[OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
doug via OSList
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Sun Oct 5 11:24:34 PDT 2014
Aren't those who work in the institutions we call organizations
institutionalized?
:- Doug. Germann
On 10/05/2014 08:47 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList wrote:
> 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
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
> 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 ?
>
> 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.
>
> 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...)
>
>
> Christine
> --
>
>
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