Aren't those who work in the institutions we call organizations
institutionalized?
:- Doug. Germann
On 10/05/2014 08:47 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList wrote:
Hi Christine
I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years.
Designing a range of events for various purposes, I found a few things
of interest -
1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the
enthusiasms of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those
perceived to have special challenges - often they don't - make general
arrangements for supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones,
obvious exits]. The more 'we' think 'they' need special help, the more
this may become true, and equally denies the truth that 'who doesnt need
this help?' Although once there were 'criminally insane' prisoners in an
event, hand-cuffed to their forensic health care workers, their inputs
and engagements were as sane and probably the most relevant of any. The
notion of individuals making their own decisions to join/leave groups
and manage their own time, communication and activity is a challenge for
the institutionalised - how many organisations are free of such
behavioural effects? Your art of facilitation (calm liberation of the
space, gentle encouragement, presence) is the main thing to bring on the
day.
2. Subtler observations I would share:
- the 'norms' (people who are 'us' not 'them') bring a looooot of
baggage to the thing - the psychodynamicals among us can have a field
day with the introjections etc etc;
- specifically the psychiatrically credentialled professionals have the
most difficulty of any specific group I have ever met (including the
heads of state, monks, prisoners, scientists, artists, asylum seekers
and homeless) to get involved at the EQ level with anyone else in the
room - a day or so in and a few are communicating almost like humans;
- mental health labels can be applied to most of us some of the time -
serious (in terms of lifestyle-impacting), chronic or acute psychiatric
disorders can mean some people have altered realities some or most of
the time, and/or be chemically suppressed. This brings versions of
contribution that add to the diverse mix that we can experience in any
group. The principles of OST are among the most sense-making for such
diversity and one is reminded anew of how universally helpful it is to
stay mindful of these qualities of human society.
So I guess the intentions of your planners are nice, the time element is
a red herring, and the perceptions of who is 'included' and how this is
achieved may require something quite other than what might be going on
or proposed
In friendship
Anne
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* christine koehler via OSList <[email protected]>
*To:* OSLIST <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Sunday, 5 October 2014, 7:18
*Subject:* [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
Hi everyone,
I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa
150 people) in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the
participants.
How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?
I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came
out, as one of the organizer is working with them in order to help
them be included in the society as any other citizen.
Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to
prepare it (and if we have enough time for that...)
Christine
--
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