Thanks to Dorothy Gould at Liberation.
1) The Mental Health Act
- The White Paper based on the Mental Health Act Review: I haven’t received any further information about the date when we can expect the White Paper. However, as I’ve said, it’s clear that the White Paper will be based on the Review recommendations and so non-compliant with the full human rights set out in the United nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). There will be some major issues to address therefore.
- Easements of the Mental Health Act contained in the Coronavirus Act: The good news, as I expect you’ll now know, is that, as the Law Society itself has recommended, the government has dropped the provisions in the Coronavirus Act which make it still easier to use compulsory powers contained in the Mental Health Act. Secondary legislation is being produced to set aside the easements. That will prevent the further breach of human rights which the Coronavirus Act brought in, but will not resolve existing human rights breaches which the Mental Health Act represents. Other human rights breaches in the Coronavirus Act also continue to be concerning.
- A plea against the increased use of a medical model during the coronavirus outbreak:
One of my concerns is that much of the media and a wide range of professionals are drawing still further on a medical model during this outbreak; for them, the very understandable stress and distress caused by the coronavirus/the government’s handling of it are ‘mental illnesses’. In an article forwarded by Mad in America (Link), Lucy Johnstone helpfully challenges this whole tendency, arguing that now, more than ever before, anxiety and depression need to be understood as ‘human reactions to difficult circumstances’ not as disorders. She thinks that current talk of a ‘mental health crisis’ and the increased emphasis on ‘looking after our mental health’ run the risk of confusing natural, unhappy feelings with a mental illness. She advocates full use of the survivor slogan: ‘What has happened to you?’, in place of ‘patient with illness’.
- A challenge to the government about failing to address the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on disabled people and Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities:
Encouraging news is that Marsha de Cordova, the shadow women and equalities secretary, has written to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) urging the Commission to investigate the government for breaching the Equality Act in this respect. (You can find further information about this in an article from the Guardian.)
- An important, worldwide report stemming from the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor:
The Disability Rights Monitor was developed by representatives of 7 organisations which advocate for the rights of Disabled people throughout the world. The survey on which the report is based collected information about the protection of key UNCRPD rights during the coronavirus pandemic. It focused especially on the right to life, health, independent living and inclusive education and there were additional questions about rights of people who experience particular discrimination. Most responses came from Disabled people and user-led organisations. Four major themes emerged: shocking situations faced by Disabled people in institutions, serious breakdowns of support, multiple discrimination and violations of Disabled people’s right to health, though the report authors have also highlighted practices which they thought were promising. The report authors have made a series of major recommendations, based on the UNCRPD, including the need to end institutionalisation. (Rather surprisingly, though, they mention only Article 19, not Articles 12 and 14 as well when calling for this.) They have also emphasised the crucial need to involve Disabled people and their organisations in all decision-making and to build on the Sustainable Development Goals. I was not aware of the survey when it occurred (and it seems that has been true of quite a part of the UK), but am now asking to be kept up-to-date with all further developments.
- National hate crime awareness week
As you may be aware, the week of 10th -17th October was a national hate crime awareness week. During this week, Inclusion London launched an important report about disability hate crime: Still Getting Away with Murder: Disability Hate Crime in England . An easy read copy can be found at: Still Getting Away with Murder: Disability Hate Crime in England – Easy Read (pdf)
This report explores:
- The extent of disability hate crime
- The fact that we are often not believed when we raise issues
- The role of a human rights approach in creating awareness
- Institutional Disablism – the discrimination which we experience because of the whole structure of society
- The effectiveness of working in partnership with Disabled people.
Because Disability hate crime so strongly needs tackling, I have also now joined Inclusion London’s Hate Crime Partnership. The focus of this group is what can be done to prevent Disability hate crime and to support Disabled people who encounter it. I will be particularly contributing from a mental distress/trauma perspective. If you have information or examples which I can take to the group, or are interested in being involved in any other way, please get in touch with me.
- Information related to race
- Setting up of the Narrative Black History Group: Doreen Joseph is asking for your support with this group which has just been launched. It’s a very important initiative, still more so given the extent of racism in this country, so please support the group if you can. It has been set up in recognition of the richness, beauty and diversity of culture in the 54 countries which make up the African continent and the worldwide influence of this since the start of history. The group’s aim is to provide high quality and dependable Black history memorabilia and fun, engaging ways in which to teach Black history and culture to both children and adults. You can follow the group and buy its products by using one of these links:
https://instagram.com/narrativebhg?
https://www.facebook.com/narrativebhg/
igshid=www.narrativebhg.com
- A powerful article from Raza Griifiths about racism in mental health services: Raza has forwarded this for circulation among Liberation members. Sadly and despite the fact that the UK government has signed up to the UNCRPD, racism remains all too prevalent in the NHS, as Raza’s article shows all too clearly. (Article printed in Asylum 27 (3) ).
- Interesting international webinars
- The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS): In case you haven’t see the information already, this is to let you know that the ISPS is putting on a webinar this Wednesday evening entitled ‘Alongside psychosis. Alternatives to psychiatric admission’. I’ve found ISPS somewhat mixed when I’ve attended its events previously and can find it too oriented to a medical model. However, this webinar looks promising. If you’re interested in a place, the web link to use is: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/isps-uk-15459228362
- The Washington College of Law in partnership with the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility: a webinar this Thursday on protecting and empowering Disabled people in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UNCRPD is being used as a basis for this, though, rather disappointingly, there does not seem to be a speaker with lived experience of the psychiatric system. I’m also unsure why the webinar has not been organised from within African countries. However, there are some interesting items on the agenda and it could be a good opportunity to raise our voices. If you’d like to attend, the relevant web link is: https://www.wcl.american.edu/news-events/events/detail/8773/
- Joint webinar from the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum and Reclaiming Our Futures Alliance (UK): on Monday 2nd November. This will address the impact of COVID-19 on the fight for disability rights – in all countries, including the UK. Agreed Speakers are:Dr Sruti Mohapatra, India, Acting Vice-Chair CDPFRichard Rieser, UK, General Secretary CDPFEmile Gouws, South, Autism South Africa, Executive CDPFTracey Lazard, UK, CEO Inclusion London To book a place and get the link for the meeting you will need to register by 12 noon UK time this Friday 30th October by sending your name, email address, organisation and country to Gemma White at gemma.white@add.org.uk . For access reasons, Gemma has also asked anyone with a visual impairment to let her know about this.
- International Sign language and Captioning is provided.
- Michael Njenga, Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, Kenya CDPF EC
- Abia Akram, Pakistan, CDPF Women’s Officer
- Thandiwe Mfulo, South Africa, Vice-Chair CDPF
- Giving your views to the Commission on Social Security about a better benefits system
The opportunity to take part in this important consultation has now been extended because there has been such a high level of interest. As you will probably know, both UNCRPD Committee members and the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights have also expressed huge concerns about the welfare benefit system in this country. If you would still like to take part in the consultation, you now have until this Saturday, 31st October, to reply. You can find the form to complete here.
- Support with an important disabled parking campaign
Kush Kanodia is campaigning for a standard and compassionate parking policy for Disabled people. I will be forwarding the information later on today – separately so that I can include more information about it. When you receive the information, please support the campaign if you can.