Powerful Minds: writing a booklet of stories of recovery from psychosis

1
Powerful Mindswriting a booklet of stories of
recovery from psychosis

• Darryl Thompson, and people who use or work for
  the
• Wakefield Early Intervention in Psychosis Team

2
How the booklet was born

• Thomas Morris identified that stories of other
  peoples recovery would have been helpful for him
  to have
• Fiona Lowis Rebecca Ramsden had introduced the
  concept and practice of people writing their own
  discharge letters, so we already had some stories
• As a team, we were also looking to develop
  helpful information about psychosis

3
Initial plans

• Ambitious plans of a ring-bind folder in the
  waiting room, and then one on each ward
• Wed even use those clear plastic wallets to make
  it look good
• Tom thought that these plans were a bit
  rubbish
• We put in a bid to the Trusts Innovations Fund,
  and were awarded funding for 10,000 copies

4
Getting started

• A gang of four of us worked closely together
  (Heather, Tracey, Tom and Darryl)
• Regular meetings were held to update progress and
  decide on direction, with often a dominant focus
  of managing Traceys and Darryls stress levels
• Stories were written with those who wanted to
  contribute, then edited

5
The editing

• Darryl is a pedant, so did most of this
• Careful not to identify third parties
• Anonymised it for people who asked for this
• Shied away from naming medications
• Tried to paint a balanced view of services as
  best we could
• Tried to keep them to manageable sizes so they
  would fit (with some regrets from contributors
  that we did this)

6
The art work

• All the artwork was completed by Heather
• We were mindful of the pressure that we were
  under, and this applied equally to the production
  of the artwork
• Some of it was still wet when it arrived at the
  office
• Feedback has been unanimously positive about how
  the art turned it into a visually attractive
  document

7
From Heather

• The project allowed me to feel like a valuable
  member. It gave me a platform in which to boost
  self-confidence, proving I am still capable of
  contributing in the area that Ive lost faith in.
  For that I am grateful and honoured to be a
  small part in the project of Powerful Minds

8
Positives from doing this

• It brought me back on track
• It was a good start to the year
• I feel closer to my worker, they understand me
  better now
• It was excellent to be part of it, to give
  something back to the team
• No regrets about doing it

9
Positives from doing this

• Letting others know what the person is going
  through, and what those close to them go through
• Highlighting how people start in different places
  and finish in different places
• Breaking down stigma, the barriers
• Hopefully get a quicker response for those having
  problems
• Providing individual peoples experiences,
  including family
• Inspiring other people to share their story

10
Challenges from doing this

• I had blocked a lot of it out of my head. It
  was like remembering a story somebody had read to
  me years ago. It was quite traumatic
• A launch event with all the contributors would
  have been good
• We regret not using our real names. It looks as
  though were ashamed of what happened and were
  not

11
Challenges from doing this

• Hearing the other side was pretty disturbing,
  not realising the pressure you put on your
  family. My story was known to my wife, but hers
  wasnt known to me.
• The time pressure
• Tracey and Darryl really missed it once it was
  finished
• Heather and Tom were pleased to be rid of all the
  hassle

12
Where its gone

• GP surgeries
• Chemists
• Schools Colleges
• The NHS Confederation
• Libraries
• Australia
• Gyms
• Community Venues (a supermarket a pub)

13
Who else was involved

• In addition to the people already mentioned
• Eight other people who spent the time and effort
  to write their account of their experience
• Jude Tipper in our Communications Department, who
  kept us on the straight and narrow
• Rachel Barratt of the Design Department, who
  turned it into what it is
• The Finance Department, for giving us the cash

14
Next steps

• Its now on the internet - http//www.southwestyor
  kshire.nhs.uk/be-inspired/powerful-minds/
• Evaluating its impact in use, especially in
  primary care
• Trying it in new areas
• A DVD?
• Starting the stories earlier