Our Consumer Place Newsletters
These "newsletters" are so much more than what you might think of as a newsletter. In reality, they are an amazing collective resource - of ideas, events, reflections, deep thinking, political engagement, debate, profiles of incredible groups and projects that might otherwise go under the radar, and of course, interviews with incredible leaders in the international consumer/survivor community. We consider this a deeply valuable contribution to the "grey literature" - that is, it might go under the radar of conventional academic searches, but it is so rich and illuminating. Enjoy!
Some praise for the OCP newsletters:
"WOW!!! the Our Consumer Place newsletter is sooooo good, very informative, interesting and you even dare to put in people's writings that some may find disturbing. Every issue is a top job!!! - a consumer worker in Melbourne
"This is a very important newsletter - I hope to make it compulsory reading for any of my courses next year!" - a senior (non-consumer) educator, QLD.
"an awesome read!" - a consumer leader in NZ
2012:
2011:
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- August-September 2011
- June-July 2011
- May 2011
- March-April 2011
- February 2011
2010:
- November-December 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
Earlier editions:
January 2012 |
Contents:
- Soap Box: Psychiatric diagnoses: unexplanations. By Jon Jureidini.
- Does your consumer group want more money? Do you know about GiveNow?
- Introducing: Putting the community into Community Care Unit A new consumer-led research report on Peer Support, by Allan Pinches
- P.S. A necessary postscript to This is not about catharsis! My time in HDU by Merinda Epstein.
- From the archives: Why is it so hard for consumers and staff to effect change in mental health services?
- Introducing... the Centre for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
- What are the symptoms? a (very cheeky) cartoon by Bernie McCormick
December 2011 |
Contents:
- This is not about Catharsis! My time in HDU By Merinda Epstein. **Special insert** Click here
- Introducing... Outrage to Determination a cartoon history of women in psych wards, by Julie Dempsey
- News in the consumer world:
- A B-B-Bipolar Christmas: Ann Tullgren's regular contribution, this time a seasonal reflection
- Drop in Blues a cartoon by Bernie McCormack.
- Feature Article: Consumers speak and write about how they find health, by Merinda Epstein
- Soap Box #1: Are Mental Health Services Really That Bad? A Service User's Perspective, by James Kelso.
- Soap Box #2: Other People's Committees, by Flick Grey
- Smoking Mad National Working Party, a call-out from Indigo Daya
November 2011 |
Contents:
- News in the consumer world: A bumper crop this edition!
- Tell me your dreams a cartoon by Bernie McCormack.
- Feature Article: Merinda Epstein takes a good look at the new Australian Mental Health Commission, including giving it some historical context
- Bipolar Blues: Ann Tullgren's regular contribution, this time on the links between mental illness and oral health - the former does not explain everything!
- Introducing... The Consumer Research and Evaluation Unit of the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council, by Lei Ning
- Soap Box: How can we talk about this? Flick Grey's opening talk at the recent inaugural Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness day.
October 2011 |
Contents:
- Feature Article Singing the B-B-Bipolar Blues Ann Tullgren take a close look at "recovery" and asks the all-important question - so you weren't breast fed either?
- Improving self-esteem with a warm outer glow. A cartoon by Bernie McCormack.
- Soap box: Planning for Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness day (Oct 5th) By Merinda Epstein.
- Interview with Catherine Reidy: and her work on Pridentity. Grassroots activism at its best!
- Research of interest: Carmela Salomon's PhD research into people's experiences of coming off anti-psychotic medication.
- Introducing... the Psychiatric Survivors Association of Fiji, by Ana Nanovo and Viv Topp.
- Introducing ... The Mountains are in my blood. By David Braniff
- How to live and work with non-mad people.
August - September 2011 |
Contents:
- Introducing ... the Australian Mental Health Human Rights and Law Reform Coalition -plus the rally "Is this what we deserve?"
- Grassroots activism a cartoon by Merinda Epstein
- Feature article: Protective Service Officers by Catherine Leslie and Flick Grey
- Singing the B-B-Bipolar Blues I'll have what she's having. By Ann Tullgren.
- Soap Box: Burying the hatchet on experiences of mental illness. By James Kelso.
- Introducing ... The Charter of Peer Support and the Centre for Excellence in Peer Support.
- Introducing ... The iconic, original artwork of "Woman worn out" by Sue E. Armstrong.
- Worth a read: Building in Research and Evaluation: Human inquiry for living systems (2010) by Yoland Wadsworth. Reviewed by Allan Pinches.
June-July 2011 |
Contents:
- Introducing ... What causes mental illness? - a new collaborative website initiated by Bill Moon
- Interview of the issue: Deb Wells speaks with Merinda about trauma-informed care
- Introducing ... the informal consumer and carer group for people affected by Borderline Personality Disorder, by Janne McMahon
- Soap Box: My politics start in my body By Flick Grey
- Feature Article: Smoking Mad By Indigo Daya
- From the archives: This month we focus on "Sight Unseen" edited by Cath Roper
- But wait there's more! Plus, new cartoons from Merinda, news in the consumer world, and other updates and opinions.
May 2011 |
Contents:
- Feature Article: The Budget is in! There's a lot of talk about more money for mental health ... but is it for what we want? What's in it for us? Flick Grey delves into the budget.
- Singing the B-B-B-Bipolar Blues: Ann Tullgren explores the really big issues - medication, compliance, Big Pharma and AAA Pill Cutters.
- Introducing ... (a Consumer Directed Initiative) - Mind's consumer newsletter plans
- You may have missed ... Normal Personality Disorder.
- Research: Consumers' experiences of coming off anti-psychotic medications
- Plus! News in the consumer world & OCP, Thumbs up/Thumbs down + a new cartoon from Merinda
March-April 2011 |
Contents:
- Introducing ... Heidi Everett - prolific creator, singer/songwriter, blogger and community organiser
- Feature Article: Cert-IV in Mental Health Peer Work - some analysis and commentary by Flick Grey
- Soap Box: Our Consumer Place's submission to the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill (Vic).
- Plus, Thumbs up/thumbs down; a new cartoon from Merinda and a table of non-ableist alternatives for "crazy"
February 2011 |
Contents:
- Feature Article: Allan Pinches introduces Neami's Consumer Participation and Leadership Audit Project
- Creative inspiration: A haunting poem Frontier by Margot Clare.
- Interview of the Issue: Steve Onken, Hawai'i-based recovery scholar and practitioner. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing Telling your story to yourself, by Ann Tullgren
November-December 2010 |
Contents:
- Introducing ... (a Consumer Initiative) Shameless self-promotion and a behind-the-scenes look at Our Consumer Place's recent publication: "So, you've got a Mental Illness? ... What now?"
- Introducing ... (a Consumer Initiative) Cath Roper (Australia's only consumer academic) introduces The Psych Action/Activism & Training group (PAT)
- Feature Article: Vrinda Edan explains "Instilling Hope," A 5 year plan for the Consumer and Carer Relations Directorate of Southern Health's Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Program.
- Your say A response to a previous edition by Amram Dhillon (Youth Mental Health Advocate).
- Soapbox: Jon Kroschel reflects on Our consumer Place's leadership forum, and combating prejudice and ignorance.
| October 2010 |
Contents:
- Interview of the issue: Oryx Cohen, Co-Director of the Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community, co-founder of the Freedom Center, former director of MindFreedom's Oral History Project, ... Oryx is one very impressive man! Click here to read the interview in full.
- News in the consumer world: Here we recognise some great achievements in the consumer world of late.
- Feature Article: Why Mental Health Discrimination Costs Us All By Jeff Cheverton, CEO of QLD Alliance.
- Introducing ... (a Consumer Initiative) The Ballarat Health Services - Psychiatric Services Consumer Advisory Committee - by Mark Lacey
- Let me tell you about a girl ... A brilliant creative piece, by Katie.
| September 2010 |
Contents:
- Our Consumer Place Leadership forum: *The* event of the year! Be there (October 14th in Melbourne) or spend the next year wondering what you missed out on!
- Soap Box: Paying for medical drugs we don't want - by Merinda Epstein
- Feature Article: A Bill of Rights for people who self-harm - by Deb Martinson
- Introducing ...(a consumer-run project) People Like You - by Cameron Ralph
- Your responses! Sometimes our newsletter generates a flurry of feedback - last
month's soapbox did just that! Here are some of your responses.
- Registration form for the Our Consumer Place 2010 Leadership forum
| August 2010 |
- Interview: Ron Coleman, Scottish Mental Health Trainer and Consultant. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing: the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Consumer Reference Group (CALD CRG) by Maria Dimopoulos
- Soap Box: No revolution in youth mental health without young people leading it! - by Flick Grey
- Introducing: Picture Books about living with mental illness - a taster of resources compiled by Ann Tullgren
- Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down Pointless, opinionated rants or pearls of wisdom? You be the judge.
- OCP Update:What we've been up to and what's in store (trust us, you don't want to miss this)
| July 2010 |
- Interview: Susie Crooks. Straight-talking, gutsy consumer leader from New Zealand speaks out against chronic normality. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing: The Tiled Path, a creative piece by Lynnie Worth
- Soap Box: Consumers and 'carers' should not always be joined at the hip - it causes hip displaysia!
- Introducing: Picture Books about living with mental illness - a taster of resources compiled by Ann Tullgren
- Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down As always, some whinging and some waxing lyrical
- OCP Update:What we've been up to and what's in store (trust us, you don't want to miss this)
- Save the date!Some key dates to put in your diary
| June 2010 |
- Introducing: Community Healthfulness Co-operative in the Yarra Valley, by Nick Meinhold
- Soap Box Don't ever tell me I'm not a "real" consumer - by JA (consumer, name withheld)
- Thumbs up/Thumbs down: Some random things that irk or delight us here at Our Consumer Place
- Interview of the issue: Chris Hansen, international consumer leader (... far too many contributions to summarise Chris in a few words!)
- Introducing ... the GROW Community Mental Health Movement - by John P
| May 2010 |
- Interview: David W. Oaks, Director of MindFreedom Intl. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing: Sandy Jeffs' latest book Flying with Paper Wings: Reflections on Living with Madness
- Feature Article: What is Intentional Peer Support (IPS)? by Flick Grey (Our Consumer Place)
- Soap Box: (Consumers and smoking: part 2) Just ask: the answer is 'no' by Isabell Collins, Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council
- News in the consumer world and OCP update: What we've been up to and what's in store.
| April 2010 |
- Interview: Tina Minkowitz, psychiatric survivor, human rights lawyer and keynote speaker at next month's VicServ conference. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing a CDI: The Brook R.E.D. Centre Inc. - By Adam Dunne
- Feature Article:An exploration of Body Integrity Identity Disorder, legitimacy and the DSM. - By Sean O'Connor
- Soap Box: Consumers and smoking? - By Kristen Moeller-Saxone
- Some thoughts on language from the work of Sylvia Caras
- Our Consumer Place Update: what we have been up to and what's in store
- 10 ways Our Consumer Place can support you (and you can support us!)
| March 2010 |
- Interview: Mary O'Hagan, a leading international expert and original thinker in the field of mental health recovery-based services shares her views about consumer politics, participation and leadership. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing a CDI: A Consumer Activist's Guide to Mental Health in Australia - Merinda Epstein's wonderful website
- Feature Article: An ally's travels through America - by Piers Gooding
- Soap Box: Consumers on (other people's) committees. Are we wasting our time? - by Merinda Epstein
- Our Consumer Place Update: what we have been up to and what's in store
- 10 ways Our Consumer Place can support you (and you can support us!)
| September 2009 |
- Feature article: Vrinda Edan on 'What do we mean when we talk about LEADERSHIP?' (reprinted due to an error in an earlier edition),
- Interview: Kim Koop, CEO of VicServ (Victorian Peak Umbrella Group of NGO PDRS services). Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing a CDI: Madeleine Kelly's Two Trees Media,
- Consumer Research: Wanda Bennetts on Consumer Workforce Research: 'Real Lives, Real Jobs' - Developing Good Practice Guidelines for a Sustainable Consumer Workforce in the Mental Health Sector, through Participatory Research,
- News: National Scoping Study ... Consumers Speak,
- Our Consumer Place Update: what we have been up to (pamphlet project),
- Words from a Newbee: Paul on 'Through the eyes of a 'Newbee' to consumer stuff'.
March 2008 |
- Soap Box: 'Moving beyond the era of REPRESENTATION"
- Feature Article: Simon Champ on 'A few reflections on change and ways forward',
- Interview: Peter Beresford, Chair of Shaping our Lives, the independent national service user controlled organisation and network in the UK. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing a CDI: Allan Pinches, Consumer Consultant on the 'hope springs' community at Heidelberg West Uniting Church,
- Creative: Simon Champ poem 'Let Us Spray',
- Our Consumer Place Update: what we have been up to (Pamphlet project, Intentional Peer Support training, networking) and 'Thumbs up, Thumbs down' (an assortment of things we like and don't like).
December 2008 |
- Soap Box [formerly "State of the Nation"]: Sandy Watson on 'Mark of Shame,' a critique of 'stigma',
- Feature article: Vrinda Edan on 'What do we mean when we talk about LEADERSHIP?' (NOTE: correct version is reprinted in edition 4),
- Interview: Sylvia Caras, the founder of the magnificent website: www.peoplewho.org. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing a CDI: the Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia),
- Consumer Research: Lei Ning on the Consumer and Carer Experience project (Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council Consumer Research and Evaluation Unit project),
- Tech Corner: Sara Clarke on using email,
- Stories from the Trenches: Mark Lacey on Working as a regional/rural consumer consultant,
- Ideas you can nurture: Sara Clarke on Advance Directives,
- Our Consumer Place Update: what Our Consumer Place has been up to (networking, an example of a CDI we've supported to start up, training plans), 'Thumbs up, Thumbs down' (an assortment of things we like and don't like), feedback, corrections and how to contact Our Consumer Place.
October 2008 |
- Soapbox [formerly "State of the Nation"]: 'Is Mental Health Legislation Discriminatory?'
- Feature article: Isabell Collins on 'Truth, morality and defensive reasoning in psychiatry'
- Interview: Shery Mead, (amongst other things) teaches peer-run alternatives to crisis services. Click here to read the interview in full.
- Introducing a CDI: Sara Clarke on Online Groups
- Consumer Research: Nicci Wall on 'Glimpses: A compilation of uncensored real life experiences with Mental Illness.'
- Stories from the Trenches: Excerpt from Alvina Hill's 'To Dance Across the Heavens - a personal journey through mental illness'
- Ideas you can nurture: The supermarket manager and late night shelve stockers
- Our Consumer Place Update: How Our Consumer Place began, how to find us (including by public transport), 'Thumbs up, Thumbs down' (an assortment of things we like and don't like) and a feedback form - what do YOU want from us?