I'm not sure what you're saying here. Are you a politician? What is "it" in the last sentence, " In the meantime, we can need individual treatment to keep us going or restrained but it must not be allowed to be used as a political tool to ignore and maintain the root causes of ever-growing individual, social and global ills."

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">MICHAEL SWINDLEHURST

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 4:01 AM

Subject: Re: List definition

Thank you for the encouragement John,

I do agree with Sue about the omnipotent powers of 'experts', regardless of whether deserving highly influential titles or not, and suspect this is why many members without letters after their name are are afraid to speak up or feel it is a waste of time. As a Pensioner non-academic 'mental health client' contributor to Annie's Psychology Service User Advisory Group, our work together as a wide range of experts in living - as all people are - has already introduced practical changes toward any potential for turning psychology into a rational and positive science. The key has been genuine respect for each other's views, knowledge and experience - accepted as of equal value in our guiding concern for the prospects of all people. My first awareness of community psychology as a practical art and science was as a commercial art student. Here one is taught how to con the public into thinking, feeling and acting in ways that mostly benefit a minority at great costs to the majority and our planet. The same principle is used in most aspects of our society, not least religion and politics, so I feel that learning to live with it is very dangerous for all of us. In the meantime, we can need individual treatment to keep us going or restrained but it must not be allowed to be used as a political tool to ignore and maintain the root causes of ever-growing individual, social and global ills.

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">John Cromby

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 9:04 PM

Subject: Re: List definition

I'm sorry and surprised to hear that you had a bad response to your earlier post. I thought your characterisation of CBT as 'coercive bullying tactics' was fantastic. And I agree, the list should have more of a focus on how social and economic structures impact upon us in our daily lives.

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">MICHAEL SWINDLEHURST

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 5:29 PM

Subject: List definition

It does appear from recent postings that there is a need to define who and what the discussion list is for. My hope in joining was that it may be a medium for discussing practical ideas to change the social and economic structures behind most mental ill health. A recent response to one of my postings certainly made me feel like 'riff-raff' and I wonder how many other 'experts by experience' members at client and CMHT level are afraid to offer responses and ideas for fear of feeling the same. Perhaps there is need to be mindful of what 'Communiy Psychology' means?