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Survivor Researcher Network News

 

Reclaiming, Challenging and Reviving the Survivor Researcher Network

On Tuesday 26 July 2016, members of the SRN met for a seminar entitled ‘Reclaiming, Challenging and Reviving Survivor Research’. The workshop was funded by the Sociological Review Foundation and Middlesex University and provided a starting point to explore what ‘survivor research and knowledge’ is today and how to revive the network and build for the future. You can  watch interviews with some of the participants as they reflect on their experiences of the day. 

Following feedback  before, during and after the workshop, the event working group has agreed a statement that can be found hereAs the SRN moves towards the next stage of planning and development, NSUN will be putting a call out in the near future asking for volunteers to form a new working group. More details to follow in future bulletins. 

What are your thoughts about user-led research? 

How would you like to see the Survivor Researcher Network develop in the future? 

E-mail Emma (or call 07885 964293). 

 

Research and Evaluation Seminar Series 2016/17

This seminar series is aimed at taking participants through the process of delivering evaluation and research through attending a number of practically based workshops delivered by experts in the field.

These half-day seminars will be held at the Institute of Mental Health in Nottingham from September 2016 to February 2017.

Cost:

  • £65 per workshop, per attendee (refreshments will be provided, feel free to bring your own lunch)
  • There are a limited number of funded places for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust employed staff

Seminars:

  • Demystifying research and evaluation approaches
  • Understanding quantitative methods in research and evaluation
  • Implementing audit in yout service area
  • Introduction to statistical analysis
  • Understanding qualitative methods in research and evaluation
  • Introduction to qualitative analysis
  • Developing a proposal and getting permission to undertake research and evaluation
  • Writing reports and implementing outcomes
  • Dissemination and writing for publication
  • Evaluating published research
  • Fixing your problems in research and evaluation

For more information and to register:

View the flyer here or email karen.sugars@nottshc.nhs.uk

 

Take part in a King's College London and McPin Foundation Study 

Cognitive Bias Modification to help with paranoid thoughts (CBM-pa)

This study will examine whether a new approach called ‘Cognitive Bias Modification for paranoia’ (CBM-pa) helps people who feel they experience paranoid thoughts. CBM-pa encourages people to develop alternative ways of interpreting difficult thoughts and situations. There are no right and wrong answers in the CBM approach.

The researchers are looking for people...

·       aged between 18 and 65

·       who feel they have experienced paranoid thoughts that they find distressing, for   the last month or longer

·       who haven’t had changes to their regular medication in the last three months

·       and who speak English

What will happen if you decide to take part

If you are eligible to take part in the study, you will be invited by a researcher to attend weekly sessions taking place at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience in Camberwell (SE5) There will be six sessions and each will last about an hour and a half. The sessions would involve reading scenarios on a computer screen, completing missing words and answering questions about the scenario. There would also be follow-up assessments at one month and three months, by phone, internet or email. You would receive £10 per session or assessment (up to a total of £90), plus travel expenses of up to £10 per session. If you would like further information about the study, please see the study websiteThe study has received ethical approval from the Health Research Authority (Ref: 16/LO/0071).

If you are interested in taking part or have any further questions, please contact Thomas Kabir or 0207 922 7874. 

 

Call for Oral Presentations/Workshops

‘Critical Perspectives On and Beyond Activism and Acts Of Resistance…’

9th & 10th November 2016

School of Applied Social Studies and School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland. In association with Critical Voices Network Ireland.

For many years now, individuals and groups have engaged with activism to raise concerns in the area commonly referred to as ‘mental health’. Such activism has seen the emergence of collective forms of inquiry, knowledge production and resistance (with some innovative changes), which challenge us all to move beyond traditional understandings and practices. This conference, now in its 8th year, aims to explore and debate critical perspectives on and beyond:

– Acts of resistance within and outside academic and service systems

– The impact of activism on democratising mental health care

– The importance of socio-political perspectives in understanding and responding to human distress

– Co-option of resistance into dominant systems.


Call for Oral Presentations/Workshops (45 minutes’ duration): Please submit an abstract (in Word – 250 words max) related to the conference theme and outlining its aims and intentions by 4 September 2016. Please also submit a brief bio (in Word – 150 words max).

Email abstract and bio to l.sapouna@ucc.ie. Inquiries to h.gijbels@ucc.ie or l.sapouna@ucc.ie. Registration details will be circulated in September 2016.

 

Blogs and articles 

Can Co-production Really Transform UK Mental Health Services? (Sarah Carr, for Mad in America) 

New ideas for social care reform must come from the grassroots (Peter Beresford, Social Care Network - The Guardian) 

Equality and Human Rights in a new landscape (David Isaac and Rebecca Hilsenrath, Equality and Human Rights Commission) 

 

Research 

From Mental Illness to a Social Model of Madness and Distress (PDF). Beresford P, Perring R, Nettle M, Wallcraft J. (2016) London: Shaping Our Lives. www.shapingourlives.org.uk Alison Faulkner reviews the report for The Mental Elf. 

Cumulative Effect of Racial Discrimination on the Mental Health of Ethnic Minorities in the United Kingdom. Wallace, S, Nazroo, J and Bécares, L (2016). American journal of public health106(7), pp.1294-1300. Justin Karter summarises the research for Mad in America. 

Peer workers’ perceptions and experiences of barriers to implementation of peer worker roles in mental health services: A literature review. Vandewalle J, Debaser B, Beeckman D, Vandecasteele T, Van Hecke A, Verhaeghe S. (2016) International Journal of Nursing Studies (2016). Sarah Carr reviews for The Mental Elf. 

The eligibility question - the real source of depersonalisation? Slasberg, C. and Beresford  P. Disability and Society (published online August 2016). 

 

Searching for a Rose Garden - challenging psychiatry, fostering mad studies

Edited by Jasna Russo and Angela Sweeney

This international collection of mad studies writings by mental health activists, academics and researchers showcases new thinking and innovative practice in survivor-led interpretations of and responses to mental distress. Searching for a Rose Garden shifts the gaze away from criticising and challenging psychiatry towards ground breaking concepts for progressive research and practice. The contributions in these pages emerge from the experiential knowledge of the writers and offer new understandings of the potential of first-person knowledge and survivor-leadership.

This landmark book demonstrates the challenge, determination and successes of the authors in working towards a paradigm shift in the understanding of madness and distress. Essential reading in the emerging field of Mad Studies.

Published by PCCS Books on 1 August 2016

Buy direct £20.00 (Cover price £22.99)

Anyone who is unwaged or on an insecure wage can buy the book for £11.50. Enter the code srgspecial when you buy from the PCCS Books website or place your order by phoning +44 (0)1600 891509

Postage is free in the UK, £2.50 within the EU and £4.50 to the rest of the world.

You can read Nicky Hayward's review of the book here

 

The Survivor Researcher Network 

About us

The Survivor Researcher Network (SRN) aims to provide mental health service users and survivors involved and interested in research a forum for networking, sharing information, and supporting each other.

We are keen to acknowledge and promote the diversity of experiences, identities and backgrounds of survivor researchers and to challenge the marginalisation of some communities in mental health research (including user-led research), in terms of access to resources, participation and leadership. 

If you would like to share your experiences of survivor research, or if you have anything you would like to share with other SRN members we would love to hear from you! 

E-mail Emma (or call 07885 964293).