The
Amardeep Campaign
and
the user/survivor struggle for Safe Spaces
As the Co-ordinator of Southwark Mind, I am extremely proud of the fact that with this newsletter we are enclosing
the “Amardeep Report of the ‘Awaaz’ event, A South Asian user-led
consultation day.”
Yes, Amardeep is primarily a service for South Asian users based in Lambeth, but Southwark Mind is always ready to
work with users in our neighbouring borough if it means they are more likely to get the services they badly need.
Those of you familiar with the Kindred Minds pages of the newsletter will have read about Amardeep before, they are
a South Asian community mental health team who provided a South Asian only drop in once a week at the Effra Day Centre in
Brixton. SLaM closed the drop-in in June 2007 and expected over night that Effra
would be able to offer an “integrated” mental health service which was able to meet all users’ needs regardless
of their cultural background. For the South Asian users however, this wasn’t
the case and many of them simply stopped coming and stayed, often isolated, in their homes because they found attending Effra
without the Amardeep service far too stressful.
Of course all users need good quality day services and the Amardeep drop-in doesn’t have to be at Effra, but
at the moment SLaM are not offering any alternative venues. What is important
is that the Amardeep users, like many of us who are vulnerable due to our mental health issues, need a Safe Space where they can relax, be themselves and receive support in a way that truly meets their needs. For the Amardeep users this means they need a South Asian only drop-in service. As a white half English/half Irish survivor I can’t relate to the experience
of being distressed in a country where the predominant culture is not my own, where I may have experienced prejudice and discrimination
due to my race or colour and where I may not even be fluent in the language. However
I can relate to the need for a Safe Space, which for me often means a women only space, particularly if I am feeling vulnerable
or need to talk about or
receive support for very personal issues! I am also heterosexual, but I can equally
understand why people who are gay or bisexual – whether or not they have mental health issues – may need a Safe
Space where straight people aren’t around.
Yes, we are all part of the rich tapestry of the human race and I personally believe we have far more similarities
than differences and I am all for a truly integrated society. But, I agree with
the Commission for Racial Equality which defines a truly integrated society as
one in which “every member…has
an equal opportunity to access jobs and services without risk of discrimination….”
(1)
and I’m sure as people with psychiatric diagnoses, we can all agree that there is a long way to go yet. An integrated society is something that all of us will have to build together and
– a bit like a Recovery Model mental health system – it’s going to take years rather than months.
One of the reasons I am proud to call myself a survivor is because the user/survivor movement has always recognised
the fact that we are all different and therefore in need of our different Safe Spaces.
When we are truly getting services that meet our individual needs perhaps they won’t be so important, but in
the meantime, we need to work together to fight for the Safe Spaces which enable us to receive support and support each other
in a way which truly helps. After all, what is a truly independent user/survivor
group but a safe space for people with mental health needs!
Amardeep users, stay strong and keep fighting for what you truly need. In
the spirit of the user/survivor movement, I witness your struggle and salute you!
Teresa Priest.
(1) “Regeneration and
the Race Equality Duty” Commission for Racial Equality Sept 2007
Further copies of Amardeep Report of the ‘Awaaz’ Event 30th April 2008 is available at Lambeth Mind 020 7587
3758 or Southwark Mind 020 7701 8535
