MAGAZINE FOR WELLBEING
AUTUMN Issue 54
2014
AUTUMN
ISSUE 54
>> Wellbeing News Roundup >> Race & Mental Illness >> Technology & Disability >> Art, News & Reviews
Equilibrium Patron Dr Liz Miller Mind Champion 2008
Front cover: Kate Massey-Chase
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editorial Hoping you’re all keepng warm and that you enjoy our Autumn issue of Equilibrium. Packed full of the usual news, reviews and opinion pieces, we’d again like to thank our guest contributors and artists - do keep sending us your fantastic work! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue, so go ahead and tweet us at @teamequilibrium. And if you’d like to join the team, contribute an article or picture, or find out more, please do get in touch via equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk. Kate, Editor/Team Facilitator
disclaimer Equilibrium is produced by service users. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without the prior permission of the Equilibrium team. Products, articles and services advertised in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of Equilibrium or any of our partners. Equilibrium is published and circulated electronically four times a year to a database of subscribers; if you do not wish to receive Equilibrium or have received it by mistake, please email unsubscribe to equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk
the team Facilitator/ Editor: Kate Massey-Chase. Editorial team: Angela, Dev, Ian, Alan, Nigel, Paul and Richard. Graphic design: Anthony Parké.
contact us Equilibrium, Clarendon Recovery College, Clarendon Road, London, N8 ODJ. 02084894860, equilibriumteam@hotmail.co.uk. We are in the office on Friday afternoons 2.30-4.30, but you can leave a message at other times and we’ll get back to you.
contributions Wanted: contributions to Equilibrium! Please email us with your news, views, poems, photos, plus articles. Anonymity guaranteed if required.
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3
Wellbeing News Round Up Five steps for a high well-being society
every 40 seconds, according to a significant
Technology and disability
A new report has been published by the
report by the World Health Organization.
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Wellbe-
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29060238
ing Economics, which is based on a nine-
This report has deemed suicide a ‘major
month inquiry exploring well-being and
public health problem that was too often
makes five key recommendations for build-
shrouded in taboo’. The report is based on
ing a ‘high well-being society’. These are:
10 years of research and data on suicide from around the world, and has concluded:
1). Focus on stable jobs, not growth. 2). Promote shorter, more flexible working hours. 3). More green spaces in our cities 4). Mindfulness training for doctors and teachers. 5). Invest in arts and culture.
• Around 800,000 people kill themselves
every year. • It was the second leading cause of
death in young people, aged 15 to 29. • Those over 70 were the most likely to
take their own lives. • Three-quarters of these deaths were in
The report calls for all political parties to set out in their manifestos their strategy for building a high well-being society, and
low and middle income countries. • In richer countries, three times as many
men as women die by suicide
how they are going to embed well-being into the policy process if they are elected.
The economic crisis in Europe and North
The New Economics Foundation suggests
America led to more than 10,000 extra
‘you write to your MP asking them for their
suicides, according to figures from UK
party’s take on the report’ and that we try
researchers
and ‘make the next parliament the one
(www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27796628)
where well-being takes its rightful place as a central goal of government policy’.
The study by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Somebody dies by taking their own life
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Medicine analysed data from 24 EU coun-
Summer/ Issue 38
tries, the US and Canada, and suggest
Thomas’ Charity. The findings will then be
that there’s a lot of good evidence show-
shared with medical and arts educational-
ing recessions lead to rising suicides. They
ists, policymakers and participatory artists
have, however, discovered that this isn’t
across the UK, with the aim of establishing
the case everywhere and is significantly
arts-based learning as a key methodology
influenced by different country’s political
in the training of healthcare professionals.
policies. Unsurprisingly, countries such as Austria, Sweden and Finland, who invest in
New report by the Mental Health Network:
schemes that help people return to work
‘The future’s digital: mental health and
(such as training, advice and subsidised
technology’
wages) and support and protect vulner-
This report argues that compared to many
able groups are not facing this dire influx
other service sectors, mental health serv-
of suicides. Clearly, in fraught economic
ices – and the NHS more broadly – are
times, we need to take even greater steps
behind the curve with regard to using new
to support the most desperate.
technologies. The report argues that we need to make more use of digital technol-
Arts to be further integrated into medi-
ogy and online resources to improve over-
cal training (www.artsprofessional.co.uk/
all public mental health. Everyone should
profile/liz-hill. Liz Hill, Arts Professional)
be able to access reliable information
A new project has been funded where
about mental health and wellbeing online
healthcare workers will receive arts-based
and to access help and advice anony-
training, in an attempt to reduce human
mously in a variety of ways (live chat,
error in medical interventions and improve
email, text and phone). The scope for how
patient safety and wellbeing. This initiative
technology aids the way we design and
is part of a three-year research and devel-
deliver NHS mental health services is huge,
opment partnership programme and will
giving more efficiency and choice and
be delivered for medical professionals at
empowering individuals to take charge of
King’s Health Partners in London, supported
their own recovery.
by a £580k grant from the Guy’s and St
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Benefits & tips of Regular Eating
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Summer/ Issue 38
Rebecca Bennett Regular eating is eating your meals and
hours, therefore it is important to refuel
snacks regularly throughout the day,
with a good breakfast that will raise your
about every 4-5 hours. This is in order to
energy levels and mood. Even if you
improve mood and concentration as
don’t feel particularly hungry even a
well reducing the physiological impact
small amount of a breakfast will prevent
of hunger which will lead to less hunger
you from getting hungrier later in the
binges as well as having more energy
day. It will also help to regulate your
in order to be physically active. In the
hunger/fullness signals throughout the
long-term regular eating will help an
day back to normal.
individual to lose weight, and help lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
If you can plan what you are to eat for meals and snacks the night before can
Aim to include a starchy food at
be a good way of reminding yourself to
every mealtime. It is these foods that
eat at regular intervals. It can also be
provide a steady flow of energy which
useful to take a snack with you when
reduces physical hunger. Inadequate
you are out during the day.
starchy foods have also been linked with increased anger, depression and
Make sure you are also drinking enough
tension. It is best if you can to choose
fluids during the day, in particular water
slow energy releasing starchy foods e.g.
and sugar free fluids. Lack of fluid
wholegrain cereals, basmati rice, sweet
affects your concentration, memory,
potatoes , oats and rye or wholegrain
and well-being both physically and
bread.
mentally.
It is important also to always eat break-
For further nutrition links see:
fast. When you wake up after a night’s
www.mind.org.uk
sleep your blood sugar will be low
www.nutrition.org.uk
because you haven’t eaten for many
www.bda.uk.com
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Summer/ Issue 38
Book Review
Gifted Hands by Ben Carson Gifted Hands by Ben Carson is an
reading the book made me think
inspirational and moving book;
about what gets me through not so
although I found it a bit predict-
good days.
able in places it is still an enjoyable book to read. The person who
For me this book is worth reading
inspired me most in the book is
because it made me both smile
Ben’s mother; she is the reason why
and sad in places. I really wanted
I read this book.
Ben to succeed and followed his journey of highs and lows.
Sonya Carson raised her sons Ben
Ben Carson was always going to
and Curtis to believe that anything
succeed there’s no doubt about
is possible. She is the one who
that.
taught them that hard work would get them what they wanted and
Gifted Hands is a short book and I
that they weren’t just entitled. Ben’s
read it over three days. This book
determination and courage to
made me think differently about
become a surgeon when the odds
things for a while; I still read Ben
are stacked against him is admirable.
Carson’s inspirational quotes when I need to.
Ben has a strong Christian belief, which helped him through his dark-
Overall a good book.
est days. I’m not religious however Sharon
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Race & Mental Illness for reasons like racism, poverty, unemployment, unstable family units, prison, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and bereavement. Mental breakdown, also know as nervous breakdown, is a colloquial term for an acute, time-limited psychiatric disorder that manifests itself primarily as severe stress-induced depression, anxiety or disassociation in a previously functioning individual. Mental illness was probably the first taboo, so why is there still stigma around
The Disability Discrimination Act (1995)
it? Will it ever go away? People are
makes it unlawful to discriminate against
discriminated against for lots of reasons,
employees with a disability. Those with
including their race and sex, so what is it
a mental illness that has a substantial,
like to be a black, female, mental
adverse and long-term (over 12 months)
health service user, like me?
effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities are considered
In many urban areas, Black and Minority
to have a disability under the Act. It is
Ethnic communities are significantly
intended to offer protection but attitu-
over-represented in the poorest wards,
dinal changes towards disability and
notably people of African, Caribbean,
mental health lag behind legislation.
Bangladeshi and Arab origin. Research
Despite this, a report of Mental Health
suggests that both the experience of
and Social Exclusion, published by the
racial harassment and perceptions of
Social Exclusion Unit in 2004, showed
racial discrimination contribute to health
that amongst those with long-term
outcomes (Chakrborty & McKenzie
mental health problems, only 24% were
2002). There are proportionally more
employed.
black people in the mental health system than white people. This maybe
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When people using mental health serv-
Summer/ Issue 38
Angela
ices are asked about the major issues
unwell under the psychological stresses
that concern them in their daily lives,
of imprisonment. There are a dispropor-
personal finances are consistently
tionate number of people from ethnic
identified as a major source of diffi-
minorities in prisons in this country; in
culty and distress. 1 in 3 people with
2010, the ethnic minority prison popu-
a serious mental health condition is
lation (of which the highest proportion
thought to be in debt. Concerns and
is black) had doubled in a decade
anxieties regarding finance constitute a
(‘More black people jailed in England
significant stressor (In the red: debt and
and Wales, The Guardian, 10 Oct 2010).
mental health, Mind, 2010). I am a black Caribbean women born A study by the South London and
in the UK. The family unit is often very
Maudsley Trust found that people diag-
unstable in the Caribbean commu-
nosed with serious mental illness had
nity. Unfortunately there are too many
significantly reduced life expectancy
one parent families. The National Child
(8.0 to 14.6 life years for men and 9.8
Development Study (which has tracked
to 17.5 life years for women). Highest
around 17,000 people born in Brit-
reductions were found for men with
ain during one week in 1958 over the
schizophrenia (14.6 years lost) and
course of their lives) has recently shown
women with schizoaffective disorders
that greater social acceptance of
(17.5 years lost). Living with schizo-
divorce has not reduced its impact on
phrenia and bipolar disorder increases
children. When outcomes for this group
the risk of certain physical diseases
were compared with children born in
(cardiovascular and chronic respiratory
1970, children from both cohorts whose
disease, diabetes, hepatitis C, HIV).
parents split up are ‘equally likely to end up without qualifications, claiming
According to the Mental Health Foun-
benefits and suffering depression’ (Elliot
dation, only 1 in 10 prisoners does not
J Vaitilingham, Now we are 50: Key
have a mental health problem, count-
findings from Child Development Study,
ing substance abusers (and those with
Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Institute
dual diagnosis), those with a primary
of London, 2008)
mental illness and others who become
cont.
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cont.
My story
Margate seaside resort. We had lovely
During my time as a service-user, I have
Caribbean food and really fantastic
noticed that there are a lot of social
weather. I am glad that I went because I
workers and nurses who are from the
didn’t have anyone else to go to the
Caribbean and Africa. I found this useful
seaside with.
as a black Caribbean woman. The black staff would always make sure that I
Lambo Day Centre
looked after my appearance; they would
I was pleased to see Lynton Bedford’s
tell me, for example, when I needed
recent letter in the Islington Tribune, as
to go to the hair salon, tell me to wear
she is just saying what everyone in the
smart clothes and shoes, and would
black community is thinking: race is at
check my hair and skin to make sure I was
the heart of the decision about Lambo
looking after it properly and it
Day Centre. The Afro-Caribbean Day
wasn’t too dry. However, I have not seen a
Centre at Despard Road in Archway was
lot of black doctors in the mental
created to compensate for the
health services (only 2 doctors from
disproportionate number of black people
Africa).
locked up in psychiatric wards. Moving all the users from two other centres
What I found strange the first time I was
into what is currently an all black
admitted to hospital was that they
centre will mean that Despard Road will
said they had to medicate me because I
no longer be a black service.
was smiling all the time and over happy. This sounds like they would prefer
I used to attend Lambo Day Centre. All the
me to be some kind of zombie
staff are black. We get African and
(smile and the world smiles with you?!).
Caribbean food, such as rice and peas
One of the social workers set up a
and chicken, and curries. We have
support group for black women in the
had a speaker in talking about sickle cell,
mental health system. We used to meet
which is a blood disorder that
up every week at St Anne’s Hospital and
affects the black community. The first
talk about our experiences. I will
group I attended there was a music
never forget the session when we
group. We made our own songs, which
discussed being manic, because it was so
was really good. This group had even
funny. One Saturday, they took us to
produced its own CD. Other activities
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Summer/ Issue 38
include sewing, going to the gym,
A lot of doctors in mental health services
cinema trips, dinner and dancing, going
are white and middle class, and do not
to the West End for Christmas,
understand our culture which can lead to
holidays in Centre Parks, Belgium and
misdiagnosis. We all need to know how
France, fire safety talks by the local fire
to handle stress and be happy.
brigade, a restaurant manager talking about healthy eating – the list is endless!
For further information, please see: Goldberg RW, Seth P; Hepatitis C serv-
We celebrated Windrush in 1998, and
ices and individuals with serious mental
have also attended black theatre
illness. Community Ment Health J. 2008
productions and black concerts. We
Oct;44(5):381-4. Epub 2008 May 9.
went to a cooking show which featured
Sajatovic M, Dawson NV, Perzynski AT,
Ainsley Harriet, a black celebrity chef. He
et al; Best practices: optimizing care for
came to talk to us and took pictures.
people with serious mental illness and
We have visited African restaurants and
Psychiatr Serv. 2011 Sep;62(9):1001-3.
took part in an exercise class led by a trained black service user. We also
If you’re in distress or need immedi-
went to African Village and have had
ate help, there are many services and
lots of parties (any excuse for a party!).
organisations that you can talk to, includ-
The anthem for the Day Centre was
ing The Samaritans, who offer emotional
‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers.
support 24 hours a day. Get in touch with them on 08457 90 90 90 (UK)/1850 60
Conclusion
90 90 (Republic of Ireland) or email jo@
The Minister for Mental Health, Norman
samaritans.org.
Lamb, says he is supporting mental health is Black Britain and the Mental
The Black and Minority Ethnic Mental
Health Foundation is a charity involved
Health Network campaign is gaining
in research, who hopefully can help us
momentum. For further information, call
understand some of the issues better.
0208 215 2424, or visit
If we can’t get rid of the taboo about
www.diverseminds.org.uk
n
mental illness, let’s get rid of mental illness (prevention is better than cure)!
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Technology and disability Dev
Technology now plays a very important role in
climb stairs. This is achieved by having three
everybody’s lives, whether that’s watching TV,
sets of wheels on either side of the chair, rather
using mobile phones or the internet, or even
than just one on each side. When the first pair
traffic light signals. In fact we are inundated
of wheels are placed on the stair and locked,
with technology. If you walk down the road
the wheel rotates forward for the second chair
you will see so many examples. But technol-
to reach the next step whilst lifting the chair.
ogy can play an important role in supporting
When not climbing up the stairs it is used as a
our physical bodies as well. Big strides have
normal wheelchair.
been made in helping people with physical problems, regardless of which part of the
The DinaVox EyeMax system was created to
body, through technology. These technologies
assist people with severe paralysis or strokes
are making life easier for people with various
to communicate with their eyes, by an eye
disabilities, including severely disabled people.
recognition system. Basically, the eye points
A famous example is Steven Hawking, who
to a letter on an onscreen keyboard allow-
use modern technology both to communicate
ing them to enter words and phrases; these
and move around. In fact, Robin Christopher-
are then translated into spoken text via the
son from AbilityNet, a British organisation that
device’s text-to-speech mechanism. It also
promotes accessibility in technology, says:
has predefined words that make it easier for
‘One of the beauties of mainstream devices
them to speak. You might have seen this being
is that they have hundreds of peripherals that
used by Steven Hawking.
you can just add on’. Another interesting invention is the Kapten PLUS These types of technology can vary widely,
Personal Navigation Device for blind people.
such as the ibot 360, a wheel chair that can
This helps guide visually impaired people to
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Summer/ Issue 38
get to their destination using voice activated
a digital signal and transmitted to the implant
and GPS systems. It also tells you where you
itself. Once received by the implant, the
are, similar to a Sat Nav in your car. But this is
device directly stimulates the auditory nerve,
currently only available in the US and the only
providing an entirely new means of auditory
flaw with this device is that it is not found in any
sensory input.
other language. However, saying this, there are several probAn engineer, Dr David Hong, has created
lems with these new technologies. For exam-
a car that can be driven by a blind or visu-
ple, the accessibility of these products. Take,
ally impaired person. It uses sensors on the
for example, the ibot 360 wheel chair. Would
person’s gloves and on the seat allowing the
it be able to handle steep narrow stairs, stair
person to independently drive a car. It also has
wells or even bumpy terrain? More impor-
sensors to tell you when there is an obstacle in
tantly, would people who are on low wages
your way. At first view, it seems that it would be
or people from poor countries be able to get
impossible, but when seeing it actually work it
this or any of the other technologies described
shows what can be done with the help of tech-
above? Also some of these inventions are still
nology.
prototypes, such as the cart for the blind. Most of these technologies still need to be tested
A small but highly useful technological inven-
at very, very basic level or, as engineers say,
tion is the Cochlear Implant, a device that
to try a ‘viability test’. But with the advancing
allows severely deaf people to hear sound.
technology more technologies will be able to
First it picks up sounds via a microphone; this
assist people with disability – as long as they
then carries the signal to a small computer
can get access to the technology.
n
worn behind the ear, where it is transferred to
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Artwork by Denica Charlery
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Summer/ Issue 38
for; she has even gone as far as to not fully colour some of her designs, which reminds me of the cartoon character Rhubarb and Custard (that might jog some memories for a few people, and it might give an idea of my age to you, the reader!). Denica has also done a cartoon style face with a crown that I’m assuming is a Art Review: I was recently asked to
king. In another picture I see thought
be an art critic; I found myself jump-
bubbles, like the type you get in
ing for joy because I love creativ-
cartoon magazines, starting small and
ity, whether it’s painting, drawing,
getting bigger. Oval shapes, flow-
colouring or writing, I find myself very
ers, tear drops, stained glass window
much at home; the healing power it
arches, churches, trees, clouds,
produces makes me ecstatic.
diamonds, jars and cups…. She has a very beautiful imagination. I would
I am looking at Denica Charlery’s
say the sky is the limit and as the old
art work; it is very bold, bright and
saying goes ‘if you aim for the stars,
colourful. She loves shapes, from
you land on Mars’. I would love to see
circles to crosses and even the Jewish
her go on to do more creative work
star (which represents male and
and delve deeper into her pool of
female) and a Celtic-looking cross.
creativity.
No two pages of her art are the same, all as individual as thumbprints. Black
Richard Honan (a.k.a. mohecan,
snakes, zigzags – her imagination is
raphecan, touché, punt, lsd, kudos,
as wide and varied as one could ask
cara2che)
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Hospitals are Turning to Art to Reduce Stress As an artist I’m always interested in
studies showing a direct link between
new and innovative venues to hang
the content of images and the brain’s
art. However my previous opinion of
reaction to pain, stress, and anxiety,
hanging art in hospitals had always
hospitals are choosing artworks based
been that it was merely a form of
on the evidence and giving it a higher
distracting decoration. Little did I
priority than merely decoration for
know…
sterile rooms and corridors.
Certainly the health benefits associated with the creation of art is well documented. Art therapy classes run the length and breadth of the country. But the health benefits received from viewing art, are less widely known. Lisa Harris, a nephrologist and chief executive of Eskenazi Health says, “These [artworks] are not just accoutrements or aesthetics anymore.” With a $1.5 million budget from donors, the health system commissioned 19 artists to create original works to support
artwork: Anthony J. Parke
“the sense of optimism, vitality and energy” for the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital . Researchers are learning more about
the precise ways paintings and other
I always think of art in hospitals
works of art can help patients and
as running along corridors and
families in the healing process. With
entrances, and of course patients
Photo: Anthony
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Summer/ Issue 38
Nigel Prestatyn
do indeed walk along corridors and
how awesome it is to be able to have
the like, and so benefit can certainly
something like that to take your mind of
be gleaned – at least for the physi-
everything you are going through,” says
cally able. But I wonder how much art
Allison.
is shown in the wards themselves, for
certainly this is where patients might
Hearing Alison’s story made me think.
best benefit from them. It’s one thing to
I have no figures that suggest this, but
hobble past an artwork in a corridor,
I suspect there is far less artwork in the
perhaps another thing altogether to lay
actual wards themselves, than there is
in one’s hospital bed and contemplate
in hospital walk ways and the like. And
the work. I know which I’d prefer, if I
I would imagine that is, in part at least,
were unfortunate enough to be in that
perhaps a logistical problem. I’m think-
position. And which I’d likely benefit
ing of the walls behind ward beds and
more from.
surrounding areas filled with medical
apparatus of one sort or another. But
Heather Kreinbrink says when her
imagine, if you will, images of artworks
daughter Allison had a stroke at age
projected onto ward ceilings, constantly
12 in 2010 and was hospitalized for a
changing images of art work; in this
week, she and her husband, Rod, found
scenario Alison wouldn’t have wait to
looking at the installation outside the
recover before she could enjoy and
children’s wing provided a sense of
benefit from the artwork as her parents
calm amid their fear and exhaustion. “It
did; she would have benefited from it
ended up being something we would
when she needed it most.
go to every day for peace and to come to terms with what was happening,” she says. When Allison was discharged,
http://www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk
her parents brought her to see it. “It
http://online.wsj.com/articles/more-hospitals-use-the-
made me think as I saw other kids being
healing-powers-of-public-art-1408404629
pushed in wheelchairs by their parents,
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 17
Psychology
Watching Happy TV
If you like to watch TV you may find
watches around 4 hours of TV each
some recent research in Psychologies
day. The collective total is around 455
Magazine interesting. The University
million hours per year.
of Maryland article called “The Mind Experiment” reported that people who
Using programmes as a topic for
watched TV for 18.9 hours per week
discussion, watching comedy or music
were happier than those who aver-
programmes tend to make people
aged 25 hours per week.
happier than people who allow the TV to dictate what they watch.
The unhappy viewers were not as satisfied “with their financial situation”,
This research was in an article by
“felt less safe, trusted others less” and
Martha Roberts, an award winning UK
thought they were less active socially
health writer and mental health blog-
than their peers, who were more happy
ger at mentalhealthwise.com
after viewing TV less. The average Brit
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Summer/ Issue 38
Marco Lanzarote
Brain Health A new word in my vocabulary is “micro-
develop potential gut-based treatments
biome” and I came across it as it relates
for “neuropsychiatric disorders”.
to bacteria in the human gut which scientists are now studying. It actually refers
I understand that a healthy gut is impor-
to “bacteria living in the gastro-intestinal
tant to overall health and I want to see if
tract” and plays “a complex and critical
they can find new treatments for depres-
role in the health of its host”.
sion or possibly even other psychiatric disorders now that we have reached the
The studies done so far are probably
stage where resistant 20th century antibi-
common knowledge but now scientists
otics etc. are causing scientists to re-ex-
are interested in understanding not just
amine our relationship with bacteria in the
how the microbiome affects the organs of
21st century.
the body but also how it affects the brain, See: The Conversation.com/uk
www.futuremorph.org
in order to
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Tea: The Iron Killer?
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Summer/ Issue 38
Nigel Prestatyn
My partner has forever been telling me
food would be beneficial for people in
not to drink tea after my meals, that I
this category.
should drink coffee instead if I want a beverage. Well, coffee aside, what is the
So a little bit of iron lost via absorption
harm of drinking tea? I often stop taking
through tea is no big deal. I guess. But
these things without necessarily under-
holds on don’t I always complaining
standing them. Often relying on my
of feeling tired, don’t I complain of not
partner’s own brilliant insights into these
having enough energy to complete all
matters. But this time I thought I would
the tasks I have in the day? Can I actu-
check, to see if her suggestion, like tea,
ally afford to lose any iron? The answer is
held water (pun intended).
no. why bother with tea when I can have coffee.
I does seem that drinking tea after a meal does in fact stop iron entering your
Let’s be clear, the iron absorbed from
body. So what’s specific about tea, and
your food is of a certain type. Drink-
not say coffee. Is it okay to drink coffee?
ing tea with red meats, poultry or fish
Well Tea contains tannic acid chemi-
does not significantly decrease the
cals which bind to the iron in food and
amount of iron your body receives.
absorb it.
These animal products contain the heme form of iron, which is easily absorbed by
Well surely I can spare a little iron? I’m
your body. In contrast, the non-heme
not anemic or in any category that
iron in plant foods is more difficult for
would require me to maintain levels of
your body to use and more likely to be
iron. Of course this is very much an issue
inhibited by black tea.
which should be of concern to women of a certain age. When that ‘time of the
So look after to your vegetables, treat
month’ comes around, there is very
them with respect, and absorb all their
much a drop in iron levels due to the
beneficial irons!
loss of blood, and so avoiding tea after
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
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Transforming mental health: A plan of action for London A new report on mental health from the Kings Fund
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/field/ field_publication_file/transforming-mentalhealth-london-kingsfund-sep2014.pdf
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 22
Summer/ Issue 38
Kate Massey-Chase
The Kings Fund have recently
• People with mental health problems
published a report called ‘Transform-
are at a higher risk of developing
ing mental health: A plan of action
significant physical health problems,
for London’ (Gilbert, Edwards, Murray,
including preventable conditions
Sept. 2014), which describes a vision
such as diabetes and heart disease.
for the future of mental health provision in London. Tackling the costs
• People with serious mental health
of mental illness (almost £7.5 billion
problems die 20 years younger (on
a year in London alone) has been
average) that the general popula-
identified as a priority by the London
tion.
Health Board, and the report details worrying statistics regarding the
• Overall, the health, economic and
prevalence of mental illness: it is the
social impacts of mental illness result
single largest cause of disability in
in costs to the capital of an esti-
the UK (contributing up to 22.8% of
mated £26 billion each year (Greater
the total burden, compared to 15.9%
London Authority 2014)
for cancer and 16.2% for cardiovascular disease, according to the World
• There are three important factors
Health Organisation in 2008). It also
effecting London’s mental health
notes that the incidence of mental
needs which need to be considered:
illness varies considerably between
poverty, ethnic diversity and transi-
London boroughs, with some mental
ence (people moving in and out and
illness twice as common in deprived
between boroughs)
parts of London compared with the least deprived areas (People’s Inquiry into London’s NHS 2014). Other key findings include:
www.haringey.gov.uk/equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM EQUILIBRIUM 23
image: www.deepermind.com
what can art make us feel?
EQUILIBRIUM 24
Nigel Prestatyn
What can art make us feel?
to my work, but in a very general way.
I was pondering over this question
But the language we most commonly
recently because I began to wonder
use as artists is often a language
what do I want people to feel about my
designed to express the work’s meaning.
art!
So we possess a language to convey the conceptual underpinnings of the work.
To answer it I had to put myself in the
This in turn will determine to a degree
position of a viewer of my art, rather than
people’s responses, but perhaps intel-
a creator. Of course one would think it
lectual responses, rather than emotional
wholly natural for an artist to begin by
responses. But it is emotional responses
thinking how an idea for a work may
that I’m interested in.
affect people, but often times, it can be the other way round. You have an idea
So the question is not what people think
for a work, you create it, and then, if at
(though naturally this is of course very
all, you may consider how this work may
important), but more a question of what
affect people.
do people feel about my work: or more specifically what do I want people to
It is not entirely impossible for some
feel about my work?
artists to not care a jot about how their art affects people. To give any consid-
Well when I first considered this question
eration at any point throughout its crea-
I have to confess I didn’t feel I had the
tion as to how the work may emotionally
necessary language to answer this question.
affect people. So what can we feel about works of art? Now this could be my naïve take on
There are of course as many answers
things. It could be that I’m basing this on
as there are spectators. A Rothko can
my own shortcomings. I’ve often consid-
convey a religious quietitude for some,
ered how people might emotionally react
whereas for others it may convey a cont.
EQUILIBRIUM 25
sense of melancholia, and for others
others would too. Is it not too far fetched
something different entirely.
to hope that one would have a similar emotional response to a rising sun as
So there is no definitive answer of how a
they would a painted image of figs? Is
specific work of art can affect people.
this expecting too much?
But in a hypothetical world, how would I like my work to effect people on an
But what do we feel in the face of great
emotional level?
beauty? We feel a sense of awe, wonderment, perhaps even a tingle of excite-
As a hyperrealist I create images of
ment? When I look out of my flat window
everyday objects. How we respond to
and see a striking skyline, there is quiet-
these everyday objects in actual daily
ness, a sense of humility in the face of
life, and how we respond to them in a
such monumental natural beauty. But is it
painting, are different. We don’t regard
hard to make this kind of emotional tran-
several figs in a bowl on our tables as a
sition for art? When we see a butterfly or
work of art (so no emotional aesthetic
a beautiful flower, we are fascinated by
response), yet when this image is trans-
its formal properties. These properties in
ferred to a canvas it can convey an
turn can make us feel a certain way.
emotional response (though there are likely many who argue otherwise).
Unfortunately I don’t have the perfect answer as to what emotional response
As a hyperrealist I’m obsessed with
I would like from viewers of my work. I
detail, and for many their responses can
think I would simply ask that they feel the
often begin with the technical matters of
beauty of these objects. For it is a beauty
a painting. But in what way can a paint-
heightened, exaggerated, a ‘hyper’ real
ing of several figs in a glass bowl move
beauty. There will always be a sense of
people on an emotional level.
wonderment at the minutiae of the natural world, as well as the monumental,
I think the emotional response would
and with both perhaps a feeling of awe,
need to involve a response to beauty.
however mild or intense.
For these objects are beautiful - or at least that is how I see them. Hopefully
EQUILIBRIUM 26
n
Equilibrium at Clarendon Recovery College Paul Blackman Clarendon Recovery College is a place where I come to the magazine group, Equilibrium. I come on a Friday. It starts at 2.30pm. I come here and I write about many different topics. I also go into the library and read many different things. I have been coming for about three weeks. I hope that I will gain good skills so I can move on and get a job or go and study until I get one. Maybe by studying I will get a certificate. I may write something they will put in their magazine, called Equilibrium*. I enjoy writing because I like to write about different things, such as articles, books, maybe poems. I started writing a couple of years back, first at 684, then Barnet College, then Crisis, then Alexandra Palace, then Mind. Now I write at the Clarendon Centre. I am also writing a book about the life of King Henry VIII. I am learning to write at City Lit. I enjoy writing. I wish one day I could become a good writer, perhaps writing books or for the newspaper.
* Paul is very pleased we have!
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