However it seems that many would seek to silence it. I know
it seems strange but I would rather hear what people are saying than sit in ignorance
assuming they agree. Sadly when people such as Clarkson (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-clarkson-blasted-for-selfish-train-280159),
or Porter make comments in such poor taste and call it humour I wonder if this
freedom has brought a laziness and arrogance to some people who think that no
matter what they say they will be listened to and laughed with without fear of
causing offence. The celebrities status has it’s downfalls however there seem
to be precious few making any difference to how thoughtless people are. They apologise
or retract yet still have earning power and pots of money, however if they are
but entertainers then surely at some point they will hear the horror in others
and wonder why?
Maybe they won’t but still it is our story that is being
heard, our outrage and it’s about time it was and if it wasn’t for their
thoughtlessness would our voices even be out there?
I’m guessing not however. as the trend of late is that
people are speaking; they are getting the message out there http://vimeo.com/52248058 however empowering this is I
find the idea of putting people who are least well equipped to deal with the
media into the limelight somewhat disturbing yet it seems the only way. The
number of bloggers increases daily and so many people wanting to share and be
inspirational is it really fair? Shouldn’t we have champions and shouldn’t they
be capable of putting our message out there without us?
But who better than us who know what it’s like.
Particularly as it seems many with celebrity status (and I
am including MP’s in this) seem exempt from the problems that so plagues most
of us mere mortals. They have their own particular brand of problem but somehow
it really doesn’t cause the same effect. For the likes of Robert Downey Junior
Manic depressive, criminal record, drugs addiction and still he gets leading
roles in films and grosses out way above the average. And what of the likes of
other people who go into reality TV Rehab and get paid to get treatment. There’s
no waiting list there. And MP’s such as Alastair Campbell, and Kevan Jones,
they seem to have bought a silence and treatment and still have secured their
jobs without the frenzied problems of so many of us.
Dearly bought no doubt so is it only the people who have suffered who are speaking out?
No I guess not but it does seem that they are the ones who
are getting quoted most frequently and have the most impact. So what of Ed
Milliband leader of the opposition, well he’s not admitted to anything and his
speech to the the Royal College of
Psychiatrists was rousing and timely. Oh yes I am a cynic however I do agree
with him on so many points
Mental
ill-health is a cradle to grave problem with nothing like a cradle to grave
service... http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2012/10/ed-milibands-speech-mental-health-full-text
And this
We have to
confront the unspoken discriminations too. Like the vast inequalities in
funding for research. Like the lack of training in mental health of many NHS
staff – whether in GP surgeries, outpatient clinics or A&E. Eight out of
ten primary care professionals say they need more training in mental health
than they have. Like the lack of understanding of mental health that seems to
characterise parts of the social security system. And like the willingness of
governments to make the first and deepest cuts in services for mental health. Indeed,
it is a very troubling sign that for the first time in a decade we have seen a
cut in total spending on mental health. A reduction of £150million, including
cuts in crisis services and out-reach programmes.
And this too
One encouraged
by the campaign Time to Change, which has done a fantastic job in tackling mental
health discrimination at work and the new Mental Health Discrimination Bill
currently before Parliament.
And it’s not
just business that needs to change.
The same is
true in our schools.
The last
Labour government placed an emphasis on the mental well-being of their
students.
To give them
the emotional, psychological resilience that they need.
To help them
face the challenges of the twenty-first century.
However his party political snipes at the conservative party
and his spiel about what they will do leave me a bit cold. It’s not that I don’t agree with him I just doubt that he will do
anything.
He came under fire earlier in the year about his leadership abilities
but also about his change in policies that seem to have completely reversed in
recent times. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2012/feb/22/nhs-miliband-cameron-pmqs-commons-reform-lansley-video
This discussion highlighted many things to approve of but also to disapprove of
and much as Cameron highlighted this I am unconvinced that Ed Miliband would
have to deliver anything other than hope of change for him to be put into
power. Cameron is missing the point that actually his reform is far from what
the country wants that they are likely to vote him out on the strength of and
much as some as this author in the guardian suggests
It's a brave
politician in these times of hardening attitudes that takes on "the
politically incorrect community". Perhaps unwittingly, Miliband has
managed to get to the heart of a gnarly problem when he mentioned privilege –
the perceived right enjoyed by people without mental health difficulties to
speak with authority about those who do. Humour cuts right to the heart of this
imbalance because it thrives on taboos, on saying the unsayable http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/29/ed-miliband-mental-health
However I do not think it brave but shrewd, since he is not
only taking on politically incorrect community but saddling up with the biggest
growing community in the UK today. 1 in 4 in their lifetimes, oh please, this
is sure thing. The rising tide of outrage at benefit reform and the way those
who are mental ill are treated within the country both at work and within the
health service is almost certainly bound to give his party the boost they need.
Lets just hope a change is as good as a rest because I think
that it is very much what will happen. This country is not about to roll over
and become a model society without stigma, where people can and do talk freely
about mental health, where money is allocated because of need within the NHS
and not popularity, without a fight.
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