Devoted to the views of people who have experienced
mental health problems.
We welcome contributions from readers for this section of the
website. Please email articles to the webeditor@rcpsych.ac.uk.
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"I have decided to share my experience of growing up with a mother
of mental illness who was only diagnosed when I was 20. This meant
that we did not have any access to any support groups or care by
any outside agency, i.e. social workers or doctors and only had
ourselves to fall back on with long lasting damaging effects on our
lives. I am now at a stage where I would like to share my story in
the hope that others may benefit from this."
Depression and Happiness by Robert D Dangoor
“I thought of this saying when I realised that
when I was depressed,
I stopped myself from doing things – I put
obstacles in my way.
When you’re melancholy it’s like when you’re
in your garage and the engine won’t start.
When you’re content, you’re revving the
engine, raring to go.”
March 2013
An article by Clare Campbell, Member of the RCPsych Carers'
Forum and Dr Michael Yousif, member RCPsych Public Education
Editorial Board.
Natalie writes about her experience of living with
schizophrenia, how she deals with her voices and her recovery from
a recent episode of illness.
An extract from Stan Popovich's book "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear
Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an
easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques
that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties.
"I have many friends who are well-educated and very talented and
are amazing to be around but who occasionally shut themselves away.
They feel utterly worthless and shy away from everyone. I wrote the
song 'Manic Depressive' so that they would not feel alone and to
know that I do understand what they are going through."
"The initial stimulus for this poem was a TV program that I
saw about depression and the brain. Two guest speakers Elyn
Saks and Kay Redfield Jamison, spoke frankly and honestly about
experiences with bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. When they
indicated that depression is the kind of pain that is not easily
put into words, I decided to research the topic. It became more
than a poem and I used the letter - d - profusely." Helen
Slater
"I suppose it's because my psychiatrist changed my life - it's
that simple. This person slowly helped me through difficult
physical and mental stages to the point where I could again
function, and hopefully, once again contribute to society."
Clifford Greenhalgh, a former member of the College's
Carer's Forum talks about his experience of caring for his wife
Freda who suffered from Alzheimer's and what services can do to
improve the care of patients.
First presented at a public seminar as part of the 4th Scottish
Mental Health Arts and Film Festival in 2010.
SD writes about her personal experience of coming off
Venlafaxine and the withdrawal symptoms she experienced. She also
offers very practical advice for anyone considering stopping their
medication.
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Coming Apart : Music video featuring 'Friends of Emmet' about
Kevin Hines' life
Kevin Hines is an extraordinary person who
survived his suicide attempt when he jumped off the Golden Gate
Bridge in San Francisco. His life is now spent in suicide
prevention and he has recently secured a book deal.
An Irish pop band ‘Friends of Emmet’ has written
a song inspired by him and his life. The message is a very powerful
one as the lyrics are inspired by the events leading up
to Kevin's attempted suicide. The video reflects some of
the extraordinary events on the day of his suicide attempt.
However, the song is very upbeat with an incredibly moving and very
powerful message of hope. The music is excellent and the lyrics are
beautiful.
Dr Alys Cole-King
Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist
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South West Division: The Lisa Thomas Poetry Prize
This is an annual prize open to anyone connected with mental
health which takes place during the Spring each year with prizes
being awarded at the South West Division's Spring
Biannual Meeting. There are three prizes, 1st Prize
£300, 2nd Prize £150 and 3rd Prize £50.
The response for the recent competition was excellent and we
received over 60 poems of a very high quality which made it very
difficult for the judges, poets Victoria Field and Matt Harvey
together with Dr Mike Metcalfe. The prizes were presented and
poems read by Victoria and Matt. Unfortunately Emily Wills,
Katherine Fyfe and Mark Lewis were unable to join us but we
were delighted that Angela Hodges could be there to accept her
prize. Read
the winners' entries.
July 2010
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The Guardian: Tell us series
Readers of the You
tell us series have asked the Guardian for more articles
written from a personal perspective. In this series, the
Guardian has commissioned Comment is free
commenters to write above the line about their own experiences.
Each person tackles a subject from a distinctive angle, and makes
policy recommendations, in the hope that they will inspire others
to comment below the line. The Guardian started the series by
looking at
mental health issues.
May 2010
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A talk from the heart about the experiences of service users
struggling on benefits and the governement's push to get people
back into work through the Welfare Reform Bill.
by Graham Morgan from the Highland Users Group
(HUG) at the Annual meeting of Services Users
and Carers: 2009. Graham is also a member of the College's
Service User Recovery Forum.
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Alex writes about her feelings of grief shortly after
losing her father. (Sept 2009)
A report from the Highland Users Group about the important links
between mental and physical health. (2008)
by Graham Morgan of HUG (Highland Users Group). The text of a
talk given at the RCPsych Annual Conference. (June
2007)
We welcome contributions from readers for this section of the
website. Please email articles to the webeditor@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Notes for contributors:
Articles should be less than 3,500 words. They should focus
on the experience of being unwell or recovery. Ideally they should
contain information that others might find useful. Apart from the
Author they should not refer to individuals who could be
identified. Not all articles submitted will be published.
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