A SUSSEX ACTI VI SM I NSPI RES

WORKSHOP

BY
ALEXANDRA MOLANO- AVI LAN
The Politics
of Mental Health
Route Map
Sussex Inspires Welcome: Dan Glass
1. Analysing for Change
AFRAS course: cultural critical analysis
Key critical approaches that have instigated change
2. Where changes can and need to happen
Current Battles: ATOS/ WCA / Stigma
Within and outside the movement
3. Learning approaches and Tools Sharing
Keeping mentally healthy
Support Resources
Mental Health First Aid

Rules
Safe space
Free to leave
Free to not participate
Respectful
Ask anything at any time but be mindful
Talk to me after the workshop

Analysing for Change
AFRAS: School of African & Asian Studies
Culture, Health & Madness course

Brilliant course with excellent analytical tools
Culture & time overview of definitions and practices
from demon possession to anti-psychiatry movement


Analysing for Change
How mental illness can be the result of
contradictions in social life
Brief key authors
Freud: contradictions within the civilisation
Marx: depersonalisation & alienation
Fanon: (Black Skins, White Mask) paradoxes for the colonised
Laing: contradictions within the family
Foucault:
alienation results as mental illness as well as contradictions
between aspiration and reality.
contradiction takes its toll on the weakest members of society
Analysing for Change
Differences in the extent of mental health problems:
Research by Mental Health Foundation

Gender
Women are more likely to be treated for a mental health problem
than men. 29% compared to 17%
About 75% of people to die by suicide are men




Analysing for Change
Ethnicity

Depression in ethic minority groups has been found to be up to
60% higher than in the white population.

Black African & Caribbean people are up to 44% more likely to be
detained under the Mental Health Act as white people.

Black people more likely to be given physical treatments like ECT
and medication, and higher doses of medication and are less likely
to be offered non-medical interventions.

Analysing for Change
Children & Young People
Mental health problems increase as children reach adolescence
Among teenagers rates of depression & anxiety has increased by
70% in the last 25 years
Higher risk of mental health problems developing in children of;
single parent families, large families, poor & poorly educated
parents, those living in the social sector.
Transitional services paradox:
Royal College of Psychiatrists:
http://pb.rcpsych.org/content/29/8/292.full.pdf
Transition from CAHMS to Adult Mental Health Services report
http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/6428
8/FR-08-1613-117.pdf

Where Changes Need & Can Happen
What is the Mental Health battle ground?
All rights issued need to be championed
Rights & support

Specific current battles:
Austerity agenda attacking disabled people in receipt of benefits
Shift from Incapacity Benefits to Employment Support Allowance
Attitude towards the Welfare State
Process of Work Capability Assessments (WCA)
Disability Students Allowance
Petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/63748
Needs 100k signatures!
Where Changes Need & Can Happen
ESA & WCA & PIP
employment Support Allowance
Work Capability Assessments
Personal Independence Payment replacing Disability Living
Allowance. To be assessed through WCA.

Panorama: Disabled? Or Faking It?
http://youtu.be/lpR-juXRYnY
Mental health: http://youtu.be/lpR-juXRYnY?t=9m6s

Where Changes Need & Can Happen
Appeals process:
38% of appeals against these rushed Atos assessments are
won (rising to above 80% when the individual has professional legal
representation)
http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/psychological-torture-
wca-atos.html

We question then why the DWP has consistently 'over promoted' only the results of
Work Capability Assessments relating to 'initial' decisions (including the opinions of
Atos Healthcare in the absence of a statutory DWP decision) when it could instead
have come clean and declared how hundreds of thousands of their incorrect decisions
have since been overturned in favour of the person appealing.
http://ilegal.org.uk/thread/8640/release-staggering-numbers-overturned-secrecy
Where Changes Need & Can Happen
SAVE THE DATE! 7/8/9 JULY

Work Capability Assessment Judicial Review for Mental
Health Claimants Substantial Hearing 7, 8 and 9th July 2014,
Royal Courts of Justice, London.

The Mental Health Resistance Network, supported by Disabled
People Against Cuts, are holding a vigil at the front entrance of the
Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, 8th July 2014 at 12 noon to 2
pm to highlight the important issues around this case.
http://dpac.uk.net/2014/05/wca-judicial-review-vigil-8th-july/
Where Changes Need & Can Happen
Mental Health Activism
User-led groups (bottom-up/ client-led/ community-led)
Disabled People Against the Cuts
Support
Information & advice
Safe space

ESA/DLA/PIP facebook groups
Isolated individuals brought together

Where Changes Need & Can Happen
Mental Health Activism cont
National charity work/ lobby/ awareness raising/advocacy
Time to Change
Mind
Rethink

Who gets involved in MH Activism?
Lived in experience: personal or through someone they know
Compassionate & intelligent understanding of MH needed
Intersectionality image from:
http://www.thesparkspace.org/#/about/4583792837
Where Changes Need & Can Happen


Where Changes Need & Can Happen
Everybody has mental health!
Remember for general life as well as activism
Anti-stigma & understanding need to be applied within
friendships/ activist circles/ professional workplace


Reflection: Do you think you get (or would get)
support from your peer group around mh issues?
Assumptions by others and by yourself
(5min break & discuss)

Where Changes Need & Can Happen
Mental Health & The Movement
Reflections feedback
How The fight can get to you
http://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/nina-
power/time-does-not-always-heal-state-violence-and-psychic-
damage
How the movement can get to you
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/mental-health-stigma-
my-experience-at-university-students-union
Spark of change
Open Democracy: Politics of Mental Health
London Roots Collective: workshops on burn out



Where Changes Need & Can Happen
Summary
Activism on all injustices/ intersectionality

Specific: austerity agenda
How it oppresses individuals also mirrors the global neoliberal
agenda.
Personal is global and global personal.
Outside & inside & around the movement- Mental Health Stigma
needs to be addressed.
Break



TEA TIME!
Mentally Healthy Exercise!
Sharing & Learning Approaches
Keeping Mentally Healthy
Company
Sleep
Physical exercise
Music
Keeping in contact with people

Local support in Brighton
http://right-here-brightonandhove.org.uk/


Sharing & Learning Approaches
Fighting the structures of oppression
Advice centres & Legal advice
Student advice centres
Citizens Advice Bureau
Student support

Access GP and free treatments
Everyday stress can compound
Talk to your GP : http://right-here-
brightonandhove.org.uk/visiting-your-gp-2/
Push for treatments
Ideological theory vs practice: CBT
Sharing & Learning Approaches
Being aware of your own triggers and need for
support.
Accessing support early
Being able to voice what kind of support you need
Capacity to voice your needs with your support group

Medication
Do your research
Google is your friend
Support networks: National Survivor User Network
http://www.nsun.org.uk/


Sharing & Learning Approaches
How to support someone with mental health
problems?
5 tips on starting a chat:
www.time-to-change.org.uk/resources

Sharing & Learning Approaches
Understanding common mental health problems:
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis

Activity:
Take 5 mins to read one of the hand outs on
Depression/Anxiety/Psychosis
Use pen and paper to draw a life map of times when you may have
felt like this-5mins
Take home and reflect for yourself
(Rules)
Sharing & Learning Approaches
Mental Health First Aid Tools
Risk Factors & First Aid Activity

Break into three groups- each focusing on either
anxiety/depression or psychosis
In your groups take 10 mins to read through hand out
Feedback 3 risk factors & first aid advice on the flipchart

Sharing & Learning Approaches
A assess risk of suicide or self harm
L- listen non-judgementally
G- give assurance and information
E- encourage person to get appropriate help
E- encourage self-help strategies
Sharing & Learning Approaches
How to listen non-judgementally
Role play activity
Stay in your groups
Read hand out
Role play and swap roles
10 mins
Feedback any reflections
Sharing & Learning Approaches
THE END!
Any questions
Feel free to talk to me after
Feedback directly or email Dan

Drop Box Link:
http://goo.gl/HRFL0A