3 months on; what’s happening?

#EmergingProud 2017; 3 -month reflection REPORT

Synopsis: On the 12th May 2017, 16 events were facilitated throughout 12 countries with the focus on normalizing transpersonal experiences within the field of mental health. Open Spaces were held to discuss the umbrella question;

“Rethinking Madness: How can we create a society in which it’s safe to talk about our ‘madness’?”

This report highlights the main actions that the launch events initiated at an international level, looking at outcomes 3- months post – launch.

As an overview, the following points were the outcomes from the Open Space discussions, and highlight the commonalities of opinion for necessary change at an international and transcultural level.

Overview: Main focus points of action needs from London

INCREASED SAFE SPACES FOR LISTENING / SHARING / SUPPORT
CHANGE IN LANGUAGE USED: MOVE AWAY FROM ‘ILLNESS’ CONCEPT
AUTHENTIC STORY SHARING AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
PEER SUPPORT: LIVED EXPERIENCE IS VITAL IN SUPPORTING THE PROCESS
VALUE OF NATURE / ART + HOLISTIC METHODS OF HEALING
ALLOWING THE PROCESS; TRUSTING THAT IT HAS MEANING

Main international focus points

INCREASED SAFE SPACES FOR LISTENING / SHARING / PEER SUPPORT
CHANGE IN LANGUAGE USED: EDUCATION TO NORMALISE DISTRESS
AUTHENTIC STORY SHARING AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
PEER SUPPORT: LIVED EXPERIENCE IS VITAL IN SUPPORTING THE PROCESS
BRIDGE -BUILDING WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: TO EDUCATE IN THIS
ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE
VALUE OF HOLISTIC METHODS OF HEALING
COLLABORATION TO REDUCE ISOLATION OF VISION; LOCALLY + INTERNATIONALLY

Conclusion: Perceived needs for change are transcultural and universal

What has happened since?

Initiation of The Emerging Kind Project

What is ‘The Emerging Kind’ (tEK)?

The Emerging Kind (tEK) is an exciting new project based on the outcomes from the Emerging Proud International launch events to ‘re-frame madness’. It’s thanks to a UK based charity, The Missing Kind, (tMK), whose Vision, Values and ethos are very aligned with EP, acting as an official sponsor for tEK project that has enabled this dream to become a reality.

How tMK and the #EmergingProud campaign align

The Emerging Proud campaign was set up to unite and give a voice to ‘The Missing Kind’ in society; people alienated and often marginalized, and even pathologised, due to feeling like they don’t fit into the world as it is today; disconnected and overly technocratic. In Oct 2016 our social campaign was launched encouraging these people to ‘Emerge Proud’, to share their personal stories of transformation and passion for creating the new paradigm; a world based on compassion, re-connection and celebration of the unique gifts everyone has to offer. These individuals are now connecting all over the world; they are ‘The Emerging Kind’…people who have experienced a spiritual awakening, often due to crisis, which has inspired them to give back. Waking up makes us more conscious of our impact on each other and on the planet; it drives us to live more ethically and compassionately, seeing that every individual alive is equal, whatever their circumstances.

The Emerging Kind project aims to grow a global network of awakened Peers to create safe space local groups, validating and empowering others to emerge through their own crises, enabling them to act on their individual passions and share their unique gifts and kindness in order to create a more connected and compassionate world.

In collaboration with ACISTE, who are providing the training, tEK will train 20 Peers in the UK and 20 Peers Internationally between August 2017 – July 2018 and set up ‘Safe Space’ support groups in 40 geographical locations globally, offering validation and support to up to 400 people going through the spiritual emergence process.

Predicted outcomes for tEK project: social impact

o Advancement of health / the saving of lives: Research into what is most important for people experiencing this awakening process and preventing associated distress, (including possible suicide), says that the most important interventions are reducing isolation and providing validation of personal experience.

Empowering individuals to make a difference to people, planet and animals: Facilitating the development of compassionate, self- sufficient local support groups, spreading kindness and skill- sharing and seeding their own kindness projects in line with their unique passions
Increasing inclusivity and connectivity: Through introducing ‘The Emerging Kind’ to each other, in their geographical locations, to mobilise in- person connections irrespective of class, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, or anything else that can lead to separation.
Education and Training: To develop awareness- raising opportunities, educate and train Peers who are then able to hold space for others going through transformational crisis experiences.
Research: Dr Charlie Heriot – Maitland, Researcher at Kings UCL in London will approach his Ethics committee to get permission to create a sub- study for a project evaluation specific to tEK project under his current study investigating the importance of ‘Social Safeness’ in sharing ‘anomalous experiences’. A pilot study will then take place with the group attendees from Phase 1 of the project: to start Nov 2017. The viability of this will determine the parameters for the second study on Phase 2 group members, to begin in June 2018 and the results will be included in the outcomes of the published study.
Collaborations: Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NHS) Recovery College and Norwich MIND – bridging work to mainstream MH services through communication and awareness – raising via film screenings and co –production. Work is underway to develop crisis cafes, and Emerging Proud has been acknowledged also in new documents around ‘Trauma- informed care’ within the British Psychological Society. Many bridges are being formed with mainstream Psychiatric professionals who acknowledge the campaign’s message of transformation through crisis.
Continued #EmergingProud film screenings / workshops to raise awareness

BRAZIL

Social media activity: A closed group on Facebook (created after the event) now has 204 members and people are participating and sharing their stories in a very open way (in Portugese)

A new website has been launched based on the results of the questionnaires applied during the 2 days Emerging Proud event in Brazil. This offers information as well as some activities such as, meditation, online support, 4 art workshop until the end of the year (dancing, drawing, theater, all the arts).

Meetings: A group of 10 people have been meeting on a regular basis and participating on the decisions and ideas to carry the momentum forwards.

Presentation: At the end of September Ligia Splendore and Sean Blackwell will present the Emerging Proud movement at the International Transpersonal Conference in Prague.

DENMARK

Research: Anne- Kirstine Klitmark, a Masters student in the field of Communication and Health Promotion focused her Master Thesis on considering how the Emerging Proud campaign narratives expand understanding of spiritual emergencies in the field of health communication. She analysed five stories from the campaign in depth and showed that spiritual emergence is not a ‘mental illness’ but promotes health and healing. How a person was met and validated is the key factor, whether or not they use medication or spend time in hospital. The published Thesis will be available publically in Sept 17.

USA

Collaborations with ACISTE to provide Peer Facilitator training specific to The Emerging Kind support groups: Elizabeth Sabet, ACISTE Board member will deliver the specialist training for the Emerging Kind project.

Applicants for phase 2 of tEK project to set up Peer groups in the US: We already have applicants from the USA to take part in the 2nd phase of the Emerging Kind project, and efforts are being made to initiate discussion groups ready for the in- person support groups set- up.

Collaborations with CRAZYWISE film: Continued mutual support for our movements through double film screenings and promotion. Film screening + live Q+A happening with the Mental Health Coalition in Sedona, Arizona in August.

Collaborations with Shades of Awakening community forum: Continued discussion with the Directors of the Shades of Awakening forum, with mutual support for our movements being the focus – we are so grateful for their ongoing support!

Bridging with mainstream Psychiatry: Ongoing work to bring the language of spiritual emergence into mainstream mental health field, particularly in the New York area.

GERMANY

Plans to set up a new not-for-profit organisation: Since the 12th May a group that formed has intentions to set up a new service in Germany to offer support on all sorts of spiritual emergence-processes, e.g. kundalini-awakenings. Plans include organising a yearly retreat for our active group-members and connecting our acting-energy with the source of meditation and silence. Contemplation and the commitment for social change is a key focus.

FINLAND

SEN Finland: Early discussions around the possibility of setting up a Finnish SEN

AUSTRALIA

More social media presence for SEN; Facebook group: Taking part in the 12th May events prompted a more engaged online presence for SEN Australia and a facebook group has been created for sharing.

Art Therapy text book: Plans are underway to develop an Art Therapy text book based around Joseph Campbell’s The Heroes Journey

That’s all folks!

We intend to bring you another update at the 6 month point, and hope that there will be more news to share from the other countries that took part in the Emerging Proud launch; we think the 3 month outcome are pretty impressive so far!

A huge thank you to everyone who has taken part to date and put in such a huge amount of effort to bring about positive change ❤