What I learned @ the DCU symposium on mental health…

I kept detailed notes - to help me take in what was going on, and to help me reflect.

I’ll go through the day chronologically…

(1) The day was part of the leadership programme which DCU runs in the hope that graduates of the course will play a leading role in taking "A Vision for Change" forward in Ireland.  They invited a mix of people from the wider population to join with them in exploring the "Trialogue" approach. Michaela Amering had spoken to students in 2008.  She explained what a trialogue was and how it worked; she invited us to try it out later.

[Some material on Trialogue I found later.]

European Psychiatric Congress in Lisbon story

European Federation of Family Organisations

I said to myself: in order to have trialogue, you have to have introductions… Michaela said you need a neutral place and no hierarchy.  You don’t abandon your beliefs and values - you open up to others.

I must read Dorothea Buck

World Psychiatric Association on U-Tube "Coercion in Psychiatry".

(2) The user’s perception is a better predictor of recovery than the professional’s - this is incredibly important, I think.  Because it means that what I feel about my condition is more dependable as a guide than the psychiatrist’s perception or other healthcare professional…  WOW

(3) Why are policy makers so keen on the recovery model?  So quick to sign up to it, espouse it?

I’d like to find out more about Connecticut experience and Practice Guidelines for recovery-oriented behaviour: "it’s key that people in recovery lead the way…"  Perhaps this will be my mantra.

Also, the Scottish experience:  see the Scottish Executive website.

Remission or Recovery?  What am I after?  Certainly remission.  I’d settle for a continuous stream of remission from now until my epitaph is written.

(4)  There was talk about stigma.

Gradually I formulated this thought: I want to make having had a bout of depression something which would give you an advantage in life…  It’s not enough to try to get rid of stigma, or even to get rid of it:  I’d like more.  I wrote

"I am proud of my ability to be severely depressed…  I think the only people worth talking to are

those who have had the benefit of ‘mental illness’, or

those who have cared for someone, or

those who know themselves to be at risk of either" 

Also, I need to be my own care coordinator.

(5) "Snowflake thinking":  my term for a style of thinking which sees each person as special, as on a journey of healing and transformation, a meaningful life in a community of choice… It’s normal to be different

(6) Advanced psychiatric directives (APD):  reminded me of my "Relapse Prevention Plan (draft)". [Note: I have not had a psychotic experience]  Paddy called the APD a "human rights plan".  In the USA, they are legal tools - scares the willies off the professionals.

(7) As Michaela described the mechanics of trialogues, I thought I’d like to experiment with one in Cork and later spoke to a guy who was thinking of one in Donegal.  Research by Bock & Priebe (2005)  I wondered if I could do a masters degree on it, an action research approach perhaps?  I was a bit hooked by talk of an anthropological angle, and, later, by hearing it described as  ‘post-modern’.

(8) Contributions from the floor:  for me the big impression was made by "carers" - several spoke of how difficult it’s been for them and how undervalued they feel.  I sat there saying to myself "where would I be if it wasn’t for E.?  Carers can be proud of their performance… Maybe I’ll analyse what came through in the Q&A part?  I was glad to tell the story of what a psychiatric nurse said when I asked her to write a chapter in the book on depression I’m putting together. I was pleased with the way I told the story.

(9) Over coffee I thought of the word "multi-logue".  How Terry Leahy (HSE) was responsible for funding HSUE.  The Irish web site "Black Dog", which supports men.  I wondered if there was a comprehensive directory of websites and blogs which is available as a resource: I was told Catherine Brogan would know, if anyone knew - this led to the suggestion that I check The National Office for Suicide Prevention.  The Irish Association of Social Workers (I went through UCD social science degree course 1968-71 and there must be people I knew then in positions of authority in Ireland.) The Brisbane Conference of IIMHL in March 2009 which will be followed by a conference in Killarney in 2010 (I suggested to Jenny Kelly (NUSE) that South Africa could be invited to Killarney.)

(10) The ‘problem’ resides in the community:  a wonderful way of realising that all so-called mental health problems do not belong to the individual or even a few individuals - they are all communal… communal in definition, and communal in hope for resolution…

Where does madness lie?  Answer: in the community…  I thought of Madness Explained by Richard Benthall.

(11) A woman said, with passion, "nothing you say is confidential when you’re talking to a professional."

Later I asked myself :  how are professionals trained?

(12) Paddy McGowan told a wonderful story about a psychiatric assessment carried out in a coalshed.

(13)  Ban All Plans - I came out of the session urging people to ban all plans, until partnership is in the heart  - and a woman came up to me and said she’d do her best to make this happen.

(14) It was great to be invited to visit Roslyn Park training centre (Rehab)

(15) Poppy Shakespeare (Clare Allen) - I must get back to reading it.  I still have Alistair Campbell’s novel to read.  I bought and am reading "The Secret Scripture".  It looks as if mental health is becoming sexy.

 How many hyperlinks does this piece need?

If you have read it all, thank you very much.