she saw as the barriers to real healing taking place - staff feeling disempowered and overworked - current legislation - financial 'disincentives' to 'get better' - some programs with little or no client turnover may have made themselves too 'comfortable' and are not encouraging people to 'move on' - when asked about hospitalisation many people said it was a place where they had company & no bills to pay & did not have to cook - so they need to learn how to get all that without needing the hospital

She said some of the most helpful people to her along her journey had no degrees but knew how to really 'connect' with her.

Amy proposed that people are told from the word go that "You are not entering this system for the rest of your life". She felt it was a weakness-based system in many ways. Not focusing on discovering and nurturing the strengths a person may have. Don't encourage people to become hooked on the system. Then she realted the comments of a colleague who asked, "How do I explain that it's the non-compliant clients who do best? It screws up my research."

{We really gotta get the video}

She said that quality of life need to be emphasised rather than "Maintenance & Stabilisation". That we could learn a LOT from the substance-abuse recovery field and establish more peer support groups. We need more places and ways for consumers to tell their stories.

Then she spoke of Ronny Laing, who was an unconvetional psychiatrist to say the least {I have read some of his work and found it quite brilliant - The Politics of Experience for example} and how he "connected" with those patients nobody else could find a way of connecting with. With one, he went into the parking lot and said nothing but just did yoga postures for a couple of weeks. She eventually said, "You're the first person who joined my reality instead of commanding that I join theirs" Or words along those lines - buy the video and find out for yourself. :)

Then she had a few words for those who work in this demanding job. Do you believe that recovery is possible for everyone or have you lost hope? Because, if so, you need to get out of the system. If you're burned out or tired you need support yourself. Do you believe the healer lies within and not without?

Then Amy went on to say we need to redefine the word "therapy" and that it is not just siting down and talking for half an hour behind closed doors. it can take many forms for each individual. Making a real connection with the person is far-and-away the most important factor. Then more talk of genuinely trusting the "healer within".

Then she spoke of the difficulties in getting consumer participation, especially if they have lived a long time in a disempowering system and how she has worked with consumers to develop their confidence and effectiveness

"There are only two kinds of people in the world. Those who have been diagnosed and those who have yet to be diagnosed."

"Let me help you find a way of wording that which won't make them defensive but will still communicate your desires." "How could we reframe that question next time" ...

She also spoke of the need to re-visit "boundaries". {Something I've been thinking about for a long time - and not just in terms of mental health services}

And re-visit rules - ask whether the rulles are in place to make the staff feel comfortable and help programs run more "smoothly"

Amy also emphasised the need for a spiritual component in the path to recovery. A connection to something larger than yourself - whatever form that might take.

We heard more stories from when she was at her worst and couldn't even talk to her therapists. One kind soul said, "Amy, We all get confused sometimes and we all feel disconnected. I hope that some day you can feel comfortable enough with me to tell me about it. I'd like to hear your voice."

One of the most healing aspects of her journey was when she made the decision to embrace forgiveness rather than embracing anger even though she had a lot to be angry about. She decided she needed to let it go in order to move forward.

As above in the quotes setion, Amy said she could ask anyone in the room, "How have YOU been wounded? How did you heal? If you can answer that question ..." Sometimes a kind word, a touch, a warm smile, genuine eye contact can be more healing than an hour of "therapy". She emphasised the importance of communicating faith that "I know you'll get there. I don't know how but I know you'll get there."

Then she read from an article about "Moral Therapy" from the 1840's - Click here for the full article.

Even these notes give just a hint of what the address was like. Ask VICSERV for the video -

Keynote Address from the morning session Thursday 27th July, 2000, titled "A Psychiatrist and Therapist Just Aren't Enough". Amy Long is from The National Empowerment Centre in America. From what I can gather, most of the staff are people who have recovered from the experience of being diagnosed with a 'mental illness'.

Their website can be found here

Lyn gave us a brief history of asylums & de-institutionalisation of long-term residents and the problems that created for people who were wrenched away from familiar surroundings and the only companions they had ever known. Initially there were no support services in the community. Also the huge problem of stigma. We have still yet to see the full realisation and maintenance of that original vision.

Then a bit of a history of VICSERV. I wrote a few random little comments - a sure sign I wasn't being 100% mindful at the time - for example - If workers are stressed and insecure how 'giving' can we honestly expect them to be? - I also said this ties in with a lot of my recent writing - as if someone reached inside my head and wrote it all down - as with the June edition of New Paradigm - "Hello, I'm here for my therapy." "You're too early. Why don't you sit down and count your fingers to see if you have enough of them. We'll get back to you." -

Then Allan Pinches came on and I started to pay a little more attention. There was a cartoon about government policy? - honestly, you write things down and think, "Yeah, I'll remember what that meant." ...

How do we face the issues of change for the future? Allan reviewed the 15 principles of PSR. e expressed a preference for the American version as they were more philosophical and didn't convey such a sense of 'doing things' to or for people. He said when he first encountered them he had mixed feelings as they were wonderful ideas but expressed in a cold language. A sense of 'otherness' when referring to clients and that rehab was something that is done TO them ... objectifying people ... He said he would imagine consumers had little if ANY say in the original framing of the 15 principles.

He expressed a desire for independent consumer organisations and more interaction between agencies. At one stage, when articulating his vision of the future, many people said they thought he would refer to my Ideal Day Program. He didn't.

I'm wondering if Allan's website will have the text of his speech - you can find his website here.

He mentioned 5 'touchstones' and I didn't record all thedetails - Consumer Participation - Empowerment - Recovery Focus - Peer Support - Building Bridges to the wider community. {He's been reading my thoughts again}

He mentioned a few of the initiatives in these areas around Victoria at the moment - Boomerang Club - ERMHA got a mention (from our January Consumer Participation BBQ's) - Richmond Fellowship - NEAMI consumer group - they all need support and resourcing - so that consumers can gain knowledge and skills; reclaim hope; regain control of their destiny; all stirring stuff ...

Allan said there was still some paternalism in services and the "Us & Them" mentality was hard to shift. Then there was still substantial stigma amongst consumers themselves. He mentioned Swinburne and the inclusion of consumer perspective as part of their training course for PDS staff.

His final 'dream' was of a time when programs become multi-function places the whole community uses. {He really has been reading my thoughts!} And that this whole area is just loaded with potential ... and there needs ongoing dialogue and exchanges to help realise that potential. I'd heartily agree, Allan.

Then I had some 'funny' ideas for typing up these notes and a special section for Dave Buller - "Click here for your chance to win fabulous prizes such as a week for two in Acacia ward with all meals and entertainment provided. Or a year's supply of Haloperidol." ... plus a link to my ERMHA survey ... for those interested and congratulations on reading THIS far ... :) ... click here

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Debate: Psychiatric Disability Support Services:
The New Institutions?

I really enjoyed the debate chaired by Rod Quantock - Sandy Jeffs gave a memorable 'vision' of days gone by in the 'giggle factory' ... should see if vicserv has a copy of the tape or the video - would be nice if ERMHA could purchase that and a whole load of stuff from its supposed budget for resourcing consumer participation ... also from the THEMHS where Sandy presented ...

I basically sat back and enjoyed this session and took few notes - it was from the afternoon session Thursday 27th July, 2000, "Debate: Psychiatric Disability Support Services: The New Institutions?" The moderator was Rod Quantock. All the speakers were excellent but Sandy Jeffs received a standing ovation, which at a conference on mental health is a pretty rare thing indeed!

(A week later, I hear that due to Rod Quantock being in actor's equity, the debate was not allowed to be videotaped! A shame but then the Buddhists would remind me not to CLING to memories even if they are very pleasant ones.)

Other snippets of Sandy's effort - 'booby hatch' - 'nuthouse - and a whole host of 'affectionate' nicknames for places like Larundel and the other major psychiatric hospitals. Somehow, day programs have yet to generate such 'fondness'. She also spoke of their famous 'minus five star' accomodation and the food and the Occupational therapists and daily routine and goings on in a place like Larundel. Rarely have I heard anyone speak of their hospitalisation with such humour & zest & enthusiasm & fondness.

Others spoke of how an 'insitution' represented the control & containment of individuals and how this was generally NOT a major feature of PDSS services.

John Kroschel spoke of the mainstream and how day programs now respresented gentle eddies on the fringes of that stream where people could rest and regain strength before returning to the mainstream.

Someone else mentioned how the focus tends to be on getting 'aberrant' individuals to 'conform' to the norms of the prevailing society rather than attempting to make society more tolerant and accepting and compassionate.

One other comment was about the initials of 'Primary Care Partnerships' and how in other areas of society PCP meant 'angel dust' which is an addictive drug.

One speaker made much of how PDSS generally run on a shoestring budget and employ people from all walks of life whereas the big institutions tended to have mainly clinically-oriented staff. Institutions tend to be geared to amximising homogeneity. There are structures and procedures designed to maximise conformity & restraint.

Rod at one stage said, 'That 8 minute summary was one of the best 8 minutes we've ever had in the last 8 minutes' {The person was supposed to keep the summary to 5 minutes}

One speaker in praising the attributes of PDSS said that they infect people with hope and they celebrate when a person leaves the service.

Overall, a highly enjoyable session for the debaters and the audience.

Rod implored us to show our appreciation for the side which lost the debate as they did their best in an unwinnable situation. He was a fabulous moderator. A good time was had by all ...

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Consumer Participation Project

This short presentation was courtesy of Norwood Association. They started by saying that many agencies struggle to develop strategies & procedures to make consumer participation happen on a daily basis. We use words like 'empowerment' and 'consumer participation' yet these words can become meaningless without action, commitment & resources. Many attempts can seem tokenistic and there remains widespread cynicism as to how serious and willing any organisation really is about turning rhetoric into reality.

In their view, CP means letting go of some of the control of the vehicle and letting consumers do some of the driving rather than perpetually being passengers. They have put a lot of effort into developing and supporting consumer networks with the help of 2 liaison workers who both have personal experience of the system.

Their underlying theme has been "Undertaking a journey together", where the 'vehicle' is the agency. The question is how do you go about building confidence and skills in enough people to make it happen? Is your agency really ready to undertake the journey? True acceptance of consumers as peers can be quite challenging for staff.

In their experience. there was a lot of enthusiasm from consumers but also a lot of skepticism. Will they listen to us and take our ideas seriously? Are they prepared to resource the project adequately.

Then one of the liaison workers described how she came to the project. The job description specified that she would be accountable to consumers. She said the positive and affirming atmsphere made for an excellent first impression. There were 'good vibes'. She felt this was an area she wanted to work in where she could make a difference.

They want to encourage other PDSS agencies to undertake their own journey and for Human Services to provide funding for more projects like theirs. They tend to give a lot of rhetoric but not a lot of funding ...

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Out of the Glass Box

This presentation featured Yoland Wadsworth & Robyn Mills of Victoria University. Again the main focus was on how we make consumer participation work better. What do we do about defensive attitudes towards the idea of staff & consumers working together. (Yoland said if you approach someone and preface your remarks with 'Now, I hope you don't get defensive about this .." that in itself can elicit a defensive response. 'Defensive? Who's defensive?')

Preconditions for change - desire - belief - visions - the ability to detect discrepancies between the way things are and the way they could/should be

She emphasised the need for staff to have mutual support as well. If you push for too much change too fast that is when you activate people's anxieties and the defensive reactions are likely. It's a human thing. There need to be sufficient resources so that people feel good enough and strong enough and are not tired all-the-time ...

I think there were also a couple of excellent cartoons from Merinda Epstein whose work is widely appreciated. We was going to include some of her cartoons in a special edition of the ERMHA Murmur about CP but the best laid plans often go astray ...

The cartoon showed two staff talking but while talking their undisclosed thoughts appeared in little 'thought bubbles' (it's a good thing that doesn't happen in real-life! or is it ...) The staff were in agreement that they needed to hear from consumers but were anxious about the demands and requirements of their jobs. Staff learn to look as if they 'konw what to do' - this can be a barrier to really listening. {reminds me of Dadirri}

We all have defenses. Staff may be reluctant to look as if they are unsure. Most staff want to help and may secretly be resentful of things they are required to do. We use the word "care" in two ways - deciding what is 'best' for someone is seen as an act of 'care'. The second sense of the word 'care' is to really listen and connect with the consumer and understand what he/she needs or wants.

Not everyone can be 'rock solid' all the time. We discussed ways to strengthen staff. One method was for staff to share with each other a story of one instance where they felt what they did was 'right' even if it went against "standard operating procedure' or protocol or established work practices.

She spoke of the need to free staff up to be able to question things - we're all human beings - to not see 'goodies' & 'baddies' - for staff to feel comfortable enought to admit to not having all the answers.

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Consumer Participation - A Partnership Approach

The Boomerang Club was the focus of this presentation. They spoke of managed risk taking - consumers need to be able to take risks in exploring new experiences which as far as possible are matched to their abilities. There was an emphasis on mentoring. Confidence is built on a history of success.

They discussed not reaching too far too fast and the need to prepare for difficulties that might arise such as managing anxiety. These are skill that can be learned. The staff need to be open about sharing experiences and things they might not be sure of.

Volunteer work can be ideal for building confidence without the stress and demands of paid employment. Yet, at the same time, volunteers can be exploited.

This was a learning curve for staff as well. They had to learn to resist the impulse to meddle and step in when difficulties arise and the impulse to 'rescue' people from their anxieties. The environment needed to be comfortable enough for people to say, 'I know I stuffed up' & get supportive feedback. The staff team had worked to create a safe & supportive atmosphere where there is no 'pretending' and members help out someone if they are 'having a bad day'. Where it's okay to say, "I feel bad about what I said" (to a consumer). Tensions are resolved and not allowed to 'cook'. "Have you thought of trying this?"

Yet, staff need to realise it is unprofessional to expect consumers to 'handle their stuff' - they need to sek support elsewhere - work through it -

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That pretty much covers day one of my notes ... it is amazing to read all that because as it is all happening, one presentation tends to 'blur' with all the others ... I suppose that's why I take notes ... :)

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Keynote Address:

Consumer Perspectives - embedding them into the education of mental health and psychiatric disability support workers

Day two started with this excellent keynote address by Julie Shaw & Frank Hytten who are part of the Swinburne Institute of Technology and their training course for potential PDS workers.

Julie started with a quote from the Bible about the lilies in the field and the fact that God knows the number of feathers on the wings of every bird and so why do we doubt that our needs can be met with bountious ease ... and surely that is the birthright of every human being.

They emphasised "Learning Together" where consumers & carers have a vital involvement in the education of future mental health workers. The Lemon Tree Project was mentioned. Frank was also compared to Don Quixote in some of his efforts of canvassing service to see if consumers wanted to be part of his vision for the course.

There are a number of consumers who are students. They aim to create a feeling in the course that people who have the experience of mental illness need to impart to workers some sense of what that experience is like. There is an emphasis on self discovery - unless workers understand where they themselves are coming from and sort themselves out they cannot be effective workers.

'Training' tends to be a very narrow term based on the acquisition of skills and the ability to 'perform' certain work 'procedures'. It is based on an economic rationalist way of viewing the world. Education ought to be a lot more than this - it ought to be life-enhancing. With the traditional view, the performance of a range of work 'tasks' is seen as more important than the quality of relationships with the people you work with.

The course emphasises the principles of social justice and not blaming the victim and seeking to understand the context in which human beings live. Frank encouraged workers to see themselves as not being there to administer a system but to change it. He said he preferred the U.S. version of the principles of Psycho-Social Rehabilitation (PSR) as they were more philosophical rather than conveying a sense of 'doing' something to/for someone.

Who makes the rules and who decides which rules are good rules? No perspective has the entire truth. They aim to harness the expertise of the students in the design of the course rather than working according to a model as it restricts flexibility. The moment their course becomes a 'model' for someone else it loses its meaning. Yet, how do you 'assess' student if this is your approach and philosophy.

Frank also said idealism has also become unfashionable but he likes idealism. If we don't believe we can meet all needs then what are we doing here? He said the course was not well resourced. There are consumer lecturers. Practicing what we preach is harder than we might like to think.

In the course it is quite okay to disagree and challenge others on their opinions. Why do you think that? They learn & challenge & share & question & explore. Sounds wonderful. {As I wrote those notes down, I had a curious thought - what if you are a Zen Buddhist and thus you practice a state of mind where you are NOT attached to any particular viewpoint?}

Students are encouraged to explore & discover who they are. this requires trust - especially trust that we all have no intention of harming one another. Conflict is a good thing, provided it can be worked through. We are taught to avoid conflict and to suppress it throughout our lives. If you encourage independent thought then how do you assess people?

There is also a focus on dismantling the "Us & Them" mentality. 'Us' is everyone who thinks the way I do and 'Them' is everyone else. In this course students can't keep themselves 'safe' - for example, how do I feel when someone asks me a question and I don't know the answer. They aim to help people feel safe enough to explore vulnerabilities.

The course is still at a fragile stage - TAFE has a basically economic rationalist philosophy and too narrow a definition of 'education'.

Then a poem about Jesus & Pontius Pilate was read out and we were asked to fill in a questionnaire - I wish I'd kept a copy - it explored some of the dilemmas for workers when they don't agree with what they are 'required' to do ... I think the poem was called 'Pilate at Caesaria' from an anthology called 'The Witnesses'

Overall, a wonderful presentation and one can only hope the course continues to receive support & resourcing but that same staement could be echoed by nearly every agency in the mental health system.

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Outdoors Inc

I also enjoyed the relatively brief presentation by Outdoors Inc (will type up my notes a bit later)

They can be found at www.outdoorsinc.org.au

Yes, the advantages of outdoor challenges and the preparation and skill acquisition etc ... boy i made that sound exciting! I have been rock climbing and canoeing with this mob and always enjoy it - 'bout time I did it again ... I mean I feel great for an 'old guy' of 42 :)

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Poem - You & Me

Amongst the various leaflets and handouts was this poem "You & Me" by Debbi Sesula - absolutely HITS the nail on the head!!! - click here to read it. Yes, as Kay Jamison said in her lecture on the experience of manic-depression, 'What is the reality of any experience or mood?'

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I'd highly recommend the video 'Stepping Stones' made by MOSAIC - see their website for more details - I'll include a link when I'm reviewing these notes ...

In the meantime - MOSAIC is at:
Inner East Mental Health Services Association
P.O Box 4081
Doncaster Heights
3109

9840-7955 (Robyn) on Mondays & Tuesdays

I shall 'flesh out' these notes considerably when I have time to sift through the pages I scribbled down during a hectic couple of days ... so be patient ... you'll live longer ...

There was a brief introduction before we saw the actual video. It was noted that there is very little realistic representation of mental illness in the media and what living with stigma is really like on a daily basis. The doubts and the constant self-questioning.

Life is an evolving process yet the stereotype persists that 'once mad, always mad'. This makes the job of recovery that much tougher. Services ought to be able to provide support during times of a person's greatest need and then encourage them in their recovery.

Most people have very little idea of what the experience is really like on a daily basis until they or someone in their immediate family is diagnosed. And how bad it can be at its worst. The feelings of worthlessness & failure. "I always knew I wasn't quite the same as everyone else"

The interviews were very frank and people said whatever they felt comfortable to say about their own experiences with the onset, hospitalisation. medication, stigma, trying to find work or just find somewhere they felt accepted for who they are. What it's like when you are completely 'spinning out'. Or being involuntarily admitted to a ward.

Some of the older consumers had tales of how it used to be when ECT was more commonplace or the medications were more heavy-handed. There were poignant stories of how other people reacted when their behaviour became bizarre, especially the reactions of close family members.

Many spoke of the depression that results from feeling unwanted, unemployed and not 'achieving' things. Others spoke of the effects and side-effects of medication and what their day program was like and how you did not have to be so 'careful' about what you say and do because the others in the program understand where you're coming from.

The video aimed to show 'mental patients' as real people with their daily struggles. Some consumers gave their idea of what 'normality' is - working, relating well to people & being accepted. A few expressed doubts about their capacity to be 'normal'.

The importance of a sense of humour was mentioned - even if it tends to be quite dark humour at times. Also, the need to not give up and to seek support when you require it. Those interviewed said that some people were more understanding that others but only those who had experienced mental illness personally can truly understand what it's like.

One member read out a poem "The Bell Of Creation" (to remind people that the bell is ringing inside each & every one of us) and the video ended with a guitar soloist singing "I'm Paranoid", which was a very powerful song based on his own painful experiences.

The video was very 'real' and I'd recommend it to anyone

Then there was a discussion of why the video was made - who the target audience was - how they went about the planning process - originally, the group had hoped to have a booklet available with all these details. Apparently, it will soon be available through MOSAIC nad on the internet (the VICSERV site should have contact details for the mosaic group & their website address)

The reasons for creting a video were - to promote public awareness - to remove stigma & stereotypes associated with mental illness - a chance to humanise the process and put faces to the stories - to help others who are experiencing mental illness - to boost the confidence of the memebers involved in the project by having something worthwhile to participate in and share - to show people can live with a mental illness & still make a contribution - to educate professionals - simple honesty in sharing what the experience is like -

There was a discussion of the resources required for such a project - funding for equipment - find & employ a film producer with the necessary people skills & technical skills - the knowledge & experience of the people within the consumer group - communication with local services to let them know a documentary was being made - and to invite all interested parties to become involved in the project -

The benefits of the project included - discovering or unlocking creativity - passion - energy - a common energy from working together on a common goal -

The planning process for the project was also outlined - timeline & structure - colecting ideas - what questions to ask & how to word them - differences of opinion were negotiated - what style of filming - where to shoot - the group decided they wanted to film an honest reflection of the day to day lives of people who are experiencing mental illness - who are our target audience? - what does 'recovery' mean to you? - how does mentall illness affect your life - what are your hopes for the future - how does it feel to be 'out of your mind' - what is it like to be living 'on the fringe' - etc

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Spirituality and Mental Illness

This perspective was given by Ros Cairns, Mental Health Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care.

Ros started by telling us how Indians greet each other by saying that 'the spirit within me recognises the spirit within you'. {Sounds a lot like the Sanskrit greeting 'Namaste', which has been translated as meaning 'I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you, where lies your love, your light, your truth and your beauty. I honor the place in you where ... if you are in that place in you ... and I am in that place in me ... then there is only one of us.')

In the Gaelic language, there is no word for 'hello' or 'goodbye' - they simply say 'God be with you' or 'God keep you'

Then Ros reflected on our use of the phrase 'a good heart to heart'. It signifies a way of being present with another - to listen deeply to get an understanding of 'where they are at'. She said she doesn't feel called to 'do' anything to or for another but to be truly present and hope and trust in the ability of the person she is with. This 'being with another' can take many forms - silence - a game of pool - a walk in the park - listening to music - watching TV - and often she will appear to be 'doing nothing' apart from being there and creating an empathic presence.

In other cultures, there is a more wholistic approach to life. We've become alienated from our connection to the earth and to each other. There is a sense of 'dualism' - in other words, there is 'me' and there is 'everything else'. This dualism doesn't seem to exist in people who are experiencing mental illness. Ros said she has often wondered if one of the effects of 'mental illness' is a greater intouchness with nature, a greater intouchness with the 'inner voice'.

She then spoke of working with acutely psychotic people in Larundel and of one patient who was utterly perplexed at the way he was treated since he had been raised that each of us is made 'in the image and likeness of God' and thus should be respected as having unconditional worth. He said to her on one occasion, "When I'm unwell, not everything I say is crazy." Ros then mentioned John Watkins, who urged people to 'listen for the jewels within the psychotic debris' as there is a tendency to regard everything a 'psychotic'person might say as being a whole lot of flotsam & jetsam washed up onto a beach after a storm.

Ros said she sees 'psychosis' as something deep within the person speaking out. Then she went on to give us a few different definitions of 'spirituality'. One was 'an inner quest for meaning and purpose in the journey through life and its mysteries'. According to Ros, spiritual care involves - concern for the wholeness of life - to give and receive love - to experience hope - the aim is to help the person to respond to the wholeness of life and to become a person in the fullest sense - nurturing the inner person - the spirit that is alive regardless of circumstances - as a fellow traveler.

Someone from the audience wanted advice on how to respond to someone who believed the 'voices' he was hearing were from God. Ros said it would be wise to look at the content of what the voices were saying and whether the person was disturbed by it as it was unlikely God would be saying things that would upset someone. Naturally, she prefaced her remarks by saying she has no way of knowing whether someone is hearing the voice of God.

We then had a brief discussion on the fact that our use of language is one of the features that distinguishes human beings. Ros said that she cannot 'know' a person's experience directly but they can tell her their story and only through genuinely listening to another's story can she show them respect.

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Listening for an "other" world

This talk was given by Julie Johnstone, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne

Julie started by expressing her desire to 'build a bridge to a better world'. She gave us an outline of what this would look like. There needs to be a greater level of accountability of the effectiveness of services. For example, re-admission rates. She said a 're-admission' represented a 'failure' and to fail to recognise that fact was a further 'failure' of the system.

Julie said there needed to be a real valuing of the consumer voice and it needs to be taken seriously. To bridge the gap in understanding, she suggested consumers being employed as teachers and as clinicians. {I can't speak for all consumers but I couldn't work in the existing system because the whole rationale and world-view it is based on is myopic and totally uninspired but that's just my view}

Those who have been through it and who have FOUND a way through it can give hope to others that there is a way through it ...

She gave us the example of Washington where there is now NO coercive treatment whatsoever. Manly club house apparently is another example of innovative approaches working out. They provide support for those in crisis and genuine 'caring'. (Hey, sounds awfully like my Ideal Day Program)

I thought I took down a few more notes ... I may find them one day ...

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Access for All Abilities

I'll type the remainder of these notes soon ... now August 13 (and all is well) ...

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I was also impressed with an article from the National Empowerment Centre, called "People Can recover from mental illness". It was a report by Daniel Fisher & Laurie Ahern - Click on the diagram to read the article.

Click here for similar articles in their online newsletter

We all received a copy of the article along with a description of "Moral Therapy" and its effective ness in the 1840's!

Here's a brief quote -

'If there is any secret in the management of the insane it is this: respect them as reasonable beings and they will take every possible pain to show you they are such. Give them your confidence and they will rightly appreciate it and rarely abuse it.' Dr Woodward was known for respecting the patient as a human being and showing them kindness and compassion. {What a radical concept!}

Click here for the full article.

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VICSERV - has contact details of the presenters - I should send an acknowledgement to those whose efforts resonated with me - which was pretty much everything I saw! - on the one hand it's nice to see some are on the way to getting it right ... yet some organisations have it more together than others ... well, I always say no experience is ever totally 'wasted' even if it appears so at the time ...

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Last update -

August 13, 2000

If I don't update this file in a while, it may mean one of two things - I have been abducted by miniature aliens from a parallel universe (where all mental health services are adequately funded and enthusiastically supported by the community) or it might mean my sactterbrain has moved onto some other "project" (or projection) - if so, feel free to email me and nudge me through cyberspace because a full trancsription of my notes ought to run to at least 20 or 30 pages and possibly a LOT more if you know what I mean ...

I may also see if I can scan some of my world-famous 'word mosaics' which were inspired by the various sessions I attended. Impossible to replicate them in HTML format - ask anyone who's read the June 2000 issue of the ERMHA Murmur ... or visit the ERMHA website - when we actually do get online ... :)

Update August 8 - some of my notes from the days at the conference may end up in another file called Incomplete Thoughts ... so if you care to sift through that file you might find something ....

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Several times throughout the day, a presenter would remind us "We're all human beings". Generally that is intended to remind workers that no matter how a person may appear, we all share a common humanity. However, to be fair, it is also useful to remind us that workers are human too. They have their own doubts & insecurities & anxietites & hang-ups & strengths & weaknesses & unanswered or unresolved questions & they too have days when they are more 'together' than others.

It's like everyone is waiting for someone else to make the first move and so the focus tends to be on 'getting through' today rather than daring to imagine and explore the possibilities that exist in the present moment. And again, it's awfully easy for me to put these words on paper ... as long as they remain just words on paper there's almost no point writing them or in reading them ...

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Not exactly from the conference, but anyone who wants to read excerpts from Kay Jamison's book The Unquiet Mind, which has some of the best descriptions of what the experience of psychosis is really like ... click here to read my book review, which is mainly just a whole bunch of excerpts. :)

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Special link for Dave Buller only - you never got to read the latest version of "My Goals", so here they are - My goals {written 13 February, 2000 on a 'magic' day}

Buddhist quote of the moment

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