[Peer - Rethink]

Tuesday 1st November: The charity Rethink Mental Illness will today release five birthday wishes for schizophrenia and launches an independent expert commission on the condition, 100 years after the term was first coined. The charity is asking the public to send an ‘unhappy birthday schizophrenia’ e-card to David Cameron, urging the Prime Minister to take action to ensure a better future for the hundreds of thousands of families affected by the illness.


“Sadly, this is very much an unhappy birthday. The aim of the campaign is to get the message out that 100 years on, people with schizophrenia and their families are still getting a raw deal in almost every area of their lives and it’s just not good enough. Our members come to us virtually every day to tell us that they’re simply not getting access to the treatment they need or they’ve been treated badly due to the ignorance and stigma that still surrounds the illness." Said Paul Jenkins, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness.

“A lot of progress has been made in the last 100 years, but the fact remains that people with schizophrenia die up to 20 years earlier than the general population, which is a shameful state of affairs.”

The five birthday wishes from Rethink Mental Illness are:


In the next ten years, people with schizophrenia…

1. Will not be dying, on average, 20 years younger than everyone else.

2. Will have the same access to treatment as people with physical illnesses.

3. Will not face stigma and discrimination just because they are ill.

4. Will not be silenced and sidelined, but they and their families will have their voice heard.

5. Will be treated with compassion not suspicion.



You can send a digital e-card to support this campaign by visiting

http://www.rethink.org/unhappybirthday

[sarah jane]

Schizophrenia is label used to undermine the indivual by state, as they have been put on violent register list as they also did to Jane clift! She won her case by suing the authorties!!

[Spartikus Rex]

I must say it reads differently when you have the diagnosis.

[I am an Aardvark]

Spartikus Rex, on 01 November 2011 - 12:56 PM, said:

I must say it reads differently when you have the diagnosis.

Yea.........

[sarah jane]

I must say it reads differently when you have the diagnosis.
-------------------------------------------------------
So what does that mean? The state controlls the public through propganda and brainwashing which induces fear!

[Spartikus Rex]

I am a Cat, on 01 November 2011 - 12:58 PM, said:

Yea.........

I find it just a bit lacking in insight & empathy with regards to our situation. Maybe I read it wrong but it seemed to say Unhappy Birthday Schizophrenia. And it is my birthday this month too!!!

[mias]

I heard Mark Davis from Rethink speaking on Radio London this morning.

[mld]

mias, on 01 November 2011 - 01:31 PM, said:

I heard Mark Davis from Rethink speaking on Radio London this morning.

There were two slots on the Today programme on Radio 4 as well.

M.

[mias]

Hi M.

I saw that there were other interviews on other stations. The more the merrier. More than anything I think 'awareness' is the way to go. I try to remember that just because I am now far more aware of how things are for some people and actually care, I forget that many of the general public probably still have little knowledge or thought of such things.

[ramboself]

thought rethink had forgotten the s word, we don't have our share of hollywood stars queuing up to be diagnosed

[Spartikus Rex]

ramboself, on 01 November 2011 - 07:04 PM, said:

thought rethink had forgotten the s word, we don't have our share of hollywood stars queuing up to be diagnosed

They need to remarket the brand. Like the Japanese...if a name is badly damaged you drop it.

[ramboself]

i think making an issue at the present time about the treatment of schizos is counter productive, everyones worried about their own future

Didn't get much sympathy from my support worker just a lecture on how his pay has been cut and he hasn't a phone computer or motorbike, i said while your at it you can have the stigma as well

[Spartikus Rex]

ramboself, on 02 November 2011 - 05:51 PM, said:

i think making an issue at the present time about the treatment of schizos is counter productive, everyones worried about their own future

Didn't get much sympathy from my support worker just a lecture on how his pay has been cut and he hasn't a phone computer or motorbike, i said while your at it you can have the stigma as well

You've read the history books too.

i think making an issue at the present time about the treatment of schizos is counter productive, everyones worried about their own future

Might just be the understatement of the year. They'll want a kicking dog pretty soon, the unbridled masses.

[ramboself]

it's been so cheerful keeps you going

[Spartikus Rex]

ramboself, on 02 November 2011 - 07:52 PM, said:

it's been so cheerful keeps you going

It isn't my depression I'm worried about it's theirs.

[Dr. Terry Lynch]

I like the 5 birthday wishes. I might have added another - that the emotional, psychological, social and relational aspects and unmet needs of people diagnosed as having schizophrenia, which are currently neglected and unattended to, would be far better understood and receive the attention and priority they require and deserve.

[ramboself]

i agree completely, but it's all about physical, though if you ask for the same things as physical you'll get short thrift, eg resources spent, care levels that could act as social support

[Spartikus Rex]

ramboself, on 03 November 2011 - 07:32 PM, said:

i agree completely, but it's all about physical, though if you ask for the same things as physical you'll get short thrift, eg resources spent, care levels that could act as social support

There's a lot of money spent. Just very little reaches the actual sufferer except through the chemical cosh.

[ramboself]

my opinion now is close down mental health services, use the money to give the police a bit of training, about the only things they do the police could do better, spend the rest on community

But then those middle class women would be not needed, turn to valium and alcohol and there rich husbands wouldn't be pleased

[Spartikus Rex]

ramboself, on 03 November 2011 - 08:07 PM, said:

my opinion now is close down mental health services, use the money to give the police a bit of training, about the only things they do the police could do better, spend the rest on community

But then those middle class women would be not needed, turn to valium and alcohol and there rich husbands wouldn't be pleased

The only good thing about Sz is that you know what it's like to live under a oppresive regime. The norms have it all to come. Not much but it is one small advantage.