[OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[Anne Bennett via OSList]

Hi Christine

I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years. Designing a range of events for various purposes, I found a few things of interest - 

1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the enthusiasms of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those perceived to have special challenges - often they don't - make general arrangements for supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones, obvious exits]. The more 'we' think 'they' need special help, the more this may become true, and equally denies the truth that 'who doesnt need this help?' Although once there were 'criminally insane' prisoners in an event, hand-cuffed to their forensic health care workers, their inputs and engagements were as sane and probably the most relevant of any. The notion of individuals making their own decisions to join/leave groups and manage their own time, communication and activity is a challenge for the institutionalised - how many organisations are free of such behavioural effects? Your art of facilitation (calm liberation of the space, gentle encouragement, presence) is the
 main thing to bring on the day.

2. Subtler observations I would share:
-  the 'norms' (people who are 'us' not 'them') bring a looooot of baggage to the thing - the psychodynamicals among us can have a field day with the introjections etc etc;
- specifically the psychiatrically credentialled professionals have the most difficulty of any specific group I have ever met (including the heads of state, monks, prisoners, scientists, artists, asylum seekers and homeless) to get involved at the EQ level with anyone else in the room - a day or so in and a few are communicating almost like humans;
- mental health labels can be applied to most of us some of the time - serious (in terms of lifestyle-impacting), chronic or acute psychiatric disorders can mean some people have altered realities some or most of the time, and/or be chemically suppressed. This brings versions of contribution that add to the diverse mix that we can experience in any group. The principles of OST are among the most sense-making for such diversity and one is reminded anew of how universally helpful it is to stay mindful of these qualities of human society.

So I guess the intentions of your planners are nice, the time element is a red herring, and the perceptions of who is 'included' and how this is achieved may require something quite other than what might be going on or proposed

In friendship
Anne


>________________________________
> From: christine koehler via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
>To: OSLIST <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
>Sent: Sunday, 5 October 2014, 7:18
>Subject: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
> 
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>Hi everyone,
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>I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa 150 people) in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the participants. 
>How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?
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>I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came out, as one of the organizer is working with them in order to help them be included in the society as any other citizen.
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>Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to prepare it (and if we have enough time for that...)
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>Christine -- 
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