Frank Bruno - Fitness and Mental Health

Daily Mirror

Former World Heavyweight Champion Big Frank is taking on the illness that had him out for the count

Frank Bruno is back and is fighting fit but this time it's not boxers he's battling - via Daily Mirror Video & Article - 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/frank-bruno-back-fighting-fit-2870346

Former World Heavyweight Champion Big Frank is taking on the illness that had him out for the count

'FRANK Bruno is back on form and up for the fight of his life – to knock out the stigma around the bipolar disorder that floored him last year.

The former world heavyweight champion , 51, says he finally feels in control again after a decade in the grip of mental illness.

With a welcome return of the warm smile and deep belly laugh that made him a national treasure, the boxing legend tells the Sunday Mirror how he fought his way back to health.

“This time last year I was in a very dark place,” he says. “I’m determined to never go back there again.

“Mental illness is a terrible thing to have to cope with but I’ve learnt it’s a fight you can win if you live your life the right way.

“So that’s what I do now. Today my life’s about working hard, staying healthy and being happy.”

He works out most days, and looks fit enough to step back into the ring tomorrow.

Now Frank is using his experience to help fellow sufferers fight back. He says: “I am determined to help as many people as I can to believe they too can get through mental illness.”'

....

Bristol Post

Boxing legend Frank Bruno leads new fight in Bristol - 

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/big-hitter-Boxing-legend-leads-new-fight/story-20109719-detail/story.html -

Boxing Gym - mental health trust Bristol Active Life Project

"WITH the sound of his distinctive laugh there was no need for the visitor to a Bristol gym to announce his arrival.

Former world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno needed no introduction as he made his way into Bristol Boxing Gym.

His visit, to a project supporting people with mental health issues through non-contact boxing sessions, was a perfect fit considering the difficulties he has himself suffered with depression and bipolar disorder since his career ended. And it proved an inspiration to the people running and benefiting from the service to meet someone who has overcome battles inside and outside the ring.

Bristol Boxing Gym ran its first session with the local mental health trust's Bristol Active Life Project last month on World Mental Health Day.

Now 11 people are benefiting from the box fit programme.

Mr Bruno spent time chatting with the people who attended yesterday's session and was also reunited with Bristol North West MP, who trained alongside him at Spaniorum Farm Gym in Compton Greenfield when he was in pantomime at the Hippodrome and she was a regular there as a teenager."

....

War on Welfare - WOWpetition reaches 100,000 - Daily Mirror Article

100,000 sign War On Welfare petition asking for assessment of cuts to the sick and disabled

The achievement means the issue must be considered for debate in the House of Commons

War On Welfare petition: 100,000 sign petition asking for assessment of cuts to the sick and disabled - Mirror Online - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/war-welfare-petition-100000-sign-2870513

"A hundred thousand people have signed a petition calling on the Department for Work and Pensions to look again at all cuts affecting sick and disabled people.

Led by comedian and campaigner Francesca Martinez, the War On Welfare or WOW e-petition asks the government to carry out a Cumulative Impact Assessment looking at the overall effect of cuts to sick and disabled people, as well and their families and carers.

It also asks for MPs to be given a free vote on the repeal of the Welfare Reform Act.

Campaigners are demanding an end to the Work Capability Assessment, and an independent inquiry into issues including charges for care homes, ATOS, and the closure of Remploy factories.

They also want to put a stop to "forced work under threat of sanctions for people on disability benefits".

The petition has achieved its target of 100,000 signatures with 12 days to spare before it closed.

Celebrities including Stephen Fry, Russell Brand, Yoko Ono and Bianco Jagger have endorsed the campaign."

.....

Daily Mirror Article - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/war-welfare-petition-100000-sign-2870513

WOWpetition - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154

From NHS Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health (NHS AWP) Conference Nov 7th - How BALP (Bristol Active Life Project) and Rethink helped me put my life back together

My Abstract and Poster from NHS AWP Conference November 7th -
How BALP (Bristol Active Life Project) and Rethink helped me put my life back together.

Dr Peter Hale, Volunteer Researcher Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

halepv@yahoo.co.uk

BALP and Rethink constructive activities involved a mixture of completing my PhD (Computing), volunteering, mental health campaigning, temporary work and research, and BALP activities. I’ve also completed many vocational and academic web, programming, computing, business and administrative courses. This has greatly helped my mental and physical health. I have asthma and diabetes, but this doesn’t stop me exercising, this makes exercise more important (with the appropriate medical treatment and advice).

I first took up walking with BALP. We got together at MIND in Old Market, to meet before and have tea and coffee after. Whilst there, I saw a poster for BALP football training at St Pauls. So I took part in BALP football training and playing on Tuesdays at St Pauls.

The main organisations that have supported me are BALP, Rethink, and NHS. There are still setbacks to my physical and mental health due to the negative attitudes in society. But Rethink and BALP help me cope with this, and involve me in changing that. BALP provides a supportive environment, and prevent me becoming stressed as I would by playing in regular league team.

People with mental illness need help to get back to work – but coercion is wrong - Sarah Wollaston MP

This is a well informed and thoughtful article on mental health - fitness to work and assessement -


People with mental illness need help to get back to work – but coercion is wrong | Sarah Wollaston MP - http://gu.com/p/3jq9h/tw via Guardian


"This weekend the government announced it was delaying changes in disability welfare because it was unable to assess claimants in time. I welcome this decision, which affects the rollout of personal independence payments to replace disability living allowance. But ministers should also use this breathing space to examine the continuing problems of assessment and appeal for those with other disabilities such as mental illness"

Bristol Post - Boxing clever against mental health issues

Opening of this new activity was on World Mental Health Day October 10th

Another new Bristol Active Life Project (BALP) activity - fitness training - non contact boxing-  is covered here - Bristol Post - Boxing clever against mental health issues - http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Boxing-clever-mental-health-issues/story-19929245-detail/story.html - fitness sessions to help people with mental-health issues.

BALP Bristol Active Life Project (BALP) - http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/health-and-adult-care/bristol-active-life-project-balp - 0117 352 1173 or email balp@bristol.gov.uk

"By Vicki Mathias


WITH posters of boxing champions covering the walls and punch bags hanging from the ceilings, you would be hard pushed to find a more macho place.
"But we are hoping that by doing this we can reduce the stigma."

But, despite the image, the team at Bristol Boxing Gym are keen to help break down some stereotypes.
​
That is why they wanted to offer fitness sessions to help people with mental-health issues.
Martin Bisp – who, with Jamie Sanigar, runs the gym's community-engagement projects – said: "Boxing is a very macho sport where you are not supposed to display your emotions.

He hopes that by getting boxers involved in the project, and those in the sport with long-term mental-health illnesses talking about their experiences, others will feel better able to.
The team at the gym got in touch with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership and ran their first session with people who are being supported by the NHS trust on World Mental Health Day.
Working in partnership with the mental-health trust's Bristol Active Life Project – which works to get people involved in a host of activities to boost their mental and physical health – the gym, which has helped shape world champions, is running a ten-week 'box fit' course.

..."


Read more: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Boxing-clever-mental-health-issues/story-19929245-detail/story.html

Bristol Post -

Follow us: @thisisbristol on Twitter | thisisbristol on Facebook

Poem - Carol Ann Duffy - 22 Reasons for the Bedroom Tax

Source - Bedroom tax brings out the beast in poet laureate

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/11/bedroom-tax-poet-laureate-carol-ann-duffy

All nature is in uproar in Carol Ann Duffy's new poem about the pile-up of political controversies, 22 Reasons for the Bedroom Tax

22 Reasons for the Bedroom Tax

Because the Badgers are moving the goalposts.
The Ferrets are bending the rules.
The Weasels are taking the hindmost.
The Otters are downing tools.

The Hedgehogs are changing the game-plan
The Grass-snakes are spitting tacks.

The Squirrels are playing the blame-game.
The Skunks are twisting the facts.

The Pole-cats are upping the ante.
The Foxes are jumping the gun.
The Voles are crashing the party.
The Stoats are dismantling the Sun.

The Rabbits are taking the biscuit.
The Hares are losing the plot.
The Eagles are kicking the bucket.
The Rats are joining the dots.

The Herons are throwing a curveball.
The Shrews are fanning the flames.
The Field mice are sinking the 8-ball.
The Swans are passing the blame.

And the Pheasants are draining the oil from the tank-
but only the Bustards have broken the bank.

Why forcing people to work for benefit won't work

Wombling for Welfare

This diagram from a BBC article shows the Step 1 and 2 needs that must be met as a minimum BEFORE someone is capable of work -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23902918 - Abraham Maslow and the pyramid that beguiled business -

Level 1 - Physiological needs' - must be met; someone cannot work effectively and so burn calories and concentrate unless they have enough food, shelter, heating etc - basic needs.

These needs are defined also in the table below the diagram as - Step 1 Physiological needs, Salary, decent working environment

Poverty or worries about poverty consume a person's mental attention leaving other issues to be unresolved and not focused on.

Poverty 'consumes' your mental capacity- NHS Choices -
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/08August/Pages/Poverty-consumes-your-mental-capacity.aspx - “Poverty saps mental capacity to deal with complex tasks”.

Mental Health and the Right to Life and Exercise

Mental Health problems and drugs to treat these seriously worsen physical health, and motivation. Failing to refer people to exercise within a comfortable environment for them and so leaving them to fester at home can kill. For those people who want to exercise to be able to do so in an environment and with people that they can cope with is a fundamental human right - relating also to the right to life.

So anything that causes the lifetime of those with mental health issues to be shortened is lethal discrimination. This point is highlighted in this Rethink report – Lethal Discrimination – PDF - “people with severe mental illness are at risk of dying up to 20 years before the general population,”
http://www.rethink.org/media/810988/Rethink%20Mental%20Illness%20-%20Lethal%20Discrimination.pdf – September 2013. - “Many health professionals are failing to take people with mental illness seriously when they raise concerns about their physical health.”
“Commissioners and service providers need to be clear about the respective responsibilities of primary and secondary care services for monitoring and managing the physical health of people with mental health problems.”

My article for Rethink Bristol Newsletter and Bristol Active Life Project

Testimonial

How BALP (Bristol Active Life Project) and Rethink helped me put my life back together – From Talk March 30^th – BALP - Bristol

Background

I was critically injured, made redundant and evicted my accommodation. I have anxiety and depression and mild asperger syndrome. I was discriminated against by many authorities who showed little understanding or care for mental health.  This led to a perfect storm of conflict; I sued every agency that harmed me. I had great support from Rethink to cope through all this. Rethinks’ help created space and time in my life to get involved in more constructive activities.

BALP (Bristol Active Life Project)

These constructive activities involved a mixture of completing my PhD (Computing), volunteering, mental health campaigning, temporary work and research, and BALP activities. I’ve also completed many vocational and academic web, programming, computing, business and admin courses. This has greatly helped my mental and physical health. I have asthma and diabetes, but this doesn’t stop me exercising, this makes exercise more important (with the appropriate medical treatment and advice).

I first took up walking with BALP. We got together at MIND in Old Market, to meet before and have tea and coffee after. Whilst there, I saw a poster for BALP football training at St Pauls. So I took part in BALP football training and playing on Tuesdays at St Pauls. There was professional coaching, other training and football days, and a football team. As I got fitter I began training on Fridays at South Bristol, where there is a weather proof Astroturf pitch. Before long I was also ready to play for the team, and now I’m a regular. Our BALP team won a tournament last year and were second this year.

I’ve only missed 1 BALP football games day and this was for the Bristol Half Marathon. BALP had supported me by paying the fees and giving advice. I was able to run this because I had been training at a gym and outdoors with the help of an exercise on prescription scheme. I’ve also played in a BALP badminton tournament and still go on the walks also. These walks are now with Rethink.

The main organisations that have supported me are BALP, Rethink, and NHS. There are still setbacks to my physical and mental health due to the negative attitudes in society. But Rethink and BALP help me cope with this, and involve me in changing that. BALP provides a supportive environment, and prevent me becoming stressed as I would by playing in regular league team.

I’m a campaigner with Rethink, BALP, Time to Change, Healthwatch, and NHS. So I’m part of a highly effective campaign against mental health discrimination that combines activities of many charities and groups. Also I’ve passed my PhD, published in Journal/Conferences and on the Web, and I’m involved in further research on computing, and on mental health and activities.

The reason BALP and Rethink have been so effective is because they worked out WITH me what I can and can’t do and what I want, not decided this FOR me.

BALP Bristol Active Life Project (BALP) - http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp - 0117 352 1173 or email balp@bristol.gov.uk

Rethink-health walk every Thursday from the Settlement, City Road St Pauls, Bristol - http://www.rethink.org/services-groups/services/bristol-community-support-services - contact details - for referral

Dr Stephen Duckworth - Please no more self appointed representatives of 'the disabled'

Who is he to set himself up as spokesperson for what is good for people with disabilities. Being in a job with authority and being disabled are not sufficient. Service user involvement is the key to being a spokesperson!


Why Britain should expect more from the disabled for their own good, by the paralysed doctor in charge of assessing benefits claims - Dr Stephen Duckworth


"Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2415778/Paralysed-Dr-Stephen-Duckworth-Why-Britain-expect-disabled-good.html "

But I'd advise not to - triggering to mental health problems.


Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

But I'd advise not to!

Panorama-Locked Up For Being Ill?

Warning - disturbing scenes - can be a mental health trigger - 

Panorama-Locked Up For Being Ill? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03b59yw - Paul Kenyon reports on police's dealings with mental health patients. IPlayer 12 Months left -

"There is a crisis in police cells across the country, and it is not to do with crime, according to senior officers. The police say they regularly have to detain mental health patients who should be dealt with by psychiatric professionals"

BBC News - Police: A&E 'better' than cells for mentally unwell - http://bbc.in/15KMVRs - One of Britain's most senior police officers warns.

Welfare and Mental Health - The need for meeting basic needs

Why benefit cuts/assessments damage mental health - 'Step1 - Physiological needs' - Mental welfare is impossible if these basic needs are not met -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23902918

Abraham Maslow and the pyramid that beguiled business

Step 1 - Physiological needs, Salary, decent working environment

Equivalent if unemployed and/or disabled is enough money for basic needs, food, clothes, home, heating.

Poverty or worries about poverty consume a person's mental attention leaving other issues to be unresolved and not focused on.

Poverty 'consumes' your mental capacity- NHS Choices -

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/08August/Pages/Poverty-consumes-your-mental-capacity.aspx - “Poverty saps mental capacity to deal with complex tasks”.

Academic paper - Anti-stigma campaigns: time to change

Academic paper - http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/202/s55/s49.full - Anti-stigma campaigns: time to change Michael Smith - Feb 26, 2013. Royal College of Psychiatrists -

Abstract

"This evaluation of the Time to Change anti-stigma campaign in England represents a milestone in international stigma research. While showing some positive outcomes, the overall picture is mixed and falls short of the wholesale shift in attitudes that is needed. A new approach is proposed for the coming decades."

Full paper - http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/202/s55/s49.full

Mind and its Potential - Video

Half hour video - This advises on how to improve mental welfare. Buddhist nun talks. You don't have to be Buddhist or even religious to benefit.

Mind and its Potential: Working with disturbing emotions in everyday life - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Df4YLSMuM - Video- Mind & Its Potential-16 Apr 2012.

Published on 16 Apr 2012
"Mind & Its Potential is a vibrant and stimulating conference experience which will attract 1,000+ delegates! We are committed to bringing together the world's preeminent scientists, researchers, philosophers and creative thinkers in order to offer you an experience second to none.


Mind and its Potential Conference, 2011 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre."

Volunteering at Bristol Village this summer | Time To Change

I volunteered at this event, but this is a link to an excellent write up by another volunteer -

Volunteering at Bristol Village this summer | Time To Change - http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/blog/volunteering-at-bristol-village - "All in all it was a fantastic weekend. Attending both days was both wonderful 

and exhausting! There were such a wide range of people visiting the Village, more varied than any Village I have done before

How BALP (Bristol Active Life Project) helped me put my life back together

From Talk I gave January 30th 2013 - Volunteer and Service User get Together

Background

After Christmas 2008 I was critically injured and in a coma due to an incident which also had considerable impact on my life, leading me to also be at the centre of press attention. At the same time I was also made redundant. A knock on effect of these events was for me to be evicted my accommodation.

At that time I was also near the end of a Computing and Engineering PhD.

I was discriminated against by many public authorities who showed little understanding or care for mental health, nor knowledge of the related disability and human rights laws. I have reactive anxiety and depression due to all of the above. I also have a mild trait of Asperger syndrome.

All of the above events and my personality and ability/disability traits led to a perfect storm of conflict where I sued (usually successfully) every agency that harmed me. I also had great support from Rethink to cope through all this. This help, combined with legal successes created some space and time in my life to get involved in more constructive activities.

BALP (Bristol Active Life Project)

These constructive activities involved a mixture of completing my PhD, volunteering, mental health campaigning, temporary work and research, and BALP activities. I’ve also completed many vocational and academic web, programming, computing, business and admin courses.

The BALP activities have been the most enjoyable. This has greatly helped my mental health and physical health, which both needed constructive activities to improve. I have asthma and diabetes, but this doesn’t stop me exercising, this makes exercise more important, but only in combination with the appropriate medical treatment and advice.

Before this I had been putting on weight because of lack of exercise due to PhD work, and court cases etc that needed mental not physical effort.

I first took up walking with BALP, and was a regular for this. We used to get together at MIND in Old Market, to meet before and have tea and coffee after. Whilst there, I saw a poster for BALP football training at St Pauls. I have played football on and off, all through my adult life. So I took part in BALP football training and playing on Tuesdays at St Pauls. What I hadn’t known was that there was professional coaching, other training and football days, and a football team.

As I got used to the Tuesday football and got fitter, I realised that I was ready to train on Fridays at South Bristol, where there is a large weather proof Astroturf pitch. This is also the training place for the BALP football team. Before long I was also ready to play for this team, and now I’m a regular in this team. Our BALP team also won a tournament last summer.

I’ve only missed one BALP football games day and this was because the Bristol Half Marathon clashed with the football that Sunday. BALP had supported me by paying the fees and giving advice so I could run. I was able to run this Half Marathon because I had been training at a gym and outdoors with the help of an exercise on prescription scheme.

I’ve also played in a BALP badminton tournament and still go on the walks also. These walks are now with Rethink and Walking for Health.

The main organisations that have been supportive of me are BALP, Rethink, and the NHS. My physical and mental health is not perfect because the reactive depression is as a result of the balance between the good effects from these organisations such as BALP easing the depression, and other organisations that have harmed my health. This balance leaves me able to control though not eradicate my depression. But I hope with BALP, Rethink, and NHS help I can put the reactive depression behind me.

I wouldn’t have got involved in football outside BALP. BALP provides a supportive environment, and their mental health knowledge prevents me becoming stressed as I would by playing in regular league team.

I’m a BALP member, Rethink member, and part of a highly effective campaign against mental health stigma and discrimination that combines activities of many charities and groups. Also I’ve passed my PhD, published my research, I’m well published and connected over the web, and I’m involved in further research on computing, and on mental health and activities.

The reason BALP has been so effective is because it has worked out WITH me what I can and can’t do and what I want, not decided this FOR me.

So with BALPs’ help, things are looking up!

BALP Bristol Active Life Project (BALP) - http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-active-life-project-balp - 0117 352 1173 or email balp@bristol.gov.uk