"Dear Kerry
Thanks for your Email and for the information.
It
was in 2005 that I first shared my "lived experience" Story on the
Scottish Recovery Network website which I now describe as surviving
psychiatric treatment, back then as making a full recovery from mental
illness. This took me into Scotland's mental health world in 2008,
setting up voluntary organisation Peer Support Fife:
and my own website for delivering recovery focused training:
![]() |
Peer Support Fife |
![]() |
Chrys Muirhead Associates |
However
within a few months I soon discovered that my voice wasn't welcome
unless it was controlled by those in power and I was silenced, excluded,
bullied for speaking out, for having an opinion. I was 55 years old in
2008, with a degree in Management, 2 postgraduate qualifications in
Community Education and FE Lecturing, care subjects. I had recovered
from, survived 3 psychosis/psychiatry engagements in 1978, 1984 and
2002, had also supported family members in the same. So I was a very
experienced survivor and reflective practitioner.
I
soon was promoting MH user/care involvement and running events, in
Fife, inviting international speakers, and then in 2012 I became a
whistleblower, exposing locked seclusion room human rights abuses in
Stratheden Hospital, eventually winning an Ombudsman case and a written
apology from NHS Fife in September 2014. I singlehandedly supported my
son after psychiatric abuse and listened to his flashbacks, we were
abandoned by Fife community MH services after I started raising
complaints. We still share a house, it's been a challenging 7 years,
not least because of DWP assessments and my son experiencing another
lung collapse and operation in 2017. He was face down restrained twice
by MH Nurses in February 2012, prone to collapsed lungs. The outcome
could have been much more serious, life threatening. I am glad that we
have both survived these difficult years.
Copying
in Dr Stenhouse, Prof Schwannaer and Prof Clarke who are based at
Doorway 6 of the Medical Quad and may be involved in this project, for
their interest.
Regards, Chrys"
Chrys Muirhead
carer, writer, storyteller, swimmer, cyclist, photographer, gardener, traveller
-------------------
From Alliance Scotland:
"Dear member
The
University of Edinburgh invites you to share your stories to help shape
the future of nursing education. Nursing education
across the UK is changing and the University of Edinburgh want your
help to ensure that it’s nursing programme is grounded in voices of
lived experience.
This
event gives you the opportunity to share your stories with Nursing
Studies staff. You will be supported to capture your
experiences with nursing staff in creative ways – through photography,
storytelling, podcasting or however you feel you can best express
yourself. These will then be the foundation of a dialogue around how
best to equip tomorrow’s nurses with the skills and
ability to deliver the best care.
Agenda for the day:
12:15 – 12:30 – Welcome and Introduction
12:30 – 13:15 – Creative Storytelling (including lunch)
13:15 – 13:30 – Nursing Education Standards
13:30 – 14:00 – Shaping the Next Generation of Nurses
If you are interested in attending or want to find out more, please contact gregory.hill-oconnor@ alliance-scotland.org.uk
Event details
Location:
|
University of Edinburgh
|
Date:
|
Friday 1 March 2019
|
Time:
|
12:15 - 14:00
|
Address:
|
Room G.04
Doorway 6 Old Medical Quad Teviot Place Edinburgh EH8 9AG |
Best wishes
Kerry
Kerry Ritchie
Network Development Officer
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
349 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4AA"