As with busses, you wait for a blogging opportunity and then three come along at once. And here the analogy ends because, I can tap all three into the keyboard. Not much of a common theme, but hang with it because there’s going to be a call-back.
The Mental Health Nursing studies have started to go quite well. I’m getting to grips with the timetable, haven’t been in trouble at the library for a week, and have got myself some people I sit next to in lessons. So far there have been basic practical skills like hospital corners and bed-baths, some social theory around oppression, and more specific Mental Health Nursing discussions on history, roles and the user movement. Today was an introduction on law relating to mental health. I wasn’t expecting to be troubled. The little-bit –dull lecture had been going almost an hour when it happened. The exposition on treatment without consent. The lecturer, in a matter of fact way described several people holding down a patient so that they could be forcibly injected with medication lasting anything from six hours to six weeks. There was an aura of suppressed glee in some areas of the room, lots of questions and comments on the need for people to be made to have the treatment that was good for them, lots of enthusiastic nodding that people who have committed no crime can be detained for up to a year at a time. I should add that there are measures of balance as decisions can be appealed.
Walking home in the near dark afternoon, I thought about my career in learning disabilities. I have been trained several times in the art of ‘restraint’ (the restraint of others, not the self). To build a career quickly, I worked with people regarded as the most challenging, the ones known to assault staff. As a manager, I was called in to help people in crisis. Here’s a confession then: I have never restrained anyone. There were times when I had the option, even times when doing so would have met with the agreed care plan. I never did. I distracted people, placated them, persuaded them, gave them space and gave them time. Sometimes people ran off and were brought back by the police, the sight of the uniform having a calming effect. Why did I opt for personal restraint rather than restraining? Partly because I saw an incident early in my career where a member of staff took issue with a service user over a cabbage (yes, you read right CABBAGE, I’ll tell you about it someday) and I thought her actions distasteful and counterproductive. Partly because I found my other tricks were effective enough. Here’s a confession though: I think it was mostly because I’m a coward.
So now I’m left to question. Could I ever hold someone down so they can be injected? Could I ever give the injection? Answers on a postcard please.....
On a different topic, I’ve fallen heavily for the music of Chris T-T. He strikes me from Twitter and his blog as a clever man who knows his politics so much better than my wishy-washy leftwingyness. Anyway, he has made a remarkable playlist of protest songs on Spotify. A real treat with loads of stuff I haven’t heard before, and stuff that reminded me of former times. In the grim circumstances of anti-social reform in which we find ourselves I find protest songs heartening somehow. They provide a bit of a ‘you’re not alone’ feeling if nothing else.
And finally.......following the Craftivist patch, some of you have asked me about the homeless people who Nina works for and who I sometimes give stuff to. I’m trying to get some things together to make up a little Christmas Parcel for each man (at the moment there are no women coming in). Nothing fancy, just hats, gloves, socks, toothpaste, shower gel, shaving things, biscuits and sweets. The pound-shops have some useful things at the moment. About twenty people are supported so I can’t do this alone. If you would like to offer anything, this would be appreciated. If you want to give money, I will pass this on to the centre so that it will be spent on things people need. Warm used clothing in small to medium men’s sizes, blankets (not duvets thanks due to washability), and serviceable shoes/trainers are always welcome too. I can collect from the Coventry area. Please get in touch if you are able to offer anything. Giving feels good.
Did I mention a call-back? Oh bugger.
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