MAGAZINE FOR WELLBEING
WINTER ISSUE 47
2013
WINTER
ISSUE 47
>> Bad Pharma >> Beyond a Confined Space >> Story-telling & Wellbeing >> Moustache Movember >> CoolTan Arts & Dickens >> Coming Out
Equilibrium Patron Dr Liz Miller Mind Champion 2008
Front cover: Š Santa Paegle | Dreamstime.com
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editorial With very big boots to fill, I’ve now taken over from Polly as facilitator for Equilibrium, and have been welcomed warmly by the team. We’d really love new members and guest contributions, so if you’re interested in either joining the editorial team or writing an article or two, it would be great to hear from you. We hope you enjoy this issue and from everyone here at the magazine: We wish you health and happiness for the New Year! Kate Massey-Chase
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the team Facilitator/ Editor: Kate Massey-Chase. Editorial team: Pumla Kisosonkole, Angela, Dev Chatterjea, Ian Stewart Graphic designer: Anthony Parké.
contact us Equilibrium, Clarendon Centre, Clarendon Road, London, N8 ODJ. 02084894860, equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk. We are in the office on Friday afternoons 2.30-4.30, but you can leave a message at other times and we’ll get back to you.
contributions Wanted: contributions to Equilibrium! Please email us with your news, views, poems, photos, plus articles. Anonymity guaranteed if required.
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3
BAD PHARMA
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Summer/ Issue 38
B
en ‘Bad Pharma’ Goldacre’s talk at Kings College London organized by Soho Skeptics
Like a thunderclap Ben Goldacre rushed in claiming that a very localized snowstorm had made him late… Through a mouthful of flapjack, he blasted into his talk on the mechanics and manipulations of drug trials. Corralling the many ways of misrepresentation and inherent danger that lies within the world of Big Pharma (giant pharmaceutical companies) – withholding trials, conducting the wrong sort of trials and disseminating the information in a flawed manner (through publication bias) – he led us to the Cochrane Collaboration, which meta-analyses trials. He drew out some trials of an antidepressant (‘none work well – there are cultural and social reasons why we prescribe them’) and illustrated the deceitfulness of the marketing in misleading people about the relative benefits of the drug. His ferreting has led him to conclude that 50% of results are never published – and PDFs with the data are impossible to search.
Patients’ interests are not at heart and there is a lack of ownership and leadership. He finally went to see the Prime Minister to harass the government on this topic. Even the patients’ groups are Drug Company funded – causing a conflict of interest. They take no action – but that is hardly surprising! He didn’t seem to blame them for this. Of course they are not going to mess with their funders. Finally he stressed that the medical profession fails to engage and there are no challenges to it. It was quite a tumble drier of a talk – and left me wanting to read the book in a quieter place. And also to compare it with the eminent David Healy’s book, Pharmageddon. But I do feel that Ben Goldacre’s heart is in the right place, and I look forward to investigating his concerning claims further.
None of the Royal Colleges are taking a stand on this, though the European Medicines Agency is becoming a little more transparent. He cited GSK which was fined $3 billion for hiding data about the fact that paroxetine was killing children. But they are not sharing their data yet. Text: Polly Mortimer Image of Dr Ben Goldacre
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Wellbeing News/ #1 2012 has been a big year (OK, it’s still been 365 days, but – particularly for people who care about sport and royalty – ‘Twenty Twelve’ has been rather a whopper). So what has been the biggest WELLBEING NEWS of the year? Here’s a little selection of some of the high-lights, including a few suggestions from the twittersphere:
i First World Happiness Report Launched First World Happiness Report launched at the United Nations on 02/04/12: This report illustrated that the happiest countries in the world are all in Northern Europe (Denmark, Norway, Finland, Netherlands), and that the least happy countries are all poor countries in SubSaharan Africa (Togo, Benin, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone). However, it is not just wealth that makes people happy: political freedom, strong social networks and an absence of corruption are together more important than income in explaining wellbeing differences between the top and bottom countries. At the individual level, good mental and physical health, someone to count on, job security and stable families are crucial. (http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/articles/view/2960)
i World Happiness Report - Response In response to the World Happiness Report, Jeffrey Sachs argued in the Huffington Post: ‘How the right [specifically the American Right] is wrong about happiness’, since ‘social democracies are far and away the happiest places on the planet’, with high taxes and economic All images Copyright of www.freeimages.co.uk
prosperity which is shared Sachs argues: ‘In short, happier places are
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happier because they combine economic prosperity with social trust, a sense of equality, leisure as well as work, and good and honest governance.’ (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-sachs/how-the-rightis-wrong-ab_b_2340130.html).
i The Personal Health Budget Whether you agree with the controversial introduction of the Department of Health’s Personal Health Budgets (an amount of money given to someone, intended to help them design a package of care support from clinicians and others, and give them more control over the nature of the treatment provided), or not, they have certainly been an impactful development to the personalised care of adults
Summer/ Issue 38
with long-term conditions. First introduced as a pilot programme in 2009, over the last year the scheme has gained momentum, with the roll out of personal health budgets announced by Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb on 30 November 2012. The Personal Health Budgets Evaluation was also published that month (https://www. phbe.org.uk/) by the DoH, and the King’s Fund felt it gave ‘encouraging news for those who believe that giving patients greater choice, flexibility and control can improve their quality of life. The scheme offers personal budgets to people with long-term conditions to cover non-medical support services such as therapy and nursing services, home care, day care and meal services, complementary therapies, mobility assistance, leisure services and equipment’ (http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2012/12/do-personal-health-budgetsimprove-quality-life-patients).
i Ed Miliband on Mental Health In October 2012, Ed Miliband delivered his speech on mental health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, declaring: ‘It is the biggest unaddressed health challenge of our age’. As well as some key points about people’s fear of the unknown, the economic impact of mental ill health, the importance of breaking the taboo and silence around mental illness, he also spoke about the challenge of stigma and how people in the public eye should be doing all they can to combat this. He mentioned how ‘Marcus Trescothick, Stephen Fry, Fiona Phillips, Labour’s Alastair Campbell and Kevan Jones, and politicians from other parties, like Charles Walker, have all been exceptionally brave in sharing their own painful stories with our country’, but berated Janet Street-Porter for saying ‘that depression is the latest must-have accessory’ promoted by the “misery movement’’, and Jeremy Clarkson for calling people who tragically take their own lives as “Johnny Suicides” whose bodies should be left on train tracks rather than delay journeys’.
i MIND charity: One in Five On a related note, in November 2012, the charity Mind released new statistics showing one in five people who’ve experienced a mental health problem have sought help directly because they’ve been inspired by a celebrity speaking in the media about their own mental health, calling this The Fry, Flintoff, Bruno and Pendleton Effect http://www.mind.org.uk/news
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Coming ‘out’ I
by Jess Haynes
’ve recently been struggling with my mental
gay normalises homosexuality, if people see
health. This has led me to consider how
gay people, know gay people then we are
open I should be about my mental health
more than simply an invisible minority. Being
with others, if I should admit it to other people,
open provides positive role models and helps
if I should post publically on facebook about
young people accept their own sexuality and
it. I guess the worry is always that people will
other people to accept them. I am thankful
judge me and think less of me. It feeds into my
for those pioneers who came out before me,
own shame and feelings of failure because I
who said publically being gay is okay and I’m
am struggling.
not ashamed.
Recently though I’ve started to take a new
I’ve decided then to be ‘out’ about my own
approach. To be ‘out’ about my mental
poor mental health. To talk openly about it
health issues, to talk openly and honestly
and go some small way to erase the stigma.
about them. This doesn’t necessarily mean
To say ‘I’m not ashamed of this and you
to go into great detail, simply to try not to be
shouldn’t be either’ to advocate for better
ashamed of it. To answer questions honestly,
mental health services, support and angrily
to tell friends if it’s a bad day. To recognise
defend benefits. Being ‘out’ is a political and I
that having poor mental isn’t something I
think deeply feminist act and one that can be
should brush under the carpet and pretend
transferred to all manner of other issues. I am
doesn’t exist for other people’s comfort.
thinking of the survivors who raise their voice and say ‘I was raped,’ of the women who
This has got me thinking about how I live
say ‘I had an abortion.’ It challenges taboo’s
my life in general. I am gay so I am ‘out’ in
and raises consciousness. It opens discussions
the traditional sense as well. I don’t play the
and allows us to talk and campaign for rights,
‘pronouns game’ (where you avoid using
services and change. Without those who raise
gendered pronouns and words when talk-
their voices and come ‘out’ then we would
ing about your partner). I talk very openly
see no change.
about being gay and I hold my hands, kiss partners in public as long as it feels safe to do
This is not to say that staying closeted is a
so. Being open about such things, prevents a
shameful thing or that people should at all
lot of the stress and anxiety that comes from
times be out. I recognise that my being out is
being closeted and allows me to be myself.
a personal decision that comes from a posi-
However it is more than simply personal, I
tion of privilege. I am lucky and privileged to
see being out as a political act. Being visibly
live in a time and a place that I can be out
Photo: Anthony
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both as gay and as suffering from mental health problems which in other countries and cultures could cause me to be to be disowned or killed. Speaking about rape is an incredibly brave thing to do and can often be traumatic and triggering for survivors. Not everyone wants or should feel they have to talk about that, having an abortion or any other experience. People can lose their jobs when they admit to mental health issues, I know this. We have the right to privacy and to remain silent, to protect ourselves and those we love. However I would urge people where possible to come ‘out.’ To recognise the political and transformative power of being open and honest about our own experiences. To say I will not remain silent and I will not be ashamed. This article was originally published on Hampshire Feminist Collective’s website.
Photo credit: This stunning photograph was taken by Miroslaw Dworczac. To see more of his work please go to: www. mek.koko--studio.com A scene from: The Hype: A Contemporary Dance Performance. To veiw their website please go to: www.transitheart-productions.com
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Story-telling & Wellbeing
Text: Kate Massey-Chase
Image: xtremeblog.gabriel@yahoo.com.
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Summer/ Issue 38
A
s a creative facilitator, working in
The social importance of storytelling, and its
Drama and creative writing with a
symbiotic relationship with cultural heritage, is
diverse mix of community groups,
neither a new nor an especially provocative
story is one of my main mediums – an impor-
topic. From Beowulf to The Boy Who Cried Wolf,
tant tool in my practitioner tool-kit (bounc-
hopefully we can all recognise the importance
ing around with the juggling balls). I believe
of sharing community narratives (for both
recognising the importance of stories in all of
communities of location and communities of
our lives, and how we can explore, manipulate
interest). It is more than the thread that binds
and extend those narratives, is fundamen-
us together; it is an umbilical-like rope. If we
tal to our wellbeing. It is not simply an artistic
think back to Scheherazade in the tale of One
medium; it is a life-line.
Thousand and One Nights, with a rich tapestry of stories as her only currency, we can see how
I work with a number of groups who could be
storytelling becomes a life-saver. It is also more
seen as pushed to the periphery, inhabiting
than just a cliché to say that literature helps
a space beyond the societal centre, such as
us feel less isolated; as Jeanette Winterson
young refugees (with Attic Theatre Company),
remembers in her recent autobiography: ‘I had
women who experience mental distress (for
no one to help me, but the T.S. Eliot [poetry
CoolTan Arts), and addicts in recovery (for a
book] helped me’ . Stories can be communi-
Crime Reduction Initiative), to name a few.
cated in forms beyond prose: they are hidden
When I enter their space to facilitate a work-
all around us; they might be infiltrating our
shop, I am, inevitability, entering into their life-
personal bubble from the headphones of
narratives, if only for a couple of hours. It may
someone’s annoyingly loud music on the tube,
sometimes resonate very little, but for some I
or found in a poem on a postcard, or in our
hope the work punctuates, provides a hiatus,
newspaper. Whether we are looking for them
starts a new paragraph (or if we’re lucky a
or bump into them, stories are everywhere.
chapter), turns a page…extends a metaphor. We might shift the story a bit, or we might give we play in and with stories, and can explore and experience the enormous power of them. Thus, for those in the margins, the arts can facilitate the journey from beyond centre-page to centre-stage.
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Richard Claraval: Beowulf
them a space to write a new one; either way,
cont. EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 11
cont. So, we can see that storytelling, and the told
of self-reflection and demands self-selection
stories all around us, can both help us in our
on which parts we decide to disclose. It also
understanding of who we are and make us
provides the opportunity to analyse our life as
feel less alone. But they have more than a dual
a continuous journey, rather than reflecting on
purpose. If we move to thinking about auto-
events in isolation; through this it may be possi-
biographical storytelling, we can see manifold
ble to identify patterns in our behaviour, and
benefits to personal and societal wellbeing. In
whether there is a dominant narrative that drives
her book on Autobiography and Performance,
us. We can thus gain insight into our own lives.
Deidre Heddon discusses the opportunity autobiographical performance provides to allow
The power of self-constructed narratives has
the marginalised subject to ‘talk out, talk back,
been recognised as epistemologically and
talk otherwise’ and to ‘engage with the pressing
psychologically crucial to the construction of our
matters of the present which relate to equality, to own identity; in fact psychologist, neurologist and justice, to citizenship, to human rights’ – integral
author Oliver Sacks has stated: ‘It might be said
to the wellbeing agenda. Indeed, autobiograph- that each of us constructs and lives a ‘narrative’ ical performance not only highlights the poten-
and that this narrative is us, our identities’. If we
tial for sharing otherwise silent narratives with the
are aware that we understand the world and
community, in a way that can be revealing and
our self through narrative, then it becomes easier
enlightening, but can also provide a vehicle for
to see our identity as fluid, rather than fixed and
self-examination. The act of telling an audience
inflexible; this could give us a greater degree
our story necessitates the act
of control over our perceptions of the world, as autonomous subjects who can mould the stories we tell of ourselves. This is even before we
Thomas Bewick, ‘The Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf’ (The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf’), wood-engraved illustration, from ‘Fables of Aesop and others’, 1818. Printed by E. Walker for Thomas Bewick, Newcastle. National Art Library Pressmark: G.28.Y.1b
consider entering the world of fictitious performance, where we experiment with role and metaphor, where we can take on a new character with a tilt of the head, and relay stories miles away from our lived reality, yet which we still feel could be about us. Or don’t, and enjoy the liberation of that. Where can’t we travel through story? Through story we can take amazing journeys. Through story we can also come home. First published as ‘Life Stories’ by Arts Professional, in Issue 253, Monday 21 May 2012
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Summer/ Issue 38
Images of the winterland
images: www.freeimages.co.uk’
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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BEYOND A CONFINED SPACE Nigel Prestatyn
I
, my partner, and our two kids live in a
which was a disused railway line. Along
small one bedroom council flat, and
with my brother and sister we would play
as you can imagine, it can get very
there from dusk ‘til dawn – or so it felt as a
cramped. There is no bolthole, no where to
six year old. I always recall how that wild,
have a moment to yourself, and in some
abandoned environment would spark my
respects this can be quite healthy – all
imagination, and how its wildlife would ever
issues have to be dealt with there and
be a source of fascination: the simplest of
then, no sulking in distant rooms. But when
creatures, the hedgehogs, foxes, voles and
the kids go wild (as they invariably do), the
moles, the bees, wasps, damselflies and
flat exponentially shrinks, and when this
warlike dragonflies, and even the toads,
happens, there’s one thing I truly wished we
frogs and newts. Consequently I have
had: the humble garden.
always appreciated the benefits of being outside in the fresh air, amongst nature, and
As a child I grew up with a garden which
as such I find it a shame that our kids don’t
adjoined a vast overgrown stretch of land
have what we had as children.
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Summer/ Issue 38
In a two-room flat, eight storeys high, your
when members finally accept defeat and
options are limited. I thought of aquascap-
move on. I knew instantly which one we’d
ing as a way of bringing nature into the flat. A
want. There it stood, a little way back up
fish tank as a kind of surrogate garden where
the hill, with this big, old dilapidated shed,
your imagination at least could run wild. I
smashed windows, a slew of disintegrating
learnt as much as I could about creating
apples on one of its two small trees – but
planted tanks, using CO2, forcing the plants
apple trees… and two of them!
to explode in a jungle-like frenzy. Gazing into that tank, neon tetras darting, java ferns, cabomba, vesicularis, and java moss gently swaying against the flowing water, I often imagined was akin to gazing into the Amazon basin. We all enjoyed (and enjoy) the thick lush underwater world of our aquascape tank. But children naturally require more; they need to get their hands dirty. The vague notion of having an allotment crossed my mind three years ago. I’d
I can’t convey the sense of luck we felt as a
contacted a nearby allotment but was told
family. This was on the scale of a minor mira-
there was a lengthy waiting list and that
cle. This plot of land was quite a substantial
we would be on it for years. Undeterred we
plot of land. The potential seemed immense.
joined the list. And for three years I forgot
We were put on a standard three month
about it, until an email arrived: ‘You’re top of
probation, whereupon the site committee
the list’.
would determine whether we had proven our commitment to the site. Thereon we would be charged £45 a year (soon to double!) So we began work on the plot - in complete blissful ignorance. Of course we didn’t mind one bit. Having had no garden in over 25 years, planting and tending seemed remote. In our favour was the fact that it was November. In terms of planting there was not much to do - mainly preparation for the new year. So we dug up weeds, collected remaining
I turned up at the allotment with my son to
apples, dug up the last of the potatoes left
meet the site secretary. To our surprise we
behind by the previous tenant. We cut back
were offered a choice of three allotments.
the raspberry bushes. And laid sheets over the
All recently vacated. It was that time of year
newly dug beds to kill the weeds. I relocated
apparently, annual fees to be paid… and
sections of turf to muddy areas making for a cont. EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 15
cont. larger area for the kids to play; we relocated
area; the paths between plots for walking, or
a small tree to free up space. And then came
a place to hold barbeques and picnics – all
a minor eureka moment. In the site’s skip
allowed by the site committee.
was a large blue plastic fish pond. Allotments don’t have ponds, right? Allotments are for
As things turned out, our allotment would
growing, right? Well no, not entirely. I called
partly be used for growing produce, but also
the secretary, asked if we could put a pond
partly as a garden sanctuary for the kids. True,
in? Sure, go ahead, good for biodiversity. And
we don’t have a garden we can step out
so the pond duly went it.
into, but we have the next best thing, and a heartbeat away. And when the pond settles
With the introduction of the pond there
in, we’ll introduce frogs, toads and newts for
seemed a change in perception. This wasn’t
the kids; already a fox has staked his claim to
merely a place to grow produce, but also a
surrounding areas, and without fail, the red-
living space, a GARDEN! Soon we came to
breasted robins regularly appear to snap up
realise that the shed could either hold tools, or
the newly dug worms. I ask you, what family
hold a table for reading; the spare land could
could ask for more?
either grow carrots or be a wild grass play
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Summer/ Issue 38
The Ethics of Psychiatric Diagnosis A London Philosophy Club talk by Peter Kinderman: The Ethics of Psychiatric Diagnosis
P
eter Kinderman
them devoid of meaning. What is needed
is pretty much
is a bespoke response to clients’ needs.
a hero of mine,
There are reasons for mental distress – natural
along with his colleague
Richard Bentall. Kinder-
human consequences of trauma and adversity. We are all mad at times. But the trend
man is Professor of Clinical Psychology and
now is to medicalise normality.
Head of the Institute of Psychology, Health
I agree with Kinderman: what is needed is
and Society at the University of Liverpool,
alternatives to the disease models. He put
and Bentall is a Professor there. Kinderman
forward lots of suggestions: parenting tutors, narrative approaches, a colleagues scheme, Think First for offenders, and a plea to treat things for what they are. This is underpinned by a psychosocial formulation approach. A huge change must take place and it involves many different agencies: teachers, professionals, textbooks, judges, insurance companies, pension firms, among others.
started with his conclusion: that it was now is the time to take action. The disease model is inappropriate and the current realm of ‘diagnosis’ fails on validity, utility, biology and humanity. We should be concentrating on helping people live their lives better and fulfilling their potential, not treating problems as illnesses. He took us back to a debate in the Commons a while back where a number of MPs revealed their own mental distress. This disclosure was met in a positive manner, thus paving the way for differing approaches to the whole field. He did however, also quote concerning statistics regarding the increase in suicides in this time of economic uncertainty; it has been found that a thousand suicides per year could be as a result of depression caused by economic hardship. In also informed us that there has been a 30% increase of calls to helplines in the last few years. Carefully unpicking the diagnoses that are commonly bandied around, he found
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As we are at a crossroads with the revision of DSM underway, I believe it is an ideal time to proceed with change. This can happen by signing petitions, and those in the frontline talking and taking action. The stranglehold of the pharmaceutical companies needs to be released and a new framework of understanding reached. Solutions can be developed – working on the cause of the distress. Work with nurses will be crucial; they can initiate relaxation, exercise, early warning systems etc. I found the talk extremely refreshing and sensible and left hoping that change was in the air and the disease model will be consigned to history. Long overdue! Polly
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CoolTan Arts & Dickens ’Who would not rather see a poor idiot happy in the sunlight, that a wise man pining in a
Picture: HULTON-DEUTSCH COLLECTION
darkened room.’
CoolTan Arts, a charity based in Elephant and Castle, which believes mental wellbeing is enhanced by the power of creativity, has been working on a Dickens project throughout the year (celebrating his bicentenary!), including a Dickens-in-
The exhibition runs from the 1st Feb 2013 to the 13th Feb 2013 at Morley Gallery, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7HT. You are invited to join CoolTan and Maggi Hambling at the private view on February 7th from 6-8pm, and celebrate Dickens 201st birthday!
spired fashion show, poetry, walks, and the creation of a Dickens Newspaper . Please see below an invitation to one of their events, and a short piece of writing on the character of Barnaby Rudge, by Zoe, one of their participants. We are delighted to invite you to the third exhibition in our Dickens News series –‘The Ragshow Edition’, which celebrates the life and work of Charles Dickens, with a contemporary creative twist and social comment to boot!
Photo: Anthony
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The Ragshow exhibition showcases both the textile and visual art work of CoolTan Arts Artists. Textile and batik pieces explore and contemporise Dickens characters, from Miss Havisham & Nancy, and will look at all levels of Victorian dress. Also showing are a plethora of prints, drawings, paintings and written work examinng Dickens’ life and work and his connection to Southwark. A special private view on February 7th 6-8pm will be opened by artist Maggi Hambling. Guests will get the chance to view the artworks, see Dickens characters perfom and hear readings and poems.
Summer/ Issue 38
Dickens News souvenirs will be on sale, with etchings, prints, hand printed Greetings cards, tea-
messages. An almost romantic figure who articulates his delights in wandering.
towels and bags available ‘We have been afield, mother – leap-
Barnaby Rudge:
A fantastic half-crazed youth Dickens is interested in society in its totality; he does not shirk away from considering the plight of those who suffer mental distress.
ing ditches, scrambling through hedges, running down steep banks, up and away, and hurrying on. The wind has been lowing, and the rushes and young plants bowing and bending to it, lest it should do them harm, the cowards – and Grip – ha ha ha! – brave Grip, has quarrelled with every little bowing twig – thinking, he told me, that it mocked him – and has worried it like a bull – dog. Ha ha ha!’ Barnaby’s madness may be depict as challenging behaviour, sometimes excitable or distressed, anxious that he has
Image: BOZ from the Philadelphia Edition.
displeased his widowed mother, his protector, and unaware of impending dangers. Barnaby is presented as optimistic and hopeful, if a little unknowing in nature. He is not someone to ridicule, but be respected and maybe pitied. Dickens writes in the novel that, ‘It is something to look upon enjoyment, so that it be free and wild and in the face of nature, though it is but the enjoyment of an idiot.’ If the Victorians were to speak of a ‘village idiot’, then we might conjure up the image of one beset by stupidity and incompetencies. Yet Dickens’ character Barnaby Rudge is usually portrayed as carefree, roaming the countryside with his pet raven, Grip, by his side and has the competency to be a go-between and deliver
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Dickens furthers this argument by challenging those who seek the right to punish harshly, and who may perversely enjoy the sufferings of others. ’Who would not rather see a poor idiot happy in the sunlight, that a wise man pining in a darkened room.’ Zoe
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Wellbeing News/ #2
i Accident Prone Places Melton, the Leicestershire borough, has been named as most accident-prone place in Britain, while Runneymede in Surrey was found to be safest. (I wonder how long it would stay that way if I moved there!)
i The National Audit of Schizophrenia (NAS) The National Audit of Schizophrenia (NAS), the largest ever clinical audit of schizophrenia, published its national report in December 2012. The report shows very low levels of physical health monitoring for people with schizophrenia and variable prescribing practice. It also shows that people with schizophrenia are often not involved in decisions about their care and treatment, and are given information that is inaccessible and difficult to understand. (http://www.rethink.org
i George Osborne’s Autumn Statement 5 December 2012 saw the delivery of George Osborne’s Autumn
All images copyright of www.freeimages.co.uk
Statement, and worryingly Mind has stated that they believe
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that ‘the Autumn Statement will have disproportionate impact on those with mental health problems’, and are particularly concerned with cuts to benefits.(http://www.mind.org.uk/news
i Compassion in Practice This year has also seen a push to the development of a culture of compassionate care, with a new three-year vision and strategy for nursing, midwifery and care staff that aims to build the culture of compassionate care in all areas of practice. Called Compassion in Practice, it has been drawn up by Jane Cummings, the Chief Nursing Officer for England (CNO), based with the NHS Commissioning Board, and Viv Bennett, Director of Nursing at the Department of Health. (http://www.commissioningboard.nhs.uk
Summer/ Issue 38
I’m sure there are plenty I’ve missed out, so if you have any suggestions for Wellbeing News from 2012 – or indeed if you have any in the New Year – do please get in touch.
i Patients Get New Rights Patients with mental health problems are to be given new rights over which consultant psychiatrist they see under new plans to end institutional bias against them in the NHS, although this may not come into place until 2014. Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, who has been instrumental in securing the change, said: ‘It does not make any sense that some of the most vulnerable members of our society have little control about how their condition is treated. If any group of patients could benefit from being empowered by taking control of their own care, it is people with mental illness. My overriding priority is to ensure that mental health is finally considered in all aspects of NHS care, so that it no longer suffers from the institutional bias that has existed for so long.’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012
i Health and Social Care Act 2012 ‘Without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest health and wellbeing related thing to happen in 2012 was the passage of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 after a year of wrangling. Changing as it does the nature of the way the NHS works and will work in future, what local authorities are responsible for and how health and social care will be run, it’s hard to think of anything that will have more impact on your heath and wellbeing over the next few years. Well, apart from the ongoing effects of austerity and recession on the overall way our own lives feel and what happens in them.’ Mark Brown (OneInFour)
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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How The Mind Responds: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Transcendental Meditation
image: www.freeimages.co.uk
by Ian Stewart
T
he article ‘Zen and the Art of Genius’,
enables subjects to improve their capacity
describes how scientists are experi-
to learn new skills in half the time. They say
menting with a new technology, remi-
that it usually takes 10,000 hours to become
niscent of what was once known as electric shock treatment. Called transcranial direct current stimulation (or tDCS), they are
an expert in a field, whether it be a golfer or a chess player. The term ‘flow’ is used to
concentrating on trying to produce what
describe the ability to perform an action
they describe as a ‘flow’ in the mind, which
effortlessly. They define it as:
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a) ‘An intense and focused absorption that
technique uses a mantra, which is a pleas-
makes you lose all sense of time’;
ing sounding vehicle that takes the mind
b) Something called autolicity: ‘the sense
to infinity, leading to more subtle forms of
that the activity you are engaged in is
thought. Our thoughts are like bubbles at
rewarding for its own sake’;
the bottom of an ocean, and the stress in
c) ‘Finding the ‘sweet spot’, a feeling that
our nervous system brought about by every-
your skills are perfectly matched to the task
day worries and woes prevent us from expe-
at hand’ – and, importantly, ‘leaving you
riencing our thoughts in their full purity. The
neither frustrated nor bored’.
ocean is our consciousness, and meditation allows for the subconscious to become a
The scientists involved talk of being able
part of the conscious mind, which at the
to ‘silence self critical thoughts’ and allow
same time provides a deep rest for the
more ‘automatic processes to take hold,
body. Experiments have shown that TM
which would in turn produce that effortless
triggers certain unique brain activity. In his
feeling of flow’.
science, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi refers to the process of ‘skill in action’, where the mind
The article caught my eye as it reminded
is able to do less and accomplish more, as
me of the experiments performed by scien-
actions become more effortless and we
tists researching the transcendental medita-
become more attuned to the laws of nature
tion (TM) technique, who have measured
and thus more efficient in our actions.
the brainwave activity of subjects practising the technique and have underlined
I know the practice of TM and how it’s
the teaching of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,
helped me, and feel perhaps the tDCS
who taught of the effortless way that the
scientists could deepen their studies by
mind responds when practising TM. He has
practicing TM, and I hope to see it in future
characterised in his Science of Creative
studies.
Intelligence the way that the mind is able to harness the laws of nature that govern the universe on the individual level by the increasing ‘charm’ the mind experiences during TM; this effortless flow is due to the experience of pure consciousness. In TM, the
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
Article ‘Zen and the Art of Genius’ from the New Scientist (4 Feb 2012)
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Don’t Bottle it Up Schizophrenia: My advice on how to deal with it. Dev
A
ccording to some websites, ‘Schizo-
be with another person for the duration of
phrenia’ is a mental illness with symp-
this behaviour and these symptoms, and
toms which include hallucinations
constantly told that it is not true over a long
(such as hearing voices), delusions (false
period of time. It would also be useful if the
ideas), disordered thoughts, and problems
other person would repeatedly show other
with feelings, behaviour and motivation.
possible scenarios to what he is thinking of.
But this is just a broad summary; not many
It is important at this state that the person is
people have the same symptoms. It is
not left alone where ever he/she is. Remem-
common to think that having this disorder
ber: they are vulnerable and may do some-
means that a person is mad, which is not
thing harmful. If this continues to happen
true. There are people with mild varia-
on regular bases on any subject, then the
tions of it and some with severe versions of schizophrenia.
person may need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.
For a person with this
It is also possible the
disorder it is difficult to
person might even go
explain. Sometimes a
the opposite direc-
person might hear some-
tion and become more introvert and bottle
thing like there is going to be a crash near by. It just might be rumour or gossip. This
things up, which many people do. This means they are thinking about the car
where schizophrenia may come into effect.
crash happening, but not showing any reac-
The person hearing this may decide to take
tion. Over time it may build up, like a bottle
this thing seriously and start to perceive it as
filling up with water, causing an out burst,
reality. This is when they tend to start halluci-
similar to an over flowing water bottle. This is
nate and visualizing it happening repeatedly
a useful metaphor.
and hence losing track of what is real and what is false. Sometimes people will start to
Schizophrenia can also cause a person to
pace and start to do things with their hands,
start to create his or her own utopian world
start talking to them selves (this is a manifes-
in their head. In this they maybe the main
tation of their delusional state) or they may
character and play out anything happen-
start to swear. For that person it is very difficult
ing in the real world the way they want it
to get control of their mind.
to be. Unlike the previous example where
In this case, I suggest that the person must
they have an outburst, this time they tend
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Summer/ Issue 38
to become more delusional and get
but I don’t know how to help?). You
trapped in their own make believe world.
might be tempted to hide your family member’s illness from the outside, i.e.
The person with Schizophrenia may also
protecting your family member from any
show no symptoms for a long period of
abuse or getting hurt. My advice to
time and may start to act normally. One
families if:
thing you must remember is that symptoms can re-occur. This maybe a double
1. You need accept that your family
jeopardy, because the person may think
member has schizophrenia.
that they have fully recovered.
2. Accept, no matter how hard it is, that this is not your fault.
For a person who has a family member
3. Get some help for you and that family
that has schizophrenia, they may have
member.
difficulty in accepting that a person in
4. Be realistic
their family has this problem. As a conse-
5. Know what to expect from him or her,
quence they may feel angry (Why did
i.e. panic, becoming quiet or acting
he have to get it?), fearful (How are we
differently.
going to manage?), guilty (Is this my
6. Keep a sense of humour.
fault?), frustrated (There must be something I’m not doing?) and hopeless (Why
The last one, no matter how crude it
can’t I help them? They need my help
sounds, really does help on both sides.
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Moustache Movember Changing the Face of Men’s Health
I
Text: Geoff Bone
n 2003, thirty people came together in
form to raise awareness for men’s health
Melbourne, Australia, with an aim to raise
was inspired by a friend’s mother who was
awareness for men’s health, an issue sadly
fundraising for breast cancer at the time they
ignored by much of society. They raised no
hatched the plans.
money, but their decision to refuse to shave
The rules were written, and have stayed
their top lip in an
unchanged for almost a decade,
effort to bring the
their faces were shaved on Movem-
real issue of pros-
ber 1st and history was made. The
tate and testicular
story of Movember can be found
cancer to the fore-
on the now hugely popular website,
front of people’s
which shows the growth of the
thoughts, ignited a
campaign of awareness.
fire that has since spread around
My personal Movember of 2012 is
the globe. This of
my second attempt, and this time
course, raises the
round not only is the ‘tache fuller
question, how
and thicker (slightly), but I am part of
can growing a
a team of guys all jumping aboard
moustache make
with excitement I rarely see in people
any difference?
today. I work as a police officer and
And how did this
eight of us from my shift have signed
simple idea end
on for what has now become known
up recruiting over
as a challenge. The emasculating
a million Mo Bros
attempt to shoot hair through skin
to the cause?
pores in our faces have left a few of us struggling to claw back our
Founders Travis
manhood, especially when the day
Garone and
to day job sees us go and deal with
Luke Slattery thought up the idea in a bar
people we would like to take us seriously, a
in Melbourne, intending, as only two friends
task anyone would find difficult looking at the
in a bar can do, to revolutionise the fash-
incredible range of bristles under our noses.
ion industry and give a rebirth to the classic
The disconcerting thing for the general
moustache. The idea to use this as a plat-
public must be that those there to protect
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Summer/ Issue 38
and uphold the law now look like mexican
Movember’s
bandits or mafia godfathers themselves.
global success; if truth be told,
The camaraderie between my group of Mo
it is that secret
Bros is incredible, the outright bullying of those
desire in every
unable to grow the ‘Magnum P.I’, the appre-
man’s heart
ciation of those willing to go for the riskier
to want to be
styles like the pencil or trucker, the support
the guy who
from those who sadly due to gender, are
grows the
unable to join in.
‘tache to top them all. Every
The thing that strikes me above all else is
man doing
that the main purpose of this brilliant idea
Movember has
has clearly been achieved. People every-
dreams of being able to slap on the styling
where know of Movember, and thus they are
wax in the morning and the moustache net
aware of the men’s health issues it is there to
before bed, and it is this fierce competition
promote. All the people I meet in my day at
that drives Movember. Of course everyone
work who say: ‘Are you trying to do Movem-
knows why Movember exists, and every year
ber?’ not only humiliate me, but also make
tens of millions are raised by hundreds of
me smile with the knowledge that today I
thousands of Mo Bros across the world, but
reminded somebody of Movember and its
without the simple genius of the idea itself,
cause.
Movember would fizzle away. Movember is something that will stay with us now as long as there is a month of November in the calendar. Although the cause is worthy and commendable, it is not the reason for
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
Movember Team page: http://uk.movember.com/team/479309 My personal Movember page: http://mobro.co/geoffbone
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ENDNOTES: Thoughts from the Twittersphere Kate asks the Twittersphere... ‘What would you say was the most important #wellbeing news of #2012? Thanks!!!’ THE REPLIES: Guys and St Thomas/@GSTTCharity: We would say providing £10.6 million to support the development of integrated care in Lambeth and Southwark!!
@InspiredYouth: Check out: Recovery Stories seedsofrecovery. wordpress.com or Walk in Jack’s Shoes thejackrainestory.wordpress.com or youtellmecampaign.wordpress.com or our ongoing Young Carer’s Revolution Campaign.
@CreativeMoron: The best well-being news? Mint tea. For here and forever! It’s very soothing, it is. Have a super New Year, madam!
SANE/@CharitySANE: Hi Kate, the Parliamentary debate on #mentalhealth earlier this year was very important. Do you have any other suggestions?
@actionhappiness: wow, great question - we were really pleased to see United Nations taking #happiness seriously in 2012 http:// www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/united-nations-happiness-conference-bhutan BlackDogTribe.com/ @FollowBDT: Here are our mental health highlights from last year - on a web page http://blackdogtribe.com/ news-features/happy-new-year-black-dog-tribe
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