Jacqui Dillon Hearing Voices Network National Chair, England Making Sense of Madness Jacqui Dillon Hearing Voices Network National Chair, England www.jacquidillon.org

Jacqui aged 5 Experiences Survival Strategies Abuse Hearing Voices Betrayal Neglect Denial Blame Threats Survival Strategies Hearing Voices Self Harm Eating ‘Disorder’ Creativity Resourcefulness Sense of Justice Jacqui aged 5 www.jacquidillon.org 2

The Hearing Voices Movement Professor Marius Romme & Dr Sandra Escher and Patsy Hage. Biological psychiatry = voices are a product of brain and cognitive faults. Radical shift = voices make sense when looking at the traumatic circumstances in life that provoked them. Romme & Escher’s research shows that at least 77%* of people who hear voices have had some traumatic experience which they connect with hearing voices. www.jacquidillon.org

Voices are a Survival Strategy: Point at real life problems in the past and the present Use metaphorical language that can be translated into real life challenges Are split off feelings - feelings that are unbearable Are awful messages about terrifying past experiences Voices are both an attack on identity and a way to protect or preserve identity Is there any difference between ‘psychotic’ voices and ‘dissociative’ voices? www.jacquidillon.org 4

Help-line for voice-hearers Individual & Group Membership Website Information Self- help groups Publications Newsletter Training Help-line for voice-hearers Individual & Group Membership Website Research Media Intervoice www.jacquidillon.org

INTERVOICE Austria, Finland, Germany, Holland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, UK: England, Scotland & Wales, Ireland – North & South, Greece, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Palestine, South Africa, Japan, Malaysia. Canada www.jacquidillon.org

Recovery Model Hearing Voices Network’s Version Crisis Acknowledgement Insight Recovery Growth   www.jacquidillon.org

Recovery Model Bio- Medical Version Crisis Denial Insight Recovery Relapse www.jacquidillon.org

What is to be done? Ensure service users are involved in the management of, and training about, mental health services Ask service users about their past and how they think that relates to their current problems - reject the ‘can of worms’ fallacy Help your colleagues focus on recovery not pathology Form alliances between progressive professional organisations and groups of service-users and family groups Stop using scientifically meaning, stigmatising words like ‘schizophrenia’ and medicalising terms like ‘mental illness’ Publicly name attempts by drug companies to influence mental health services, research and policy Refuse to accept drug company money www.jacquidillon.org 9

What is to be done? Support psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health staff who are trying to change but are under pressure from their colleagues to conform Help psychiatrists share the responsibility for managing risk Inform yourself about and use the research literature about psycho-social causes and treatments, and about the limitations and dangers of anti-psychotics Lobby for change: governments (local and national), mental health service managers, etc., and in the media (write letters) Join a group of some kind with similar goals (eg Hearing Voices Network, ISPS) or form your own local group to connect with others who share your values - you will need the support! www.jacquidillon.org 10

Further Information: www.hearing-voices.org www.intervoiceonline.org www.jacquidillon.org www.intervoiceonline.org www.jacquidillon.org