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 -

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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”.