Philip Clark's blog

I instinctively like this "Capabilities Approach"  approach, although I feel it is a little too subjective! However, I am very supportive of the conclusions ~ i.e. a public apology from Psychiatrists and services. I am afraid that the conclusions re. recovery & personalisation are all too correct!

Do take a look at the Powerpoint presentation about the "Capabilities Approach" at this webpage:  http://tinyurl.com/32t7mf8

I'm in the process of writing up my contribution to the Open Up “Learning Resource” ~ I know, this is a “more to come” thing! Still, being in the middle of it, I couldn’t think of anything else to blog about!!!

All too often I hear a remark suggesting that us poor Service Users can't really be expected to plan and develop a project to a successful conclusion!  One thing OpenUp has done is show this to be a fallacy.  Just explore the pages on this site and you will find many successful projects/initiatives that have not only made a difference in individuals lives but are changing the face of experienced stigma & discrimination.

Berwick's Open Up Initiative, in association with "Think Make Grow", very successfully introduced Julias the Rainbow Dragon to the general public at the local "Green Fair" on Sunday last.

Good things are happening up in the north of the region.  AIM/Launchpad have seen a brilliant two-page spread in the local paper and Berwick are working hard to see the OpenUp Dragon being launched this Sunday at the Berwick "Green Fair".

Did you all see the latest Dr Who episode, "Vincent and the Doctor"?  You should have done!

A wonderful example of BBC investigative journalism on BBC2 tonight (Monday, 1st March '10).  It seems at least four out of every five murders is committed by a "sane" person!  Unfortunately the BBC chose to concentrate its investigation on the minority killed by someone who may have had a mental health problem!!!!

A TimesOnline moderator has not only allowed but also "Recommended" a comment comparing mental health patients to "mad dogs" and suggesting they be put down!  At the same time the moderator did not allow a more accurate view of  Schizophrenia than that in the article.

It is bad enough that this author has, once again, been allowed to contribute a basically inaccurate article about Schizophrenia.  To further allow inflamatory comments such as this is beyond the pale.

The following is what appears on this site:

Just been taking a quick look at the new stats released by "The Information Centre for Health & Social Care".  The data regarding the black community is once again very worrying!

Two immediate examples are:

Hidden away in the governments triumphant talk about being “tantalisingly close” to winning the fight against swine flu there is a danger many people and organisations are missing or deliberately deciding to ignore. It is something that if not carefully monitored could mean our civil rights are trampled on ~ all because we have experienced a mental health problem!