[OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[doug via OSList]

;)


On 10/05/2014 04:08 PM, anne.bennett8ac wrote:
> Precisely my point Doug
>  ;-)
>
>
> Sent from Samsung Mobile
>
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: doug via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> Date: 2014/10/05 19:24 (GMT+00:00)
> To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric 
> disorders
>
>
> 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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> >
> >
> >
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