for better mental health

Issue 2
20 Summer
0 Summer 2015
mind.org.uk
for better mental health
In focus: caring
What it means for
your mental health
After the election
What happens now?
The truth about
schizophrenia
One member’s
powerful story
Lysette Anthony
The actress on supporting her
mum through bipolar disorder
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01/07/2015 15:44
Issue 20 Summer 2015
A lot of the articles in this edition of Mind
Membership News reflect one key theme: caring.
We know many of our members are carers,
and wanted to explore what it really means to
look after someone else.
So our ‘Four-page focus’ examines the impact that
caring for others can have on your mental health.
After a recent study suggested that levels of stress,
depression and anxiety among carers are high
and getting higher, we ask what more can be
done to help people cope.
Elsewhere, the actress Lysette Anthony explains
the challenges she faced to care for her mum, who
had bipolar disorder. Psychiatrist Alex Langford
wishes he had more time to provide the care at
Bethlem Royal Hospital that he knows can be
so valuable. And Mind member Terry shares his
experience of schizophrenia, remembering the
welcome
nurse who cared enough to help him finally accept
his condition after years of struggling.
Ultimately, caring is at the heart of what it means
to be human – but that doesn’t stop it from often
going unnoticed. So here’s to an issue in celebration
of caring. And here’s to you, too, for caring
about and believing in
better mental health,
PS. We’ve teamed up with Penguin Random House
UK for an exclusive members’ writing competition see the back page to find out more.
contents
15Advice from our legal team
Getting a carer’s assessment
05Mind news
The latest from Mind HQ
16 Lysette Anthony
The actress on her mum’s
bipolar disorder
06Mental health news
Our views on the headlines
07After the election
The impact of your campaigning
08A day (and night) in the life
Junior psychiatrist Alex Langford
10Advice from our info team
The signs of hoarding
11 Four-page focus
Carers and mental health
Become a member today
18 O
ut and about
Green-fingered local Minds
20Mental health in focus
Living with schizophrenia
22Treatment in focus
Member Sammy’s experience
of taking St John’s wort
23Reviews and your letters
2
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 2-3
Mind Membership News is published
quarterly by Mind (registered charity
number 219830) © Mind 2015.
Unless otherwise stated all images
are the copyright of Mind.
Mind, 15-19 Broadway, Stratford,
London, E15 4BQ.
T 020 8519 2122 F 020 8522 1725
If you would like to update your
personal details please contact
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membership@mind.org.uk
Editor: Matt Kurton
Designed by: redcow
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Membership Officer: Meg Burke
Printed by: Resource
24Enter our exclusive members’
creative writing competition
To join a growing group of people who play a part in
everything we do, please go to www.mind.org.uk/membership
Sub-zero temperatures. Gale-force winds. Near-vertical climbs.
The Mind ambassadors and supporters who took on the Mind 3000s
challenge knew it was going to be tough – but did they know how
tough? Vicky Urquhart, Mind community fundraising coordinator,
remembers the highs and lows of 24 gruelling hours.
Saturday
4am
My alarm goes off and I immediately
feel excited. Months of training and
preparation have gone into getting
us all to this point and I’m itching to
get started.
Matt Kurton
Editor
03Mind 3000s
Trekker Vicky’s emotional diary
‘We have to lie down
so we won’t be blown over’
Renew your membership
Renew your membership online at www.mind.org.uk/renewal
Alternatively, call the Membership Team on 0300 999 6367
6am
It’s raining as we set off for our first
mountain – Scafell Pike, the highest
point in England. We have a quick pep
talk from our brilliant team captain,
Mind ambassador [and recent
Membership News cover star] Anna
Williamson, and set off with our spirits
high. I look around at my teammates
and wonder what we’ll share in the
next 24 hours.
and knees, only to find another
near-vertical climb up loose
rubble around the corner. The
team rallies together instantly
when someone is struggling;
I can’t believe we’ve only known
each other for a few hours. My
teammate Louise says, ‘If I ever
feel like I can’t do something,
I’ll think about this and
remember I can’.
12pm
We reach the top of Scafell. The
clouds are starting to clear, the views
are incredible and, as our group
leader says, ‘This is the point where
you feel very small’. It strikes me
how mindful climbing mountains can
be: you have no choice but to think
only about where you are placing
your feet.
8.50am
We’ve reached the top of
Scafell Pike. There’s not much
to see as we’re right in the
clouds and it’s blowing a gale.
We stop for a snack and my
teammate Bruce whips out a
Nando’s corn on the cob! It’s the
first really surreal moment of the
day and makes me realise how
hard it is to laugh at 3000ft in
50mph winds.
9.30am
We start the ascent to Scafell,
mountain number two. It’s like
nothing I’ve done before or could
have expected. We climb a 60ft
near-vertical gully on our hands
Everything I’ve done on this
trek has been so far out of
my comfort zone, but I’ve
had amazing support from
friends and family
Vicky with Rory, her team’s mascot
6pm
After a very quick stop for soup and
a roll, we’re on our way up Helvellyn.
The terrain is completely different but
equally challenging. At this point I
realise that whenever and wherever
you ask a group leader how far it is
to go, they will answer, ‘Not long,
around the corner’. They are lying,
but I think I’m grateful for it.
Many trekkers walked with people who
have supported their mental health
continues overleaf
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01/07/2015 15:44
Mind Membership News
9pm
We’ve been walking for 15 hours
when we reach the top of
Helvellyn. Lots of the team are
feeling it now, and old injuries are
surfacing. There’s a lot of
incredible bravery in the team. For
some of us – like Gail Porter, who is
terrified of heights but has taken on
this challenge – the brave thing is to
keep going. For others, the brave
thing is deciding not to go on when
we’ve reached our limits. Both
decisions are hard, and remind me
that these 24 hours are just the end
of a really long journey for the team
– and that our achievements stretch far
beyond climbing these mountains.
11.30pm
We reach the bottom of Helvellyn
in the dark, our head torches on.
We’re running late so we have to
hurry back to the hostel for a quick
dinner of chilli and rice before getting
straight back out onto the final peak
– Skiddaw. At the hostel I read a text
from my best friend and another
from my parents. They tell me they’re
proud of me, and I have a little cry.
Everything I’ve done on this trek has
been so far out of my comfort zone,
but I’ve had amazing support from
friends and family.
Team England on the rocks at
Scafell Pike
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2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 4-5
For some of us – like Gail Porter,
who is terrified of heights but has
taken on this challenge – the
brave thing is to keep going. Vicky
mind news
Blue Light campaign launch
Mind is now offering specialist
mental health support to emergency
services staff and volunteers,
following the launch of our major
new Blue Light Programme.
caption
After our recent survey revealed
that emergency staff and volunteers
are twice as likely as the general
population to have a mental health
problem – but less likely to seek
help – we’re encouraging employees
and volunteers from the police, fire,
ambulance, and search and rescue
services to open up and find support.
We’ve already launched a special
Blue Light Infoline and published
a series of information booklets.
Sunday
Top left: Gail Porter and Anna Williamson;
Top right: Team Wales at the Glyder Fach
cantilever stone;
Above: Team England at Scafell Pike summit;
Left: Matt Johnson, James ‘Arg’ Argent
and Nicholas Pinnock
2am
We’re at the top of Skiddaw, our final
peak. I thought I’d be jubilant at this
point but the wind is blowing at 90mph
and I feel really scared for the first time.
The leaders tell us first to lie down so we
won’t be blown over, and then to link
arms as we descend to help anchor
ourselves. Even when the wind dies
down we stay linked. It feels right to
finish the challenge like this.
9.30am
Getting up for breakfast on Sunday
morning, it still hasn’t hit me what
we’ve achieved. I check my fundraising
page and find I’m £40 away from
raising £1000, and the team total is up
to £58,000. As I hobble to the station
to catch a train home, I know that
every step was worth it.
4.20am
We reach the bottom of Skiddaw,
23-and-a-half-hours after setting off.
I’m so tired I don’t know how to feel,
but as I hug my teammates it starts to
feel like we’ve done it! Arriving back at
the hostel I see my Mind colleagues
and can’t decide whether to cry or laugh.
Anna Williamson and Gail Porter got
back before us but have waited up to
welcome us back and make us hot drinks.
At time of print, our heroic
Mind 3000s trekkers had raised
more than £60,000 to support the
Mind Infoline. Demand for the
Infoline has doubled in the past
two years, and the trekkers’ efforts
mean we’ll be able to answer 7,500
more calls for help. On behalf of
everyone at Mind, we’d like to say
a huge thanks to our trekkers and
everyone who sponsored them.
And we’re organising wellbeing
courses to help emergency staff
and volunteers look after their
mental health.
Vice UK focuses on mental health
Vice UK, the online magazine,
partnered with Mind recently to
publish a series of hard-hitting
articles and reports about young
people’s mental health, along with
a special video documentary.
You can see them all at
www.vice.com/en_uk/series/
the-vice-guide-to-mental-health
If you work or volunteer in
the emergency services or
know someone who does,
please spread the word.
And to find out more, head to
www.mind.org.uk/bluelight
‘Headclutchers’ under fire
A new Time to Change campaign is
targeting the ‘headclutcher’ images
often used to illustrate news articles
about mental health.
Can you explain your deepest
feelings to a stranger? Or describe
what wellbeing means to you in
a few hundred words?
“We are delighted this group
of talented and inspiring writers
has come together to create
the extraordinary Dear Stranger
for Mind,” said Charlotte Porter, our
Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer.
News-in-brief
MPs meet members
Forty MPs met Mind members,
campaigners and local Mind staff
at a recent Parliamentary reception.
We set up the event to help
politicians understand the
mental health care that’s
needed in their constituencies.
Bestselling authors raise
vital funds for Mind
Those were the questions set to
writers including Caitlin Moran,
Marian Keyes and Alain de Botton
recently, and their responses are
among dozens featured in Dear
Stranger: Letters on the subject
of happiness, a new collection
published by Penguin Random
House to raise money for Mind,
which is reviewed on p23.
Issue 20 Summer 2015
For each copy sold, Penguin is
donating at least £3 to Mind.
As a Mind member you can
buy the book for £12.99
(normally £14.99) with free
postage and packaging.
To purchase Dear Stranger please
call 01233 214202 quoting MD001.
Or visit www.hobbiesontheweb
.co.uk/dearstranger
By working with journalists and mental
health campaigners, the Time to Change
team have developed a series of photos
that show mental health in a more
realistic light. These high-quality shots
are free for journalists to download,
with The Sunday Express and
The Guardian among the publications
that have already used them.
To see the full range of photos,
head to www.time-to-change.org.
uk/getthepicture
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01/07/2015 15:44
Issue 20 Summer 2015
Mind Membership News
news
mental health
For more mental health news visit
www.mind.org.uk/news
Survey reveals young
people’s struggles
CQC says crisis care system is ‘struggling to cope’
What happened?
What happened?
What was said?
A survey by Mind and the Lucy Rayner
Foundation – which was set up after
22-year-old Lucy Rayner took her own
life in 2012 – found that 55% of 18-24year-olds find it hard to discuss low
feelings. Nearly two-thirds (64%)
pretend they are OK when they are not.
Investigators from the Care
Quality Commission (CQC) found
that people in England who need
urgent mental healthcare are
receiving inadequate support.
Sophie Corlett, our Director of
External Relations, said: “The report
shows how much more there is to
be done to ensure that services
are providing caring and
meaningful support to
people when they
experience a mental
health crisis. It also
rightly points out that the
Crisis Care Concordat
can help address these
issues by getting local
services and
organisations to work
better together.”
What we said…
Becky Rayner, Lucy’s sister, said: “It’s
important to talk about
our feelings and mental
health: this was
something Lucy found
hard to do… If we do,
hopefully a few more
people might recognise
Lucy’s sisters their symptoms and
Emma and feel brave enough to
Becky ask for help.”
20,000 complete
taskforce survey
What happened?
After a Mental Health Taskforce was
launched to help shape a five-year
national strategy for mental health,
more than 20,000 people shared
their experiences and opinions via
an online survey.
The CQC report, entitled
‘Right here, right now,’
was based on patient
surveys, inspections
and analysis of national
statistics, and found that
only 14% of people
thought the care they
received was the right
response and helped
to resolve their crisis.
Nationwide Concordat progress
What happened?
By April, every local area in the UK
had prepared a Crisis Care Concordat
action plan – meaning that agencies
and services across the country have
now established how they will work
together to ensure people in mental
health crisis
get the help
and support
they need.
What we said…
“The huge response
has shown us the
strength of feeling
around the need
to improve services
for mental health,”
said Paul Farmer,
Mind’s CEO.
“Four themes
are emerging:
preventing mental health
problems, access to services,
integration of services and
attitudes to mental health.”
What we said…
Our CEO Paul Farmer commented:
“That every local area across
England now has a Concordat
plan setting out what actions
partners – including the police,
NHS and charities – will take to
improve mental health crisis care
is incredible progress from where
we started in early 2014. Now we
must make sure that these plans
are put into practice.”
Police cell use tackled
What happened?
Home Secretary Theresa May
announced that a new police
and sentencing bill will ban the use
of police cells for children who are
experiencing a mental health crisis.
She also pledged up to £15m of
funding to provide alternatives to
police cells for people detained
under the Mental Health Act.
What we said…
Paul Farmer, our Chief Executive, said:
“We welcome the Government’s
commitments around mental health
and policing. A police cell is not an
appropriate or therapeutic place
for people in mental health crisis.
No matter who you are or where
you live, you should have access
to an appropriate ‘place of safety’.”
After the election, what now?
Mind’s Parliamentary Manager, Louise Rubin, looks at the impact of
your campaigning and explains which issues we’ll be focusing on now.
As you’ll hopefully have seen in recent
editions of Mind Membership News,
the build up to this year’s election was
a big deal for Mind. Our aim was to
make sure all parties and politicians
showed serious commitment to
improving mental health.
To help achieve this, we produced our
own manifesto (outlined in the January
Mind Membership News), we met with
as many MPs and candidates as we
could, and we worked closely with the
local Mind network and our Voices of
Mind campaigners to organise debates,
newspaper articles and more.
But the most important work was
done by people like you. Thousands of
campaigners and members helped to
make sure mental health couldn’t be
ignored. You…
And that amazing effort paid off,
with all of the party manifestos
containing significant sections on
mental health. All six of our manifesto
asks were included in at least one party
manifesto, and some were mentioned
in four or five. This gives us a really
good platform to work with each party
over the next few years.
So what now?
Immediately after the election, we
emailed you to ask which mental health
issue the new Government should
focus on. Here’s how you voted:
32% Ensuring everyone has safe
and speedy access to quality
crisis care, all day, every day.
22.5% Ensuring everyone who needs
psychological therapies can
access them within 28 days.
• Took nearly 12,000 campaign
actions online.
• Contacted 99% of MPs.
18%
• Sent 5,000 emails to the party leaders.
• Helped our mental health
funding petition attract over
100,000 signatures.
12%
Increasing the mental health
budget by at least 10% over
five years.
Developing a national strategy
for wellbeing and resilience.
8.5% Transforming the support for
people who are out of work
because of their mental health.
7%
ontinuing to fund
C
programmes to reduce stigma
and discrimination, like Time
to Change.
Based on what you told us, we’ll be
prioritising and working on all of these
issues – and we’ll also be responding to
new policy issues, like the threat to the
Human Rights Act.
We think the act provides vital protections
to people with mental health problems,
by ensuring that people are treated with
dignity in hospital, for instance. But the
Government has said it plans to make
changes to human rights legislation,
and we want to be sure that any changes
do not undermine your freedoms.
The noise you made before the election
meant politicians were definitely listening
– but we need to keep working together
to ensure promises are kept. So please
join us in sustaining the pressure, as we
work to make sure everyone with a
mental health problem is always
guaranteed support and respect.
Want to campaign for better mental health? Visit www.mind.org.uk/campaign
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01/07/2015 15:45
Issue 20 Summer 2015
Mind Membership News
A day (and night) in the life
Alex Langford, junior doctor in psychiatry
As a junior doctor training as a consultant psychiatrist at Bethlem Royal Hospital,
Alex Langford spends his days working on one ward but is often on call to cover
several others overnight. In this special ‘day in the life’, we go behind the scenes
on a typical dayshift and a typical nightshift.
As a physician I often
felt like all I did was
tinker with tablet
doses. But in mental
health services you can
advocate for people
and help them make
more of their lives.
more for people in psychiatric services.
As I physician I often felt like all I did
was tinker with tablet doses. But in
mental health services you can
advocate for people and help them
make more of their lives. People with
mental health problems often feel like
they have nothing left by the time they
see a psychiatrist.
There’s been a lot said lately about
parity between physical and mental
health, but it simply doesn’t
reflect reality.
6am
As the new day begins, the varied jobs
continue. Moving from seeing a very
confused elderly man with dementia
who is trying to leave the ward to
seeing a ten-year-old with autism
who’s had a seizure can be a bit tricky.
You have to make everyone as safe as
you can in the time you have. Over the
years you learn to check yourself and
to be reflective, so you (hopefully) start
each new task in a calm state.
It’s about sticking up for patients,
however we can: for example,
by making sure they get seen by
other doctors for their physical health
problems, or making sure the council
takes their letters seriously, or making
sure their mental health problems are
understood by people involved in their
legal processes.
And with that done, it’s time for me to
clock off – generally around 6pm.
The nightshift
The dayshift
9.30am
My day job is on Norbury Ward,
a 12-bed medium secure ward for
men with a history of offending.
It’s a forensic ward, meaning that our
patients have usually broken the law as
well as having a mental health problem.
Whatever their history, though, our
primary focus is on supporting recovery.
Reducing the risk our patients pose to
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2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 8-9
others (and themselves) is important
too. A lot of our patients are subject
to restrictions, so only the Ministry of
Justice can discharge them.
At the start of an ordinary dayshift
I check my emails then head to the
ward round. The mental health
problems we see here vary, frequently
including schizophrenia, personality
disorders and bipolar disorder.
10am
Every ward round is different. My
consultant leads the discussions while
I take notes and chip in. We generally
talk about an individual’s mental state,
physical health and medication. We
review their section details, and try
hard to keep people engaged with
occupational therapy and psychology
groups. We’re very collaborative and
everyone’s opinion is important: the
nurses see the patients the most so
their opinions are vital.
9pm
The nightshifts at the Bethlem are
extremely varied. We have two
children’s wards, the National Psychosis
Unit, a mother and baby unit, some
residential OCD units, a neuropsychiatric
ward, an eating disorders ward and the
National Autism Unit, as well as a
handful of general wards. I tend to
cover half of those when I’m on call.
Unsurprisingly, it’s not the kind of role
where you can be on call at home:
if I’m on call, I’m here.
One of the good things about working
on a forensic ward, where there are
more staff due to better funding,
is that you get more time with people.
A ward round might last for four or five
hours and we’ll often see just seven or
eight people – though even that feels
too rushed sometimes.
There’s always a mix of jobs to do. I
might start by doing blood tests on the
eating disorders ward, for example,
or by rewriting some drug charts.
3.30pm
After the ward round I head back
to the office to write reports
and referral letters.
Compared to working in general
medical services, you can do so much
10.30pm
I’m called to see a patient who has
self-harmed on a ward. Even though
hospital is a pretty safe place it’s
impossible to prevent every incident.
In this case the person only needs
a simple dressing, not a trip to A&E
for stitches. We talk about how they
were feeling before self-harming
and about what might help them
cope in the future.
12am
Another part of the job is handling
new arrivals – for instance if the police
bring someone to us under section 136
of the Mental Health Act. Often an
individual might arrive during the night
and be very paranoid or manic.
If they need to come into hospital but
we don’t have a bed, we sometimes
have to transfer them hundreds of
miles away. This is a horrible
experience. It makes you feel ashamed
that you can’t provide the same care
you’d provide if the person had a
physical illness. There’s been a lot said
lately about parity between physical
and mental health, but it simply
doesn’t reflect reality.
Psychiatry is a very complex kind of
medicine. When you start, it really is a
big learning curve. Ultimately, though,
the difference you can make to
someone’s life is absolutely huge. That
can be really fulfilling, but it can be
frustrating too. I sometimes feel that
the best we can do is hold back the
tide of illness, rather than make the
difference we might, because we just
don’t have enough resources.
That’s often the sort of thing I think
about as I head home at 9am: I have a
great job, but the state of mental health
services could be so much better.
Alex’s qualifications
Bachelor of Medicine (BM)
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in
Psychology
Member of the Royal College of
Physicians (MRCP)
Member of the Royal College of
Psychiatrists (MRCPsych)
Get in touch with Alex on Twitter
@PsychiatrySHO
Want to suggest a job in mental healthcare you’d like to know more about?
Work in mental health and want to share your story? Email matt@mind.org.uk and we’ll be in touch.
9
01/07/2015 15:45
PULLOUT
Mind Membership News
ADVICE FROM OUR INFO TEAM
Introduction to hoarding
It’s had a lot of media attention
in recent years, but what effect
can hoarding have on your
mental health? Here’s what you
need to know.
What is hoarding?
Although lots of people collect
belongings or find it hard to throw
things away, hoarding could be
classed as a mental health problem if:
• The amount of clutter in your home
is increasing.
• You find it hard not to bring new
things home.
• The amount of belongings you
have makes it hard for you to use
your home.
• You feel very anxious or distressed at
the idea of throwing anything away.
If that’s the case, your hoarding could
have a big impact on your wellbeing.
And your family and friends might be
very worried or frustrated by the clutter
in your home, too.
What causes hoarding?
The reasons for hoarding are different
for each person, but some common
causes include:
• Feeling a compulsive need to
acquire possessions.
• Experiencing other mental health
problems, like depression, stress
or anxiety.
• Dealing with a difficult life event,
like bereavement.
• Feeling very anxious about making
decisions, or worrying excessively
about the consequences of throwing
things away.
Your questions answered
Q
I’ve just started a new
relationship. Should I let my
partner know that I have a
mental health problem? Millie
A
There’s no single answer to this
question, so really it’s up to you to
decide when the time feels right.
The most important thing is that
you feel ready and comfortable
before you do say anything.
It can help to think about what
you want to say beforehand. If
you sometimes need support
if you’re feeling low, or if any
medication you’re taking has
side effects, you might want to
mention things like that.
But whatever you choose
to say – and however scary
the conversation might seem
beforehand – remember that
mental health problems affect huge
numbers of people. You might even
find your partner is trying to find the
right time to tell you about
their experiences.
It can be confusing news to hear,
so be prepared to do a little explaining.
Your partner might feel a little
overwhelmed or want to know what
impact your mental health problem
has on your life. If they have questions
you can’t answer, why not direct them
to Mind’s information or Infoline?
• Feeling lonely or insecure.
Being surrounded by possessions can
feel comforting, and not throwing
things out might temporarily help to
keep anxiety at bay.
What support is there?
If hoarding is affecting your
relationships or wellbeing, or if
it’s making your home unsafe,
it’s important to seek help.
Your GP is a good starting point.
They may suggest cognitive
behavioural therapy (CBT),
which can help you change the
way you think and act. You could
try contacting a local Mind too –
some have services to help
specifically with hoarding.
Mind’s info team
Stephen Buckley
Head of Information
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 10-11
FOCUS
Carers and mental health
Across the UK today, more than
six and a half million people
provide unpaid care for
relatives, friends and partners.
But how can being a carer affect
your mental health – and what
can carers do to make sure
they’re looking after their
own wellbeing?
Back in May, the charity Carers UK released the
results of its latest ‘State of Caring’ survey. Based
on the experiences of over 4,500 carers, it paints
a worrying picture of what life is like for the
6.5 million people in the UK who look after an ill,
older or disabled relative, friend or partner.
More than half of the people who responded
(55%) say that they have experienced depression
as a result of their caring role. And a significant
majority say that the pressures on their mental
health are increasing, with 84% feeling more
stressed and 78% feeling more anxious than they
did a year ago.
Stress is a big issue, caused
by a whole range of factors –
from worrying about the person
you’re caring for, to juggling
work and caring, to not having
time to look after yourself.
What is a carer?
It’s worth explaining that a carer is usually defined as
someone who provides informal, unpaid care for a partner,
family member or friend. So we’re not talking about
professional care staff or home helps here (even though
those people may face similar challenges).
And it’s also worth mentioning that anyone, from any
background, can become a carer. Every year, around two
million adults in the UK begin caring for another person who
has a physical or mental health problem (nearly a third of
respondents to the Carers UK survey care for someone with
a mental health problem). More and more young people are
taking on caring responsibilities every year too.
The support those carers give ranges hugely, from hands-on
personal and emotional care to help with things like cooking,
cleaning and filling in forms. And, as life expectancy rises
and more people survive serious illnesses and live longer
with disabilities, the number of carers is rising fast – with
11% more carers in the UK in 2011 than in 2001.
Rachel Boyd
Information Manager
*Texts are charged at your
standard message rate.
10
FOUR-PAGE
Many might not think of themselves as carers: simply seeing
what they do as part of being a friend, relative or partner.
But, whether they use the word or not, the UK’s growing
army of carers face a range of very real challenges to staying
physically and mentally healthy.
And remember that a mental health
problem is only part of who you are
(and that your partner already likes
who you are, too!).
Got an issue or question about
mental health? To contact Mind’s
Infoline call 0300 123 3393, text
86463* or email info@mind.org.uk
Issue 2
20 Summer
0 Summer 2015
continues overleaf
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Issue 20 Summer 2015
Mind Membership News
The challenges of caring
The new Care Act in England
So how can being a carer impact on your wellbeing?
Everyone’s situation is different and, as some of the case
studies from Mind members on these pages show, caring
can be a positive experience – bringing people together.
The good news is that recent changes to legislation should
make it easier for carers in England to seek help. The Care
Act 2014 came into force in April and gives important new
rights to carers.
But there are common risks, too. Stress is a big issue,
caused by a whole range of factors – from worrying about
the person you’re caring for, to juggling work and caring,
to not having time to look after yourself. More than threequarters of respondents to the Carers UK survey said they
were concerned about the impact of caring on their own
health, with many struggling to eat healthily or sleep well.
Under the new law, if you look after someone who needs
care and you appear to need support, your local authority
has a duty to give you both a free assessment.
Loneliness and isolation can be problems too, if caring for
someone means you spend less time with other people.
“Six out of ten carers say they have lost touch with
friends or family,” says Chloe Wright, Public Affairs and
Policy Manager at Carers UK.
“That breakdown in relationships can have a big impact on
people’s ability to cope. If you don’t have someone to turn
to, that can certainly lead to increased anxiety and stress.”
Money is often a worry too, with almost half of carers
struggling to make ends meet, according to Carers UK.
And a caring role can also leave people feeling frustrated
by their new situation, as well as less confident in their
ability to do anything other than caring.
If you don’t have someone
to turn to, that can certainly lead
to increased anxiety and stress.
Chloe Wright, Carers UK
Caring: in your
own words
We asked you for your
experiences of caring
and being cared for.
Thank you to everyone
who shared these
powerful stories.
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2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 12-13
Case study: Herts Mind Network
“I think what we’ve learnt is that one size doesn’t fit all,”
says Julie Nicholson, Chief Executive of Herts Mind
Network, where supporting carers has been a priority
for several years. “Some carers want respite, so we
run sessions where people who care for someone
with memory loss can leave that person with us,
for instance, and have some time to themselves.
“Others want to meet people in a similar situation,
so we run a pottery group just for carers. It’s a
peer support group and a diversion from
caring responsibilities.
“And we’ve done a lot of work in schools, which has
led us to launch a new project for young carers
and care leavers. It will combine structured
one-to-one support and peer support to help young
people develop coping strategies as they become
more independent.
“We say that anybody can refer themselves to us,
and we do get a lot of carers. People ring up wanting
counselling, wanting to talk to somebody or wanting
to develop ways to cope. We’re here to help people
talk things through.”
“My situation is
unusual in that I
live 3,000
miles from the person I care for.
Fran and I met on Facebook; we like
to say that the internet means no
one is too far away to be cared for
or to care. Fran has moved through
episodes of mania, depression and
debilitating fatigue, and while she
has local friends and a great team
of professionals, I’m the person she
is in most direct and constant
contact with: the one she relies on
to be there day or night.” Martin
“Since I became
ill a few years
ago, my mum
has been my full-time carer. There
has been no information on how to
look after me, and I know now how
difficult this has made it for her.
My mum has done nothing but look
after me, support me and care for
me. She has spent countless nights
staying up with me when I couldn’t
be left alone. I am so grateful for
having such a wonderful mum
and carer.” Suzie
This is the case regardless of your financial situation or how
much you seem to need support. You can be assessed at the
same time as the person you care for, although this doesn’t
have to be the case. And if you do need support and meet
the eligibility criteria set out in the Care Act, you will be
entitled to help.
In addition, the Care Act also means local authorities have a
duty to keep your wellbeing in mind – so the impact of
caring on your mental health will be taken into account. This
means considering your views, wishes, feelings and beliefs.
And it means assuming that you are the best person to
judge your own wellbeing.
Spreading the word
Chloe describes the new Care Act as “really significant,”
but admits the challenge now is letting the UK’s 6.5 million
carers know about their new rights.
“It can make a huge difference if people get effective
practical and financial assistance early on after
becoming a carer,” she says, “but often people don’t
know what support there is or who to approach.
People can also be put off by a benefits system that
can be hugely complicated, so there remains a
mountain for us to climb in terms of helping carers
to understand what’s available.
“Your mum is
the one that’s
supposed to
protect you and make you feel safe.
Watching mine suffer from crippling
depression breaks my heart more
every day. I feel helpless to fix her.
She’s not well enough to be there
for me but her safety is in my
hands. The sheer responsibility of
caring for a suicidal person is
almost too much to take, but she’s
my mum and I’ll always do it
because I love her.” Hannah
“And it’s also the case, of course, that these fantastic
legal rights are being introduced at a time when local
authorities are facing historic funding pressures,”
she adds. “So they are in the position of making a limited
budget work across a larger number of people: it’s too
early to tell yet what the impact of this will be.”
Still, for the time being, Chloe’s advice is clear: carers should
try and find out what support they could be entitled to –
from benefits and financial help to social and respite care.
“I think it tends to be the case with carers that they put
the person they care for first,” she says. “So they might
try to find out what support is available for that person,
without considering that they might be able to get help
too. But carers need to think about themselves as well.”
Case study: Hackney & City Mind
Many carers say they struggle to ‘switch off’ and make
time for themselves, so the Mind team in Hackney have
run three mindfulness courses for 40 local carers – with
more courses already planned.
Mindfulness teaches techniques that can help people relax
by paying more attention to the present moment, and the
Hackney carers who joined the courses described feeling
less anxious, less stressed and a greater sense of wellbeing.
“I am now finding that I am reaching for mindfulness
practices in my everyday life in moments where
I am becoming anxious,” said one carer. “It helps me
sometimes just to see the world in a new light
and be grateful.”
“My parents
have been so
caring and
supportive. They definitely wish
they could do more to help with my
depression and have questioned
whether they have been good
enough as parents. I always try to
reassure them though; I love
and care for them so much and
appreciate all they do for me. I am
truly grateful to have such great
supportive carers in my life.” Eloise
“What it’s like
to be a carer?
Wonderful. A
privilege. Wal’s ‘illness’ is part of him
and without it he wouldn’t be the
same person. Being a carer is scary,
frustrating, worrying and lonely at
times, but then the good moments
come and all the negative emotions
soon disappear.” Tufty
continues overleaf
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01/07/2015 15:45
Issue 20 Summer 2015
Mind Membership News
ADVICE FROM OUR LEGAL TEAM
continued from previous page
I think it tends to be the case with
carers that they put the person
they care for first ... But carers
need to think about themselves
as well. Chloe Wright, Carers UK
What to do if you’re worried about someone
If you’re concerned about the
mental health of someone close
to you, what action should
you take?
Looking after yourself
As well as investigating official support, there are plenty of
things carers can do to care for their own wellbeing. A lot
of these involve making time – for example to eat healthily,
to get rest, to do something physical and to relax.
Yoga, meditation and mindfulness can all be great ways
to unwind. So can simple things like going for a coffee or
taking a walk around a park.
And, if you are a carer, thinking and talking about your role
is often valuable, too. If you can, share your feelings with
someone you trust. Try and be realistic about what care you
can – and can’t – offer. Do what you can to help the person
you care for become more independent. And if you’re
finding things difficult, try and speak openly with the person
you care for: talk about the positives in your relationship and
find ways to cope together.
Chloe Wright from Carers UK
Many local Mind groups – like the ones we’ve used
as case studies in this article – run groups for carers,
and our focus on carers continues to grow. As Chloe
Wright neatly sums up, when you care for someone,
you provide a vital service – but you also need
support yourself.
“People provide care out of love,” she says. “They
want to be there when the person they love
needs support. But they rightly also want to
have the back up of the health, care and social
security services. When people know they are
managing well and providing excellent care with
the right backing, that’s the best outcome for
everyone involved.”
To find out more about coping as a carer, visit www.mind.org.uk and search for ‘carers’
Caring: in your
own words
(continued from
previous page)
14
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 14-15
“On the night my son was hospitalised,
I heard a noise and thought a cat or
fox had strayed into the building. But
the distressed noise was coming from
me. My anguish and the failure to
protect my son had resulted in this
physical cry of despair. I have never
felt so alone or vulnerable. My story
doesn’t have a wholly happy ending,
unfortunately, but I am more
knowledgeable now and things have
changed for the better.” Patricia
“When people talk
about their support
networks, bosses
rarely seem to get mentioned. However,
I credit my bosses with helping me
stay well and succeed in a career I
love. My current boss has shown a
real desire to learn more about my
world of bipolar and borderline
personality disorder. In turn this meant
he has been able to understand the
challenges I face and let me lead the
way on how we manage my health at
work.” Suzie
• A court has given you authority to
make health care decisions for them.
if mental health professionals agree
that a person:
When you’re in this situation,
it’s important to try and explore
your concerns together. You could
start by encouraging the person to
visit their GP. But remember that
anyone aged 18 or over must seek
help for themselves. You have no
legal right to arrange services for
them unless:
If you feel someone’s mental health
is deteriorating, however, you can
contact the local authority social
services and speak to an Approved
Mental Health Professional (AMHP)
about arranging a Mental Health Act
(MHA) assessment. If you are the
person’s nearest relative under the
MHA, the AMHP must consider your
request, and should give reasons if
they decide not to assess.
• Needs to be assessed and treated
urgently in hospital (and that no
other less restrictive treatment
is possible).
• They have given you permission.
The law and sectioning
•Y
ou are their named health care
attorney on a Lasting Power of
Attorney (which means they’ve
appointed you to make decisions
for them).
Sectioning, where a person can be
taken to hospital without their
agreement, is possible after a MHA
assessment. But it should only happen
Your questions answered
Q
How can I get a carer’s
assessment?
• A supported self-assessment (when
you lead the assessment yourself,
with support from the local authority).
A
As we explain in this issue’s
‘Four-page focus’, if you care
for someone and you appear
to need support, your local
authority is under a legal duty
to give you a carer’s assessment.
• A joint assessment (when you
and the local authority assess your
situation together).
You can ask for an assessment
by getting in touch with your
local authority’s adult social
services team in writing,
online or by calling them. If you
care for someone with a mental
health problem, social services
staff might ask you to speak to
the Community Mental Health
Team instead.
Your assessment could be:
• Online or on the phone.
• F ace to face.
• A combined assessment (when your
needs are assessed at the same time
as those of the person you care for).
• Risks getting seriously worse if
they do not get treatment quickly.
• P oses a risk to their own safety
or someone else’s safety if they
don’t get treatment quickly.
Mind’s legal team
Alison Fiddy
Head of Legal
Your assessment has to be appropriate
and proportionate. For example, if your
situation is complicated, an online
assessment might not be sufficient to
properly identify your needs.
In the assessment, the local authority
must consider whether you are able
and willing to continue to care
and what you want to achieve in
your own day-to-day life.
Felicity Auer
Lawyer
Looking for legal guidance related to
mental health? Contact Mind’s Legal
Advice Line on 0300 466 6463
or email legal@mind.org.uk
15
01/07/2015 15:45
Issue 20 Summer 2015
Mind Membership News
Lysette
Anthony
On carers and running away…
I have nothing but gold-plated respect for everyone who
cares for someone else: what an extraordinary thing to do.
Me? I went to America not to be a movie star but to run
away from my mother, because I could not cope – that’s
god’s honest truth. And that’s why I have nothing but
admiration and respect for people who wrestle with the
difficulties of caring for another person.
I have nothing but gold-plated
respect for everyone who cares
for someone else: what an
extraordinary thing to do.
Mike Lawn
In this deeply personal interview,
the actress reveals how she struggled
to understand and cope with her
mother’s bipolar disorder and
depression. Since her mum tragically
died in a house fire in 2012, Lysette
has spoken publically about their
experiences, in the hope that more
people will find the sort of support
that she and her mum never did.
On her mum…
My mother was the most extraordinary, kind, warm
and amazing mother. She was incredibly beautiful. All of
the things I value in terms of what a mother should pass
on come from my mum, who was generous, passionate,
creative and a really wonderful spirit. Even now, I feel
completely surrounded by her love. We have a phrase
on her gravestone: ‘We carry you in our hearts’.
On her family’s experience…
The whole point about my story and our family is that
my mother’s mental health problems were shrouded in
shame. She went through manic cycles and was routinely
sectioned – we’re talking 30 years ago now. Then she
would be pumped full of drugs and dumped back on
our sofa, and we would never talk about it. We weren’t
offered therapy. We didn’t have anyone to speak to.
It just became secrets wrapped in more secrets.
16
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 16-17
Lysette Anthony
A screenshot from Lysette’s latest film
We still steal the old way, which will be ,
released at Christmas
On guilt…
On leaving home…
I remember spending a whole night hiding in a cupboard as
my mum was shouting and screaming on the stairs. She was
threatening to burn all of my clothes, and a survival instinct
kicked in and I ran from the house. I never slept in that
house again, or at my mum’s subsequent homes, until two
weeks before she died.
On becoming aware of her mum’s
mental health…
On her mum’s death…
I learnt to understand that there were times when my
mother would be incredibly sad: that was depression,
though I didn’t know that. I learnt that she cried a lot.
And before her serious episodes, I would feel it descend –
I call it an ‘it’ – like a cloud coming towards you. I learned
to hear it in her voice. She would suddenly get herself
together – going on a diet, making plans. This extraordinary
cycle would take off and there were always major
consequences: vast sums of money spent, damage done.
Then she’d crash while we’d literally pick up the pieces.
She died so horrifically that it went to a public coroner’s
court and would have made the news. So I chose to
speak about it to put across my version of the story, rather
than waiting for a sensationalised version to appear in
the press. To my mind, my mother died of shame and its
consequences. She adamantly refused help because she was
terrified of being hospitalised again. It breaks my heart that
she felt that treatment was a threat. She’d previously had
electro-shock therapy and been restrained, which must have
been harrowing.
On caring for her mum…
On the response to speaking about
her mum…
My mum always said, “The one thing I can give you is an
education,” and I was educated at boarding school. But I
would come back home, and there would be a month’s
worth of rotting food on plates in the kitchen. The first
morning back from boarding school would involve scrubbing
the toilet and cleaning a filthy house, while my mother drank
black coffee and chain smoked, unable to get dressed.
That was my experience of my mother.
I had abuse thrown at me, with the suggestion being that
I’d use my own mother’s mental health problems to get
publicity or further my career. It’s important to me and my son
that my mum, his grandmother, helps to combat the
ignorance, viciousness, fear, prejudice and lack of compassion
many people with mental health problems face. This gives her
dignity and gives her journey and her illness purpose.
My inherited cocktail is the amount of guilt I feel. I didn’t
really see my mum for about ten years, but then towards
the end of her life we were really close, often speaking three
or four times a day. She called two days before she died to
say she loved me. I have had therapy for years, which has
helped me seek a level of self-forgiveness, but it hasn’t
eradicated the great sense that I failed her. Intellectually
I can understand that I didn’t, but that doesn’t take that
feeling away.
On the photos David Bailey took
of her when she was 17…
I see a very, very frightened person. I don’t think of lost
youth; I see sadness and the big secret behind my eyes,
which was my mother’s illness. At that time, my
understanding of my mum’s mental health problems was
filtered through a child’s eyes – and it was pretty scary.
I look at that girl and think that, if she’d known
about an organisation like Mind, she might have been
able to enjoy some of the extraordinary experiences she
had. It might have stopped my mum’s mental health
wreaking such damage on our family.
On choosing to talk about
mental health…
It’s very important for me that I speak out, partly so I don’t
feel so isolated, and partly because empathy is so important:
as human beings it’s all we have. I feel that if I talk about my
mum, her life can have even more purpose. I get to be her
ambassador and to help people to pause, to think and to
help develop greater understanding.
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Issue 20 Summer 2015
Mind Membership News
Out & About
Mind in Salford
“Over the past few years, more than 500 people
have enjoyed the benefits of our Gardening for
Health allotment – and there are a huge number
of benefits.
With summer here, local Minds
across England and Wales are helping
green-fingered volunteers to see the
mental health benefits of gardening.
It helps to give people a sense of purpose and to interact
in a safe, friendly environment. It increases physical
activity. It enables people to learn new skills – for
instance time management and teamwork. It’s a way for
people to express themselves creatively. And, while this
might sound esoteric, it’s also a good way for people to
foster a more spiritual connection with life.
York Mind
“Originally we ran a pure gardening group at our
allotment, but we found that was appealing to
quite a niche group, so we had the idea to broaden
it out. Now we run a Green Exercise group, which
involves physical activity in green spaces.
We still have the allotment that we run and maintain
as part of the group sessions, but we combine that with
activities like walks, fishing and wildlife watching. It’s
broadened the appeal of the sessions, so more people
are now involved and enjoying the benefits of the group.
The allotment itself essentially functions as an informal
peer support venue. People who might not usually feel
comfortable talking to others come and chat about all
sorts of things as they relax into the gardening activities.
That social interaction just develops naturally, and people
are also able to enjoy all the benefits that being outside
and exercising can have on mental wellbeing.
We’ve found that people who come to the group start
to feel more positive about the future, too, and more
confident to get involved in the community. People have
gone on from our Green Exercise sessions to volunteer
at local nature reserves and conservation projects.”
Hannah Walker
“Our Garden Needs project started through
Ecominds [a Mind ecotherapy programme that ran
from 2009 to 2013]. The team took over an old
garden centre site, renovated it and opened it as
a community garden centre to build wellbeing.
Today, Garden Needs is a Community Interest Company,
funded 50% by Mind in Salford and 50% by Social
adVentures, a local social enterprise. We deliver the
Salford City Council ‘Mental health recovery through
horticulture’ commission, and we’ve been awarded
Big Lottery funding. Our aim is to become self-sustaining.
People are referred to us by GPs and through the
commission, and then choose what they’d like to do. So
we help people connect with nature and lead happier
lives, in all sorts of ways.
Newport Mind
become quite isolated, and coming to the allotment can be
a step back into the community. It’s a contained, safe and
supportive space, and the various tasks can be quite
grounding as well.
“Our allotment group has been going for a number
of years. People are very committed to the project,
donating money regularly and tending to the allotment
several times a week. Some of our clients don’t often
leave the house, but this is the one group they go to.
People like it because it’s out in the open, of course, so you’re
in the fresh air, which can be less daunting than sitting in a
room with a group of people. And a lot of clients have also
18
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 18-19
West Norfolk
And there’s a sort of magic to it, isn’t there? You have this
tiny little seed, and if you’ve not done gardening before
you don’t really know how it will pan out. But then as
the months progress you transfer the seedlings out of the
greenhouse, into little pots and then into the beds. It
creates a real sense of achievement.
A lot of what we grow ends up at our cookery skills club.
Last year we used salads, butternut squash, broad beans,
rhubarb, garlic, onions and various herbs. And we’re
building greenhouses out of recycled plastic bottles, too.
Everyone will find tasks to do that suit their personality.”
Bettina Rau
Since the project began, one part-time member of staff
and a team of volunteers have transformed a redundant
piece of land into this thriving allotment. We’ve even
won awards – from B&Q’s One Planet Living scheme
and from West Norfolk District Council.
People are referred to us by lots of different organisations
– including mental health services, learning difficulty
services, homelessness agencies and organisations that
work with young people who have been excluded
from school.
And while the project is now funded purely by donations
and the generosity of our volunteers, we’re committed to
making sure it can continue. Everyone who gets involved
tells us how much they value being outdoors and doing
this meaningful, productive activity.”
Eddie West-Burnham
We sell plants. We train volunteers in garden
maintenance and in designing and building gardens. We
offer awards in horticulture. And as we grow, I’d love to
offer apprenticeships too.
I’ve seen people get a new life through this place – myself
included. I left my last job due to stress and anxiety. I was
feeling low and needed an outlet, and just walking into
this place lifted my spirits. I could sense the atmosphere,
and thought I could use my skills here.
There’s one volunteer who was so nervous and timid
when he first came here. Now he’s out supporting other
people and encouraging others to come along. That’s
what this place can do. It gives people confidence.
We’re tucked away off a very busy road, but this is a
tranquil place and people open up here. There are no
formal rules, but it’s a caring and compassionate
environment – and it works.”
Simon Colderley
Local Minds offer a huge variety of groups, mental
health support and activities. To find your nearest
local Mind visit www.mind.org.uk/local
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Mind Membership News
mental health in focus
Treatment and support
Schizophrenia
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia,
the first step is to visit your GP, who will probably refer you
to psychiatric services for assessment, treatment and care.
We speak to Mind member Terry about his experience of schizophrenia –
one of the most widely misunderstood mental health problems.
What is schizophrenia?
The causes of schizophrenia
You might be given a diagnosis of schizophrenia if
you experience symptoms like:
Schizophrenia usually has multiple causes.
These can include:
•H
allucinations, delusions and hearing voices
• Excess levels of dopamine (a chemical in your brain).
(these are all symptom of psychosis, when you
perceive the world differently to others).
• Feeling disconnected from your feelings.
• Wanting to avoid people.
• Struggling to concentrate.
• Feeling that you want to be protected.
These symptoms can come on gradually or quickly,
and can make you feel upset, anxious, confused and
suspicious of others.
Many people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia live
normal and happy lives, even if their symptoms continue.
And it’s also important to say that schizophrenia doesn’t
mean having a ‘split personality’ or suddenly losing
control – despite what you might sometimes see in
the media.
“I first started hearing voices in 1998. It really flipped
me out. I became scared and severely paranoid.
I had no insight, and without insight you panic.
I was arrested and spent time in prison, and then
had a period of six or seven years where I was
repeatedly hospitalised, released and hospitalised
again. I was in a cycle of being psychotic and then
horribly depressed. It was dreadful. I gave up
on life.” Terry
• Stressful events, like losing your job or being abused
or harassed.
• Taking street drugs, including cannabis, cocaine
and amphetamines.
• Having genes that make you more vulnerable
Different treatments work for different people, so you
might need to try several options. These could include:
Talking treatments
All talking treatments give you space to discuss your
experiences with a professional. Talking treatments for
schizophrenia include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
and family intervention therapy.
“Part of the problem is that most people don’t want to
hear your experiences, even on the wards, so you
learn to keep them under the radar. But I once heard
someone say that a schizophrenic who gets one other
person to understand them is cured, and that’s so true!
Talking helps you express your pain and begin dealing
with it. It doesn’t cure you, but it helps you
build insight.” Terry
Medication
You might be prescribed antipsychotic drugs to control
the symptoms of psychosis. There are lots of different
antipsychotics, and they can have a range of side effects.
It’s important to discuss these with your doctor.
Not everyone finds antipsychotics helpful, but many
people are willing to put up with the side effects if the
medication helps to control their symptoms.
“For me, Clozaril (an antipsychotic) is crucial.
For many years I refused to take antipsychotics,
but I’ve grown up. I’ve tried many, many different ones,
but without this one I think I wouldn’t be here.” Terry
Arts therapies
Some people find arts therapies useful. These involve
expressing yourself through music, painting, dancing,
singing and acting, guided by a trained therapist.
They can be useful if you find it difficult to talk
about your experiences.
to schizophrenia.
“My mum had schizophrenia. My doctors knew that
and assumed I’d inherited it, as if it was cut and
dry. And while I know that’s at the root of it, I think
it stopped them really looking at what I was going
through. There were times when I felt the pain I was
experiencing was invisible to everyone else. At no
point did anyone sit me down and say, ‘This is what
you have; this is what to expect’. People assumed I
had no capacity to understand.” Terry
For me, acceptance was the route
to wellness, but it took me a long,
long time to get there – supported
by a community psychiatric nurse
who kept chipping away and
wouldn’t give up on me. Terry
Additional support
Ways to help yourself
As well as receiving treatment, you might need other types
of support. For instance:
There are lots of things you can do to help manage the
impact of schizophrenia. For instance:
•C
ommunity-based support, including health and
• L ooking after your physical health.
social care.
•C
risis services, including support from community mental
health teams, home treatment teams and early intervention
teams, who may be able to help you avoid going to
hospital in a crisis.
•H
ospital admission, which might be necessary if you need
more intensive treatment.
•S
upported accommodation, so you can live independently,
with help from staff.
•A
dvocacy, so you have someone to help you make
yourself heard.
• Physical health check-ups, to help you stay well.
“Hope is absolutely crucial to recovery. It’s the most
important thing. What you want when you are
diagnosed with schizophrenia is the hope and belief that
you’ll get better and live your life again.” Terry
Mythbuster
“I might perceive things differently, but I’m not
abnormal or threatening. The social rejection that’s
often part of schizophrenia can be the most painful
thing of all. Once you’re accepted, a lot of the pain
goes away.” Terry
We’d like to thank Terry for sharing his
experience. To suggest a mental health problem
for a future edition or to share your story,
email matt@mind.org.uk
•B
eing actively involved in your treatment.
•A
sking your employer for support.
•A
voiding stress and learning mindfulness techniques.
•R
elaxing and spending time with friends.
• J oining a peer support group.
•P
lanning what you want to happen during a crisis.
“For me, acceptance was the route to wellness, but it
took me a long, long time to get there – supported by
a community psychiatric nurse who kept chipping away
and wouldn’t give up on me. I’d spent years going off
my meds and taking street drugs, but you get older
and wiser. Clozaril completely stabilised me, and my
quality of life now is so much better. I still get depressed
and the schizophrenia symptoms bubble away in the
background, but I’m able to live my life now.” Terry
Find out more
For more detailed information on
schizophrenia, download Mind’s leaflet
‘Understanding schizophrenia’
at www.mind.org.uk
Terry
20
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 20-21
21
01/07/2015 15:45
Issue 20 Summer 2015
Mind Membership News
Our reviews, your letters
Focus on…
St John’s wort
In this edition, Meg Burke discusses the latest Pixar film,
a collection of letters from Penguin and the return of My Big
Fat Diary – and a member’s poem wins the Star Letter prize.
St John’s wort contains the active ingredient hypericin.
There’s evidence to suggest that this works in a similar way
to standard antidepressants, but with far fewer side effects.
Where can I find it?
Though doctors in many European countries prescribe
St John’s wort, it’s not normally available on prescription in
England and Wales. It is available over-the-counter in most
health food shops and pharmacies, however.
How do I take it?
It’s available as a tablet, in capsules, as a tea, and as drops
that you take in water. The suggested dosage is 200mg1000mg of 0.3% of standardised hypericum extract per day,
usually taken in two or three doses (hypericum is the
botanical name for St John’s wort).
Is it safe?
It’s not true that, because herbal remedies are natural, they
are always safe. So it’s important to talk to your doctor if
you’re thinking of taking St John’s wort – especially if you
have bipolar disorder (as, like all antidepressants, it can cause
rapid mood changes), or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Are there side effects?
Many people don’t get any side effects, but some people
have reported stomach problems, headaches, allergic
reactions, tiredness, dizziness and confusion. It can also
affect other medicines, which is another reason to talk
about it with your doctor, especially if you have bipolar
disorder (as, like all antidepressants, it can cause rapid
mood changes), or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
22
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 22-23
Sammy’s
story
“I’ve been taking St John’s wort to treat depression and
anxiety for around ten months now. I refused to take
pharmaceutical antidepressants because I know family
members and friends who’ve not been able to come off
them, and I don’t want to be on antidepressants forever.
Penguin
How does it work?
St John’s Wort
I told my doctor I wanted to explore natural alternatives
to antidepressants. He wasn’t keen, but I spoke to
another doctor who relented, saying, “If you take
St John’s wort, it’ll be a third as good as the
pharmaceutical drugs”. That was good enough
for me, so I began taking it with his say so.
Within four to six weeks I started to notice that I was a
lot less anxious and this seemed to reduce the impact of
anxiety on my body. Up until then, I was making myself
sick every morning. I would cry over stupid little things
and at work. I wasn’t sleeping or eating. I was becoming
physically ill because of my anxiety and depression.
Ten months on, those symptoms are gone. St John’s
wort levels out my mood, and as far as I can tell hasn’t
caused me any adverse side effects. I’ve had various
talking therapies at the same time, but to be honest
– although they’re an important part of my treatment
– I don’t think they would have worked on their own.
In this new animation
from Pixar, Riley has
just moved to San
Francisco. Like
everyone else, she’s
guided by her
emotions: Joy, Fear,
Anger, Disgust and
Sadness. They live in
the control centre of
her brain, but things
start going wrong for Riley as she
temporarily loses Joy and Sadness…
Series 3
We’d like to thank Sammy for telling us her story.
If you’d like to talk about a mental health treatment
for a future issue, email matt@mind.org.uk
For detailed information about St
John’s wort, download Mind’s leaflet
‘Making sense of St John’s wort’ at
www.mind.org.uk
Inside Out
My Mad
For me, it really works – and I would recommend it to
others, as long as they spoke to their doctors about any
concerns beforehand.”
Find out more
Dear Stranger
This new collection
from Penguin brings
together celebrities,
bloggers and journalists,
who have all written
a ‘letter to a stranger’
on the theme of
happiness. Featuring
poems, prose and
original art, this is an
inspirational, honest
and uplifting collection – and at least £3
from every copy sold goes to Mind.
Pixar
St John’s wort is a herbal medicine. It’s sometimes used to
treat mental health problems including mild and moderate
depression, mild anxiety and sleep problems.
Channel 4
What is it?
Bob Peterson
Is it possible to treat depression using a herbal remedy,
rather than a pharmaceutical antidepressant?
We examine the facts about St John’s wort.
Fat Diary,
The last series of this
Channel 4 drama sees
Rae and the gang
begin to contemplate
adulthood. As always,
there’s lots of drama,
plenty of partying and
some fantastic jokes,
but this is also a
bittersweet goodbye
to a much-loved and
honest portrayal of life as a teenager with
mental health problems.
Your letters
Star poem
I.O.U
To all the friends I’ve known and made
And there have been a few,
I write these lines in gratitude
This is my I.O.U.
I really don’t know what to say
Or even where to start
But all the joy you’ve given me
Mere words could not impart.
You’ve brought me love, contentment
My every need you’ve met
For all the kindness that you’ve shown
I really am in debt.
To show how thankful that I am
I haven’t got a sou
My thanks is written in this verse
A simple I.O.U.
Linda
Thanks so much for this brilliant poem, Linda. It feels like the perfect choice
for a magazine focused on carers and caring.
I have found your magazine to be nothing less than inspirational,
as I have been battling against anorexia for more than four years.
I am currently a student at the University of Sussex, where I have
completed my first year studying for an English Literature degree.
I am extremely passionate about writing and journalism, and your
contribution to the recognition of mental health is invaluable. The work
that you do has the capability to save lives and I would relish the
chance to be a part of something so wonderful.
Katherine
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, Katherine. Our members
make this magazine what it is, so if you want to be part of it, get in touch with
your thoughts and ideas. We’re here to tell as many members’ stories as we can.
Write to us…
We love hearing from you, so please do send your letters to
matt@mind.org.uk. Every star letter we choose wins a prize.
23
01/07/2015 15:45
Mind and Penguin Random House UK have joined together
to create a competition unique and exclusive to Mind members.
This summer, we want you to tell us
about HOPE. Words of hope you may
say to others to support them through
a tough time, or say to yourself to help
you through a difficult period.
>
>
>
>
Do you have a story that inspires hope?
Do you know of others’ stories of hope?
Send them in to us and all entries will be reviewed by
editors and experts at Penguin Random House.
You will also be in with the chance of winning:
>
>
£250 worth of vouchers
>
>
Books and gifts from Penguin Random House UK
Your work featured in the January
Mind News magazine
Plus a copy of Dear Stranger - Letters on the subject
of happiness
Can you imagine stories of hope?
What you would say to your younger
self to give them hope?
We want you to write a poem, short story,
letter or essay on the theme of HOPE as
part of our creative writing competition.
The deadline for entries is
Monday 31 August 2015.
So get scribbling and good luck!
Please send your entries to:
Mind 15-19 Broadway, Stratford, London, E15 4BQ
Or email: membership@mind.org.uk
For full details please go to www.mind.org.uk/hope
Linda French, Mind member, expresses hope in her poem:
The Rainbow
When your mind is tossing on the ocean
Through the wilderness of the night
And a life you can’t decipher
Like a man without his sight,
When the whys and wherefores
Are a whirlpool of worldly sin
And the grand finale comes
The moment you begin,
2748 Mind Magazine July 2015_AW 2.indd 24
When all odds are against you
And the question has no answer
Your cause has been defeated
Or no rhymes will fit the stanza
When the storm is over
And the seething tides have turned
Again the sun comes shining
Through the rainbow we have earned
01/07/2015 15:45