Diary 2011
December 2011
EleMental Vision On Group
The first Vision On group met at Advocacy Wirral on Saturday December 10th, 2011. Vision On is a Peer Support group for people wanting to reduce or withdraw safely from psychiatric medication. Future groups are planned in Manchester, Birmingham and London. Contact mikesvoice_aol.com or marionaslan_aol.com for details
November 2011
Robert Whitaker Seminar
Trident Reach Health & Wellbeing & Elemental Wellbeing
Thursday, 24th November
Robert Whitaker presented "An Uncomfortable Truth" seminar to workers from REACH. The session looked at Robert's research around psychotropic medication, its effects and poor outcomes. Starting with an overview of the history of "madness", Bob then went on to look at the startling rise of diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in developed countries
Robert Whitaker Charity Event
Rodney House Liverpool & Elemental
Wellbeing
Wednesday, November 23rd
Money raised for EleMental "Vision On" groups (support for reduction / withdrawal from psychiatric medication)
Our friend and colleague, Robert Whitaker joined EleMental Wellbeing in a challenging debate on psychiatric medication and the disturbing issues raised by his book "Anatomy of an Epidemic"
October 2011
Mayfield Fellowship Fundraising Ball
Aintree Race Course
Friday, October 14th
Several EleMental members joined Mayfield Fellowship at their annual charity ball raising money for people with Cerebral Palsy
Wednesday, October 12th
Unconventional Wisdom Conference
Royal Welsh Showground
Builth Wells, Wales
Marion Aslan, David Clark, Pete Sanders and Mike Smith spoke at this conference looking at alternatives and experiences away from mainstream mental health services.
September 2011
Mad Hatters Tea Party
Tuesday September 27th
This event was organised by The Mad Hatters of Bath in Bath Abbey Churchyard and attended by several EleMental members from Oxford and London.
August 2011
EleMental Networking Event
We organised an enjoyable day on our
barge sailing along the canals in Wolverhampton. EleMental members from Birmingham, Coventry, Manchester and Liverpool shared ideas for future events, campaigns and work. Lunch was at a favourite EleMental haunt - Mediterranean restaurant, "Alex's" in Compton.
July 2011
Alternatives to hospital
2nd crisis home opens in rural setting
We are pleased to announce that EleMental colleagues have opened a new service in Wales offering respite / time out/ TLC / support to people experiencing mental distress. The 15 bedded house offers either long or short stay accomodation in a friendly, homely atmosphere supported by experienced, dedicated staff. Self referral - contact;
marionaslan_aol.com
Greece - The THRIVE Approach
"The THRIVE Approach to Overcoming Sadness and Depression" (Aslan & Smith) has now been translated into Greek so that services and mental health organisations in Athens can use the approach.
Mental Health Practice
"Out of Africa"
July 2011/volume 14/ Number 10
www.mentalhealthpractice.co.uk
Marion Aslan and Mike Smith describe the similarities between their approach to psychologcal distress and practices in Kenya
June 2011
Fundraiser for our charity work in Kenya
Understanding and Working with Self Harm Seminar
County Hall, Cwmbran, Wales
June 27th 2011
Mike Smith led this seminar offering practical ways of helping and supporting people who self harm to local workers from the voluntary sector. Proceeds will go directly to our charitable projects in Kenya where we support a range of educational programmes for children infected with HIV, orphans and women and children caught up in the sex industry.
Wear Yellow Walk
June 18th 2011
Raising the profile of mental wellness and wellbeing. Emily Adamberry Olivero M.B.E. organises this walk annually in Gibraltar to raise awareness of mental health issues in the community. She says "There is no health without mental health. It affects us all"
This year EleMental supported the day by organising a number of events internationally to raise awareness of mental health and to highlight human rights issues
May 2011
Colorado Mental Health Advocates Forum
THRIVE (Aslan & Smith) has been incorporated into State Policy. The SAMHSA National Consensus Statement on Mental Health Recovery talks about resiliency’ in recovery. “At the heart of resilience is a belief in oneself – yet also knowledge of something larger than oneself. Resilient people do not let adversity define them. They find resilience by moving towards a goal beyond themselves, transcending pain and grief by perceiving bad times as a temporary state of affairs” (p. 71, THRIVE: The THRIVE approach to Mental Wellness by Marion Aslan & Mike Smith).
Sacred Kerala
Sutton Coldfield United Reformed Church
May 14th 2011
Tessa Lowe from EleMental Birmingham spent 3 months last year in the South Indian State of Kerala. On Saturday, May 14th she hosted a special Indian night at her local church to share her experiences through poetry, photographs, music and food. This inspiring evening was attended by almost 80 people, many of whom had travelled some distance to hear Tessa, a renowned local poet and artist.
All proceeds were donated to a local counselling service.
February 2011
An Evening with Robert Whitaker
The Aubergine Warwick
Feb 23rd 2011
Feedback from this exciting event
by Sandy Hill, crazydiamond
"It was lovely to "break bread" with friends old and new. Bob was dynamic, entertaining and informative. He basically had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats in full support for his message that our current psychotropic medication causes as much - if not more- harm as good.The evening was relaxing , the Turkish food was superb and we would like to thank everyone who came along to this immensely friendly and enjoyable evening.
January 2011
Anatomy of an Epidemic
January 24th / 25th, 2011 Denver, Colorado, USA
Robert Whitaker, Dr Mark Foster, Marion Aslan, Amy Smith and Mike Smith ran a series of talks and seminars on "Alternatives to the Medical Model" attended by key policy makers and change agents from across Colorado. Bob made a compelling case that current psychotropic drugs cause as much, if not more, harm than good. Although challenging, there was tremendous support for the message and a consensus of opinion that we really do need to do something very different in mental health provision. Bob, Mark and EleMental will be continuing this work with future campaigns and workshops in Colorado and other states throughout 2011. We will keep you posted re dates / venues.
