MAGAZINE FOR WELLBEING
CELEBRATION EDITION >> Lithium-Rich Foods >> Comedy & Mental Health >> Being Assertive
>> Wellbeing News >> Art, Science & more
2016
>> What is Health?
ISSUE 60
>> VR & Paranoid Delusions
Equilibrium Patron Dr Liz Miller Mind Champion 2008
What Equilibrium means to me‌. WEB ALERTS If you know anyone who would like to be on our mailing list and get the magazine four times a year (no spam!) please email: equilibriumteam@hotmail. co.uk (www.haringey.gov.uk/ equilibrium). Equilibrium is devised, created, and produced entirely by team members with experience of the mental health system. Photo copyright remains with all individual artists and Equilibrium. All rights reserved. 2011
Graphic Design: Anthony J. Parke
I enjoyed writing a short article for the mental health magazine Equilibrium based on my personal experience of having a mental illness for the last 20 years. The office environment and people were all friendly and gave support on tap, especially when you got stuck for ideas or needed technical help using the computer. The other contributors present all shared a mental health history, so gelled well together and we were made to feel very welcome. Norman I found Equilibrium at a crucial point, where I found an open door to try a new healing form of writing and expression. Honest, happy, healthy. One thing I have to say, I go at my own pace and learn little lessons on computers, in art and writing, communicating, and ultimately a chance to get some self-confidence and self-esteem back after being belittled and degraded and abused. I found the open light of Equilibrium at the end of a dark tunnel of life. Equilibrium gives me a purpose. Thank you. Blessings. Richard The magazine means a lot to me for the reason is that it allows me to write about various aspects of mental health and wellbeing. This is one of the only places where you can talk about this sticky matter and issues surrounding wellbeing. Working here also allows me to meet like-minded people, who are passionate about talking about their experiences of their conditions. Seeing these issues being published spreads information on mental health, and other topics, even further. Devzilla Equilibrium has been a fantastic form of expression for me. I have the choice to write about what I want and I can put my ideas into practice. I have been with Equilibrium since 2007 and I never run out of ideas of things to write about. I have enjoying writing articles, and reviews about plays, books and galleries. The Equilibrium team has changed from time to time, but we still manage to produce four copies of the magazine a year. Angela
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EDITORIAL Hello and welcome to our 60th anniversary issue of Equilibrium, twenty years after the magazine first started! We’ve come a long way since then, and although the magazine is now only online, we were delighted that this special edition could be printed. Some of our participants have been coming since the start and some only joined this summer. Everyone brings their own unique ideas and we enjoy the variety of ages, experiences and cultures within the team. We are also pleased how many contributions are sent to us by people across the country (and sometimes the world!), so please do keep them coming. Tweet us @teamequilibrium or email equilibriumteam@hotmail. co.uk. We hope you enjoy the team’s hard work, and a special thanks to Anthony for his brilliant design skills. Kate, Editor/Team Facilitator
DISCLAIMER Equilibrium is produced by service users. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without the prior permission of the Equilibrium team. Products, articles and services advertised in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of Equilibrium or any of our partners. Equilibrium is published and circulated electronically four times a year to a database of subscribers; if you do not wish to receive Equilibrium or have received it by mistake, please email unsubscribe to equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk
THE TEAM Facilitator/ Editor: Kate Massey-Chase. Editorial team: Dev, Ian, Angela, Nigel, Richard, Emily, Manto, Richard.
CONTACT US Equilibrium, Clarendon Recovery College, 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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Summer/ Issue 38
Wellbeing News New NICE guidelines to deliver the best care for people using NHS mental health services.
‘Traumatic brain injury and offending: An economic analysis’ – report by The Centre for Mental Health
The facts:
The report looks at the link between
-1.8 million people used NHS mental
offending and traumatic brain injury, and
health services in England last year
the consequent costs. It finds there is a
-More than 100,000 of them spent some
significant link between the two, as 60%
time in hospital
of adult offenders have experienced a
-Between 2003 and 2013, almost 1 in 5
traumatic brain injury, six times the rate of
people using mental health inpatient
the general population. The report finds
services died by suicide within three
that a traumatic brain injury increases the
months of being discharged.
likelihood of offending by at least 50%.
-People moving between services are particularly vulnerable What do the new guidelines suggest?
2016 World Happiness Report
-Staff need to build good relationships
Every year the United Nations measures
with patients as early as possible, when
the quality of life for citizens around the
they are transitioning between services
world through surveys and data analysis.
-There should be named practitioner
The UK came 23rd out of 158 countries.
from the patient’s home area, to work
Here’s the top ten:
closely with the hospital team, if they
1. Denmark
have been moved to a hospital far from
2. Switzerland
where they live
3. Iceland
-People with mental health problems
4. Norway
should be involved in decisions when
5. Finland
they are going into and out of hospital
6. Canada
-Patients should be offered tailored education sessions in the lead up to and after their discharge, which involve their family/carers and focus on helping them cope with their triggers and symptoms.
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7.
The Netherlands
8.
New Zealand
9. Australia 10.
Sweden Cont.
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Schools concerned that young people’s mental health needs are not being met
ous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death.” New research published in the Lancet in July, now
An Association of School and College
suggests that one hour of activity is
Leaders’ survey found that 55% of 338
needed to offset harmful effects of
school leaders reported a large rise in
sitting at a desk for eight hours. The World
pupils with anxiety and stress, and almost
Health Organisation’s guideline, adopted
65% said they struggled to get mental
by Public Health England, recommends
health services for pupils. The survey
150 minutes of exercise a week but this
found that over the past five years:
new research, based on data from more
- 79% of heads saw an increase in
than one million people, suggests that
self harm or suicidal thoughts among
office workers who sit for long stretches
students.
need to do an hour a day.
- 40% reported a big rise in cyber-bullying - 53% of those who had referred a pupil to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) rated them poor or very poor. - Overall, 80% of respondents wanted to see CAMHS expanded in their area. (Judith Burns, BBC News, 5 March 2016)
Rise in mental health problems amongst teenage girls According to the Department of Education, which spoke to 30,000 pupils aged 14-15, more than one in three teen girls suffer from anxiety or depression. It’s a rise of 10 per cent in the past decade,
Sitting is killing us Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity
leading experts to call it a “slow-growing epidemic.” Out of the girls surveyed, 37 per cent had three or more symptoms of
Solutions Initiative and inventor of the
psychological distress, for example feel-
treadmill desk , famously told the Los
ing worthless or unable to concentrate,
Angelos Times in 2014: “Sitting is more
compared to 15 per cent of boys
dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacher-
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(Radhika Sanghani, 22 August 2016, The Telegraph).
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Mental Health Research Charity, MQ, announces £1 million in funding for psychological treatments research MQ have announced funding, from their PsyIMPACT programme, for five new projects to drive forward our understanding of how psychological treatments work, across a range of mental health conditions. At Sussex University they will research the link between autism and anxiety; at the University of Oxford they will be looking at tackling PTSD in emergency workers; at the University of Glasgow they are exploring if a new American technique could preventing repeated suicide attempts; at Warwick Medical School they are looking at treating psychosis using virtual reality; and at the University of Ghent they are exploring new techniques to disrupt depression and stop it coming back through attention training. This is great news, as currently only 11.3% of UK mental health research is spent on improving psychological therapies.
Could sleep deprivation treat depression? Scientists have discovered that, when we are deprived of sleep, the brain’s neurons become so muddled with electrical activity that new memories cannot be properly formed. It is a process that appears to be crucial for our brains to learn and remember things. But psychiatrist Christoph Nissen, who has been researching this field at the University of Freiburg, believes therapeutic sleep deprivation could be a radical treatment for major depression, through changing the patient’s brain connectivity. He said: “If you deprive people with major depression of sleep for one night, about 60% show a substantial improvement in mood, motivation and cognitive function. We think it works by shifting these patients into a more favourable state.” It’s not used very much because many patients relapse after the subsequent night’s sleep, but the research could still be useful in developing new treatments. (Ian Sample, 23 August 2016, The Guardian)
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What is Health? Interview with Gemma Self FRANCESCA BAKER
O
ver the last few years there’s been a shift in society’s understanding of
what health is. Whether it’s wellness, wholesome living, fitness or vitality, people today are after more than just not being ill, but and want to live an overall healthy life. Unfortunately, the healthcare systems in the UK doesn’t yet work that way. The NHS is an incredible institution (treating a million people every 36 hours) and we’ve all got stories of how it’s saved loved ones, and the concept of free healthcare for all is the envy of the world over. However, what this means is that we sometimes tolerate care that is lower than our expectations, poor communication and late treatment, rather than question why. And essentially, it exists to fix problems, Miranda.com
rather than preventing them. What about healthcare that provides services based
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upon the outcomes that matter to
necessary to drive down waiting lists
people? That’s what Gemma Self is
and allow for the funding to support a
aiming to do with Reimagine Health, a
changing demographic of people. But it
healthcare consultancy start-up based
means that ‘Organisations compete on
upon the Value Based Health principles
money and processes. What is missing is
that are bubbling away in the UK and
whether we are making a difference for
gaining momentum. Having worked in
patients’ wellbeing.’
the NHS for eight years, Gemma recog-
NHS organisations are multi-million
nises that it is an amazing system, with
pound establishments that have to
huge roles and responsibilities. It is that
balance the books to treat patients. But
scale which makes it so hard for the insti-
knowing the impact these organisations
tution to change, even when the desire
are having on patients also matters.
is there. Set up in 1948 and employ-
Value Based Healthcare combines
ing 1.3 million people, the cultures and
the two. Value in this context is not just
practicalities mean that even if people
about saving money, but defined as
know that they want to move towards
an equation which brings together the
such change, the reality of making it
measurable impact upon a patient,
happen is difficult.
divided by the cost of delivery. Currently
But this is old fashioned according to
we pay for the treatment of things which
Gemma. She says: ‘Healthcare needs to
could have been avoided. For example,
be delivered in a way which resonates
rather than training, education, commu-
with today’s society and who we are
nity support or early intervention, when
now. Health is wellness, not absence of
people are experiencing less severe
illness. It is about looking at the whole
symptoms, it often ends up that treat-
person rather than a part of a body or a
ment only happens later on.
condition.’
Gemma tells me that: ‘For example,
The NHS is stretched; we all know that.
we know that an older person who has
The last ten years have seen the NHS
fallen once and been discharged is
focusing on a system that counts things:
more likely to fall again. We see it in our
bed numbers, waiting times, processes,
hospitals daily. People are discharged
staff numbers, and money. This was
back to environments which are not
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always set up to enable them to be safe. The NHS payment structure currently funds hospitals every time someone is admitted. We don’t have a payment structure that allows specialists to do the right thing for that person’s wellbeing. Imagine if we gave the specialists within a hospital a pot of money to help prevent falls and rewarded them for evidencing a reduction of falls in the population of older people that they serve.’ If we consider that healthcare is responsible for trying to improve the population’s wellbeing rather than solely treating ill health, then we could consider that many visits to hospital could have been prevented with the right intervention early on. A system that
Miranda.com
wants to achieve this would pay specialists to prevent people to be admitted into hospital, rather than every time they do. This is one of the principles of Value Based Healthcare. Getting the money up-front and working on prevention through a package of care that prevents admission, potentially an extended and expensive one, means that patients are living healthier lives, organisations are reducing costs, and helping to support the population to be healthy. What Reimagine Health is trying to do is embed this change in mind set and funding
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structure. Increasingly organisations recognise that this is the ideal, but it’s hard to get there from the current state. Changes have to happen at every level to deliver system-wide health improvements. Reimagine Health’s mission is to develop innovative approaches working to deliver a health service that an ever-changing society needs. Gemma says that ‘I went into healthcare management and leadership because I wanted to make things better. I want to have an impact upon people and do something meaningful within society.’
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Working with a London borough,
I really believe that this is the way of
Gemma set up a Value Based Health-
doing things.’
care pilot contract, setting a precedent
‘With skills, passion and drive you can
for how this is done in the UK. She was
achieve anything – with the right
also selected to study Value Based
network and support. Personal aware-
Healthcare with experts at Harvard Busi-
ness leads us to know what questions to
ness School. Recognising the challenge
ask and where to build those relation-
of integrating this way of working into
ships for mutual benefit. Partnership and
the giant organisation that is the NHS,
collaboration is at the heart of what I
she is approaching this with the lens of
want to do. It’s unlikely that I know the
lessons learned from her personal life.
answer - let’s try and find out together.’
Passionate about connection, yoga and living with authenticity, she will be bringing her experience of commissioning, delivery, and implementation, volunteering experience in Africa, and build the partnerships and networks that can
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get change happening. Honesty, transparency and vulnerability is being called out for across the system, patients and leadership. People, culture and systems can get very quickly into routines, and Gemma aims to help guide those people to the answers that might work. ‘I am not going to change the system by myself – but by spreading the learning, setting up test beds, and providing my advice and experience I will start the ball rolling for a whole system change.
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Why it Took Me Twenty Years (and Three Breakdowns)
To Finally Feel Part of the Real World SCARLETT RAVEN
I HAVE SUFFERED FROM DEEP ANXIETY ISSUES MOST OF MY LIFE. IT’S NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT PAINTING HAS KEPT ME ALIVE.
I
wanted to create a piece of art
others. I didn’t like myself for a long
that not only represented my own
time. I thought I was disgusting. It
personal battle with mental illness,
was exhausting for me and very diffi-
but which also highlighted the strug-
cult for those around me.
gle of others.
The first thing I did when I woke up
The result was a painting called One
was panic. It was a habit. My body
In Four, which I donated to MIND to
was one big habit.
commemorate their 70th anniver-
I wasn’t aware that this behavior
sary this year. The title refers to the
was the manifestation of an illness
number of people who experience
until three years ago when I was
mental health issues at some point in
diagnosed with OCD with acute
their life. That’s a huge percentage
anxiety disorder. It was a relief. I’d
of the population.
been anxious for 20 years without
I first remember feeling different
even realising it, and I’d dealt with
at primary school. I thought every-
my problems on my own badly.
thing I touched would contaminate
Creating art is both a therapy and
cont.
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Black Poppy
also a by-product of my condition. For years I hid myself in painting. My OCD became worse when I was around people. So I spent a lot of my life escaping into an imaginary world. My art allowed me to concoct a whole new universe without fear, without anxiety. Even now, painting allows me to breathe and for the selfdoubt to stop. It was my own coping method without me knowing it. My heart-rate changes when I paint, it’s almost a form of meditation. It’s when I don’t paint for a while that I notice my anxiety and mood change. Because of my past behavior, friendships and relationships were virtually impossible. I was very lonely. There were times when I’ve lost the ability to speak, to move, when I felt all my dignity had been ripped from me. It wasn’t until my third breakdown that I finally got help. It took six months of seeing a therapist before I could speak properly. She made me realise that I wasn’t a bad person; I was just riddled with anxiety. My mentor, Marc Marot, first discovered me at my lowest ebb and has shown
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Summer/ Issue 38
unshakeable support and belief in me
ings to see the process, the decisions,
from the moment we met.
the pain, the mistakes and the suffering
Now I use my art to reveal the complex
underneath. The technique is a form
parts of myself by showing the process
of augmented reality, and I now use it
that underlies my work. By scanning my
to add an extra dimension and expe-
work with an app called Blippar you
riential insight into all my paintings. It’s
can strip away the layers of my paint-
become an integral part of my art and something I work on very closely with Marc. The painting I created for MIND is deeply personal. I did a lot of crying while painting it. Happy crying and sad crying. My whole life is within the work. It was really hard seeing the stages of my mental health and my dete-
One in Four
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The Last Laugh
I’ve known. But he would never talk about his condition. It was a generational attitude. Those sorts of things just weren’t out in the open in those days. Society’s reaction to mental illness has changed drastically in recent years, and that’s down to the work of MIND and its ambassadors, like Stephen Fry, being so candid. I feel like I owe a lot of my survival to this new openness. I’m not afraid of talking about my condition. In fact,
rioration. Other people wouldn’t notice
it’s one of the most important
it. I don’t look unwell. But I know I am. It
conversations I have with people.
reminded me how tough life has been and
Working with MIND on this project has also
proudly how strong I’ve been.
re-enforced the knowledge that I am not
This painting gave me my history back,
alone, that other people have the same
showed me what an amazing life I’ve had,
fears, the same problems.
despite being unwell.
Humans are complex creatures. We are
My father was bi-polar but wasn’t diag-
intelligent and we feel deeply. I now finally
nosed until later in his life. He was a musi-
feel part of the real world, both the good
cian and experienced a lot of self-doubt
and bad of it. I am finally learning what
and turned to drugs to numb his pain, both
being in a relationship and being loved
on stage and in every day life. He was
means. I wasn’t capable of that before.
constantly afraid of letting people down,
I’m really lucky I’ve got friends who don’t
but he had the biggest heart of anyone
judge me. The friendships I do have are
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completely unbreakable and real and
illness under control. I am preparing
honest.
for a major new UK exhibition in 2016
I’ve just turned 30 and I don’t usually
called The Danger Tree.
make a big deal about birthdays but I
I’m even starting to like myself a bit.
did this year because I spent it with my
Perhaps I’m not that bad after all.
wonderful boyfriend. I’m the happi-
One In Four, original oil paint-
est I’ve ever been. I’ve found the love
ing on canvas by Scarlett
of my life and I’m moving in with him.
the painting can be unlocked
I suppose I’m in shock: I’m in love, my paintings are being seen in galleries across the country and I’ve got my
Raven. The layers beneath via Blippar. Once the app is dowloaded, point the camera at the painting to reveal the augmented reality within the artwork.
Dulce et decorum Est
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Photographic images courtesy of Gem...
“
I’ve been having a difficult time recently, and one of the few things I’ve found to really help has been taking photographs. It forces me to look up (and down) at the world around me, taking me out of my own head. It also helps me reconnect with my creativity, as I strive to get the composition of the photo just right.
”
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Summer/ Issue 38
Those Who Laugh, Last EMILY SHERRIS
T
he relationship between comedy and
able to laugh at the quotes and gestures
mental health has been researched
that had always resonated with
and explored so conscientiously that
me. It was a relief to find that
even those who are not au fait with the
this affinity with humour
minutiae of human psychology know that
had been rekindled.
those with mental health issues often use
On the other hand,
humour as a comedic buttress. Some
some people seem
may rely on the revitalising effect gener-
to hunger for a
ated by sitcoms or stand-up. Rik Mayall
more intense,
and Michael McIntyre were always able
holistic distrac-
to imbue my morose days with gorgeous
tion. Witticisms
hilarity. However, there was a time when
crafted by others
these comedy paragons were unable to
will only scratch the
give me the medicine I needed. This is the
surface. It may not
only time I have been
have any effect on their
unable to laugh, and it was the loss of this
wretchedness at all. These
inclination that made me realise I needed
are the people that want to
to get help. Fortunately, this cessation of
demonstrate how funny they are.
sensitivity was short-term. One delight-
They want to feel the ecstasy dervishing
ful day, I realised that, once again, I was
through them on stage. There are those cont.
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who would prefer to write a thesis on
The gulf created by this module struc-
stand-up, and there are those that
ture illustrates the difference I have just
inspire this appreciation. During my
mentioned: some people are voyeurs
second year of university, I was enticed
and some people want to entertain
by the stand-up comedy module. I was absolutely horrified when the lecturer told
an audience. This split is particularly discernible amongst those dealing with mental health issues. Whenever this topic is explored, writ-
us that we
ers and connoisseurs seem to use the
would
same heroes to corroborate the same
get the
link: Ruby Wax, Stephen Fry, Robin
oppor-
Williams, etc. Although these three
tunity to
icons are fantastic examples, I think there are many unsung, creative hopefuls that don’t get the reverence they
compose and deliver our own five minute comedy routine. Luckily, the more introverted students were given
deserve. Let’s begin with Richard Gadd, a comedian that vacillates between frenetic jellyfish mime and introspection. Whether he’s punning into a threefoot microphone or leafing through a notebook, it is quite clear that the person behind the canned jokes and
another more alluring assignment: a
the potty-mouthed rhetoric has an
2500 word essay on Victoria Wood.
agenda. Towards the end of his contri-
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Summer/ Issue 38
bution on ‘Diary of an Open Shot’, he
Lastly, I would like to introduce Naomi
shows a more anxious side when he
Petersen. Her material focuses on
admits how much he enjoys making
a specific manifestation of anxi-
people laugh and how he ‘takes it personally’ when he is unable to elicit this grateful response. His most recent material is fuelled by his experiences with anxiety, depression and insomnia. From Chortle finals to the Edinburgh Fringe, Richard has finally decided to
ety: agoraphobia. Naomi has deviated from the more familiar stand-up expectations by sculpting an alter ego called Rosie. This alias is the theatrical personification of Naomi’s real-life anxiety. We could argue that, in some
use the knowledge gained from his trib-
ways, Naomi has surpassed the racon-
ulations to illuminate and desensitise.
teur. This format allows her to commu-
Paul McMullen is another comic that
nicate neurotic emotions by showing
is trying to curtail the negativity associ-
the audience how a sufferer might
ated with mental health issues. In the
react to them.
past, he has experienced the ramifications of alcohol addiction. Like Richard, however, he has used these adversities to convey palatable dark humour. He was rendered unemployed and homeless, but this doesn’t mean that he can’t talk about the effects. In fact,
Laura Ingell Wilder once claimed that ‘a good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing’. Stand-up comedy is an empowering institution that can also be used to allay
Paul’s spot at the Fringe will give him the
judgemental or skewed assumptions.
chance to destigmatise the misconcep-
Wilder is completely right: laughter can
tions that many people still believe.
change everything.
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Artist: Mikela Henry Lowe
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Unmasked Women, an exhibition that channelled the Black British female experience was hosted between the 2-4 Sept. by CoolTan Arts. In order to spark a much-needed conversation about mental health within the Black British community, Unmasked Women aimed to creatively document and showcase the work of several black female artists, whilst creating a safe and open platform for further discussions.
Artist: Azarra Amoy
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Sculpture
As a Form of Art Therapy NORMAN
I
have found creating sculpture an
help but be inspired. As an outpatient
enjoyable means of safe therapy to
who has been a regular service user of
occupy myself and aid my recovery
the local mental health drop-in centre in
within the mental health system. With
Haringey over 10 years, and been in regu-
loads of sources to draw from in terms
lar contact with psychiatric professionals
of the number of museums and galler-
and on medication, participating in art
ies dotted around London, and other
has been the ideal way to share with other
town and cities within easy reach, with
users something in common, regardless of
most offering free admission, we can’t
our status or background.
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The question you may ask is: Where do
to yourself; if you get disheartened take a
you start? If you have been in the mental
break from it and get some perspective
health services for a few years, whether
before you resume making art.
that’s from having fallen ill for whatever reason – like suffering psychoses, falling
Whilst working on one of my sculptures,
deep into a fantasy world, or experienc-
the piece wasn’t progressing how I envis-
ing suicidal tendencies, or ending up on
aged it and I ‘binned’ it sadly. But two
anti-psychotic drugs – these experiences
days later I retrieved it from the recycling
may ring a bell. When you’re feeling well
bin and decided to continue regardless of
enough you may participate in activi-
how it looked. After the resurrection, I felt
ties for recuperation. There are creative
refreshed and had more enthusiasm by
options available, like ceramics, screen-
lowering my expectation of the end result
printing and photography, open to the
and reduced overall pressure on myself. It
regular users at the Clarendon Day Centre
can be good to persevere and the satis-
or the Chocolate Factory in Haringey;
faction of completing a piece can be
there are many outlets to express yourself.
really good for your self-esteem, as it gives
If you live elsewhere, look and see what is
you a sense of achievement.
available in your area. When making sculptures, basically if you can imagine an idea on paper, think how it will look in 3-dimension, as something tangible you can touch and revolve. By the way, you might come across anxiety whilst in the production process, but remember “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, so be kind
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ROCK
BALANCING Anthony J. Parké
I first came across rock balancing in San Francisco’s bay area where I watched Bill Dan balancing his stunning creations. Fast forward 15 years and I’m in Morte Hoe, Devon, making my own creations. There is something deeply meditative when balancing; there is an inner peace as the mind stops its incessant loop and you begin to ‘listen’ to the rocks. Rocks grind and grate until a silence arrives when you find the magical ’tripod’: the three points on a surface which make the balance possible. It’s an extraordinarily satisfying process. if you’re near two rocks, listen to them, and they will teach you silence.
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Mental Illness (some diagnoses) DEV
T
he term mental illness can vary
ous ways: some severely and some
depending on the person’s point of
mildly. According to the charity Mind, 1
view. The common or basic dictionary
in 4 people in the UK will experience a
definition is: “a condition which causes
mental health problem every year, and
serious disorder in a person’s behav-
according to the Naional Alliance of
iour or thinking”. According to Mental
Mental Illness in America, 1 in 20 people
Health America there are 200 “classi-
live with a serious mental illness, such as
fied types of mental health problems”.
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Young
These conditions affect people in vari-
Minds’ website states that “1 in 10 chil-
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 28
Summer/ Issue 38
dren and young people aged 5 - 16 suffer
episode usually occurs before the age
from a diagnosable mental health disor-
of 30. Research indicates that about one
der - that is around three children in every
person in every 200 people experiences
class”. They continue to state: “between 1
bipolar 2 disorder [where the hypoma-
in every 12 and 1 in 15 children and young
nias are not as high]”. Saying this, people
people deliberately self-harm”. In this
live with this condition without it affecting
article, I will talk about some of the main
them.
disorders. It would be a rather long article if I wrote about all the mental health disor-
Depression
ders.
Depression is not just feeling sad. Depression can lead to a long-term feeling of low
Bipolar Disorder
or no self-worth. People have said it is like
This psychiatric condition is marked by
being in a very large dark hole, and you
alternating periods of elation and depres-
have trouble getting out. The charity Mind
sion. But this is a disorder that is more than
states: “It doesn’t stop you leading your
just extreme mood swings. On one side, the normal life but makes everything harder to person can feel high (manic or hypomanic
do and seem less worthwhile.” It states that
episodes), and on the other side, they can
“at its most severe, depression can be life-
feel low (depressive episodes). It could also
threatening, because it can make you feel
cause the person to feel very distressed.
suicidal or simply give up the will to live”.
Like other disorders, it may be difficult to
There are four types of depression, each
manage during extreme episodes. Mental-
with their own symptoms: Seasonal Affec-
healthcare.org.uk states that “about one
tive Disorder (SAD), Dysthymia, Prenatal and
person in every 100 people has bipolar
Postnatal Depression. The Healthline website
1 disorder [marked by extreme manic
states that only 20% of people with major
episodes] at some time in their life. The first
depressive disorder develop psychotic
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 29
symptoms. They go on to say 10-15% of
people but accounts for 30% of the
women develop postnatal depression.
mental health problems in people
Anxiety
seen by GPs (Source: Department of Work and
Anxiety is an emotion experienced by
Pensions)”.
everyone at times of high stress, but for those people who have a clinical diagnosis of anxiety, it can be a constant backdrop to their lives. Those with anxiety have to deal with uneasy feelings, fear of the future, worry about the past, and whirring thoughts. It may have an overwhelming effect and, as a result, they are not able to control their anxiety. Mind describe some of the consequences/symptoms of anxiety: 1. You might find that you’re worrying all the time, perhaps about things that are a regular part of everyday life or about things that aren’t likely to happen – or even worrying about worrying. 2. You might regularly experience unpleasant physical and psychological effects of anxiety and maybe panic attacks. 3. Depending on the kind of problems you experience, you might be given a diagnosis of a specific anxiety disorder. Mentalhealthy.co.uk states: “Generalised Anxiety Disorder affects 2-5% of
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 30
Schizophrenia There are many definitions for schizophrenia and it can affect people in different ways. Some might be unable to tell the difference between reality and fiction; they may perceive something that is unreal as true. Livingwithschizophreniauk.org says: “Schizophrenia is a killer. Sufferers have a 1 in 10 chance of dying by their own hand within ten years of diagnosis.” There is stigma against people with this illness that they will be violent towards others, but they are actually more likely to hurt themselves. It goes on to say that “schizophrenia is a major illness. At any one time about 280,000 people are being treated for schizophrenia by the NHS.”
Summer/ Issue 38
Remember, this is just a statistic and
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disor-
can vary. There are several symptoms:
der (ADHD)
lack of interest in things, feeling discon-
ADHD is a behavioural disorder, and
nected from feelings, difficulty concen-
those with ADHD struggle to concen-
trating, wanting to avoid people, hallu-
trate for long periods of time, can be
cinations, hearing voices, delusions, the
impulsive, and are hyperactive (can’t
need to be protected.
sit still). There is, however, another similar condition called ADD (Attention
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Deficit Disorder). The person will have
(OCD)
similar symptoms, but they won’t show
People with OCD often feel compelled
signs of hyperactivity, so they don’t
to repeat certain tasks or rethink certain have quite so much energy. It usually thoughts. It is not just about liking things
starts at about 18 months old but might
to be tidy and clean. According to
not be diagnosed until later. Symp-
Mind: “unwelcome thoughts, images,
toms usually become more apparent
urges, worries or doubts repeatedly
between the ages of three and seven
appear in your mind. They can make you feel very anxious (although some people describe it as ‘mental discomfort’ rather than anxiety).” ‘Compulsive’ generally means you are constantly
years old. There are several symptoms: • Feeling restless or fidgety • Talking a lot and interrupting other people • Becoming easily distracted • Finding it hard to concentrate • Saying or doing things without thinking
thinking or feeling a certain way and you don’t feel like you can control
These descriptions of different
it. The person might have thoughts
mental health problems are
of being unworthy or overwhelming
ent people experience the same
quite brief, and of course differ-
thoughts of hate or anger towards a
condition in different ways. If
certain subject. It is suggested that
health, or that of someone you
you are worried about your own
around 12 in every 1,000 people in the
know, speak to a doctor or ring a
UK are affected by this condition. This
call on 116 123) or Saneline (0300
equates to almost 750,000 people.
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
helpline, like Samaritans (free to 304 7000).
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Lithium-Rich Foods
Image: goodfood.uktv.co.uk
and Bipolar Disorder
I
have done a little research on lithium
of foods that we commonly eat, rang-
in foods for personal interest and
ing from beef to eggs, soft cheese, red
due to the fact I also have an interest
and white cabbage, noodles, potatoes,
in holistic living so as to attain a better
mushrooms, tomatoes and asparagus.
more effective system to deal with physical mental and emotional health, with
Unlike with a dose of medication, it isn’t
its myriad of ups and downs, lefts and
so easy to get the correct amount for
rights, ins and outs… Anyway, to get to
the individual through food (so don’t
the point, lithium is among one of three
replace your medication without first
medicines given to those of us who are
consulting your doctor), as it depends
unlucky enough to suffer from bipolar
on your personal needs and require-
disorder. Lithium is in a large amount
ments. I found out, to my cost, that
Photo: Anthony
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 32
Summer/ Issue 38
putting too much into your diet can
a week, and it gives me loads more
be just as unhelpful as not putting
energy (although too much makes
enough, so my advice is to take your
me feel hyper or sluggish).
time and go at a pace that allows you a chance to reflect and change
I personally feel that taking as many
quantities to get closer to a real
alternative, natural remedies that
understanding of the results and how
can be used safely is much better
it affects you, so it’s a real reflection of at attaining results than just relying any improvements. To keep your mind
on one. It is, in my mind, very inter-
and body running at optimal levels,
esting to approach this health issue
for a healthier lifestyle, depending on
with the same approach as one of
the severity of depression you suffer
my heroes and icons: Bruce Lee.
on a day-to-day basis, it can be very
He says that there is no help but self
positive to take it to the finite amounts
help; you must tune into your very
in grams or maybe even micrograms
essence; you have to know your
– it can be that subtle. There is a very
weaknesses and strengths; you should
wide range of food sources that are
look for ways to de-stress and express
high in lithium to choose from, making
in order to come to terms with your
dealing with depression a slightly
emotions and gain control. Lithium in
less daunting task for anyone who
foods, alongside medicine, can be a
would like to try an aid and assist any
very powerful answer to a healthier,
medicine you may be on. For exam-
brighter future.
ple, I love asparagus, which is high in lithium and also really good for you in other ways, so I find it easy to put it into my diet a couple of times
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
Richard Honan
(a.k.a. mohecan nohecan raphecant touché punt lsd cara2che dtf d2f kudos puck trigga finga)
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 33
ASSERTIVENESS Tips for Standing Up for Yourself RICHARD HUDSON
T
here seem to be 3 aspects to assertive-
won’t like yourself for it and when thinking
ness. Firstly, standing up for yourself and
about the incident at a later time you’ll think
getting your own rights without denying
‘I’d better make amends and go easy next
others theirs.
time!’ The next time you are passive and too
When you start doing this you are likely to
quiet and, on reflection when thinking about
swing from being aggressive and forceful to
it, such as when lying in bed waiting to go to
being passive, the aim being to be firm and
sleep, you’ll think ‘I’d better toughen up!’
fair and relaxed in the middle with a bit of
Don’t worry you’ll end up in the middle of
gentle oomph.
the road being firm, fair and relaxed, and
It’ll go like this: because it’s new and you
from the small beginnings success will breed
haven’t yet got the hang of it, when you
success and you’ll gain confidence in being
complain or make a point you may be too
assertive. There will be ups and downs like
forceful in a situation with someone. You
travelling over the foothills on the way up a
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 34
Summer/ Issue 38
mountain but you will have the prize of
of being weak or passive. This feeling,
reaching the top in sight.
though, and knowing how this interaction
The ‘broken record’ technique involves
works will enable you to overcome prob-
repeating your request over and over
lems with others that crop up as follows:
again until the other person agrees with
There you are thinking ‘At last I’m the real
it. Expect a reaction within yourself when
me, confident and together, and people
you start asserting yourself. Confidence
will now change and relate to me and
comes from doing those things you think
treat me as such.’ I have to say though,
you cannot do and the price you pay is
that unfortunately you mustn’t expect
doing the difficult thing until it becomes an
the world- other people- to start beating
in-built part of yourself.
a path to your door, accepting the new
Things are more likely to turn out for the
‘you’ and changing the way they interact
best, but not always, when you assert your-
with you. It’ll be, I regret to say, as if you’ve
self and if you’re polite the other person
caused a revolution: relations often get
is also more likely to want to help you. As
worse before they get better.
my Dad said ‘There is a way of complain-
Others who were used to you being weak
ing!’ Often there’s an innocent or valid
will find it difficult to change and accept
reason for the mistake and if you’ve
you as an equal and will try to put you
thrown your weight around or been rude
back down. If the other person realises
rather than firm and polite it is you that
what’s happened the transition into treat-
looks silly.
ing you as you want to be treated and into
Another aspect of assertiveness is the
accepting the new ‘you’ will be smooth. In
reaction you expect from others when you
other cases it can take months or years for
get a great new feeling of ‘togetherness’
you to keep projecting the new ‘you’ and
and confidence within yourself instead
may need someone else like a friend, rela-
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 35
tion, priest or therapist to intercede. Often
partners and friends. Dr Paul Hauck in
the last people to accept the new ‘you’
his book ‘How to Stand up for Yourself’
are the weakest as they’d had a partner
calls this technique ‘The JRC level’ – ‘Just
in crime i.e. a weak ‘you’ to hang on and
Reasonably Content’. You do what you
‘support’ them in their weakness.
want to do up to the JRC level and your
Don’t give up! You’ll have the good feel-
partner goes up to their JRC level.
ing of the new ‘you’ and you’ll taste
Dr. Hauck writes: “In the past we have
success and as I’ve said that’ll breed
been led to believe that it’s wise to please
success and spur you to persevere and
until it hurts and the more you would then
carry on. People only treat you as you
be loved. Wrong! You have the obligation
allow them to treat you, remember. Eye
to please your partner until they are at
contact is useful. ‘I’ messages where you
their JRC level. Then it’s his/her obligation
start off telling someone else how you feel
to bring you to the same point. If you two
by saying ‘I feel very disappointed that...’
follow this idea you’ll actually be pleas-
or ‘I feel angry about that because...’ can
ing each other most of the time and at
smooth the transition in getting others to
approximately the same time.”
accept the new ‘you’. A long walk starts
It’s been his experience that standing up
with the first steps.
for your rights against all odds is one of the
A good psychiatrist said quietly to me
best ways to save most relationships.
some years ago when I mentioned the
‘Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway’ by Susan
problem of getting others used to the new
Jeffers is another book you may find help-
me, ‘it takes a long time doesn’t it!’
ful if you wish to be more assertive and
The third type of assertiveness concerns
self-confident.
getting along with the family, spouses,
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 36
Summer/ Issue 38
Origins ANGELA
Image: By John O’Neill
A
ccording to the Collins English
They used to believe that the world
Dictionary, the ‘origin’ is ‘the
was flat, that is where the expression
beginning of something, first or part’.
“four corners of the world” comes
I like to hear about how things origi-
from. Jamaica is an island in the Carib-
nated. Everything has an origin and so
bean, ‘The Paradise Island’, and was
do you! From where we come from, to
formed from a volcano erupting under
where some expressions come from.
the water, producing a lot of lava. If it
This article is all about origins. It was an
was not for that volcano, I wouldn’t be
original idea!
here; I am a black woman of Jamai-
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 37
can origin, a little bit mixed.
He liked it so much that when he
Reggae music originally came from
went back to America he called the
Jamaica. The Wailers is a band
company AVON – “Ding dong, Avon
started by Bob Marley. Peter Tosh,
calling”!
Bunny Wailer, and Dennis Brown are
There was a nice Norwegian band
all famous reggae singers. The term
called A-ha, popular in the 1980s. One
reggae denotes a particular music style
day before they went to perform on
that originated following on from the
Top of the Pops, the lead singer, Morton
development of ska and rocksteady.
Harket, ripped his jeans on a piece of
Calypso music comes from Trinidad and
equipment called an amp. He did not
they also popularised the tradition of
have anything else to wear, so he had
the carnival. I’ve noticed that people
to wear them. This is how many believe
from Trinidad are always smiling. One
the fashion of ripped jeans started.
Trinidadian lady said to me: “You can’t afford to let anything get you down”. I used to work for Avon and was interested to hear how it got its name. There was a man in America called Mr O’Connell who used to sell books on a door-to-door basis. If a customer bought a book, he would give them a small bottle of perfume to say thank you, but the customers were more interested in the perfume than the books.
In America, Bill Bowerman wrote a book
So he went into full production of four
called ‘Jogging’ in 1967. This form of
perfumes. Then he came to England
exercise became very popular; it was
to visit a friend in Stratford-upon-Avon.
a good way of keeping fit and losing
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Summer/ Issue 38
weight. He also started a fashion trend,
is always changing. I will never forget
desiging the first Nike running shoes;
flared jeans. The fabric originated from
everybody has got a pair of jogging
France in a city called Nîmes. ‘De’ is the
bottoms and trainers, even if you don’t
French for ‘of’, i.e. De Nîmes, which is
go jogging.
how we have the word ‘denim’.
In business, it is very common for people
I was told that a long time ago, when
to copy what you are doing, particularly
they first built large psychiatric hospi-
if it is a success. Some people will sneakily
tals, there used to be orchards where
try to find out what you are doing. When
the patients worked, for example pick-
somebody was trying to poke their nose
ing fruit, which would be sold in local
into your company, you would say “mind
markets to pay for the cost of their treat-
your own business”. Now this expression
ment. The fruit would be sold to the local
applies to all contexts.
market, so apparently they used to say it
‘Hoover’ was one of the earliest vacuum
came from the ‘funny farm’.
cleaning companies, so many people
The wheel is one of the earliest inven-
used to say, “I’m hoovering the carpet”;
tions: ‘Wheels are the archetype of a
it became a synonym with ‘vacuum
primitive, caveman-level technology. But
cleaner’. The first upright vacuum
in fact they’re so ingenious that is took
cleaner was invented by James Murray
until 3500BC for someone to invent them’
Spanglerin in June 1908, who was a
(Live Science).
department store janitor (cleaner) in
Everything has an origin, from the pen I
Ohio, because he thought his carpet
used to write this article, to the computer
sweeper was making his asthma worse.
I used to type it, and the chair you are
His company later became the Hoover
sitting on to read this! I hope you have
Suction Sweeper Company.
learnt something new and might go
Practically everyone wears denim; it is
away to research more origins of things
a very durable material and the style
that interest you.
EQUILIBRIUM 21
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 39
rt CLARRY
John
John
Mehmet Atma
Neil Griffin
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 40
Summer/ Issue 38
t
ART GROUP
Mehmet Atma John
Gary
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 41
Photo: Anthony
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 42
Summer/ Issue 38
Images: www.bbc.co.uk/news/healtha
Virtual Reality & Paranoid Delusions NIGEL PRESTATYN
NEW RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THE USE OF VIRTUAL REALITY SOFTWARE HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN ALLEVIATING THE STRESS OF PARANOID DELUSIONS
I
must confess, I’ve never suffered
connected with symptoms patients
from paranoid delusions (at least
experienced whilst on the Under-
not that I was aware of!), but many
ground Tube. Perhaps a little virtual
years ago, in my mid 20s I often
reality Tube exposure would have
experienced an absolute horror of
helped alleviate my own experiences
being on London’s Underground
of panic attacks back in the day. I
Tubes. I would experience severe
recently gave a public talk, my very
panic attacks on the underground
first, to around 80 people, and natu-
- particularly in the rush hour (no
rally I was petrified. In trying to find
surprise there). So this research struck
a coping mechanism for this stress, I
me as interesting, because test were
came across virtual reality software,
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 43
Toby experiences the VR with the help of researchers at Oxford University
which was being used to reduce
study’s 30 patients to experience this
stress by exposing the wearer to large
situation, whilst simultaneously realising
‘virtual’ crowds whilst speaking.
they were still safe.
Research at Oxford University, funded
The software included the use of
by the Medical Research Council,
avatars (virtual characters), such that
found that patients who suffered
when the patient entered into the virtual
persecutory delusions were asked to
world, they were exposed to a simula-
place the virtual software mask on
tion which triggered their paranoia. But
and enter into a computer-generated
the key aspect being that they learnt
Underground train and a lift. The
that there was nothing to actually fear.
virtual reality simulations allowed the
The study was led by Prof. Daniel Free-
Photo: Anthony
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 44
Summer/ Issue 38
man, a clinical psychologist at Oxford
The study was small and the patients
University’s Department of Psychia-
had just one half-hour session of virtual
try. He told the BBC: “At the heart of
reality with no long-term follow-up.
paranoia is the unfounded belief that
However, Prof Freeman told the BBC
people are under threat. With virtual
that the results were “exceptionally
reality we can help the person to
good”, adding, “I think this a glimpse
re-learn that they are safe, and when
into the future of mental healthcare.
they do that, the paranoia melts away. There is a revolution underway in virtual This group, who fully tested out their
reality with many headsets becoming
fears, showed the biggest reduction in
available.”
their paranoid delusions. More than half
Brian Dow, at the charity Rethink
of them no longer had severe paranoia
Mental Illness, said: “It’s exciting to
at the end of the testing day.”
see cutting-edge technology used innovatively to treat what can be an extremely frightening and disruptive symptom for some people experiencing mental illness.” Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news/healtha
Images: www.bbc.co.uk/news/healtha
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