Comments on: View our new Mental Health Recovery DVD here! (with extended Chapter “What is WRAP?”)

By: Greg White

Greg White — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:50:54 +0000

I was very pleased and heartened at the meeting in Dublin and by the comments of those who are in recovery. It was clear that many rightly see recovery in terms of self discovery and not simply a return to a previously co-dependent existence. Sadly though, for a substantial majority of our population, including children, even notional accessibility to that understanding is denied.

This is simply because our mental health system, both in policy and practice is still firmly co-dependently strapped, on the one hand with our criminal justice system, adversarial not restorative in nature and with the pharmaceutical industry.

Only when this `treble bind’ is openly confronted by a critical mass of our people,can we begin to hope to improve the mental health environment for all people, not just those with ready resources to that end, be they monetary or academic, or otherwise.

By: Isobel Murray, Psychotherapist

Isobel Murray, Psychotherapist — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:42:33 +0000

I would like to say congratulations and how much I enjoyed watching and listening to both DVDs, what a wonderful resource!

By: Participant from Recovery Cafe 2010

Participant from Recovery Cafe 2010 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:41:49 +0000

This DVD is so open, courageous and honest. It shows that Recovery is a human issue and relevant to us all.

By: Ann from Recovery Cafe 2010

Ann from Recovery Cafe 2010 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:40:58 +0000

The DVD is very hope inspiring! You can relate to each person/participant.

By: Brian McNulty

Brian McNulty — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:20:16 +0000

Thanks Valerie for your reply. This form of communication is unusual for me as I have been resisting the computer age for a long time.
I have found meditation and a developing spirituality helpful in maintaining mental health. I also like to keep fit. I go for a run three times a week and used to cycle to work before taking the early retirement from the civil Service last November. I am now 55 years old. I sing in a choir and do some voluntary work which I find injoyable. I am a fanatical Rugby supporter!
I am part of a family and continue and recognise the importance of maintaining harmony particularly in close relationships. We married late in life and do not have children but we have loads of neices and nephews.
Most important I aim to be happy in life and at peace within myself, not to hold onto old hurts or judge people with the very little knowledge I have of their circumstances, motivation or intentions.
It is a pity that you are not organising any other seminars. Maybe more conversations can develop through this page.
Take Care
Brian

By: valerie

valerie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:20:39 +0000

Hi Anne Marie, Valerie Maguire here from IMHREC and I wanted to say thanks very much for your email and I am glad that you got that message from the DVD that Recovery is possible as this is indeed an important message which people don’t always get told! You seem to be progressing along well on your own road of Recovery, Anne Marie and well done on that, although you very well know that Recovery is not a destination but a journey and the going can be quite uphill at times! But fair dues to you, Anne Marie, you seem to be actively involved in helping yourself to overcome your distressing feelings by seeking help which we all need at times. It sounds like you are on the right track with relaxation and meditation and it is great if these methods work for you. According to the WRAP approach to maintaining wellness which we have been delivering training on over the course of last year, we would advocate that you explore a range of different approaches or wellness tools that might be of help to you in maintaining your wellness and also helping when times get tough. My wellness tools (or things that I do that help me feel well) are things like listening to music, dancing, spending time with my little nieces but it’s very individualistic as it is all about what works for you and sometimes we need to try different things out and give them a bit of practice before we find out if they work for us or not. If you wanted to pass me on your address by phone at 086 085 8667 or email me at sligo@imhrec.ie I could send you on a copy of our little book of WRAP which would give you an outline of how to create your own WRAP plan which may help you to develop further ways that would support you in managing your wellness? In any case take care of yourself and best of luck with your own personal journey and also be sure to continue holding on to that HOPE as Recovery is indeed possible!
Kindest regards, Valerie from IMHREC

By: valerie

valerie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:54:38 +0000

Hi there Brian and thank you very much for your comment re our DVD. I am delighted to hear that you found the DVD helpful! You are, of course, very right as it is indeed the case that we all, mental health professionals included, have to work at maintaining our mental health and hopefully this DVD will contribute to the crumbling of the assumption that to be one you can’t be the other. Also, very well done to you, yourself Brian on your own continuing Recovery! You mentioned that you had been given 3 different labels over the years. As you noticed, one of the messages we tried to get across in the DVD was that we are much more than whatever label or role society gives us or views us as having meaning, of course, that we can be a person with self experience of mental health difficulties but are also brother, father, friend, worker or indeed mental health professional just as you, I am sure, are far more than the “labels” that you mentioned being given you.

Unfortunately our programme of events here at IMHREC have come to a close with the project due to finish shortly but we are still looking at ways that we can to keep people who are interested in mental health recovery connected with each others so watch this space! Please feel free to give me a call at 086 085 8667 or email to sligo@imhrec.ie if I can be of any further assistance and be sure to keep fighting the good fight and keep taking care of your self ! Valerie

By: Brian McNulty

Brian McNulty — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:54:55 +0000

Having aquired three different labels during my eight admissions to a psychiatic hospital from 1974 t0 1990 and having discovered recovery mostly through my own self development, your approach in this DVD is very welcoming. Everyone on a journey in maintaining mental health rather the ‘us and them’ (ie patients and professionals) of the traditional perspective.
Well done!
I would like to hear more about IMHREC and would be interested in attending any future seminar on the subject

By: anne marie fitzjohn

anne marie fitzjohn — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:46:54 +0000

Hi guys good to hear from each of ye that recovery is possible…I have had mental health problems off and on for the past 13 yrs. always dealt with with medication. I am now attending a pyschologist mr Terry lynch have been weaned of half the medication since april last year but am now going through awful anxiety and panic atacks,. Its difficult to cope with and I am putting in the effor Wht and doing relatation and mediation. what techniques did ye apply??