Mental Health Awareness Week

Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (a chewy mouthful!) is run by Service Users - and their Independent Living Groups and their Expert Personalisation Group make people feel good by peer support all the time. Those elements of support, like laughter or friendship for instance, experienced with one another or in our meetings - including online meetings, continue to work when we are alone.

We are also - importantly, debating what to do with the ‘disabled’ label for we recognise that:

we believe we are not 'disabled' people but we are people who are disabled by attitudes, barriers and practices by society in general - like the bus that bars wheelchair users from entry; like the employer who says we are, because of a loss of hearing, not competent to work; like the psychiatrist who labels us as ‘schizophrenic’ and stigmatises us; like the mental health professionals who say we are ‘wasters’ (yes, I’ve heard them).

there are, nonetheless, quite a lot of people, especially in the mental health field, who are affronted by the ‘disabled’ label and view it as abhorent.

The debate is difficult but we are talking with each other co-operatively and constructively towards a solution.

Just as importantly, we are also preparing for peer support and advocacy in the fight against this psychopathic government (another psychiatric label but consult DSM and you will see it’s accurate in this context) and their creation of hardship for people who need extra financial support if they are to reach and enjoy ordinary standards of living.

I’m sure too that each User Led Organisation throughout the UK and the rest of the world making similar positive contributions to equality and human rights will eventually tell by weight of opinion and demand. Mental Health Awareness Week sees us all working towards a concerted voice for ability and wellness.