Part 1 –What does social inclusion mean?
People have different experiences of this
Social Inclusion (SI) is a buzzword people like to use with ?meaning
SI is not a tool in our lives
Should be Accepting people without having to think they have to be included.
It should be a natural thing
Shouldn’t have to stop and think about it
Term is applied in a really broad way
Not normal language, jargon
Where is the line, who are we talking about?
Words mean what we want them to
Looking at human beings – regardless of age, gender abilities it covers everybody
Hate jargon
SI is people in authority use it to maintain barriers, us and them
If we’re really inclusive it would happen naturally
In the city at the moment how is it?
Too many areas which have views on each other
Not given the same amount of time and consideration for area
Posh areas get more
Who’s including who?
People are very culturally different
When people don’t go out much, mot getting involved much
Different levels
Recent wellbeing event, map of where tolerance and warm welcome, good map
Useful to use libraries and art galleries, generally inclusive
How many of certain sections of society still wouldn’t go in there?
Friendly and casual
In education kids are taken to the places so that can help
How are places different that are socially acceptable?
Nice safe place where you don’t feel humiliated if you cry or get emotional
Accepted
In hospital had to have injections, there is an element of control
Is hospital safe and SI?
An element of alienation in hospital is apparent
It forces changes on people
Stickers on shops that say ‘safe space’ could indicate a safe space, should do
Libraries are comfy places, peaceful where no one disturbs you
Sense of alienation – when you go into hospital after years of working and then being unwell
Things are done to you.
You need fixing
The environment is noisy, chaotic and not helpful
Somewhere where people can be how they are at that moment without someone leaping in to fix
Somewhere to be
When unwell, feel powerless
No one explains what drugs you’re being given
Sedative = less chaos
Understaffed so they keep you quiet
If more therapeutic and less drugs it would be safer
Lots of groups doing different things
We create systems – we want to make good use of it, we also have misuse of systems and abuse to take advantage of their power
Is there any place where we can use our power to create better spaces?
Freedom to choose where to be can lead to us finding somewhere
Decision making meaningful
Social control takes away peoples right tob e in certain places
Challenge to create the ideal environment
This can be a challenge but is done at festivals
Nature, art, creativity etc is important
What does the idea place look like?
Café at Woolston for veterans
All there feel safe, they share common experience
In the 1970s day centres were great, you could go and be safe in any state.
This sort of space is needed
Dementia friendly, safer place for those with this issue
Used to be places in Southampton where wellness was the focus rather than illness
Everyone wants to have wellness
Quiet and solitude needed but also social interaction
If excluded from that contact with each other this is opposite to SI
Once barred from a local wine bar as known to mental health services
Maybe society is becoming a bit more tolerant
People with mental health issues – would we feel more comfortable if more of them were trained? – advanced human beings more exclusive services – stepping stone needed to environmental change
How do we move forward to create this?
Funding and legal issues
At festivals – some of it may not be legal eg restraint
How to deal with this
Empty buildings and lots o creative ideas
Re think drop in centre in Eastleigh etc.
Safe haven cafes – no referral or in crisis required
‘normal’ café, centre of town
Local health commission saved loads of money on fewer emergency admissions
Why haven’t we got one of these? They are staffed by peers and two mental health trained staff
Linked to crht
This is part of co vision
Wellbeing hub is needed
How are we there for people?
Things get a reputation and become exclusive
18 months at Antelope house then into the community – crisis lounge open 4-10 seven days a week, they want to roll it out 24 hour
There is a lot going on – not always aware what’s going on
City of sanctuary project – welcoming for asylum seekers etc but impacts all Torture etc really mucks your mind up so these refugees are hidden as they get nothing.
How do we make each other welcome?
The amount of effort required to get a safe haven sorted out is enormous
CCG have been running a community solutions group – it goes round and round in circles
Is there starting to be a chink because they have no money lieft?
So much whole person stuff needs addressing before people can become netally well
Talking about things like this does help
Even if only to let off steam
Paper called the citizen – would like a feature on what we’re talking about
How do we get news out about what is going on?
Those that exist are out of town
Things are ever changing in the atmosphere of contracts
Sharing information is hard
Constant change is really hard too
Period of stability to go where we need to to get things would help
Information leaflets would help get news out
So many are touched with MH issues
To spread the word
Group and talking therapies really help, support can be found in groups
Journalists can report what happens it is surface though, just sating what happens. Can make short films about organisations that can do with this. You tube channel go to place for information
MH is a great leveller, 1 in 3 have MH issues
Use the bus a lot so lots on the bus may have MH issues
Everyone is vulnerable to MI
We must break down barriers
Part 2 – How do we break down barriers?
When giving information regarding what is needed, those who have power and authority ignore it, so frustrating.
When in circles with those people need to keep saying it like it is
Lots of us do our best but are frustrated when we ask for help
Those in power don’t really consider us to be part of the solution
Isolation is a big issue
Being really inclusive is not doing to or being done to
Need adult to adult conversations
Information and social evenings are a good move
Also want to offer something for carers and not just for people with MH issues
It is still tough for people to go to new things
Walls that are built around us create barriers
Hospital doesn’t have capacity to discuss peoples different experiences of the world
Philosophical discussions etc are needed
The ability to discuss things like visions so they can understand them rather than suppress them
Stability an within the sane
We need to understand ourselves better
Allow understanding and working with.
When in hospital not there by choice
Have to be so careful what you sayd finding and caring for people who need it
MH carers don’t listen peoples beliefs
They aren’t seen as worthy
They have a very narrow view
Non ordinary minds – different types of brains – get with the programme!
Cross cultural work also equals other societies approach to MH issues in a very different way
Spiritually sensitive people often are those who suffer mental ill health
This has been jumped on from a great height – need to be much more aware of spiritual needs in healthcare
Growth within ourselves is very important but barriers of ‘professional learning’ dismiss this
Often wilderness tribal people those we would call psychotic are shamen for them
Boxy society = boxy brains
Need more curves in architecture
Psychology and psychiatry are in their infancy
The medical profession needs a good kick up the arse
Some HCPs are really good, they attend to your whole being needs
Question for next time:
How do we pull the healthcare profession into touch to become more holistic?