February 19th 2008

2008 has had a mixed start. I am learning all the time. Currently I am involved with the following:

• North London Hub of the UK Mental Health Research Network, UKMHRN, based at Imperial College, London. I am the Service User lead for the Hub. My most proudest moment was when I was asked by Professor Peter Tyrer to join the Hub as a service user lead.
• Beat. Formerly the Eating Disorders Association. I am a group worker/facilitator and media rep with Beat. I co-ordinate the North London Eating Disorders Support Group.
• Barnet Voice for Mental Health- a service user group run by service users for service users to represent SUs at all levels in mental health, primary and community care.
• I have a special interest in personality disorder (non forensic), primary care , chronic disease management, psychological therapies,eating disorders, clinical governance,evidence based practice, audit and clinical effectiveness.

A few thoughts from last two weeks

I strongly believe if decent long term therapy is the recommended treatment for personality diorder why should it be denied when this what the Department of Health Policy Implementation Guide (no Longer a Diagnosis of Exclusion 2003) say you should be getting? Having heard from amazing speakers like Prof Anthony Bateman recently at BIGSPD the British and Irish Study Group for Personality Disorder Annual Conference whose mentalization based treatment is shown to reduce hospital bed occupancy significantly, and is now on an international clinical trial, reduces self harm and other destructive behaviours and far superior to that of "Treatment as Usual" (ie standard non specialist care ie CMHT managed) to the smashing health economist Barbara Barrett from the Institute of Psychiatry point out that it is the "cost benefit analysis" that makes it happen as she presented some early positive outcomes of Prof Peter Tyrer's innovative work using Nidotherapy-to Prof Sigmund Karterud of Norway talk of the Norwegian Network of Therapeutic Day Hospitals (and you stay there a lot longer than 12 weeks!!). I am urging you to make your voice heard and work hard at ensuring your local service is improved.