Story and photo: Lisa Swift
Mental Health campaigners Maat Probe Group held a range of events in February to involve people in their evaluation of mental health care.
The group is asking service users if they have seen any changes in their treatment on psychiatric wards in the last 18 months. This would show if training staff in hospitals to use de-escalation or ‘Respect’ techniques rather than restraint has improved service users’ experience.
At a networking event in the Vestry Hall on 19th February, they shared their experience of campaigning with other mental health groups and service users. The Maat Probe band played uplifting music at the Harland Café on 6th February and at the SPACES centre on Pitsmoor Road on 21st February. Members of the group shared their own experience of mental health care, which has motivated them to campaign for better services for people who are in hospital with mental illness.
Maat Probe Group member Paul told his story to service users at the SPACES centre, and about the campaign the group are involved in:
“With my struggle continuing I found hope with Maat. I spoke to others about my experience – the good, the bad and the ugly. I felt at ease talking to others with a similar experience to mine. Nerves, anxiety, tension, shyness are some of the things I felt. Slowly but surely I found my place with Maat. I found a voice, I found opportunity, I found hope.
“A new struggle has started, the struggle to stop people being hurt, damaged and killed in the mental health system using dangerous undignified control and restraint methods. We wanted to be heard, we wanted to be understood. We fought, we lobbied, we campaigned, we succeeded in Sheffield. Respect is an alternative de-escalation technique which is more respectful. If people help us with our struggle by filling in the questionnaire that will strengthen our campaign.”
The group hopes that through their research they can spread their campaign across the country.
To find out more about Maat Probe Group contact Otis Hinds at SACMHA on 07878 219 867.