Blackbright News - Did you know that everyone's mentally ill?

Blackbright_JANUARY 2013v3_Copy of October 2012 12/6/2012 10:06 PM Page 1

BlaCK - B R I g h t A V oice f or the Disadv anta ged Stigm atise d & S te re otype d Issue 31

What do JK Rowling & S e re n a W i l l i a m s have in common?

Up Close & Personal - Barry Biggs

D o Yo u K n o w E v e r y o n e Might be Mentally Ill?

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As a way of enabling individuals/businesses to support Blackbright News, whilst building up their business/personal profile, we are selling advertising space for products and services in our publication at competitive rates and, in return - the paid advert will be accompanied by a matched size press release or feature on their product, e.g. full page advert would receive a full page feature.

Black-Bright News The Voice of the Disadvantaged Stereoptyped & Stigmatised Founder/Managing Editor: Myrna Loy

Blackbright News accepts that Social Services and the Metropolitan Police can redress certain injustices; however, we can provide a safe haven for the aggrieved voice.

Individuals who have been adversely impacted by stigma in ANY form, can access Blackbright’s Counselling Service for a reduced fee, and through its ‘Dare Me to Know’ (DMK) Column, can receive free advice, practical support and useful referrals from Blackbright’s ‘Agony Mate’. We also provide Mentoring Programmes and Motivational Talks to anyone impacted by stigma.

Effective 1 January 2013, Blackbright News will be the voice for people who have felt stigmatised or stereotyped because of race, culture, religion, homelessness, immigration status, economic situation, gender, health condition, sexual orientation, age, disability or because they’ve been abused. Blackbright News intends to do this by 1) disclosing the personal experiences of famous and ordinary individuals who have openly shared similar challenges, 2) using awareness raising strategies to highlight the impact of stigma, especially when it inhibits the ability to realise full human potential, 3) mentoring, offering advice, talks and/or referring on and, 4) promoting products that encourage well-being, ranging from music, spas, holistic therapy, counselling to making good choices.

For more information email: blackbrightnews@aol.com

Blackbright News was founded in May 2006, to redress the negative stereotyping of black people in the UK. However, we have now widened our remit to include everyone who feels stereotyped or stigmatised, and to specifically give a voice to those individuals who feel stereotyped or stigmatised because of mental illness.

Did You Know...

Blackbright News is a global publication that uses narratives to explore the rationale behind diagnosis, treatment and support, and can be used as a training approach to promote opportunities for debates and discussions regarding stigma.

Blackbright News is a black-led quarterly magazine that will be the voice for any stigma/stereotype-related situation, regardless of situation or race. We are prepared to receive information in most formats, e.g., illustrations, poetry, short stories, letters, statements or feature articles, preferably supported by images/photos. If someone feels uncertain about their writing ability, we can arrange for a telephone (or face-to-face) interview. We will treat whatever is divulged to us seriously and confidentially. We will not publish names or identifying information unless expressly asked to do.

...we all have the potential to suffer from mental health problems at some point, especially if we have experienced job loss; isolation; poverty; housing problems; loneliness; divorce/separation; difficulties in relationships (including work/family members); peer pressure; bullying; miscarriage/abortion; chemical dependency/drugs; death, guilt; conflict; illness; abuse; poor self-image, lack of sleep; carer responsibilities; deception, betrayal - the list goes on! (See Page 20 for symptoms)

Blackbright News has a particular interest in the way people who have a mental health condition are being treated in institutions and care homes. We seek input from corporate, health/legal representatives and organisations that offer respite/independent living accommodation for those with mental health issues. Friends, family members and carers are also welcome to share observations and their positive and negative experiences.

Blackbright News is a nonpartisan, philanthropic publication, as such it takes no stand on public policy issues. Any opinions expressed in its publications are those of the authors and not of the publication. Blackbright News is self-financed and thrives on the resourcefulness, resilience and commitment of its members.

We are seeking contributions from professionals and lay persons alike. We are also seeking financial and non-financial support through sponsorships, advertising, contributions, donations, and inviting volunteers to gain work experience in something they have a passion for; for example, journalism, photography, graphic design, poetry illustrating, distributing, marketing and promoting.

Founder, Publisher & Managing Editor: Myrna Loy Back Cover Design: Lakshmi Narayan Gupta Back cover & ‘Girls’ Photo taken by Garfield Hall Assistant Editor: Vanessa Brooks JD (USA)

BLACKBRIGHT NEWS Studio 57 Saywell Road LU2 0QG

PAYPAL email: blackbrightnews@aol.com Tel: 01582 721 605 www.issuu.com/blackbrightnews (for previous issues) or www.myspace.com/blackbrightnews ISSN No. 1751-1909

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The Continuing Stigma of Depression The curious continuing stigma of depression Published on November 1, 2009 by Jonathan Rottenberg, Ph.D. in Charting the Depths

Part of the mission of patient advocacy groups is to reduce the stigma associated with depression. This is noble and important work because historically people who have suffered from depression have tended to suffer in silence and/or not sought treatment because of the shame associated with admitting depression. In the US in the 19th and 20th centuries, virtually every form of mental illness was associated with a moral failing or sign of a weak character.

Seemingly in tandem with the efforts of patient advocacy groups, pharmaceutical companies have expended enormous resources in advertising so that the public will come to see depression as a medical illness. Given that something like 27 million people are taking antidepressants, it is clear that it has become more acceptable to take medications for depression.

But has the stigma associated with depression changed in any meaningful way? My sense is no.

A quick internet search finds remarkably abundant evidence of the continuing stigma of depression. I was particularly struck by a poll in which 92 percent of Britons said that admitting a mental disorder would damage their career.

My hunch is that the disease/defect model of depression, which I have written about in my three previous posts, is unwittingly contributing to the ongoing stigma of depression. Through the lens of the disease model, the legions of the formerly depressed are a “broken� people who need lifelong assistance.

I would like to see a more revolutionary public education approach, with campaigns that emphasize the unique strengths that are required to endure depression. Even if a person is helped by drugs or therapy, grappling with a severe depression requires enormous courage. In many ways, a person who has emerged from the grip of depression has just passed the most severe of trials in the human experience. If we acknowledge that surviving depression requires a special toughness, we will see not see formerly depressed people as a broken legion, but as a resource who can teach us all about overcoming adversity. I think it is unlikely that such views will be widespread until we are out of the thrall of the disease model.

While I applaud groups such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness in their effort to reduce the stigma of depression, I believe they have erred in so completely casting their lot with the disease model.

I believe this unfortunate state of affairs has resulted from perceiving *only two choices* about what kind of problem depression is — either it is a disease or it is a moral failing.

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CONTENTS

Since the DSM-I (which stands for Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 1st edition, 1952) was revised in 1968 (DSM-II) black men have constantly been misdiagnosed as schizophrenics.

Surely what researchers construe as “masculinised hostility, violence and aggression” Pyschiatry, as Metzl points out, is inherently focussed on the molecular.

With their focus on matching individual symptoms to diagnostic codes, the psychiatrists who replaced one diagnosis with another were blind to how institutional racism shaped their choices... ...This is why “cultural competence” training programmes are at best useless, and at worst reinforcing stereotypes. [extracted Karen Franklin, Ph.D]

1.

Blackbright Has Changed

2.

The Continuing Stigma of Depression

3.

Mental Loophole Closed

4.

Serena Williams & J K Rowling

6.

Bi-Polar

8.

Bi-Polar contd Lifetime Struggles (a Poem)

9.

Ashanti vs Nyabingi (where the Mentally Ill use their initiative)

11.

Rosemary’s Living Room (true story by Emansha)

13. An insight to Flo Awolaja

DID YOU KNOW

16.

Up Close & Personal with Barry Biggs

18.

What Zambia means to me

19.

Steve Stephenson Profiled

Mental health loophole ‘closed’ Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says urgent retrospective legislation is needed to correct a “technical error” affecting up to 5,000 patients sectioned under the Mental Health Act since 2002. The error means doctors who sectioned patients in England did not have the right jurisdiction to do so. A technical error has been identified in

20. You might be mentally ill!

the way 4 strategic health authorities (SHAs) – North East, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands and East Midlands – have been administering the process for approving doctors to work under the Act. This involves the process of approving doctors to assess and detain patients.

Doctors who assess patients, and make recommendations under the Mental Health Act, are required under section 12 of the Act to be ‘approved’ to do so.

The Act requires the approval to be by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has properly and lawfully delegated that approval function to SHAs since 2002. http://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/ (Oct 2012)

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Photo by David Fisher Despite being the biggest cause of disability in the Western world, mental ill health is still so highly stigmatised that millions of sufferers report being taunted, abused and shunned by society for their illness.

JK Rowling, best-selling author, has spoken out about the depression and difficult childhood that inspired her to write the Harry Potter books. Joanne Rowling made the revelation after agreeing to let a film crew follow her for a year in the life of documentary during the release of her latest novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She admitted the Harry Potter series began as an attempt to reclaim her childhood and even ends the series by giving Harry Potter a family.

Although many popular public figures, including Stephen Fry, tennis champion Serena Williams and singer Lana Del Rey, have been opening up about their own mental health problems, the stigma faced by the general public does not seem to have lifted.

It was such a huge opportunity for Serena to win her 14th slam against Virginie Razzono that internal pressure to win, media pressure, the ‘pressure through expectancy’ of family, friends turned what could have been an exciting feat into an unbearable burden. Noone expected her to lose to the 111th ranked female in the first round.

She is now one of the world’s richest women, but at the time lived in a cramped flat in Edinburgh with her baby daughter Jessica. At one point she suffered so severely with depression that she woke every morning expecting to find her baby daughter dead.

Rowling was only able to afford the rent after a friend paid the deposit. It was there she began writing the first Harry Potter book.

Internal pressure and emotion caused her to make errors. So, did Razzano deserve to win? Absolutely! http://martinstake128.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/serenawilliams-the-french-open-whatthe-hell/

Depression hit Rowling when her first marriage to a television journalist broke down after just two years.She had moved to Portugal to teach English and gave birth to her first daughter Jessica. The Harry Potter author says she was prescribed cognitive behavioral therapy after suffering “suicidal

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thoughts” in the aftermath of separation from her first husband, Jorge Arantes, a Portuguese journalist.

All children need love and proper care Many children have being abused throughout the world.

Many children have become victims of violent crime.

Many children are living a life without hope.

A lot of children are living their lives in fear.

The children they do need our love and care.

We need to teach them positive things, so that a positive life they all will live.

She said: “I’d had a short and quite catastrophic marriage. I had to get my baby back to Britain and re-build us a life and adrenaline kept me going: “It was only when I came to rest it hit me what a complete mess I had made of my life. That hit me quite hard. We were as skint as you can be without being homeless and at that point I was definitely clinically depressed.

“That was characterized by a numbness, a coldness and an inability to believe you will feel happy again.

All the colour drained out of life.”

Motivational words we should always place in their minds.

And the things that we do to them should always be so friendly and kind.

Without the children we don’t have a future.

AFRAID FOR HER DAUGHTER Rowling hit an all-time low when she convinced herself something awful was destined to happen to her two-year-old daughter. She said: “I loved Jessica very very much and was terrified something was going to happen to her.

We as adults are the ones that they look up to.

Remember children live what they learn; words contain a lot of power and strength.

And in all cases, use words that will give them upliftment and help.

“I’d gone into that very depressive mind set where everything has gone wrong so this one good thing in my life will now go wrong as well.

For all the children who are presently living in despair.

On your behalf, I really care. Please don’t kill, hurt, neglect, abuse or ill treat any more of our children.

Because when we hurt and abuse them. Who will be there to love and protect them?

by Paul Green

“It was almost a surprise to me every morning that she was still alive. I kept expecting her to die. It was a bad bad time.”

Revisiting the scene film crews took Rowling back to the flat a few miles from Edinburgh where she overcame depression by writing first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Where the healing began She said: “This is really where I turned my life around completely. My life changed so much in this flat. I feel I really became myself here. Everything was stripped away. I’d made such a mess of things.“I just thought I want to write so I wrote the book..”

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Source: http://www.center4mh.org/minds/jk-rowling 5

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Mania (High) Someone experiencing mania may not recognise it is happening. Incoherent, rapid or disjointed thinking or being easily distracted are the more common features of an episode of mania. Other symptoms may include aggression, paranoia and hallucinations affecting vision or perception. Grandiose delusions or ideas can occur where the sense of identity and self have been distorted by the illness. Sometimes the term psychosis (losing touch with reality) is used to describe these symptoms when they are severe.

Stigma and Bipolar

By Mick Carroll

Recently, celebrities as diverse as Stephen Fry, Bill Oddie, Catherine Zeta-Jones and ‘Shameless’ author, Paul Abbott, have been talking about their experiences of bipolar. It’s made quite a difference to the way some people now see the illness. But with perhaps 2% of the population having bipolar, there may be as many as three million affected – if you count the impact on family, friends, and workmates.

Hypomania Often hypomania is explained as a less severe form of mania. Someone who is experiencing hypomania can seem very self-confident and euphoric but may react with sudden anger, impatience or irritability, for the slightest reason. They may become more easily distracted, more talkative or challenging. They may also become more reckless than usual, which might mean errors of judgement, sometimes involving spending too much money or taking on more than they can cope with.

Despite this newly raised awareness, it still takes an average of ten and a half years for someone with bipolar to get a correct diagnosis with at least three misdiagnoses while they wait. Getting the wrong diagnosis can have devastating results.

One reason that people with bipolar struggle to get a correct diagnosis is that they often keep the symptoms to themselves for fear of the reaction from others.

Depression (Low) Most people who have bipolar will experience severe depression at some time. Usually this will follow an episode of mania or hypomania. For some people depression will be more likely to occur during the winter months. Common symptoms experienced during depression include: a feeling of emptiness or worthlessness (as opposed to sadness), loss of energy and motivation for everyday activities, pessimism and negativity. Thoughts of death and suicide are also common symptoms.

Bipolar – sometimes known as manic depression - is a severe mental health illness characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows. The majority of bipolar individuals experience alternating episodes of mania and depression. In between episodes sufferers may have long periods of stable functioning. The illness is treated with psychiatric medication and has the highest suicide rate of all mental illnesses. So it’s vitally important that people with the illness can get help as soon as possible but stigma can get in the way.

Treatment and Support There are a number of mood stabilising medications commonly prescribed for bipolar. Many people find these medications, taken singly or in combination, help stabilise their mood cycles. For more information please visit our website.

In a recent Independent blog Nigel Griffiths, a trustee of the charity Bipolar UK, welcomed the celebrity disclosures. He movingly described his own experiences waiting for the proper diagnosis and the damage that his illness did to his career and his relationships.

‘Talking therapies’ such as cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling can often be useful and used to help recovery. GPs and consultants can make referrals to local practitioners

It wasn’t until he and his wife were watching a documentary made by Stephen Fry –‘Secret Diary of the Manic Depressive’ – that they began to understand Nigel’s illness and he could begin to look for the right sort of help.

Bipolar UK is the national charity dedicated to supporting individuals with this much misunderstood and devastating illness, their families and carers. We believe the majority of people with bipolar can effectively manage their illness through a combination of different approaches including medication.

It’s not always so easy to accept your illness if you’re used to hearing bipolar referred to negatively.

Most of us have heard ‘oh, he/she’s soooo bipolar’ said of someone who’s a bit more emotional than their friends. This is unlikely to be a medical diagnosis. It has strong derogatory overtones meaning that the friend’s greater emotional range is distasteful or negative in some way. Whatever the intent, the statement ‘sooo bipolar’ is often uttered with aggression. It is unlikely that the friend is bipolar, there’s more to bipolar than that.

We provide a range of services to enable people affected by bipolar and associated illnesses to take control of their lives. Last year we reached out and supported over 65,000 individuals through our services and information/advice publications. This year’s figures show that we will exceed that number. We also work in partnership with research organisations and campaign for new developments to tackle key issues.

(Continued on Page 8) 6

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Black-Bright News for your News & Views Readers say they have found Black-Bright “relevant, useful and informative” BLACK-BRIGHT Stimulates by: encourand actively inviting participation from people who have constructive ideas, enthusiasm and a passion for expressing issues that wll benefits its readers, providing a medium where contributors can express themselves creatively to a global audience.

BLACK-BRIGHT Educates by: Providing a new paradigm of thinking (hence its award-winning appeal and global readership); and acting as a cross-generational and cross-cultural advocate for life-long learning by researching, providing information; obtaining information from experts and reporting on situations that are not always easily accessible.

BLACK-BRIGHT Motivates by: Focussing on the emotional needs and aspirations of its readers, allowing them to share hurts, concerns and injustices with a view to having them redressed.

Identifying ways to rejuvenate, rebuild and reshape our readers; encouraging positive attitudes and realistic expectations to facilitate a sense of wellbeing.

BLACK-BRIGHT Elevates by: Implementing ethical, moral and spiritual character building strategies within articles and stories for the upliftment of its readers.

Blackbright News was nominated for the Nationwide Award for Voluntary Endeavour in 2007. Blackbright News was nominated for and received: the Black Business Initiative Award 2006 for using social entreprenurialship to enlighten the black community; the Mayor’s Citizenship Award 2007 for its outstanding service to the local community and the African-Caribbean Achiever’s Award 2007 in recognition for outstanding accomplishments in Luton and nominated for Learn Direct Award, 2008 and nominated for BBI Award, 2009.

Black-Bright has provided employment opportunities for its volunteers, and continues to encourage university students to gain work experience by working with the magazine.

Do you know someone who has been unjustly treated or has concerns about a mental health situation? Email: blackbrightnews@aol.com

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Our services encompass a national network of selfhelp groups, self-management support, a mentoring scheme working with hospitals and psychiatric units, a youth service, workplace training and our vibrant e Community, a web-based discussion forum for individuals affected by bipolar to share their views and experiences.

We also seek to combat the stigma and prejudice associated with bipolar disorder. We produce a selection of information and guidance publications and campaign for research into treatment.

Bipolar – The Facts •

LIFETIME STRUGGLES

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By Mikhaila Samuels (above), New York

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She has mommy issues…

No, she has daddy issues.. No!

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She has issues that not even the tissues made in the Kleenex factory

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can wipe away…

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She cries herself to sleep at night, But by daylight the makeup

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smeared on her face Will hide her disgrace

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and allow things to seem alright… for just a little while longer...

1% to 2% of the population experience a lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder. Recent research suggests as many as 5% of the population are on the bipolar spectrum.

However the impact and devastation of bipolar is not just about the sufferer alone.

Extending the impact to parents and partners for example, bipolar impacts over three million people in the UK today.

The World Health Organisation has identified bipolar as one of the top causes of lost years of life and health in 15 to 44 year olds, ranking above war, violence and schizophrenia.

It takes an average of 10.5 years to receive a correct diagnosis for bipolar in the UK. Misdiagnosis occurs on average 3.5 times.

Bipolar increases the risk of suicide by up to 20 times.

Even with current medical treatments, people with bipolar spend around 50% of their lives after onset with significant symptoms, mainly depressive.

Compared to other health problems that have a similar or lower impact, treatment of bipolar is still hampered by misunderstanding and severe stigma.

Bipolar impacts every aspect of our lives.

Marriages, families and friendships can be placed under significant pressure and day-today living can at times seem an impossibility.

Nigel Griffiths is clear: “Are celebs coming out with bipolar? Bring it on, I would say. Handled respectfully, famous people with a bipolar disorder can really help to raise awareness and be positive role models for others to follow.” And respect seems to be the key word for the rest of us too.

another pill stronger...

She pops them like pimples on a pubescent boy’s face, Just to taste what happiness is like..

For more information on bipolar visit our website www.bipolaruk.org.uk or phone us on: 020 7931 6480 Mick Carroll, is Head of Fundraising and Communications, Bipolar UK

If only for awhile.

Child, that girl got issues!

Issues, Issues, Issues ... that not even Kleenex tissues can wipe away 8

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NYABINGI/ASHANTI EMPOWERING THE MENTALLY ILL Myrna Interviews Ashanti Manager & Founder of Nyabingi, Fitzroy Wilson, who says: “Mental Illness is a journey. not a destination”

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I learned a lot during the interview with Fitzroy Wilson who is the Manager at Ashanti, an organisation that provides services for Asian and African-Caribbean communities suffering with mental illness and which is run by the NHS. Fitzroy is a Senior Social Worker by profession and has been working at Ashanti for over ten years.

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Ashanti came out of a UCAN research, commissioned by Luton Borough Council to review Caribbean males in the mental health system. The University of Central Lancaster (UCAN) found that there were a limited number of appropriate staff to assess the cultural behavior of Caribbean males and as a result, black Caribbean males were being misdiagnosed. Aggression, anger, frustration, gesticulating and animation in Caribbean men was construed as ‘not normal’. It was also found that cultural identification enabled Black Ethnic Minorities (BMEs) to feel acknowledged and understood by professionals of their own culture and race.

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The criteria for referral to Ashanti is those individuals who are mentally ill and diagnosed as either critical or substantial are eligible to be referred to Ashanti.

UCAN found that when BMEs fell into the hands of the white mental health system, not only were they diagnosed from a European premise, but that the likely remedy administered to BMEs was drug therapy NOT talking therapy.

Studies show that black men were labeled with the mental illness at least five times more than any other group. This race-based misdiagnosis emerged when activism, passion or aggression became equated with mental illness. The criminalisation of mental illness and misdiagnosis of schizophrenia meant many black men were placed in prisons rather than psychiatric hospitals for proper diagnosis.

“There is a direct correlation between the criminal system and mental health in respect of the black male, and that was why it is important that black people said to be suffering mental ill health are assessed by BME professionals”.

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Although we are constantly reminded that 1 in 4 are likely to experience or know someone who has experienced mental health problems in their life time, when it comes to BMEs, BMEs are ten times more likely to have mental health issues according to the Department of Health statistics.

It was because of this constant misdiagnosis why Ashanti

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came into being, under the auspices of Lorna Palmer (now Lorna Sackey-Clarke), to correct the misnoma that all the BMEs that have been institutionalised are mentally ill.

Sometimes, it is the definition of ‘reasonable’ behavior that determines whether or not someone is psychotic in a white society, so when (for example) a woman speaking in tongues at a Pentecostal Church claims God is talking to her, or she spoke fervently to God last night” she would be considered as having ‘lost the plot’, particularly when it is assessed against the European model of measuring behavior. BMEs are also considered as being ‘hard to reach’ especially when it came to mental health, but Ashanti highlighted that a lot of the vulnerable adults feel like an underclass – as though they are not a part of society and proved that with the provision of mental nourishment, support, social inclusion and activities, they were not hard to reach services knew where to find them if they needed them.

The stigma of mental illness is also a issue, and sometimes it is the perception that can determine the outcome. It is difficult to explain that a service user is not his/her illness.

Mental health does not define the individual, but those affected by mental health issues, find that they have to keep it to themselves for fear of it affecting job prospects, friendships and marriage.

Fitzroy joined the Ashanti [After-Care Service] in 2001, and discovered that in having discussions with service users, he was able to pinpoint their needs and strategic vision, which was, in short, a need for social inclusion; empowerment and independence. However, with the cutting of services, the Caribbean luncheon club was to be one of the services that was to be ‘adjusted’. Sensing the demise of the luncheon club, which was a service Ashanti offered that was therapeutic for service users, Fitzroy conducted a survey to ascertain whether the service was as important to the service user as he felt it was. He therefore asked the service users what kinds of things they needed, what they enjoyed most, and what kind of services they needed.

It was the potential loss of the luncheon club that fermented the embryo of Nyabingi. Nyabingi moved away from Ashanti and this was the place where the mentally ill helped themselves through their ‘cook and eat’ programme and the Nyabingi drums project (where they are often commissioned to play for others). The service-users run Nyabingi with the aid of senior vice-chair who works in an advisory capacity, and it is the service users who chair the meeting and take minutes. Nyabingi is intent on empowering the service users.

In 2005, Nyabingi became a charity and won national awards. Trustees either have a history of mental illness, have been through the system or have certain skills to mentor. It was the race relations bill that allowed Nyabingi to develop. Ashanti vs Nyabingi – two different services.

Ashanti is Professional led, Nyabingi is service-led, enabling self-help and facilitating self-definition.

SPECIAL NOTICE BLACKBRIGHT NEWS is looking for volunteers in the field of journalism, graphic design and photography.

We are also seeking regional agents.

Students who need work experience welcome, but should be interested in magazine publishing and related aspects.

Fitzroy asked me how can we deliver race equality in terms of mental health – I didn’t have the answer, but Ashanti seems to be the answer because it uses a Care Programme approach, which is a specific and additional service to the mainstream.

by Myrna Loy 10

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Blackbright_JANUARY 2013v3_Copy of October 2012 12/6/2012 10:06 PM Page 12

told me that she had lived in her family home with her husband and her daughter for over 40 years and had no intentions of moving out.

After their divorce their daughter moved out to live with her father leaving Rosemary, who is now 85 and suffering with mental health issues, to fend for herself. Although her daughter was readily available on the phone she did not visit her mother much, perhaps once or twice every three months, which I felt was just not enough. After getting to know Rosemary’s daughter I realised that her daughter could not cope; didn’t seem to know how to seek help; had just accepted her mother’s mentall illness and assumed that this was the way she wanted to live - she did not think any further.

After three months of getting to know Rosemary she finally invited me into her

Rosemary’s Living Room

By Emansha It was my day off work and I decided to do a little window shopping in town. I liked walking and often walked through the whole town on my days off. As I strolled along enjoying the day I noticed an old lady struggling with a large shopping trolley, she was heading speedily towards an empty park bench. I watched her struggling to pull the trolley close enough to the bench, so I went over and offered to help. I asked her if it was ok to sit with her for a little chat, she said yes and as she seemed friendly enough, I sat down.

Her name was Rosemary. This was the first time I met Rosemary in the summer of 2010.

She talked non-stop about so many things, however, I enjoyed her company but for some reason something didn’t seem right or smell right as a matter of fact. It was then I began to notice the soil clothing, mismatching shoes she was wearing, and the habitual way she constantly clenched her fist to hit the air as if she was directly hitting somethingy- yes this was very strange behavior I thought. As time went by Rosemary said she was heading home and needed to go to the bus station. As it turned out I didn’t live very far from her so I offered her a lift and she accepted. I dropped her outside her house, helped her to her door and said goodbye.

home. Rosemary began calling me and I started visiting Rose at least three times a week, making sure she had something to eat and her room was clean. I even brought her a bed as she had been sleeping on a two seated settee, which was not doing her arthritis any good. On more than one occasion I would clean just the living room where Rose lived, cooked, eat, sleep, and wash, etc., and had removed eight black bags of rubbish. It was all becoming too much for me.

By now I knew that Rose was a hoarder.

Rosemary was living in squalor and needed help desperately. As time went on I was visiting Rose on a regular basis and I started to notice that her home was badly infested with cockroaches and loads of flies who had been laying eggs all over the house. I found it really difficult on my visits to settle down and stay with her for long periods so my visits started to become shorter.

Rosemary, and I became great friends over the next few months and we would often meet each other as if by chance in town.

Sometimes we just walked about or we would stop in her favorite café for a drink. She began telling me stories about her life. She 11

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plates, pots, bedding - everything was destroyed. Rosemary, told me that even the things she treasured such as photographs of her family abroad and even her personal belongings that were priceless were destroyed. The council had done a clean sweep of the house and left her living in one room, The Living room. She was warned not to use upstairs as the floorboards were unsafe due to wood rot, and they could cave in at any moment. Her bathroom was uninhabitable and she was not allowed to use this, as the floorboards there were also very unstable. The wash-basin was broken and the bath was blocked and soiled as Rosemary had been throwing urine and other bodily wasted down the plughole.

She was living alone in a very large four bed roomed house but I was horrified at the condition this woman was living in, so as a friend I took on the responsibility of assisting Rose as best as I could (but I was to find out later) that as much as I wanted to help, I alone just could not cope with the situation. I tried encouraging her to contact the local authorities, doctors, etc., but she was not happy

One evening, Rosemary, began disclosing how the local authority had already been to her home and emptied it of all her furniture and were planning to return to try and move her out into sheltered housing - she was adamant that she was not leaving her house so they sorted out temporary sanitisation for her such as toilet and bathing facilities. A large bucket with a lid and extremely strong disinfectant was what they gave Rose, for a toilet, this bucket was collected every Thursday and replaced with a new one.

about seeing anyone from local authority as she believed they were trying to take her house away.

As a hoarder, she collected and brought home anything she could lay her hands on.

She often walked the streets visiting as many charity shops as she could on a daily basis.

She loved clothes and although she did not need to buy clothes she would often be seen pulling her trolley filled with clothes she had just brought along the way. Rosemary would buy food and bring it home just to leave it to rot in the bags just the way she bought it from the shop. Rotting fish, rotting meat and rotting vegetables was left lying around on the floor causing more infestation.

Rosemary, continued opening up and telling me more and more about her inner struggle to get help. Rosemary had been put in touch with a social worker who had visited her twice only during the time I had been around visiting and she had only stopped to talk for a short time - due to the infestation of flies and cockroaches I guess.

The living room was where Rosemary did everything. She cooked on a two hob camping stove which, her daughter had purchased for her, which was a fire hazard waiting to happen as Rosemary often forgot to switch it off and I would often come back to see burnt pots. Her food was stored on the floor around this cooking implement; she had no fridge as there was no electric to some of the house and a fridge could not fit in the living room which was already overcrowded by a bed, three piece settee and cooking equipment.

Only now, I concluded that Rose had mental health issues, as she was not functioning normally. She was often depressed, anxious, unstable and extremely forgetful. She did not clean anything as she also suffered with arthritis and found it difficult to bend and often found it difficult to use her hands.

The council’s environmental health department had also been to clean the house of vermin such as rats, cockroaches on a previous occasion, after complaints from the neighbors.

The house was completely stripped from top to bottom of furniture, clothes,

To be continued... by Emansha 12

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“I learned to think… art is not only about drawing”. I didn’t expect that response. Sensing my confusion Flo clarified: (not verbatim)

An Insight to Flo Awolaja

As artists, nothing happens by accident – there is a reason for the colour we choose, there is a reason why we place something on the left as opposed to the right, a reason for the medium we use, so we need to think about what we are painting, why we are painting and what story we want to tell through our craft – she reiterated, “that requires thinking!”.

Photo taken by Thaybo Jayesimi Flo Awolaja and Denise Lewis work in partnership on the positiveimageproject, and have together produced and published a book called “Black Children in Care – Health, Hair & Skin.

I had always worked backwards, i.e. paint something on the canvas and then think about it afterwards – but she told me that my thinking process took place in my subconscious - now, that made me think!

I interviewed Flora because she had agreed to create a logo for Blackbright News, and I was keen to know how a graphic designer got involved in publishing, and was to learn the reason later.

Flo comes from a family of achievers – her mother is a Printer so, as a child, the house was full of reams of

Flora Awolaja a Nigerian, who does not speak Yoruba, wishes she had learned the language so that she could feel more linked to her culture.

Flora, (or Flo as she is called), is like many of us who were either born in the UK or came over from Africa or the Caribbean at a very young age, who wanted to fit in and whose parents felt that English was the language of the God’s and Goddesses and so denounced their native dialect.

paper, so the opportunity to draw was there. Her late father was a TV Engineer, and draughtsman. Flo knew what she wanted at a very early age – she loved colour and was always drawing. In fact, when Flo was in her rebellious teen’s stage at school, her Art teacher took her under her wing and asked Flo what she wanted to do. Flo did not hesitate: “I want to be a graphic designer!” she challenged in a cocky manner. So it was her Art teacher who mentored her towards her dreams and Flo took heed.

Flo is both articulate and eloquent, and as I engaged with her, her life sifted out with a sieve like quality - little by little.

The humble woman, with a somewhat nervous laugh who walked through my door clutching two black books that were bursting with ideas, was not only an accomplished graphic designer (the reason for the invitation), but a qualified Art teacher who attended the prestigious Royal College of Art in London.

Flo is a mother of a 18 year old son, who she is very proud of. Jamal is a chip off the old block; he knows what he wants to do just like his mother, and is currently studying law.

As Flo ate the dinner I had prepared for her, I went through the logos she had designed, looking for one that I felt accurately reflected the ethos of Blackbright, and there were many of them! As I looked through them I was drawn to many. However, I was not only thinking of which logo to choose, but wondering what Flo’s thinking process was when she created them.

Reflecting on my own ‘A’ Level art learning experience I wondered why I had not followed through my love of the craft. I had wanted to be a fashion or interior designer. I wondered what I would have been doing if I had followed through, but I recalled that I did not believe that art had a destination back then.

I personally found my ‘A’ level art class confining and felt constrained by structure and stringent rules, so I threw a question at her: “What did you learn by studying at The Royal College of Art?” She did not hesitate:

Flo attended the Hornsey School for Girls and subsequently acquired a BA in Graphic Design, an MA in Visual Communications and a (PGCE) Post Graduate Certificate in Art and Design.

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When Flo finished college, she accepted a 2 week placement with the BBC, however 4 years later she was still there. Flo decided that she wanted to move on, but in order to move on, she realised she needed to get additional qualifications so she did a PostGraduate in Design Management and resigned from the BBC.

just knitted together to make it a reality, so they now work together to get their book; Black Children in Care; Health, Hair, and Skin, published, and into all Social Service departments within the UK, highlighting the plight of Black Children in Care. To raise much needed funds for the printing of their book, inspirational t-shirts are designed to build an income to support the project.

Flo decided to freelance and ended up freelancing for ten years as a Graphic Designer, creating book covers for Alex Pascall, OBE, The British Library, among others, and Children’s publishers Dorling Kindersley. Flo said: “Freelancing gave me a taste for business”. She also found that it improved her thinking process as she had to think quickly to meet deadlines; it also challenged her to make enough money to support herself and her son.

I asked Flo what is next for her, and she told me that she wants to be a Lecturer at Howard University in the United States! People like Flo do not walk through my door every day. A humble, and shy demeanour disguising a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience.

When Flo’s father died, she took to poetry and writing as therapy and now has several finished or nearly finished books waiting to be published. After freelancing, Flo got her Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Art & Design and went into teaching to support Jamal in his learning and education.

I shall be interviewing her partner Denise Lewis, in the next edition, when positiveimageproject picture (just like a painting) will come together.

Flo is currently teaching art to young people aged between 16- 19 years old and says: “It is great being paid to do what I love to do”. She loves the age group, which she encourages to think the same way the Royal College taught her to.

I asked Flo how did the positiveimageproject come about, and she explained that it started off as friendship (L), and then two friends with a vision, and with Denise’s Social Care background and Flo’s teaching and graphic design experience – everything

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AN INTERVIEW WITH BARRY BIGGS Page 16

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lady loy gets Up Close & Personal with Barry Biggs I got home from work to find my invited guest, Barry Biggs in my office on his laptop. It was the first time I had met him and I wondered what kind of person he would be. Would he have a sense of humour; would he be talkative or would be reclusive? I was eager to learn more about the man who is reminiscent of lovers rock and whose nostalgic tracks were among my collection.

Biggs’ voice has the high shrill of a skylark, and from Sideshow, originally performed by Blue Magic, to his earlier renditions of ‘one bad apple’ [by the Osmonds], to his latest remake of Tony Gregory’s 1963 song, ‘My Darling’, his altruistic personality compliments his style.

I watched him skilfully navigate between You tube® and other programmes while listening to his own music and occasionally singing along with songs that inspired him – as if he was thinking “I wonder what it would sound like if I sang this song?” I asked him how he felt when he heard himself sing: “I don’t like my voice – I am very self-critical. Every time I hear my voice I want it to be better” and then he asked: “What do you think of my voice?” turning the question back on me.

When I hear Barry’s voice, I think it is perfect and I told him so, but I knew what he meant, because as a radio presenter, despite people saying I have a ‘good radio voice’, I am selfcritical as well, so when I review my weekly shows, I, too, try to sound better.

Barry Biggs (aka ‘Mr Do Over Man’ because he mainly performs cover tracks and former lead singer of Byron Lee & the

Dragonnaires after his first group the Astronauts disbanded) conjures up images of CD covers, where his fair plump face, long Indian hair, somewhat Asianic features and sardonic smile betrays a history of love and heartache.

Barry Biggs is the epitome of Lovers Rock, and from his memorable tracks “Love Come Down”, “Sideshow” to “A Promise is a Comfort to a Fool” (which he wrote himself), the memories of these tracks transport us back into the late 70s, early 80s, when we held our dance partner tight against the wall and swooned to his high octaves.

Barry was born in 1947, and I can’t remember whether he told me he was born in the UK and then went to America, or whether he was born in Jamaica, then came to England, and then emigrated to the United States, but he is trinational. Barry flits between Jamaica, America (where he runs his pattie enterprise) and the UK (where he spends time with his family, music colleagues and friends).

Biggs was eating fish and chips when I came home, and I wondered why he was eating fish and chips when there was curry coat freshly made with ‘hard food’ on the stove.

Barry was disappointed that he could not enjoy the battered fish which ‘had gone off’, so I asked him if he preferred to eat the escovitch fish I had prepared beforehand.

He said he preferred fish and chips and that his father had introduced him to fish and chips in 1961, and he liked to maintain the tradition: “Every time I am in England, I always have fish and chips! the local fish and chip shop-owner knows me well. In fact 16

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I like shepherds pie and most English food!” He said like a pleasured school-boy.

I served him with the escovitch fish with a little coleslaw and left him to eat it, while I went into the other room to download music for my Sunday show. However, every now and then, my concentration would be interrupted by the melodious shrill of his voice as he clicked on one of his new tracks and allowed the intro to permeate my ear lobes, which would draw me into the room again to investigate: “Nice track” I commented, time and time again.

“It’s on my latest CD - it is an exclusive!; I will make you a copy of it..” and he did; within minutes.

Barry is a whizz on the computer, and he came equipped with a burner and blank CDs, which showed me that he is proactive and ready to promote and share. For me, this character trait illustrated not only his efficiency, but his generosity of spirit.

The more time I spent with Barry, the more I warmed to him and when he said he would make me a special for me and gave me a sneak preview of what it would sound like, I felt privileged. I heard the intonations come through his thin lips that melted me and getting a special from Barry Biggs would be fantastic, I thought, containing my excitement.

I tottered off to my laptop in the other room, intermittently listening to Barry’s selections while downloading and listening to tracks producers had sent to me, trying not to override the sound of what Barry was playing.

It was no use, I could not concentrate - I decided to play some southern soul.

“Johnny Adams” is the greatest singer in the world!” I heard Barry shout out; “Do you have any of his music?” I hadn’t heard of Adams before, but found one of his tracks among one of my compilation albums.

“He was big in 1976 and died a pauper” he informed me, and then, as if reminiscing the loss of a great musician, he began to search through his repertoire so he could share Adams vocal skills with me. I could see why Barry was in awe of him.

Adams transitioned effortlessly from his modal voice to a falsetto by several octaves intermittently through the track.

“I wish I could sing like that” Biggs said in admiration.

For me, Biggs made those transitions from modal to falsetto in his day-to-day interactions, and certainly during the short time he spent with me, because he naturally transitioned from his modal speaking voice to his upper register when he started singing to the tracks he was playing.

I used this opportunity to asked Barry when he recognised his talent to sing, and he admitted that he always knew he could sing but he was very shy as a child and it wasn’t until he left his home in Paddington as an adolescent to go and live in Balham, when he met Owen Grey, a reggae singer, that he realised his passion for singing. He remarked: “I used to follow Owen around and watch him perform. I loved the excitement when Owen was on stage and I knew at that moment, performing was what I wanted to do!”

Biggs went to Rutherford Grammar School in Marylebone (London) and got 7 O’ levels and much to his parents disappointment, Barry did not pursue any of the subjects he passed, instead he wanted to focus on music: “My parents are happy now!” he said with a laugh – and that is because after 45 years, Barry is still in demand and performing shows back to back, and promoters will tell you that to get Biggs on the bill is not cheap – so when they pay out, they know they will get value for money!

Biggs decribed his very first show when he performed in Jamaica in 1968, and admitted to being nervous, but after that, Barry sailed to stardom making hits in Jamaica with ‘One Bad Apple’ by the Osmonds and topped the UK charts with Sideshow, A Promise is a Comfort to a Fool, Work all day, Love Come Down and many more.

Barry started off as a camera man and engineer at the former Jamaica’s Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), and moved on to work in the studio - he loved it. The studio represented what he loved to do, which is to enhance his vocal skills.

“I am always in the studio”, Biggs says proudly. He records his music at Dynamic Sounds where he is a Studio Manager and Engineer, and mixes all his music. He also uses Willie Lindo’s Studio and Eye to Eye Studio in Birmingham.

We dropped Barry home to his affluent home in North West London at about 11pm, but before we dropped him off he asked if we could stop at his local fish and chip shop, where George at the Chippenham would do right by him. “Fish and Chips?” I asked, astonished, when only twenty minutes earlier he had been so full he couldn’t eat the curry goat.

“Oh yes, I am hungry now!”, he admitted. We dropped Biggs and his selective hunger off outside his local fish and chip shop and he came back to the car with a large heavy brown paper bag: “Me have two large fish in dis bag” he said pleased with his purchase. I could see the glee in his eyes. “I love fish and chips” he repeated, “they always remind me of my father”.

With a final salutation, we dropped him off home and watched him enter his home with his evening meal.

I had planned to conduct the interview with Barry Biggs the week before on my radio station, but he couldn’t make it.

However, as it turned out, I got a wealth of information during his surprise visit and discovered that in talking informally with him, Barry shared a wealth of information that I could have never extracted on live radio. Radio interview questions tend to feel orchestrated and based on conjecture, whereas in an honest social environment, I knew I had engaged with a genuine, sincere and masterful personality!

Is Barry Biggs your real name? I asked inquisitively.

“Yes, it’s actually Barrington Biggs!” How wonderful to be able to say this is my real name and ‘Here I am’, which is the title of his latest release. Look out for Barry’s latest CD on Itunes. and in all popular record stores.

17 Interview conducted and written by Myrna Loy (Lady Loy)

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married to White people, and Black people were not allowed to enter stores, instead a small window was created for Black people to buy their groceries. In addition, jobs such as management jobs were only for White people. In government formation, the majority of Members of Parliament were White as were voters.

What Independence of Zambia Means to Me

By Nchimy Kasongo

On the 24th of October 2012, Zambia celebrated forty- eight (48) years of independence. The story I tell of how we got there, is one told to me by relatives who were there. In addition, it includes what I was taught in school, so bare with me if you are reading this and this is not exactly how it happened...I wasn’t there.

Zambia was colonized by the British between 1889 and 1901, and it has been said that, the main reason the British colonized Zambia was because of its mines.

Zambia mostly mines copper, which is exported, even today and is one of the main components of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In the 1950’s the average salary was estimated at approximately £ 2,000 a year for White people and £200 a year for Black people. However, certain individuals, now referred to as “Independence Heroes” took a stand, and things started to slowly change. For instance, in 1953, six Members of Parliament were Black from the initial zero Members of Parliament being Black. In 1958, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) was formed and lead by Kenneth Kaunda, and peaceful demonstrations (turned into riots) were held protesting the injustices, with many lives lost along the way.

Fortunately, in 1964, UNIP won elections with Kenneth Kaunda becoming the country’s first President.

To celebrate these Heroes, and remember the sacrifices they made, some including their own lives, on the first Monday of every July is “Heroes day” and everyone who played a part in ensuring the country’s independence, both alive and passed on, are honoured. Furthermore, in the country’s capital city Lusaka stands a statue of a man breaking a chain and this represents the liberalisation of the country from colonialisation.

Nchimy is a Graduate studying at the Univerity of Bedfordshire and this During this time of colonisation, Black peois her first article – Congratulations! ple could not attend the same schools as White people, Black people could not get 18

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Steve received 6 national awards, including the MBE from the Queen in 1996, Voice Newspaper Special Award for Race Relations 1998.In 2003 he received the Prime Minister medal of Appreciation from PJ Patterson for services to Jamaica and Caribbean people in the UK. In addition he is the Organiser of the Winston Davis Annual Benefit match. The Match has been played in Bristol for the past 3 years.

He was born in Kingston, Jamaica on Human Rights Day, 10 December 1953. He is in the Black Who’s Who and The Voice Newspaper’s list of the 100 most influential black people in Britain.

Steve Stephenson MBE, pictured with Chris Gayle above

He is the Joint- Coordinator for the Jamaican Diaspora (Western Region) which covers Swindon and Bristol.

Steve Stephenson, a Social Worker by profession, is a quite remarkable individual, who is a pioneer in community development in the UK. Whilst most people excel in one area, Steve has been a social worker, youth and community worker, lecturer, sports and charity promoter.

Steve is one of the few Jamaicans to have the distinction of being honored by both the British and Jamaican Governments.

In 2009 he organised another successful reception for Chris Gayle West Indies Team in Bristol. He also had a Reception for the Full West Indies Team in 2012, when he gave Special Award to Shivnarine Chandserpaul.

Steve is also linked with the mental health service, when he worked for Social Services as Manager at Ashanti (based on Marsh Road, Luton), a Charity for Black and Asian people with mental health difficulties, and he remarkably managed to save Ashanti from closure.

Football

Steve was also one of twelve people selected from a population of 50,000.000 Jamaicans In the UK to receive a Special Award for Sports. One of the people he supported was Chris Gayle, now a cricket star player in the India Premier League (IPL) and West Indies (pictured above). Another person that Steve supported was Venol John a promising footballer who was also a dancer with Kylie Minogue – others like Mitchell Thomas, Mark Walters and Dwight Yorke, former Manchester United player, are included in his repertoire.

Steve was Chairman of Ebony Football Club in Luton. One the first Black Football Clubs in the UK.The team was supported and Coach by Ricky Hill on various occasions.

In 1998 he made history by putting on the first and only Tribute to the Pioneers of Black British Football Event. Twenty Nine Footballers attend with a galaxy of Celebrities from various fields.

Steve also gave evidence on Racism in Football to the House of Commons Selected Committee headed

by David Mellor MP (Source: Steve Stephenson) __________________________________________________

Steve, the former chairman of the Victoria Mutual Caribbean Cricket Cup National Competition in the UK, has been supporting the Jamaican Under-15 Cricket Team for the past 25 years, along with other young cricketers from the UK and Caribbean Steve has raised thousands of pounds for various charitable causes, by working with Courtney Walsh, Jimmy Adams, Richie Richardson, Sir Vivian Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Devon Malcolm and West Indies Cricket Team, He also received support from Black footballers John Barnes, Paul Elliott, Mark Walters and Cyril Regis and other Celebrities include Rudolph Walker (‘Patrick’ in Eastenders) to name a few.

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DID YOU KNOW... Jack Leslie - Born to a Jamaican father in Canning Town, Leslie was the only professional black player in England during his time with Plymouth Argyle (1921-1934). He was set to become the first non-white player to represent England at international level before he was denied the opportunity when selectors were made aware that he was "a man of colour".

Later in his life, Leslie told journalist Brian Woolnough: "They must have forgot I was a coloured boy."

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BLACKBRIGHT MENTOR (A Counselling Service) DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU MIGHT BE MENTALLY ILL? Yes, everyone of us, throughout one period of our lives, has suffered mental illness, because it is very likely that we have all experienced one of the following causes of stress or depression: Job loss; betrayal; family breakdown; unruly children; disability; loss; bullying (school/corporate); guilt, isolation; victimisation; racism; bigotry; entrapment; abuse (physical, emotional, psychological); debt; insecurity; low self-esteem; disruption at work/ home; carer responsibilities, peer or family pressure; work overload; sibling rivalry; lack of support; pre or post-natal depression; divorce/separation; forced or arranged marriage; honour situatios; poor communication; ex-partners; institutionalisation; poor self-image; abandonment; drugs and alcohol; smoking (including cannabis); addiction; mistrust; infidelity; deception; illness; death; disfigurement; poverty; redundancy; loneliness; upbringing; attacked; lack of support, suicidal, fears, violation; major disappointments, legal problems, etc.

LOSS OF INTEREST IN ACTIVITIES. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex.

You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.

APPETITE OR WEIGHT CHANGES. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.

SLEEP CHANGES. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).

ANGER & IRRITABILITY. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.

LOSS OF ENERGY Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.

SELF-LOATHING. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.

RECKLESS BEHAVIOUR. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.

CONCENTRATION PROBLEMS. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.

UNEXPLAINED ACHES & PAINS. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

If you feel you are experiencing difficulties in any of these areas, or can relate to any of the symptons, and need information or advice, then drop us a line - information will be treated confidentially and you will be kept anonymous (i.e. no identifying features) Backtrack your life to see how many of these of these symptoms you can relate to. If you can identify with any one of them, then drop our counsellor a line at dmkcounselling@aol.com where you will receive advice in the next edition of Blackbright News.

Need Private Counselling? Tel: 07957 540 899 1st 5 consultations are #15 per hour!

Signs and Symptoms of Depression FEELINGS OF HELPLESSNESS & HOPELESSNESS. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation. 20

or email: dmkcounselling@aol.com

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worrying, spend time thinking about what you can do to help in the situation. If the situation is beyond your control, then ask the Universe for your desired outcome and let things work out on their own. Things will come to be, if they are meant to be.

6. Trust Yourself: Have confidence in your abilities.

Know that you have the ability to make important changes for yourself, for as long as you put your heart to it. You can also support yourself by visualizing desired outcomes.

17 Ways to Love Yourself 1. Fall in love with Yourself:

7. Forgive Yourself:

Think about what makes you, you. Just like a flower that needs watering to grow, learn to nurture yourself in every way. Love yourself for all the good that you see and accept your flaws and the fact that you are imperfect. This does not meant that you do not learn to change from your shortcomings; instead, you are being gentle and kind to yourself for all your flaws. Look in the mirror and fall in love with the reflection that is You.

If you have made mistakes in the past that had caused you to feel less worthy, then you need to forgive yourself. All of us make mistakes; so there really is no need to beat yourself up over them. Or if you’ve been carrying around a baggage of emotional hurt because of a childhood trauma, learn to forgive yourself that it is not your fault.

2. Eliminate Self Criticism:

Loving yourself requires you to be truthful about your own feelings. If you are happy, acknowledge the joy. If you are sad, acknowledge the sorrow.

When you are truthful about your feelings, you do not try to lie to yourself or seek to bury your negative emotions. Instead, acknowledging what you feel provides a good guide to what your thoughts are. And as we all know, thoughts can be changed, so that healing and self growth can take place.

8. Be Truthful To Yourself:

Do you often berate yourself over the tiniest thing?

Is there a little voice inside your head that often tells you that you are no good because you are stupid or make mistakes. If you find that you criticise yourself often, make an effort to stop the self criticism.

3. Be Kind And Positive:

9. Grow Spiritually:

When you start to think kindly and positively about yourself, the love you have for yourself just grows.

Make it a habit to praise yourself every day, while in the front of the mirror. Because of such thoughts, you naturally undertake empowering actions that support your development.

When you spend time growing spiritually, loving yourself is an automatic thing. You become more peaceful, connected, kind, loving and compassionate. You nurture a mind that grows more beautiful by the day. How do you not love yourself in the process?

4. Acknowledge Your Effort: It’s not always about winning or having success in everything that you do. Many times, it is the effort that counts! Acknowledge that you’ve done your best, even if you have failed to produce tangible results.

10. Make Positive Affirmations Everyday

5. Let Go Of Worry:

11. Express Gratitude

Loving yourself requires you to let go of your worry. It is a horrible way to live a life filled with constant worrying. I can attest to that! Worry does not help in any way. It cannot, on its own, make things happen. Only wise actions can! So instead of

Express gratitude for the person that you are. For instance, cultivate an appreciation for your strengths and gifts. Also, feel a sense of gratitude that you are alive and well, and fully capable of making a difference in your life.

Reframe your mind with positive affirmations. For instance, say this to yourself “I love and accept myself completely and unconditionally.” Read your affirmations out loud several times a day

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12. Nurture Your Dreams: Why deny yourself your dreams? When you nurture your dreams, you would love the life that you are leading. Every moment that you live is a joy because you are expressing yourself fully.

Healthy Recipe

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover. —Mark Twain 13. Boost Your Self Confidence: Make a deliberate attempt to look for opportunities that can help improve your confidence. For instance, if you are particularly good at doing something, set aside more time to indulge and improve your skills on it.

Knowing that you have particular gifts can boost your self esteem.

14. Relax: Give yourself space to take breaks every now and then.

If you spend your time working, without paying attention to your health, it also means that you do not love yourself well enough to take care of your own body. Fill your time with silence, soothing music and visions of beauty; anything that nourishes your Soul

Pan-Fried Paprika Chilli Salmon Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time:12–15 minutes Serves 4 Course:Dinner Main ingredient: Fish Ingredients: 30g Flora Cuisine

15. Have Fun:

4 salmon fillets

Inject some fun into your life. Life is meant to be an enjoyable. Don’t take life or yourself too seriously. If you can think of life in this manner, you automatically relax and quit worrying over things that do not matter.

3 tbsps paprika

16. Look After Your Body: It is important that you strengthen yourself with proper nutrition and regular exercise. Your body is a temple and you should treat it with respect, love and care. It has been found that the lack of self love is often the root causes of conditions like eating disorders, obesity or even terminal diseases.

17. Learn To See Beauty: When you learn to see beauty in every thing, you will also see beauty in yourself. Hence, stop to smell the flowers. Notice everything. Feel everything. The pink blush of the flowers in your garden, the greenness of the plains, the whisper of the gentle wind, or the myriad hues of an evening sky.

½ tbsp hot chilli powder 2 tsps mixed herbs Sauce: 150ml reduced fat crème fraîche 1 tsp Colman’s horseradish sauce Drizzle of runny honey Preparation: 1. Blend the spices and herbs together and sprinkle evenly over the salmon fillets.

2. Heat the Flora Cuisine in a non-stick frying pan over a low heat. Add the salmon skin side down and gently cook for 12–15 minutes or until cooked through, turning occasionally.

3. Mix the crème fraîche with the horseradish and honey to taste and serve dolloped over the salmon. Serve with new potatoes and vegetables.

Did you know?

Source:www.abundancetapestry.com/how-to-love-yourself-in-17-ways/ 22 It takes 12 litres of water to produce just one tomato!

Find out how to make more of the food you buy at

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