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Hi all

continuing theme of individualised approaches to (mental) health.  Want to
share went to the NIMHE launch of womens day services today in birmingham
... lots of examples of nongovernmentorganisations doing lots of good work
on a shoe string (as usual- even with introduction of 3-year contracts) and
committed politicised people ... but very clear since implementation
guidance for Mainstreaming Gender and Women's Mental Health (2003) no
ringfenced monies for developing/building on non medicalised models in
relation to women and mental health  + focus in some workshops e.g. bme
(black and minority ethnic women) on the task to combat stigma of mental
health by 'educating individuals and local communities' that mental health
not to be stigmatised and to encourage people from the communities to
approach e.g. statutory services (albeit at times in 'partnership' with
voluntary/ngo's).  Clear from a number (although not all) whose governmental
or statutory organisational remit is to produce or roll out policy and get
communities and organisations on board with implementing policy/standards -
(maybe because as part of their remit they are not to be overtly political)
about the appropriateness of the 'clinical models' or
pathologisation/deficits approach to indviduals who will be at risk of being
diagnosed as 'mentally ill' once in contact with statutory services or that
still ngos not full and genuine partners.  Also concern expressed by number
of audience about the approach to the 'generic' mental health worker re
skills, knowledge models and building up the capacity of the workforce in
the nhs that a critical/questioning perspective will be further socialised
out of the training although drawing on discourses of equality, social
inclusion etc etc) - will we become a 'stepford wives' society?

Some of us there identified the need to revisit a campaigning model/lobbying
of government re in the first instance the absence of monies in relation to
women and e.g. although out of RRAA the duty on public authorities in
relation to 'race' and ethnicity and in 2006 for people with disabilites
.... no such framework for women and informed unlikely will be.  We will be
drafting template letters and then identify a month to target key government
ministers and relevant doh and related committees.

Will keep you informed.

gill



----- Original Message -----
From: Annie Mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 3:32 PM
Subject: community psychology and supervision - thanks


> Hi Nicola ( and all),
> thanks for the reminder re supervision in community psychology - I've been
> meaning to share the notes for a supervision  teaching session I did
> following the discussion on this list - and here it is. It includes a
> community psychology strand but is more of a general over-view for
> supervision in psychological practice and obviously, since it was teaching
> for clinical psychologists, will be of only limited application to people
> using community psychology in other contexts. - I wasn't able to find much
> literature so was grateful for this discussion on this list which you will
> see referred to.
>
> Thanks all who contributed to the discussion - - be interested if anyone
> else follows up on this...
>
> Annie
>
>
> --On 01 December 2004 11:22 +0000 "Hayes, N.M." <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Dear Annie,
> >
> > The plans for the progamme sound very encouraging. I don't have any
ideas
> > in relation to it but am interested to know how, in the context of
> > training, community values are incorporated into evaluation and
> > teaching/learning/training. I read the discussions on supervision
earlier
> > this year and would also be interested to see where you got with it. I
am
> > training at the moment and exploring supervision & community psychology
> > values, on a placement drawing from this approach, and as I see it there
> > are various interesting tensions to be negotiated.
> > Any thoughts would be welcomed.
> >
> > Nicola
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List on behalf of Annie
> > Mitchell Sent: Wed 01/12/2004 10:44
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: FWD: Public Health White Paper "Choosing health" & Mental
> > health promotion [Scanned By NHC]
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Jan,
> >
> > Yes; better than average, the ten essential capabilities one, I think. I
> > believe that it had Jenny Williams on the planning group and those who
> > know her  know she does all she can to challenge inequalities.
> >
> > We are re-planning our programme for the Doctorate in Clinical and
> > Community psychology at Exeter from 05 onwards ( the new programme in
> > Stafford/ Shropshire is doing some similar things and we are trying to
> > support one another) . Year one will have an explicit emphasis on social
> > context, culture, communities and systems.  This document ( along with
> > parts of others - there's a massive plethora of documents we have to
> > attend to now in NHS training...) gives us a policy framework for these
> > changes. Bronfennbrenner and other developmental psychologists as well
as
> > social constructionism and some aspects of social psychology such as
> > social identity theory contribute to the theoretical framework.
> >
> > However, I am also looking for more inspiration for a pedagogical
> > framework to justify our belief that teaching trainees to think broad (
> > systems, culture, community) before narrow ( intra-personal
psychological
> > therapies) will make them more broad minded, resilient, flexible ( as
> > well as socially responsible) practitioners in the long run. It seems to
> > us to be inescapable logic - but I would like some more theoretical/
> > empirical backup to persuade others less like-minded that this is the
> > right approach to promoting learning..
> > since the more standard approach in training psychologists seems to be
to
> > start inside the person ( especially with the current fashion for
> > cognitive behaviour therapy)  and ( sometimes, as an add -on) work
> > outwards ...
> >
> >
> > Has anyone got any ideas - Freire for example - but others??
> >
> > Good wishes,
> >
> > Annie
> >
> >
> >
> > --On 30 November 2004 22:24 +0000 BostockHush
> > <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks for this recommendations Annie as I had not paid sufficient
> >> attention to yet another document with a spin!
> >> Jan
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Annie Mitchell" <[log in to unmask]>
> >> To: "Jan Bostock" <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 12:57 PM
> >> Subject: Re: FWD: Public Health White Paper "Choosing health" & Mental
> >> health promotion [Scanned By NHC]
> >>
> >>
> >> hi penny,
> >> I get light in the tunnel by sustaining relationships with other like-
> >> minded folk who share my values - like those on this email list.  And
> >> there are some good things happening in the NHS, individualistic though
> >> the dominant discourse is.  have you, for example, seen the "Ten
> >> essential capabilities" for mental health workers - it isn't perfect
but
> >> it's got some really good things in it that I am able to refer to  in
> >> helping us currently to move our Doctorate in Clinical and Community
> >> Psychology forward to a more socially responsible model of training.
> >>
> >> I think it's important to find the hooks out there that we can hang on
to
> >> and use for positive progress - there are a few.
> >>
> >> good wishes,
> >>
> >> Annie
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --On 30 November 2004 10:38 +0000 pennypriest <[log in to unmask]>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Exactly. What's new? I have a paper here, called 'The Tyranny of
Health
> >>> Promotion', written by Marshall Becker in 1986. He quotes Zola (in a
> >>> chapter called 'Medicine as an institution of social control'), who
> >>> says: 'By locating the source and the treatment of problems in an
> >>> individual, other levels of intervention are effectively closed' (it
> >>> could have come straight out of David Smail!). He goes on to say,
> >>> himself, 'We must be honest and explicit about what we can and cannot
> >>> do. The domain of personal health over which the individual has direct
> >>> control is very small when compared to heredity, culture, environment,
> >>> and chance. Nor is health promotion the panacea for rising health care
> >>> costs.' I could go on. But this was 1986, and yet we have a burgeoning
> >>> evidence base on Azjen's theory of planned behaviour and Prochaska and
> >>> DiClemente's stages of change, like psychology has gone down some long
> >>> dark tunnel, seeking an ever smaller source of light. And yes, it's so
> >>> despairing, I sometimes feel like I'm in the blooming tunnel myself
and
> >>> I'm damned if I can get out! Perhaps I need to get myself some CBT.
> >>> Penny
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: Diamond Bob
> >>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>> Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 9:16 AM
> >>> Subject: Re: FWD: Public Health White Paper "Choosing health" & Mental
> >>> health promotion [Scanned By NHC]
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Thanks Paul
> >>> It is despairing. Clearly for this Government health is considered to
be
> >>> an individual thing, with the emphasis on making individual choices.
> >>> This is because it is convenient and gets them off the hook of
> >>> introducing policies that address inequalities. Quite despairing but
> >>> then what's new?
> >>>
> >>> Bob
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Paul@home [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >>> Sent: 29 November 2004 22:53
> >>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>> Subject: Re: FWD: Public Health White Paper "Choosing health" & Mental
> >>> health promotion
> >>>
> >>> Here is Mr Blair's foreword to the White paper. Don't read this if you
> >>> have
> >>> just eaten.... it may make you feel nauseous
> >>>
> >>> For each of us, one of the most important things in life is our own
and
> >>> our
> >>> family's health. I believe that this concern, and the responsibility
> >>> that we
> >>> each take for our own health, should be the basis for improving the
> >>> health
> >>> of everyone across the nation. ... It aims to inform and encourage
> >>> people as
> >>> individuals, and to help shape the commercial and cultural environment
> >>> we live in so that it is easier to choose a healthy lifestyle.
> >>>
> >>> Small changes in the choices people make can make a big difference.
> >>> Taken together, these changes can lead to huge improvements in health
> >>> across society. But changes need to be based on choices, not
direction.
> >>> We are clear that
> >>> Government cannot ? and should not ? pretend it can 'make' the
> >>> population healthy. But it can ? and should ? support people  in
making
> >>> better choices
> >>> for their health and the health of their families. It is for people to
> >>> make
> >>> the healthy
> >>> choice if they wish to.
> >>>
> >>>###########
> >>> Note that he does not mention the economic or political climate, it is
> >>> now
> >>> just culture and commerce .. interesting! I would suggest that we
> >>> compliment
> >>> the reading of the White paper with a re/reading of Richard
Wilkinson's
> >>> book
> >>> on Unhealthy Societies and see what conclusions we distill from it. My
> >>> own
> >>> view is that the White Paper displays in many parts an appauling piece
> >>> of victim-blaming (we are primarily responsible for our own health/ill
> >>> health),
> >>> and displays an absurd lack of engagement with the systemic causes of
> >>> ill-health (income inequalities, corporate tyrany etc). It looks clear
> >>> that
> >>> the government are wanting to push the individual responsibilty harder
> >>> than
> >>> the corporate responsiblity so we may have to be creative in how we
> >>> argue that what we do merits funding under this policy initiative -
> >>> thankfully the
> >>> civil service might offer us a rescue as they re-interpret this
policy.
> >>> You
> >>> might also find the following section on mental health issues in the
> >>> "easy
> >>> read summary" of the white paper interesting. I quote it in full and
> >>> direct
> >>> from source:
> >>>
> >>> "We want to help people be healthy mentally. This is because:
> >>> - many people living in England now have mental ill health. Mental ill
> >>> health is things like being very depressed.
> >>> - it is very important to be healthy mentally, as well as having a
> >>> healthy
> >>> body
> >>> - mental ill health can lead to people killing themselves"
> >>>
> >>> I promise you, the above is exactly as stated in the 'accessible'
> >>> version of
> >>> the white paper, it actually reads this way ... Oh dear, oh dear, oh
> >>> dear....
> >>>
> >>> p
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List
> >>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of amitchel
> >>> Sent: 29 November 2004 22:17
> >>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>> Subject: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] FWD: Public Health White Paper "Choosing
> >>> health" & Mental health promotion
> >>>
> >>>> =The attached may be of interest to many of us,
> >>> Annie
> >>>
> >>> Annie==== Original Message From "Jean Alger-Green"
> >>> <[log in to unmask]> =====
> >>> Sent on behalf of Jeremy Voaden
> >>> To: Members of NIMHE South-West Mental Health Promotion and Social
> >>> Inclusion Networks
> >>>
> >>> Please find attached:
> >>> A summary of the mental health promotion content of "Choosing Health",
> >>> the recent Public Health White Paper.
> >>>
> >>> "We will ensure that standard one of the NSF for Mental Health which
> >>> deals with mental health promotion is fully implemented" (p.131, Ch.6)
> >>>
> >>> This document summarises the mental health promotion opportunities in
> >>> the recent White Paper "Choosing Health: Making healthy choices
easier"
> >>> (DoH, 2004)
> >>> Each chapter is analysed under the following headings:
> >>> -Policy focus/direction
> >>> -Initiatives/settings highlighted as good practice
> >>> -New initiatives, capacity and resources
> >>> -Missed Opportunities
> >>>
> >>> Of particular interest is:
> >>> Chapter Three: Children and Young People
> >>> Chapter Four: Local Communities-all about social capital
> >>> Chapter Five: Health as a way of life-lots of implications for
> >>> recovery, self-management etc
> >>> Chapter Seven: Work and health
> >>>
> >>> Best wishes
> >>> Jeremy
> >>> Jeremy Voaden
> >>> Public Health & Mental Health Promotion Specialist
> >>> NIMHE South-West
> >>> Tel: 07747-562437
> >>> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >>>
> >>> Eastgate House (Ground Floor)
> >>> 121-131 Eastgate Street
> >>> Gloucester GL1 1QB
> >>>
> >>> Jean Alger-Green
> >>> Office Manager
> >>> NIMHE South West
> >>> Ivor House
> >>> 2 Tower Lane
> >>> Taunton
> >>> TA1 4AR
> >>> Tel; 01823 337879
> >>> Fax: 01823 272897
> >>> [log in to unmask]
> >>>
> >>> ___________________________________
> >>>
> >>> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
> >>> UK.
> >>> To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> >>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML
> >>> For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at
> >>> [log in to unmask]
> >>>
> >>> ___________________________________
> >>>
> >>> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
> >>> UK.
> >>> To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
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> >>> [log in to unmask] ___________________________________
> >>>
> >>> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
> >>> UK. To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
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> >>>
> >>> ___________________________________
> >>>
> >>> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
> >>> UK. To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> >>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML For any problems
> >>> or queries, contact the list moderator at [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Annie Mitchell
> >> Lecturer in Psychology,
> >> Clinical Director, Doctorate in Clinical and Community Psychology,
> >>
> >> School of Psychology,
> >> Washington Singer Building,
> >> University of Exeter,
> >> Exeter,
> >> EX4 4QG
> >>
> >> Phone 01392 264621 or
> >> Liz Mears, Programme Administrator 01392 403184
> >>
> >> ___________________________________
> >>
> >> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
> >> UK. To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> >> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML
> >> For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >> ___________________________________
> >>
> >> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
> >> UK. To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> >> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML
> >> For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> > Annie Mitchell
> > Lecturer in Psychology,
> > Clinical Director, Doctorate in Clinical and Community Psychology,
> >
> > School of Psychology,
> > Washington Singer Building,
> > University of Exeter,
> > Exeter,
> > EX4 4QG
> >
> > Phone 01392 264621 or
> > Liz Mears, Programme Administrator 01392 403184
> >
> > ___________________________________
> >
> > COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
UK.
> > To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML
> > For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> > ___________________________________
> >
> > COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
UK.
> > To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML
> > For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at
> > [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> Annie Mitchell
> Lecturer in Psychology,
> Clinical Director, Doctorate in Clinical and Community Psychology,
>
> School of Psychology,
> Washington Singer Building,
> University of Exeter,
> Exeter,
> EX4 4QG
>
> Phone 01392 264621 or
> Liz Mears, Programme Administrator 01392 403184
>
> ___________________________________
>
> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK.
> To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML
> For any problems or queries, contact the list moderator at
[log in to unmask]

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