Editor's Notebook

Reggae inspires her struggle

Coordinator's Report

by Helen Turbett

One thing I am very grateful for in my life is that, even though I was diagnosed many times, I have never really absorbed the diagnostician's' opinion of me. I had, and continue to have, a healthy disrespect for authority. So, in effect, I don't have to deal with the effects of being labeled.

Having said that, I still have done a lot of work healing both from the problems that led me into the psychiatric system and had to recover from the effects of the "treatments" I received in the system.

I've seen counselors, done yoga, read a lot - especially about feminism, had shiatsu, participated in Aboriginal ceremonies and listened to Elders. I have a good job which has allowed me to travel, go to various 12 Step groups and practice kissing myself in the mirror!

When I'm face to face with the "authorities" in my role as the Network coordinator, my strong belief and passion for our cause helps me retain my strength and lessens the effects of stigmatization.

I know that at the Network, we are on the right track and that as we become stronger as a group, things will shift and improve.

This belief has been intensified recently when concerns were raised in the local media by the medical community.

about the doubling in the last year of the use of shock treatments, particularly on older women, at Riverview, after they became a chargeable (no pun intended) service. The psychiatric drugging of little children has also come to light and is under scrutiny. We have to get that system off our backs. Many of the so called "treatments" verge on the insane. They are simply out of control, money grabbing exercises. How much pain does the system need to inflict, for how much money?

Right from the beginning of my work here, and before in my personal life, Reggae music has inspired me. Oppression is very clear to Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley. They name it openly. Even though some people here at the Network, as well as outside it, are shocked and aggrieved by my language and ideas. I know they are authentic and empowering and sustain me in my life and work. Thank you to all the great people in the Network; members, group facilitators, Board members and proposal writers. We all need each other. Way to go!

Mental illness is not forever

Editor's notebook

by Liz Thor-Larsen

For this edition of the Bulletin, I invited members to write about how they maintain their sanity in spite of being labeled with mentally illnesses. In our western culture, there is a belief that once a person is stricken with a mental illness, we never really recover our sanity. This puts us in a difficult position because as many people know, we do recover our sanity and we do carry on with our lives. Efforts to keep us medicated and boxed into group homes and dead end volunteer jobs go against the grain of everyone's desire for self expression and self determination. It is fundamentally important to realize that everyone has the capacity to fall apart emotionally and with support, to recover. I offer this belief as my way of maintaining my sanity throughout my life.

My sanity is a precious thing that I hold dear and close to my heart. My sanity is a very personal thing and, as Lindsay mentions in her article, something ultimately to be defined and decided by the person him/herself. Often, the process of re-finding one's sanity after a period of emotional turmoil is facilitated by people who believe that sanity is a relative term and not to be used as a yardstick for judging behavior.

Human behavior is always natural and normal within the context of which it is displayed. Going to work in stiff, three piece suits and tight ties is normal for some and madness for others.

Something for us all to look forward to July is Mad Pride Week. This happens to varying degrees all over the world and there seems to be a consensus building that it will happen in Vancouver this year! If you have ideas about events and activities that we should do or that you would like to organize, call the office and talk to Helen. At some point in May someone will be assigned to coordinate the celebration. Until then, remember what a good and kind person you are and dream about a world where the full spectrum of emotions is honored and all people are welcome.