It strikes me that there is an issue of competency here. Someone should only
do a job if they are competent and able to do so. However conversely someone
should not be denied that job on other grounds if they are competent to do
so. I would think that a person with a history in the mental health system
who is competent to work in such a system would have more to offer to such
a job due to their insight into the service and their potential empathy.
However I think it would be a grave insult if people wit disabilities or who
have been through the mental health system were trained or employed because
of it, I feel that disability or mental helath or whatever other
catagorisation we could choose needs to stop beiign used as an exscuse not
to employ compitant, skilled people. Sarah.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laurence Bathurst" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: Mental health surviours becoming professionals?
> Phillip and others
>
> As a lecturer and colleague of other lecturers in various Health Science
> Disciplines, I see a few (not enough) students with a range of
disabilities
> studying to become health professionals in a number of fields. This is a
> cause of some consternation for some of my colleagues. Sometimes its based
> on "how can they fulfill the requirements for the role?" For example, I
> heard the other day that there is a student with a significant vision
> impairment studying orthoptics and yes, you probably do need a certain
> visual accuity to practice orthoptics. Do we have some duty to advise this
> student of the possibility of finding future employment rather difficult?
I
> am not sure about orthoptics practice and whether vision would be a
> requirement for all roles within this profession but the conundrum is
> obvious. On one hand I see that the student has every right to pursue this
> area of study and that all support should be provided to make that
possible.
> Also I know that not all students study with the intention of becoming a
> practioner but perhaps a researcher or the motivation for the study may be
> intrinsic. On the other hand, I do see that a student will face
significant
> barriers if they do wish to practice and wonder if the student is making
> choices that are in their best interest.
>
> My own study into University student's disclosure of mental illness in the
> higher education environment has seen me involved in workshops for
clinical
> supervisors (of students clinical placements) and have heard
practitioner's
> concerns about students with mental health issues and their "suitability"
> for their "Profession". Much of the reasoning I have heard is more about
> protecting their profession and I suspect is also about coping with the
> ambiguity of client/ practioner positioning in terms of the way power is
> expressed: the professional distance. I heard one Physiotherapist express
> concern that a physio using a wheelchair could not respond to a cardiac
> emergency down the other end of the hospital in the same way as someone
> else. I said yes, they would probably get there quicker :-).
>
> So yes, there are concerns but it is where these concerns "come from" that
> worries me. I believe that however a student uses their study is up to
them
> and thus have no right to question. However, it does concern me that
> students are aware or are making an informed decision to study. I recently
> acted as referee to a graduate student who has a brain injury was applying
> for a position in a brain injury unit. I was aware that they would be
> concerned about her. She presents as being very underconfident and she is
> underconfident. This will change as she gets experience. But I know that
she
> is capable and would be a great assett to them so I gave her a stunning
> reference. In the reference, I bought up the issue of empathy and her
> ability to be a role model and inspiration to people with a recently
> acquired brain injury (simply because she has acheived so much already).
It
> sounded like the appointment committee had not considered this attribute
and
> I believe it helped them to make the decision to hire her. She loves the
> job.
>
> It is an issue in this Faculty and a breeding ground for discrimination.
>
>
> Best regards
>
> Laurence Bathurst
> School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
> Faculty of Health Sciences
> University of Sydney
>
> PO Box 170
> Lidcombe NSW 1825
> Australia
>
> Ph: 61 2 9351 9509
> Fax: 61 2 9351 9509
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> See School Website www.ot.cchs.usyd.edu.au
>
> Home Ph: 61 2 9818 2050
> Mobile Ph: 0407 069 441
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Philip Scullion" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 6:59 PM
> Subject: Mental health surviours becoming professionals?
>
>
> | Dear Colleagues
> |
> | Would any care to explore this issue with me?
> | At last weeks SDS conference in Oakland I discussed
> | the issue of people with mental health problems /
> | experience moving on to joining one of the health care
> | professions e.g. Psychiatric nursing.
> |
> | In UK the Department of Health are likely to publish a
> | positive statement encouraging this on the grounds of
> | equal opportunity in employment and the positive
> | contribution such experiences may bring to a role as a
> | health professional.
> |
> | The RCN (London 3rd July) conference, in a few weeks
> | will be examining the role of health professionals in
> | the disability rights agenda- in essence I will argue
> | that one way of being with disable people on this
> | agenda is to open the way for them to become health
> | professionals.
> |
> | One respected colleague at the SDS however was fairly
> | adamant that the effect of a mental health survivor
> | becoming a psychiatric nurse for instance would be for
> | them to simply take on an oppressive role seen as
> | characteristic of the so-called 'helping profession'
> | as whole.
> |
> | View, experiences and research welcome.
> |
> |
> |
> |
> | =====
> | Philip Scullion
> | Senior Lecturer
> | Health and Social Sciences
> | Coventry University
> | UK
> |
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