After working with Akiko Hart to create an ‘Alternative Review of the Mental Health Act’ for National Hearing Voices Network, I was keen to keep up the momentum and get people talking about the coersive end of the mental health system. Luckily, after speaking with a contact in the BBC Current Affairs dept. an opportunity arose for me to present a documentary on ‘sectioning’ – using my story as a lens through which to talk with others who have a role in the process.
Listen on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0003z89
Download: HVN’s Alternative Review of the MHA
The timeline was tight and space was short, yet we managed to feature interviews with: Mick Studley (aka my dad); Brett & Kirsty Lee (siblings who have taken part in Open Dialogue); Dorcas Gwata (Clinical Nurse Specialist); Dr Shubulade Smith (Psychiatrist and Director of the RCPsych’s National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health); Sir Simon Wessely (Psychiatrist and Chair of Independent Mental Health Act Review); Yasmin Ishaq (Open Dialogue Service Lead @ KMPT).
Have a listen if you’re interested in hearing more about what it felt like for me to be sectioned, some of the dilemmas faced by staff, how societal attitudes impact on the human rights of those of us diagnosed with mental health issues and what some of the atlernatives might be.
Thanks
As well as all the contributors featured, I’d like to thank John Richardson, Bella, Chloe Hadjimatheou, Helen Grady, Emma Rippon and Ben Crighton for their time, wisdom, energy and dedication.
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