Equilibrium autumn issue 54

Page 1

MAGAZINE FOR WELLBEING

AUTUMN Issue 54

2014

AUTUMN

ISSUE 54

>> Wellbeing News Roundup >> Race & Mental Illness >> Technology & Disability >> Art, News & Reviews


Equilibrium Patron Dr Liz Miller Mind Champion 2008

Front cover: Kate Massey-Chase

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

Design: www.parkegraphics.co.uk

EQUILIBRIUM 2


editorial Hoping you’re all keepng warm and that you enjoy our Autumn issue of Equilibrium. Packed full of the usual news, reviews and opinion pieces, we’d again like to thank our guest contributors and artists - do keep sending us your fantastic work! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue, so go ahead and tweet us at @teamequilibrium. And if you’d like to join the team, contribute an article or picture, or find out more, please do get in touch via equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk. 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: Angela, Dev, Ian, Alan, Nigel, Paul and Richard. Graphic design: Anthony Parké.

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.

EQUILIBRIUM

3


Wellbeing News Round Up Five steps for a high well-being society

every 40 seconds, according to a significant

Technology and disability

A new report has been published by the

report by the World Health Organization.

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Wellbe-

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29060238

ing Economics, which is based on a nine-

This report has deemed suicide a ‘major

month inquiry exploring well-being and

public health problem that was too often

makes five key recommendations for build-

shrouded in taboo’. The report is based on

ing a ‘high well-being society’. These are:

10 years of research and data on suicide from around the world, and has concluded:

1). Focus on stable jobs, not growth. 2). Promote shorter, more flexible working hours. 3). More green spaces in our cities 4). Mindfulness training for doctors and teachers. 5). Invest in arts and culture.

• Around 800,000 people kill themselves

every year. • It was the second leading cause of

death in young people, aged 15 to 29. • Those over 70 were the most likely to

take their own lives. • Three-quarters of these deaths were in

The report calls for all political parties to set out in their manifestos their strategy for building a high well-being society, and

low and middle income countries. • In richer countries, three times as many

men as women die by suicide

how they are going to embed well-being into the policy process if they are elected.

The economic crisis in Europe and North

The New Economics Foundation suggests

America led to more than 10,000 extra

‘you write to your MP asking them for their

suicides, according to figures from UK

party’s take on the report’ and that we try

researchers

and ‘make the next parliament the one

(www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27796628)

where well-being takes its rightful place as a central goal of government policy’.

The study by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical

Somebody dies by taking their own life

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 4

Medicine analysed data from 24 EU coun-

Summer/ Issue 38


tries, the US and Canada, and suggest

Thomas’ Charity. The findings will then be

that there’s a lot of good evidence show-

shared with medical and arts educational-

ing recessions lead to rising suicides. They

ists, policymakers and participatory artists

have, however, discovered that this isn’t

across the UK, with the aim of establishing

the case everywhere and is significantly

arts-based learning as a key methodology

influenced by different country’s political

in the training of healthcare professionals.

policies. Unsurprisingly, countries such as Austria, Sweden and Finland, who invest in

New report by the Mental Health Network:

schemes that help people return to work

‘The future’s digital: mental health and

(such as training, advice and subsidised

technology’

wages) and support and protect vulner-

This report argues that compared to many

able groups are not facing this dire influx

other service sectors, mental health serv-

of suicides. Clearly, in fraught economic

ices – and the NHS more broadly – are

times, we need to take even greater steps

behind the curve with regard to using new

to support the most desperate.

technologies. The report argues that we need to make more use of digital technol-

Arts to be further integrated into medi-

ogy and online resources to improve over-

cal training (www.artsprofessional.co.uk/

all public mental health. Everyone should

profile/liz-hill. Liz Hill, Arts Professional)

be able to access reliable information

A new project has been funded where

about mental health and wellbeing online

healthcare workers will receive arts-based

and to access help and advice anony-

training, in an attempt to reduce human

mously in a variety of ways (live chat,

error in medical interventions and improve

email, text and phone). The scope for how

patient safety and wellbeing. This initiative

technology aids the way we design and

is part of a three-year research and devel-

deliver NHS mental health services is huge,

opment partnership programme and will

giving more efficiency and choice and

be delivered for medical professionals at

empowering individuals to take charge of

King’s Health Partners in London, supported

their own recovery.

by a £580k grant from the Guy’s and St

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM 25 EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 5


Benefits & tips of Regular Eating

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 6

Summer/ Issue 38


Rebecca Bennett Regular eating is eating your meals and

hours, therefore it is important to refuel

snacks regularly throughout the day,

with a good breakfast that will raise your

about every 4-5 hours. This is in order to

energy levels and mood. Even if you

improve mood and concentration as

don’t feel particularly hungry even a

well reducing the physiological impact

small amount of a breakfast will prevent

of hunger which will lead to less hunger

you from getting hungrier later in the

binges as well as having more energy

day. It will also help to regulate your

in order to be physically active. In the

hunger/fullness signals throughout the

long-term regular eating will help an

day back to normal.

individual to lose weight, and help lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

If you can plan what you are to eat for meals and snacks the night before can

Aim to include a starchy food at

be a good way of reminding yourself to

every mealtime. It is these foods that

eat at regular intervals. It can also be

provide a steady flow of energy which

useful to take a snack with you when

reduces physical hunger. Inadequate

you are out during the day.

starchy foods have also been linked with increased anger, depression and

Make sure you are also drinking enough

tension. It is best if you can to choose

fluids during the day, in particular water

slow energy releasing starchy foods e.g.

and sugar free fluids. Lack of fluid

wholegrain cereals, basmati rice, sweet

affects your concentration, memory,

potatoes , oats and rye or wholegrain

and well-being both physically and

bread.

mentally.

It is important also to always eat break-

For further nutrition links see:

fast. When you wake up after a night’s

www.mind.org.uk

sleep your blood sugar will be low

www.nutrition.org.uk

because you haven’t eaten for many

www.bda.uk.com

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 7


EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 8

Summer/ Issue 38


Book Review

Gifted Hands by Ben Carson Gifted Hands by Ben Carson is an

reading the book made me think

inspirational and moving book;

about what gets me through not so

although I found it a bit predict-

good days.

able in places it is still an enjoyable book to read. The person who

For me this book is worth reading

inspired me most in the book is

because it made me both smile

Ben’s mother; she is the reason why

and sad in places. I really wanted

I read this book.

Ben to succeed and followed his journey of highs and lows.

Sonya Carson raised her sons Ben

Ben Carson was always going to

and Curtis to believe that anything

succeed there’s no doubt about

is possible. She is the one who

that.

taught them that hard work would get them what they wanted and

Gifted Hands is a short book and I

that they weren’t just entitled. Ben’s

read it over three days. This book

determination and courage to

made me think differently about

become a surgeon when the odds

things for a while; I still read Ben

are stacked against him is admirable.

Carson’s inspirational quotes when I need to.

Ben has a strong Christian belief, which helped him through his dark-

Overall a good book.

est days. I’m not religious however Sharon

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 9


Race & Mental Illness for reasons like racism, poverty, unemployment, unstable family units, prison, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and bereavement. Mental breakdown, also know as nervous breakdown, is a colloquial term for an acute, time-limited psychiatric disorder that manifests itself primarily as severe stress-induced depression, anxiety or disassociation in a previously functioning individual. Mental illness was probably the first taboo, so why is there still stigma around

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995)

it? Will it ever go away? People are

makes it unlawful to discriminate against

discriminated against for lots of reasons,

employees with a disability. Those with

including their race and sex, so what is it

a mental illness that has a substantial,

like to be a black, female, mental

adverse and long-term (over 12 months)

health service user, like me?

effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities are considered

In many urban areas, Black and Minority

to have a disability under the Act. It is

Ethnic communities are significantly

intended to offer protection but attitu-

over-represented in the poorest wards,

dinal changes towards disability and

notably people of African, Caribbean,

mental health lag behind legislation.

Bangladeshi and Arab origin. Research

Despite this, a report of Mental Health

suggests that both the experience of

and Social Exclusion, published by the

racial harassment and perceptions of

Social Exclusion Unit in 2004, showed

racial discrimination contribute to health

that amongst those with long-term

outcomes (Chakrborty & McKenzie

mental health problems, only 24% were

2002). There are proportionally more

employed.

black people in the mental health system than white people. This maybe

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 8

When people using mental health serv-

Summer/ Issue 38


Angela

ices are asked about the major issues

unwell under the psychological stresses

that concern them in their daily lives,

of imprisonment. There are a dispropor-

personal finances are consistently

tionate number of people from ethnic

identified as a major source of diffi-

minorities in prisons in this country; in

culty and distress. 1 in 3 people with

2010, the ethnic minority prison popu-

a serious mental health condition is

lation (of which the highest proportion

thought to be in debt. Concerns and

is black) had doubled in a decade

anxieties regarding finance constitute a

(‘More black people jailed in England

significant stressor (In the red: debt and

and Wales, The Guardian, 10 Oct 2010).

mental health, Mind, 2010). I am a black Caribbean women born A study by the South London and

in the UK. The family unit is often very

Maudsley Trust found that people diag-

unstable in the Caribbean commu-

nosed with serious mental illness had

nity. Unfortunately there are too many

significantly reduced life expectancy

one parent families. The National Child

(8.0 to 14.6 life years for men and 9.8

Development Study (which has tracked

to 17.5 life years for women). Highest

around 17,000 people born in Brit-

reductions were found for men with

ain during one week in 1958 over the

schizophrenia (14.6 years lost) and

course of their lives) has recently shown

women with schizoaffective disorders

that greater social acceptance of

(17.5 years lost). Living with schizo-

divorce has not reduced its impact on

phrenia and bipolar disorder increases

children. When outcomes for this group

the risk of certain physical diseases

were compared with children born in

(cardiovascular and chronic respiratory

1970, children from both cohorts whose

disease, diabetes, hepatitis C, HIV).

parents split up are ‘equally likely to end up without qualifications, claiming

According to the Mental Health Foun-

benefits and suffering depression’ (Elliot

dation, only 1 in 10 prisoners does not

J Vaitilingham, Now we are 50: Key

have a mental health problem, count-

findings from Child Development Study,

ing substance abusers (and those with

Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Institute

dual diagnosis), those with a primary

of London, 2008)

mental illness and others who become

cont.

EQUILIBRIUM 9


cont.

My story

Margate seaside resort. We had lovely

During my time as a service-user, I have

Caribbean food and really fantastic

noticed that there are a lot of social

weather. I am glad that I went because I

workers and nurses who are from the

didn’t have anyone else to go to the

Caribbean and Africa. I found this useful

seaside with.

as a black Caribbean woman. The black staff would always make sure that I

Lambo Day Centre

looked after my appearance; they would

I was pleased to see Lynton Bedford’s

tell me, for example, when I needed

recent letter in the Islington Tribune, as

to go to the hair salon, tell me to wear

she is just saying what everyone in the

smart clothes and shoes, and would

black community is thinking: race is at

check my hair and skin to make sure I was

the heart of the decision about Lambo

looking after it properly and it

Day Centre. The Afro-Caribbean Day

wasn’t too dry. However, I have not seen a

Centre at Despard Road in Archway was

lot of black doctors in the mental

created to compensate for the

health services (only 2 doctors from

disproportionate number of black people

Africa).

locked up in psychiatric wards. Moving all the users from two other centres

What I found strange the first time I was

into what is currently an all black

admitted to hospital was that they

centre will mean that Despard Road will

said they had to medicate me because I

no longer be a black service.

was smiling all the time and over happy. This sounds like they would prefer

I used to attend Lambo Day Centre. All the

me to be some kind of zombie

staff are black. We get African and

(smile and the world smiles with you?!).

Caribbean food, such as rice and peas

One of the social workers set up a

and chicken, and curries. We have

support group for black women in the

had a speaker in talking about sickle cell,

mental health system. We used to meet

which is a blood disorder that

up every week at St Anne’s Hospital and

affects the black community. The first

talk about our experiences. I will

group I attended there was a music

never forget the session when we

group. We made our own songs, which

discussed being manic, because it was so

was really good. This group had even

funny. One Saturday, they took us to

produced its own CD. Other activities

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 10

Summer/ Issue 38


include sewing, going to the gym,

A lot of doctors in mental health services

cinema trips, dinner and dancing, going

are white and middle class, and do not

to the West End for Christmas,

understand our culture which can lead to

holidays in Centre Parks, Belgium and

misdiagnosis. We all need to know how

France, fire safety talks by the local fire

to handle stress and be happy.

brigade, a restaurant manager talking about healthy eating – the list is endless!

For further information, please see: Goldberg RW, Seth P; Hepatitis C serv-

We celebrated Windrush in 1998, and

ices and individuals with serious mental

have also attended black theatre

illness. Community Ment Health J. 2008

productions and black concerts. We

Oct;44(5):381-4. Epub 2008 May 9.

went to a cooking show which featured

Sajatovic M, Dawson NV, Perzynski AT,

Ainsley Harriet, a black celebrity chef. He

et al; Best practices: optimizing care for

came to talk to us and took pictures.

people with serious mental illness and

We have visited African restaurants and

Psychiatr Serv. 2011 Sep;62(9):1001-3.

took part in an exercise class led by a trained black service user. We also

If you’re in distress or need immedi-

went to African Village and have had

ate help, there are many services and

lots of parties (any excuse for a party!).

organisations that you can talk to, includ-

The anthem for the Day Centre was

ing The Samaritans, who offer emotional

‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers.

support 24 hours a day. Get in touch with them on 08457 90 90 90 (UK)/1850 60

Conclusion

90 90 (Republic of Ireland) or email jo@

The Minister for Mental Health, Norman

samaritans.org.

Lamb, says he is supporting mental health is Black Britain and the Mental

The Black and Minority Ethnic Mental

Health Foundation is a charity involved

Health Network campaign is gaining

in research, who hopefully can help us

momentum. For further information, call

understand some of the issues better.

0208 215 2424, or visit

If we can’t get rid of the taboo about

www.diverseminds.org.uk

n

mental illness, let’s get rid of mental illness (prevention is better than cure)!

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 11


Technology and disability Dev

Technology now plays a very important role in

climb stairs. This is achieved by having three

everybody’s lives, whether that’s watching TV,

sets of wheels on either side of the chair, rather

using mobile phones or the internet, or even

than just one on each side. When the first pair

traffic light signals. In fact we are inundated

of wheels are placed on the stair and locked,

with technology. If you walk down the road

the wheel rotates forward for the second chair

you will see so many examples. But technol-

to reach the next step whilst lifting the chair.

ogy can play an important role in supporting

When not climbing up the stairs it is used as a

our physical bodies as well. Big strides have

normal wheelchair.

been made in helping people with physical problems, regardless of which part of the

The DinaVox EyeMax system was created to

body, through technology. These technologies

assist people with severe paralysis or strokes

are making life easier for people with various

to communicate with their eyes, by an eye

disabilities, including severely disabled people.

recognition system. Basically, the eye points

A famous example is Steven Hawking, who

to a letter on an onscreen keyboard allow-

use modern technology both to communicate

ing them to enter words and phrases; these

and move around. In fact, Robin Christopher-

are then translated into spoken text via the

son from AbilityNet, a British organisation that

device’s text-to-speech mechanism. It also

promotes accessibility in technology, says:

has predefined words that make it easier for

‘One of the beauties of mainstream devices

them to speak. You might have seen this being

is that they have hundreds of peripherals that

used by Steven Hawking.

you can just add on’. Another interesting invention is the Kapten PLUS These types of technology can vary widely,

Personal Navigation Device for blind people.

such as the ibot 360, a wheel chair that can

This helps guide visually impaired people to

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 12

Summer/ Issue 38


get to their destination using voice activated

a digital signal and transmitted to the implant

and GPS systems. It also tells you where you

itself. Once received by the implant, the

are, similar to a Sat Nav in your car. But this is

device directly stimulates the auditory nerve,

currently only available in the US and the only

providing an entirely new means of auditory

flaw with this device is that it is not found in any

sensory input.

other language. However, saying this, there are several probAn engineer, Dr David Hong, has created

lems with these new technologies. For exam-

a car that can be driven by a blind or visu-

ple, the accessibility of these products. Take,

ally impaired person. It uses sensors on the

for example, the ibot 360 wheel chair. Would

person’s gloves and on the seat allowing the

it be able to handle steep narrow stairs, stair

person to independently drive a car. It also has

wells or even bumpy terrain? More impor-

sensors to tell you when there is an obstacle in

tantly, would people who are on low wages

your way. At first view, it seems that it would be

or people from poor countries be able to get

impossible, but when seeing it actually work it

this or any of the other technologies described

shows what can be done with the help of tech-

above? Also some of these inventions are still

nology.

prototypes, such as the cart for the blind. Most of these technologies still need to be tested

A small but highly useful technological inven-

at very, very basic level or, as engineers say,

tion is the Cochlear Implant, a device that

to try a ‘viability test’. But with the advancing

allows severely deaf people to hear sound.

technology more technologies will be able to

First it picks up sounds via a microphone; this

assist people with disability – as long as they

then carries the signal to a small computer

can get access to the technology.

n

worn behind the ear, where it is transferred to

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM 25 EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 13


Artwork by Denica Charlery

EQUILIBRIUM

Summer/ Issue 38


for; she has even gone as far as to not fully colour some of her designs, which reminds me of the cartoon character Rhubarb and Custard (that might jog some memories for a few people, and it might give an idea of my age to you, the reader!). Denica has also done a cartoon style face with a crown that I’m assuming is a Art Review: I was recently asked to

king. In another picture I see thought

be an art critic; I found myself jump-

bubbles, like the type you get in

ing for joy because I love creativ-

cartoon magazines, starting small and

ity, whether it’s painting, drawing,

getting bigger. Oval shapes, flow-

colouring or writing, I find myself very

ers, tear drops, stained glass window

much at home; the healing power it

arches, churches, trees, clouds,

produces makes me ecstatic.

diamonds, jars and cups…. She has a very beautiful imagination. I would

I am looking at Denica Charlery’s

say the sky is the limit and as the old

art work; it is very bold, bright and

saying goes ‘if you aim for the stars,

colourful. She loves shapes, from

you land on Mars’. I would love to see

circles to crosses and even the Jewish

her go on to do more creative work

star (which represents male and

and delve deeper into her pool of

female) and a Celtic-looking cross.

creativity.

No two pages of her art are the same, all as individual as thumbprints. Black

Richard Honan (a.k.a. mohecan,

snakes, zigzags – her imagination is

raphecan, touché, punt, lsd, kudos,

as wide and varied as one could ask

cara2che)

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM


Hospitals are Turning to Art to Reduce Stress As an artist I’m always interested in

studies showing a direct link between

new and innovative venues to hang

the content of images and the brain’s

art. However my previous opinion of

reaction to pain, stress, and anxiety,

hanging art in hospitals had always

hospitals are choosing artworks based

been that it was merely a form of

on the evidence and giving it a higher

distracting decoration. Little did I

priority than merely decoration for

know…

sterile rooms and corridors.

Certainly the health benefits associated with the creation of art is well documented. Art therapy classes run the length and breadth of the country. But the health benefits received from viewing art, are less widely known. Lisa Harris, a nephrologist and chief executive of Eskenazi Health says, “These [artworks] are not just accoutrements or aesthetics anymore.” With a $1.5 million budget from donors, the health system commissioned 19 artists to create original works to support

artwork: Anthony J. Parke

“the sense of optimism, vitality and energy” for the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital . Researchers are learning more about

the precise ways paintings and other

I always think of art in hospitals

works of art can help patients and

as running along corridors and

families in the healing process. With

entrances, and of course patients

Photo: Anthony

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 16

Summer/ Issue 38


Nigel Prestatyn

do indeed walk along corridors and

how awesome it is to be able to have

the like, and so benefit can certainly

something like that to take your mind of

be gleaned – at least for the physi-

everything you are going through,” says

cally able. But I wonder how much art

Allison.

is shown in the wards themselves, for

certainly this is where patients might

Hearing Alison’s story made me think.

best benefit from them. It’s one thing to

I have no figures that suggest this, but

hobble past an artwork in a corridor,

I suspect there is far less artwork in the

perhaps another thing altogether to lay

actual wards themselves, than there is

in one’s hospital bed and contemplate

in hospital walk ways and the like. And

the work. I know which I’d prefer, if I

I would imagine that is, in part at least,

were unfortunate enough to be in that

perhaps a logistical problem. I’m think-

position. And which I’d likely benefit

ing of the walls behind ward beds and

more from.

surrounding areas filled with medical

apparatus of one sort or another. But

Heather Kreinbrink says when her

imagine, if you will, images of artworks

daughter Allison had a stroke at age

projected onto ward ceilings, constantly

12 in 2010 and was hospitalized for a

changing images of art work; in this

week, she and her husband, Rod, found

scenario Alison wouldn’t have wait to

looking at the installation outside the

recover before she could enjoy and

children’s wing provided a sense of

benefit from the artwork as her parents

calm amid their fear and exhaustion. “It

did; she would have benefited from it

ended up being something we would

when she needed it most.

go to every day for peace and to come to terms with what was happening,” she says. When Allison was discharged,

http://www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk

her parents brought her to see it. “It

http://online.wsj.com/articles/more-hospitals-use-the-

made me think as I saw other kids being

healing-powers-of-public-art-1408404629

pushed in wheelchairs by their parents,

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 17


Psychology

Watching Happy TV

If you like to watch TV you may find

watches around 4 hours of TV each

some recent research in Psychologies

day. The collective total is around 455

Magazine interesting. The University

million hours per year.

of Maryland article called “The Mind Experiment” reported that people who

Using programmes as a topic for

watched TV for 18.9 hours per week

discussion, watching comedy or music

were happier than those who aver-

programmes tend to make people

aged 25 hours per week.

happier than people who allow the TV to dictate what they watch.

The unhappy viewers were not as satisfied “with their financial situation”,

This research was in an article by

“felt less safe, trusted others less” and

Martha Roberts, an award winning UK

thought they were less active socially

health writer and mental health blog-

than their peers, who were more happy

ger at mentalhealthwise.com

after viewing TV less. The average Brit

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 18

Summer/ Issue 38


Marco Lanzarote

Brain Health A new word in my vocabulary is “micro-

develop potential gut-based treatments

biome” and I came across it as it relates

for “neuropsychiatric disorders”.

to bacteria in the human gut which scientists are now studying. It actually refers

I understand that a healthy gut is impor-

to “bacteria living in the gastro-intestinal

tant to overall health and I want to see if

tract” and plays “a complex and critical

they can find new treatments for depres-

role in the health of its host”.

sion or possibly even other psychiatric disorders now that we have reached the

The studies done so far are probably

stage where resistant 20th century antibi-

common knowledge but now scientists

otics etc. are causing scientists to re-ex-

are interested in understanding not just

amine our relationship with bacteria in the

how the microbiome affects the organs of

21st century.

the body but also how it affects the brain, See: The Conversation.com/uk

www.futuremorph.org

in order to

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 19


Tea: The Iron Killer?

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 20

Summer/ Issue 38


Nigel Prestatyn

My partner has forever been telling me

food would be beneficial for people in

not to drink tea after my meals, that I

this category.

should drink coffee instead if I want a beverage. Well, coffee aside, what is the

So a little bit of iron lost via absorption

harm of drinking tea? I often stop taking

through tea is no big deal. I guess. But

these things without necessarily under-

holds on don’t I always complaining

standing them. Often relying on my

of feeling tired, don’t I complain of not

partner’s own brilliant insights into these

having enough energy to complete all

matters. But this time I thought I would

the tasks I have in the day? Can I actu-

check, to see if her suggestion, like tea,

ally afford to lose any iron? The answer is

held water (pun intended).

no. why bother with tea when I can have coffee.

I does seem that drinking tea after a meal does in fact stop iron entering your

Let’s be clear, the iron absorbed from

body. So what’s specific about tea, and

your food is of a certain type. Drink-

not say coffee. Is it okay to drink coffee?

ing tea with red meats, poultry or fish

Well Tea contains tannic acid chemi-

does not significantly decrease the

cals which bind to the iron in food and

amount of iron your body receives.

absorb it.

These animal products contain the heme form of iron, which is easily absorbed by

Well surely I can spare a little iron? I’m

your body. In contrast, the non-heme

not anemic or in any category that

iron in plant foods is more difficult for

would require me to maintain levels of

your body to use and more likely to be

iron. Of course this is very much an issue

inhibited by black tea.

which should be of concern to women of a certain age. When that ‘time of the

So look after to your vegetables, treat

month’ comes around, there is very

them with respect, and absorb all their

much a drop in iron levels due to the

beneficial irons!

loss of blood, and so avoiding tea after

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 21


Transforming mental health: A plan of action for London A new report on mental health from the Kings Fund

http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/field/ field_publication_file/transforming-mentalhealth-london-kingsfund-sep2014.pdf

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 22

Summer/ Issue 38


Kate Massey-Chase

The Kings Fund have recently

• People with mental health problems

published a report called ‘Transform-

are at a higher risk of developing

ing mental health: A plan of action

significant physical health problems,

for London’ (Gilbert, Edwards, Murray,

including preventable conditions

Sept. 2014), which describes a vision

such as diabetes and heart disease.

for the future of mental health provision in London. Tackling the costs

• People with serious mental health

of mental illness (almost £7.5 billion

problems die 20 years younger (on

a year in London alone) has been

average) that the general popula-

identified as a priority by the London

tion.

Health Board, and the report details worrying statistics regarding the

• Overall, the health, economic and

prevalence of mental illness: it is the

social impacts of mental illness result

single largest cause of disability in

in costs to the capital of an esti-

the UK (contributing up to 22.8% of

mated £26 billion each year (Greater

the total burden, compared to 15.9%

London Authority 2014)

for cancer and 16.2% for cardiovascular disease, according to the World

• There are three important factors

Health Organisation in 2008). It also

effecting London’s mental health

notes that the incidence of mental

needs which need to be considered:

illness varies considerably between

poverty, ethnic diversity and transi-

London boroughs, with some mental

ence (people moving in and out and

illness twice as common in deprived

between boroughs)

parts of London compared with the least deprived areas (People’s Inquiry into London’s NHS 2014). Other key findings include:

www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium

EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 23


image: www.deepermind.com

what can art make us feel?

EQUILIBRIUM 24


Nigel Prestatyn

What can art make us feel?

to my work, but in a very general way.

I was pondering over this question

But the language we most commonly

recently because I began to wonder

use as artists is often a language

what do I want people to feel about my

designed to express the work’s meaning.

art!

So we possess a language to convey the conceptual underpinnings of the work.

To answer it I had to put myself in the

This in turn will determine to a degree

position of a viewer of my art, rather than

people’s responses, but perhaps intel-

a creator. Of course one would think it

lectual responses, rather than emotional

wholly natural for an artist to begin by

responses. But it is emotional responses

thinking how an idea for a work may

that I’m interested in.

affect people, but often times, it can be the other way round. You have an idea

So the question is not what people think

for a work, you create it, and then, if at

(though naturally this is of course very

all, you may consider how this work may

important), but more a question of what

affect people.

do people feel about my work: or more specifically what do I want people to

It is not entirely impossible for some

feel about my work?

artists to not care a jot about how their art affects people. To give any consid-

Well when I first considered this question

eration at any point throughout its crea-

I have to confess I didn’t feel I had the

tion as to how the work may emotionally

necessary language to answer this question.

affect people. So what can we feel about works of art? Now this could be my naïve take on

There are of course as many answers

things. It could be that I’m basing this on

as there are spectators. A Rothko can

my own shortcomings. I’ve often consid-

convey a religious quietitude for some,

ered how people might emotionally react

whereas for others it may convey a cont.

EQUILIBRIUM 25


sense of melancholia, and for others

others would too. Is it not too far fetched

something different entirely.

to hope that one would have a similar emotional response to a rising sun as

So there is no definitive answer of how a

they would a painted image of figs? Is

specific work of art can affect people.

this expecting too much?

But in a hypothetical world, how would I like my work to effect people on an

But what do we feel in the face of great

emotional level?

beauty? We feel a sense of awe, wonderment, perhaps even a tingle of excite-

As a hyperrealist I create images of

ment? When I look out of my flat window

everyday objects. How we respond to

and see a striking skyline, there is quiet-

these everyday objects in actual daily

ness, a sense of humility in the face of

life, and how we respond to them in a

such monumental natural beauty. But is it

painting, are different. We don’t regard

hard to make this kind of emotional tran-

several figs in a bowl on our tables as a

sition for art? When we see a butterfly or

work of art (so no emotional aesthetic

a beautiful flower, we are fascinated by

response), yet when this image is trans-

its formal properties. These properties in

ferred to a canvas it can convey an

turn can make us feel a certain way.

emotional response (though there are likely many who argue otherwise).

Unfortunately I don’t have the perfect answer as to what emotional response

As a hyperrealist I’m obsessed with

I would like from viewers of my work. I

detail, and for many their responses can

think I would simply ask that they feel the

often begin with the technical matters of

beauty of these objects. For it is a beauty

a painting. But in what way can a paint-

heightened, exaggerated, a ‘hyper’ real

ing of several figs in a glass bowl move

beauty. There will always be a sense of

people on an emotional level.

wonderment at the minutiae of the natural world, as well as the monumental,

I think the emotional response would

and with both perhaps a feeling of awe,

need to involve a response to beauty.

however mild or intense.

For these objects are beautiful - or at least that is how I see them. Hopefully

EQUILIBRIUM 26

n


Equilibrium at Clarendon Recovery College Paul Blackman Clarendon Recovery College is a place where I come to the magazine group, Equilibrium. I come on a Friday. It starts at 2.30pm. I come here and I write about many different topics. I also go into the library and read many different things. I have been coming for about three weeks. I hope that I will gain good skills so I can move on and get a job or go and study until I get one. Maybe by studying I will get a certificate. I may write something they will put in their magazine, called Equilibrium*. I enjoy writing because I like to write about different things, such as articles, books, maybe poems. I started writing a couple of years back, first at 684, then Barnet College, then Crisis, then Alexandra Palace, then Mind. Now I write at the Clarendon Centre. I am also writing a book about the life of King Henry VIII. I am learning to write at City Lit. I enjoy writing. I wish one day I could become a good writer, perhaps writing books or for the newspaper.

* Paul is very pleased we have!

EQUILIBRIUM 27



Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.