24 MARCH 2000
a web newsletter for psych. consumers in Australia

MOOT needs a volunteer to handle their internet work. MOOT is based in Melbourne, and represents people with bipolar personality disorder. E-mail for info : moot@ozonline.com.au or phone Margaret .. 03)94862835. They prefer a BPD for this job (so don't argue).

From Jorge Masetti: the Cuban president, Fidel Castro, reportedly objects to aspersions cast on his mental health. However, the use of the label of "dictator" is encouraged.

Patrick Bantman just sent us a Manifest of the 7th. Congress of the Mondiale psych-social rehab. Association. This will be proceeding on 7-10 May 2000 in PARIS (France). Translation below :

<< Establishing a dialogue between professionals, patients and families.
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** Concerning users and patients
1. Self-determination. The right to make decisions about one's life,
including whether or not to accept treatment, and what kinds of treatments to
have.
2. Non-discrimination. The right to be a citizen equal to all other
citizens of one's country, and not to be discriminated against or segregated
because of a psychiatric diagnosis.
3/People also want the right to represent themselves in all forums in which
mental health policy and practices are discussed, and not to be represented
by others who claim to speak "for" them.
Involvement in policy, planning, and service delivery. People who use
services should be involved in meaningful ways, and in representative
numbers, in making decisions about the design, operation, and evaluation of
such services.
4. All recipents of cares person are entitled to appropriate assistance and care ,
specifically adapted to his or her case and syndrome . Assistance and treatement
should be legally garanteed .
5/ This assistance can be exerted some is the place of residence of the person
(hospital, family housing, personal or therapeutic, patient housing without
residence).
6/Self-help alternatives. User-run alternatives, designed, staffed, and run
by users exclusively, should be available (and adequately funded) as
alternatives or adjuncts to the formal system. It should be up to the
individual whether to use such services, and, if used, whether they are used
exclusively, or in combination with professionally-run programs.
7/The recipient of cares can only be subjected to deprivation of their liberty if
their condition is such that enforced hosptalisation and treatment are considered
necessary to safeguard their health and their safety or that of their environment
.This can only be done on the basis of a basis of a legal code wich garantee all
fundamental human rights .
8/ The Recipient of cares must have full control over their finances and
possessions for as long and as much as possible .They may only be deprived of
control in accordance with specific legal provisions .
9/ All expense for treatment, care and rehabilitation should be met by a statutory
bases social security system.

** Concerning families
1.The professionals working in psychiatry must extend their view in the care of
and in their responsibilities to patients, to all those around the patient and in
particular the patients' families.
2.The family must be assisted, and sometimes involved (note: take the place of
like in a relay race) in the problems which are posed in connection with the
patient. In particular involed with the therapeutic team and in the efforts to
reassimilate and rehabilitate.
3.It is important to guarantee that assistance is made available to families -
assistance in the form of information and means of communication with the
resources which exist to take responsibility for those with psychic problems .
4.The assistance given to the family, as well as the care to the patients , must
not cease if the patient refuses. In such difficult situations the families must
receive assistance to address the attitude of patient whose behaviour/actions
presents problems.
5.We draw your attention to the way of overcoming and gaining acceptance of the
problem
6.The patient and the family must be informed about the treatments used, about the
results and expectations of the treatment and the possible bad side-effects of the
medication.
7. Professionnals and families must also collaborate at the debugging and the
realization of various necessaries social installations adapts to the patients in
the city including for exemple structures of lodging .
8.We draw to the attention of the patients and the members of the family, the
existence of organisations which provide help. These exist in most of the western
countries. (Organisations of service users, of families and of patients).
9.In this regard, the initatives of international associations to reduce stigma
and the daily discrimination experienced by those with schizophrenia must be
encouraged and included in national plans.
10. Improvement in the communication with the public to allow a better
understanding and tolerance of the psychic problems is a key element of this
action. >>

More items will be added later     the newsletter team

" life IS hereditary "