Health matters organ donation and christianity by Marlene Davis

MATTERS

OCTOBER 3 - 9, 2013

HEALTH INSIDE:

i Get Involved With Your Mental Health NHS Trust p35

i 21 Years & Counting Southside Rehabilitation p35 i Bundle Of Joy...

p38

Organ donation and Christianity

he Christian faith is based upon the revelation of God in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught people to love one another, and to embrace the needs of others. Organ donation can be considered by Christians as a genuine act of love. We can choose to donate our organs to save the lives of many people: “Thousands of people in the UK today are waiting for an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their

lives. The simple act of joining the donors’ register can help make the world of difference to those in need. I hope that everyone will consider whether they can give life to others after their own death.” Sentamu Ebor, Archbishop of York, 2010. “The Methodist Church has consistently supported organ donation and transplantation in appropriate circumstances, as a means through which healing and health may be made possible.” Methodist Church UK.

“Identifying specific faith groups and their beliefs and practice around organ donation provides a basis for discussion. We then need to share information on what faith groups believe in order to foster better understanding of cultural norms. Disseminating more widely information on the cultural risk factors for kidney disease keeps people informed, assists in breaking barriers and engendering hope as people make better health choices which will positively impact their life.” Sharon

Platt-McDonald, Director for Health, Women Ministries and Disability Awareness for the Seventh-day Adventist churches in the British Isles. To donate your organs is a very personal choice. The process of transplantation is acceptable in terms of moral Christian law. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2296, explains: “...organ transplants are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks to the donor are proportionate to the good sought

for the recipient. Organ donation after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity. “It is not morally acceptable if the donor or his proxy has not given explicit consent. Moreover, it is not morally admissible to bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons.” As Christians we believe in eternal life and preparing for death should not be a source

of fear. Nothing that happens to our body, before or after death, can impact on our relationship with God. “Neither death nor life, not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 8:38-9. Ensuring that we are on the NHS Organ Donor Register and that our relatives know our wishes in advance will Continues on page 36 ii

34 | THE VOICE OCTOBER 3 - 9, 2013

HEALTHMATTERS

It’s time to tackle all mental health issues We look at the impact learning difficulties have on our community By Hazelann Williams

HEN WE think about mental health issues within the black community we can easily be all too focused on the negative aspects of mental disorders, such as the prevalence of schizophrenia or other psychotic illnesses and the treatment and subsequent deaths of vulnerable people who have been failed by the institutions that were supposed to protect them. However, mental disorders affect a vast amount of people in many different ways and learning difficulties such as autism, dyslexia and Tourette’s syndrome are but a few. People with learning disabilities from black and minority ethnic communities continue to experience inequalities in health and social care despite various efforts to improve engagement. 100,000 AUTISTIC BLACK PERSONS LIVING IN THE UK Case-in-point it is estimated that there are at least 100,000 black people in the UK with autism and like all other ethnic minorities with learning disabilities recent research shows that lack of access and discrimination in seeking the care to which they are entitled is still a major problem. The reason for this may lie in a Mencap (the UK’s leading learning disability charity) report which stated that black people were almost always under-represented in the client base of both voluntary and statutory service providers. However, there are organisations that are working to change the status quo of mental health issues in the UK black and ethnic minority community, such as Black Mental Health UK (BMHUK). Matilda MacAttram, director of the human rights campaign group spoke to The Voice about the importance of early diagnosis for people with learning difficulties and explained why access to support services is vital for suffers and their families. “As with any health condition, the earlier the intervention, the less invasive the treatment,” said MacAttram on the need for early diagnosis for people with mental health issues. “If somebody has a physical health condition, like cancer and its caught very early, the treatment will be mild and recovery will be swift. But if somebody has an illness that is caught late, the treatment will be a lot more intense and recovery might not be so robust, that’s just how it works.” It has been found that when dealing with people who have mental health issues doctors and healthcare professionals lack the ability to communicate and fail to listen or understand their pa-

DIRECTOR OF BLACK MENTAL HEALTH UK: Matilda MacAttram

tient’s problems. According to a formal investigation into inequalities experienced by people with learning difficulties and carried out by Leeds University, there is a tendency by doctors to do what is known as ‘diagnostic overshadowing’ where aliments are dismissed and diagnosed as different illness because of the lack of communication. MAJOR PROBLEM: LACK OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION For MacAttram one of the biggest problems in the healthcare system, when dealing with people who have mental issues is the lack of access to information. The campaigner believes that people from the black community do ask for help, but they are continually failed by the institutions who are supposed to provide the expertise. “ It’s important to dispel the myth that people from the African-Caribbean community do not ask for help early on, because people constantly ask for support and help and do not want the medical model and constantly ask for help and possible alternative therapies but they are only ever offered the standard medical model.” Many reports and organisations such as the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health argue that fear keeps families away from mental and social services, however the director of Black Mental Health UK says that the solution to getting help when diagnosed with a learning difficulty is simple. “A service needs to be tailored to meet the community it serves; it’s as simple as that. If it is not doing that it is failing, if those who need it are asking and not being given the service they need, it’s not being tailored in a way to be accessible.” “Service sectors need to listen to the people’s needs, see where they are and then set up something that is going to allow them to access it as they need it, that’s just good service full stop. If you

Organisations are working to change the status quo of mental health issues in the UK.

“A service

needs to be tailored to meet the community it serves; it’s as simple as that. If it is not doing that it is failing. If those who need it are asking and not being given the service they need, it’s not being tailored in a way to be accessible ” can do this for any other group, you can do this for our community, the services providers know where we are.” She continued: “We know that the NHS is the third largest employer on the planet, we know mental health is the third largest unit spend of the NHS budget, this is a billion pound industry, it is not peanuts, so when anybody cannot get the information they require, that is a failing of the services that should be in place to help.

Ethnic issues in mental health BLACK AND ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE MORE OFTEN: 1. Diagnosed as schizophrenic. 2. Compulsorily detained under the Mental Health Act. 3.

Admitted as ‘offender patients’.

Held by police under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

Transferred to locked wards from open wards.

6. Not referred for psychotherapy. 7.

Given high doses of medication.

8. Sent to psychiatrists by courts. 9. Have unmet needs. Source: S. Fernando (2003) Cultural Diversity, Mental Health and Psychiatry: The Struggle Against Racism FACT FILE 1. Diverse Minds was set up in 1997 with support from the Department of Health in response to serious concerns raised by people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities about the circumstances surrounding their experiences of mental healthcare in this country. 2. The 2008 Count Me In census revealed that overall rates of detention were higher than average among the black Caribbean, black African, other black and white/black Caribbean mixed groups by 20 to 36 per cent (Healthcare Commission, 2008). This is indicative of broader ethnic disparities within the mental health system, which affect all minority ethnic groups in a variety of ways.

For more information on mental health issues affecting the black community go to: MIND at www.mind.org.uk and BLACK MENTAL HEALTH UK at: www.blackmentalhealth.org.uk

HEALTHMATTERS

OCTOBER 3 - 9, 2013 THE VOICE | 35

Get involved with your local Mental Health NHS Trust Getting involved with your local NHS and having a say in how services are run is one way in which you can help to improve the standards of your local healthcare services and help shape them to meet the needs of the public.

ou can do this by joining membership of your local NHS Foundation Trust, which members of the public, staff, service users and their carers can join for free. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust provides community and hospital psychiatric services to Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth. Our members are asked to take part in consultations and surveys so we can learn more about their views, and they are invited to volunteer and attend events to learn more about mental health. They also have the opportunity to stand for election to become Governors, our Council of Governors holds the Board of Directors to

account, to ensure that the very best services and quality is delivered. We are working towards becoming a Foundation Trust (FT). FTs are NHS organisations that have greater freedom from central government to make financial, business and strategic decisions to benefit the local population. They are also membership organisations, accountable to their members. This accountability is achieved through a Council of Governors, with the majority of Governors being elected by the members. Crucially, we need more members from Black and Minority Ethnic groups. By having a membership and Council of Governors, which is ethnically diverse and fully representative of the population we serve, we

will be in a better position to determine what services are best for those communities. We cannot become a Foundation Trust without a membership or your support. You can join South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust by calling our membership office on 020 3513 6110, filling out our online application which can be found at www.swlstg-tr.nhs.uk or email: membership@swlstgtr.nhs.uk Become a member and have your say. Laurence Whittle Membership Manager South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust Tel: 0203 513 6110

21 Years

And Counting… Southside Rehab By Stephanie Correia

n Wednesday 25th September 2013 Southside Rehabilitation Ltd celebrated over 21 years in the business of helping people with serious mental health problems prepare to return to work. We do this by running three social enterprises - Catering, Cleaning and Printing – where people can gain real work experience. These celebrations provided us with an opportunity to share our success with our trustees, trainees and staff, past and present; commissioners (Southwark and Lambeth CCGs); our partners, including the Portico

Gallery and the businesses in West Norwood, and our customers. They have all supported us over the years and we would like to thank them all. We work with 60 to 80 people each year 70 per cent of whom are from the African and Caribbean Community in Southwark and Lambeth. The training pathway here includes attending further education in order to update/develop knowledge and skills, training in one of our social enterprises and gaining confidence with IT. Over the past 21 years we have worked with more than 500 persons, many of whom have returned to employment, voluntary work and adult education. All have gained confidence and are more socially included in

their local communities. We need to generate a quarter of our income from our sales and we are reliant on local people and businesses to buy our services. 100 per cent of the income generated is spent on our users. We provide quality services and care for our customers. For example, in our Copyshop we provide a design, printing and print finishing service, which our customers recommend to their friends and family. Stephanie Correia CEO, Southside Rehab. Ltd. 45 Knights Hill, SE27 0HS Tel: 0208 766 6688 Email: Stephanie@sra-ltd.co.uk

Laurence Whittle, Membership Manager

36 | THE VOICE OCTOBER 3 - 9, 2013

ii Organ Donation

continued from page 33

help to relieve our loved ones of anxiety if the opportunity to donate arises, because: “Giving organs is the most generous act of self-giving imaginable.” Rt. Revd Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales, 2011. In 2000, in his address to the 18th International Congress of the Transplantation Society, Pope John Paul II said: “There

HEALTHMATTERS

is a need to instill in people’s hearts, especially in the hearts of the young, a genuine and deep appreciation of the need for brotherly love, a love that can find expression in the decision to become an organ donor.” “Over the past year or so, the Department of Health has supported a project which encourages UK faith communities and faith representatives to raise awareness about organ donation. The aim of the project is not only to explore faith-based perspectives

towards organ donation but also to harness the potential of faith communities to address an important social issue. Faith communities have strong social networks and share common values of helping others; it is entirely appropriate that the Church of England has supported this initiative.” Rt Revd Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales. Tell us What You Think? Email: marketing@gvmedia.co.uk

FACT FILE: Your guide to organ donation Organ donation Organ donation is the gift of an organ to help someone else who needs a transplant. Hundreds of people’s lives are saved or improved each year by organ transplants. Donation is an individual choice and views differ even within the same religious groups. Why is it important to think about donating organs? With medical advances it is now possible to use transplanted organs and tissues to enhance the life chances of those suffering from a range of terminal conditions such

as renal, liver and heart failure. More people than before now suffer from these conditions and some ethnic groups seem to be more affected than others. Consent The consent or permission of those closest to the potential donor is always sought before organs can be donated. This is why it is so important to discuss your wishes with your loved ones should you decide to become a donor. Many families who agree to organ donation have said that it helps to know some good has come from their loss.

When can organ donation take place? Doctors and their colleagues are committed to doing everything possible to save life. Organs are only removed for transplantation once all attempts to save life have failed and after death has been certified by doctors who are entirely independent of the transplant team. Care and respect The removal of organs and tissues is carried out with the greatest care and respect. The family can see the body afterwards and staff can contact a chaplain or local religious leader if the family wishes. Credit: NHS Choices.

‘TYPE 2 DIABETES MANAGEMENT AND MEDICATION’ IDDT is pleased to announce the launch of its new booklet ‘Type 2 Diabetes – Management and Medication’. Some Facts about Type 2 diabetes: t Type 2 diabetes affects nearly 3 million people in the UK and it is thought that there are an equal number of people living with the condition who are currently undiagnosed.

There is a tendency for Type 2 diabetes to run in families but a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight or obese are also causes.

Certain ethnic groups, such as the afro-carribean and asian communities, have an increased tendency toward developing the condition and this development also occurs at an earlier age.

Type 2 diabetes occurs mainly in people over the age of 40. However, with increasing levels of obesity, it is becoming increasingly common in younger people.

The booklet has been produced to help people better understand the treatments available and the on-going management of their diabetes. The aim is to help them have a better understanding and to reduce the risks of developing long-term complications. We know from the telephone calls we receive that many people really don’t receive enough support and information and there is a general lack of education about the progressive nature of the condition. The booklet explains the different types of treatment and the ways in which different types of medication work, such as tablets and/or insulin. We also explain how the different insulins work, from long-acting to short-acting, and the different ways of administering insulin, from pens to insulin pumps. ‘Type 2 Diabetes – Management and Medication’ is available to people with diabetes free of charge, as are all our other booklets. We also produce free quarterly newsletters for people we know have Type 2 diabetes, so if you would like a copy or a copy for someone you know, please don’t hesitate to contact IDDT on: 01604 622837, by email: martin@iddtinternational.org or write to: IDDT, PO Box 294, Northampton NN1 4XS

HEALTHMATTERS

OCTOBER 3 - 9, 2013 THE VOICE | 37

Loose weight quick myths exposed

o much is said about losing weight that it can be hard to sort fact from fiction. NHS Choices tell us the truth about 10 common weight loss myths. SQUASHING THE MYTHS 1. Starving myself is the best way to lose weight. Crash diets are unlikely to result in long-term weight loss. In fact, they can sometimes lead to longer term weight gain. The main problem is that this type of diet is too hard to maintain. Your body will be low on energy, causing you to crave high-fat and high-sugar foods. When you finally give in and eat those foods, you will often eat more calories than you need, causing weight gain. 2. A radical exercise regime is the only way to lose weight. Not true. Successful weight loss involves making small changes that you can stick to for a long time. That means building regular physical activity into your daily routine. Adults between 19 and 64 should get at least 150 minutes of physical activity – such as fast walking or cycling – every week, and those who are overweight are likely to need more than this to lose weight. To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume. This can be achieved by eating less, moving more or, best of all, a combination of both. 3. Slimming pills are effective for long-term weight loss. No, they’re not. Slimming pills alone will not help you keep the weight off long term. They should only be used when prescribed by a doctor. 4. Healthy foods are more expensive.

In fact, healthy foods are not necessarily more expensive than their unhealthy alternatives. You’ll typically pay more for a high-fat, high-salt ready meal than you would if you had bought fresh ingredients and made the meal yourself. 5. Foods labelled ‘low fat’ or ‘reduced fat’ are always a healthy choice. Be cautious. Foods labelled “low fat” have to meet legal criteria to use that label. Labels such as “reduced fat” do not have to meet the same criteria and can be misleading. A reduced-fat snack should contain less fat than the full-fat version, but that doesn’t automatically make it a healthy choice: it could still contain a lot more fat than, say, a portion of fruit. Low-fat foods also sometimes contain high levels of sugar. 6. Margarine contains less fat than butter. Margarine and butter contain different types of fat. Margarine is usually lower in saturated fat than butter. But it’s more likely to contain hydrogenated fats. Hydrogenated fats, also called trans fats, may be more harmful to health than saturated fats. To lose weight, and for a healthy heart, reduce the amount of saturated and hydrogenated fats you eat. If oil in margarine has been hydrogenated, this has to be listed on the ingredient listing on packaging, so check labels carefully. 7. Carbohydrates make you put on weight. Eaten in the right quantities, carbohydrates will not cause weight gain. A 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that dieters on the best-known low-carb diet, the Atkins diet, tended to lose weight not because they ate fewer carbo-

hydrates, but simply because they ate less overall. Eat whole grain and wholemeal carbohydrates such as brown rice and wholemeal bread, and don’t fry starchy foods when trying to lose weight.

people need a snack, inbetween meals to maintain energy levels, especially if they have an active lifestyle. Choose fruit or vegetables instead of crisps, chocolate and other snacks that are high in sugar or saturated fat.

you hydrated and might help you snack less. Water is essential for good health and wellbeing. Sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger – if you’re thirsty you may snack more. The Department of Health recommends that we should drink about 1.2 litres of fluid every day.

8. Cutting out all snacks 9. Drinking water helps you can help you lose weight. Snacking isn’t the problem lose weight. voicetrying october 2013 170x268Water 30/9/13 Page does not14:24 cause you to 1 10. Skipping meals is a good when to lose weight: it’s the type of snack. Many lose weight, but it does keep way to lose weight

Skipping meals is not a good idea. To lose weight and keep it off, you have to reduce the amount of calories you consume or increase the calories you burn through exercise. But skipping meals altogether can result in tiredness and poor nutrition. You will also be more likely to snack on high-fat and high-sugar foods, which could result in weight gain.

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38 | THE VOICE OCTOBER 3 - 9, 2013

HEALTHMATTERS

Barbados Fertility Centre bundle of joy Jo shares her story…

hat the battle to overcome infertility was a difficult and painful one is an understatement. We prayed, we cried, we lost hope at times, but we shook it off and kept on trying. Our struggles made us stronger so please persevere! The road to parenthood can take many different paths. For us, it meant IVF using donor eggs. To you, it could mean a similar path or an entirely different one depending on your own unique circumstances and what is the best option for your family. So keep hope alive, persevere, do your research, pray or meditate, and let your gut feelings guide you through! Stephen and I were already in our early forties when our journey began. We had a rude awakening upon realising the effect advanced age had on my eggs and then again when we discovered that he had issues with sperm quality. After three years of fertility treatments, specialists in the US painted a very bleak outcome for us and strongly recommended that we use donor eggs to conceive. But the costs to continue IVF treatments in the U.S. were unreachable, particularly since we had no insurance coverage. ENCOURAGED

NEED DONOR EGGS?

There is a marked decrease in women’s fertility after the age of 35, and if you have been trying to conceive for more than 12 months with no success then you must seek medical advice.

There is a marked decrease in women’s fertility after the age of 35, Some women may need to consider the use of donor eggs in order to achieve a and if youhowever have waiting been lists trying toUKconceive for more than months pregnancy, in the can be as long as 3 years and12 if you with success then seek medical advice. need no an Afro Caribbean eggyou theremust is no time limit on how long you can wait. Some women may need to consider the use of donor eggs in The team at Barbados Fertility Centre are dedicated to helping you realise your dream order to aachieve a pregnancy, however waiting listsCoordinatior in the UKoncan of having family, please call Dionne Homes IVF Donor/Recipient 001 246 435 7467, or email dholmes@barbadosivf.com for more information be as long as 3 years and if you need an Afro Caribbean egg on there our EXCELLENT donor egg programme with success rates of 72%. is no time limit on how long you can wait. The team at Barbados Fertility Centre are dedicated to helping you realise your dream of having a family, please call Dionne Homes IVF Donor/Recipient Coordinatior on 001 246 435 7467, or email dholmes@barbadosivf.com for more information on our EXCELLENT donor egg programme with success rates of 72%.

www.barbadosivf.com

Organization Accredited by Joint Commission International

There began my internet research which led me to the wonderful folks at the Barbados Fertility Clinic. Since I was an island girl born in Trinidad, a country literally next door to Barbados, I was intrigued and encouraged to find such a facility existed in the Caribbean region. The facility had great reviews and since the cost of IVF in the US is more than double that of the costs in Barbados, it was worth looking into. Then, we were blown away by the warm and courteous staff at the centre who kept in touch with us regularly at every step of the way. Finally, Barbados is an island paradise with the most tranquil white sand beaches and waters you can find anywhere in the world. So, given all the factors and following our gut feelings, we booked a ten day trip to Barbados for treatment. This decision was the best one we could have made. It was medical tourism at its best – a win-win. SUCCESSFUL The vacation was great and the procedure went smoothly without a hitch. We left Barbados feeling closer to each other and instinctively feeling in our gut that the outcome was successful. But, the two week wait was the most difficult. Finally the day came when I could take the home pregnancy test and bam – after taking about ten tests, I finally believed that we were pregnant! Today, we are happily raising our beautiful five-month old baby

boy. Stephen Robert was born on November 7, 2012, a healthy fullterm 7½ pound baby. So to everyone already on this journey or considering it, don’t lose hope. If a forty-five year old woman can do it, then maybe it’s in the cards for you as well. Sending you lots of baby dusts and positive vibes ~ from my family to yours!

Dealing positively with infertility at work FAST FACTS One in six couples seek medical help for infertility, getting time off is often difficult. Although a proportion of fertility difficulties are faced by men, it is often women who go through the treatment and they are more likely to need time off. There is no legal right to time off for fertility treatment, but if a woman is refused leave, it could be unlawful sex discrimination. It could be ruled that a failure to accommodate conditions specific to women was unlawful. GETTING TIME OFF If you need time off, use the following points to help you to make a reasoned case: s Time off with pay for medical appointments for women. This may be needed at short notice. s Partners often need time off too in order to be present at critical stages of the process and partners may be men or women. s Time off should not count against the sickness record, nor be used in disciplinary or management action on attendance. s The options of unpaid leave, career break or flexible working hours should be available. Confidentiality is important as those having treatment are often faced with misunderstanding and even enquiries, such as “any news yet?” can be stressful. Performance ratings, pay, and promotion should not be affected. Time off should be a right, not left to a manager’s discretion. The TUC “Trade Union Congress” has asked the Equal Opportunities Commission to recommend leave for fertility treatment in their equality law reform submission. The health union UNISON is campaigning for treatment on the NHS to be provided equally across the country.