Phil Borges, CRAZYWISE Producer, set to come to Norwich to discuss his film with Mental Health Clinicians and Peers

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Katie Mottram

CRAZYWISE Film Screening, Presentation, Discussion and Q+A with Phil Borges, Film Director

Norwich Puppet Theatre, Sat 17th March 1.30 – 5.15pm 

Crazywise

Is there an alternative way of making sense of mental illness that is potentially more empowering and helpful for people experiencing psychological distress? 

This film screening and discussion is aiming to open up conversations that will continue at various events over the coming year, with a particular focus on bridging relationships between Mental Health Clinicians and Peers. Have you been affected by mental health issues or supported someone who has? Are you interested in finding out about what developments are happening both locally and worldwide with the aim to transform the current bio- medical model paradigm in Psychiatry? Then this event is for you… 

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS 

Schedule: 

Arrival from 1pm for a 1.30pm start

1.30pm Introduction by Katie Mottram, Founder of the aligned #EmergingProud campaign

1.45pm Full screening of the CRAZYWISE Film

About *CRAZYWISE: 

CRAZYWISE Film: Crazy…or wise? The traditional wisdom of indigenous cultures often contradicts modern views about a mental health crisis. Is it a ‘calling’ to grow or just a ‘broken brain’? The documentary CRAZYWISE explores what can be learned from people around the world who have turned their psychological crisis into a positive transformative experience. Click here to see the extended trailer.

3.10pm Break (the theatre cafe / bar will be open)

3.30pm: Live in- person presentation, discussion and Q+A session with Phil Borges, CRAZYWISE Film Producer 

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4.30pm: Entertainment from our special guests the NORWICH ROCK CHOIR! (**More info below)

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5.00pm: Closure of the event and announcement by Katie Mottram and Linda Allen of KindaListening (www.kindalistening.org)

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS 

 

Special guest, Phil Borges, CRAZYWISE film Producer

For over twenty-five years Phil Borges has been documenting indigenous and tribal cultures, striving to create an understanding of the challenges they face. His work is exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide and his award winning books, which have been published in four languages, include Tibetan Portrait; Enduring Spirit; Women Empowered and Tibet: Culture on the Edge.


*Phil’s Documentary, CRAZYWISE reveals a paradigm shift that’s changing the way Western culture defines and treats “mental illness”. The film highlights a survivor-led movement demanding more choices from a mental health care system in crisis. 

Phil has hosted television documentaries on indigenous cultures for Discovery and National Geographic channels. An experienced lecturer, Phil regularly presents at universities, teaches workshops, and has given several TED talks; including TED in 2007, and TEDxUMKC in 2013.

Providing uplifting entertainment on the day; Jessica Allen and the Norwich Rock Choir!

Rock Choir is the UK’s largest and most popular contemporary choir, with in excess of 25,000 members in over 340 local communities nationwide including your local Rock Choir in Norwich, Thorpe, Wymondham and Beccles run by Rock Choir leader, Jessica Allen. Rock Choir offers adults and teenagers an alternative experience to the traditional classical orcommunity choir, pioneering a new approach to vocal training and entertainment plus the chance to sing and perform popular contemporary songs, with no auditions and norequirements to read music or have any previous singing experience. Rock Choir is foranyone who just loves to sing!

New members are always very welcome and anyone interested in joining can try a FREE

90-minute taster session, just visit www.rockchoir.com

Event location: http://www.puppettheatre.co.uk

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS 

Hosted by: EPbanner

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Get set for #Emerging Proud day 2018!

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Katie Mottram

 Get set for #Emerging Proud day 2018!

12th May 2018: SAVE THE DATE! 

#EmergingProud needs YOU to make our 2018 event an even bigger success than last year; together we can continue to raise awareness that mental distress can be part of a transformation journey…will you join in and help us to spread the HOPE?

It’s FREE to join, FREE to run, FREE to take part! 

On the 12th May 2018 #EmergingProud are honoured to be collaborating with Oz Osbourne of ‘The Outsiders’ to utilise their ‘So-Me’ event template; a simple mechanism to encourage public conversations on specific social -impact issues.

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The topic of the day will be;

‘Reframing mental distress as a possible transformation process’

and volunteers who resonate with having experienced this will engage in conversations with interested strangers in public places all over the world with the aim to change perceptions that being diagnosed with a mental illness can actually lead to the start of a new, more meaningful and authentic life…

In 2017, fourteen global locations took part in International #EmergingProud day, and we aim to double that number this year; will you take on the challenge and organise a free event with us?

What does it involve?  main-logo

About SoMe

SoMe is a mechanism for facilitating 1-1 conversations about specific social, community or environmental issues. The concept uses the things that work well in online social media to bring people together in face-to-face discussion.

Events happen in local communities and at an event there are three SoMe spaces: The Wall, The Chat Room and The Message Board.

The Wall is where SoMe volunteers display pre-written ‘profiles’. These are A4 sheets, printed and laminated, containing some basic information including their interests, favourite books/films etc., along with a quote they have written about the experiences they are prepared to share. This quote must comprise 140 characters or fewer, similar to a Tweet on TwitterTM. Event organisers help volunteers to create their profiles beforehand, and visitors to the SoMe event are invited to look through the profiles and choose one a SoMe volunteer to talk to in the Chat Room.

The Chat Room is the space where SoMe volunteers and visitors sit down and talk. Profiles can be used to prompt and stimulate the conversation, which can be challenging but always respectful. Once the conversation has finished, the visitor is asked to visit the Message Board.

The Message Board is a space where visitors can evaluate their experience, also in 140 characters. Once written, their message is added to the board, which creates an ongoing, ‘live feed’ evaluation of the event and attracts other participants.

Running a SoMe event is relatively straightforward and inexpensive. As long as you have some volunteers prepared to talk to people about their own experiences, a venue, and a few basic resources, you can run a SoMe event.

We aim to collate feedback from the Message Board in each location to produce an impact report on International #EmergingProud day 2018…Together we can create positive change in how mental ‘illness’ is perceived; 

Are you interested in taking part? 

I’ll be interviewing Oz about SoMe and sharing our plans for #EmergingProud day 2018 very soon; stay tuned to find out more about how you can get involved! 12th May; SAVE THE DATE! 

Meet Oz Osborne, Director of ‘The Outsiders’, who inspired ‘So-Me’

OzO

The Outsiders create innovative social projects that encourage dialogue, inspire cooperation and promote community cohesion.

Oz is an innovator and a thinker. He asks questions of himself and the people he is working with in order to ensure that there is genuine social value at the end of the project. He has a background in mental health and wellbeing consultancy, and a proven track-record of creating innovative approaches to social issues. Oz began work at Mind in Great Yarmouth as a young person’s mentor and there developed the highly acclaimed Fitography project. While at Rethink, Oz managed the Stuff Stigma campaign, during which time he organised the first national Five Ways to Wellbeing conference, and the first independently organised Human Library in the UK. Oz has organised over 90 Human Library events and together with his business Partner Nick, has become the most experienced Human Library Organiser in the UK. Later, as a consultant with Time to Change Oz developed the Time to Change Village which has since become the national flagship community engagement activity for the campaign.

Follow the EPbanner blog to find out more details soon! 

 

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Anna lauches her book; ‘The Heavy Volume of Aliens!’

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Katie Mottram

You may remember the lovely Anna Lipska from the #EmergingProud film…well Anna is certainly Emerging and we are so proud of her!

Once house- bound for a year due to the shame and stigma of being given a Psychiatric diagnosis, Anna has now published a book about her spiritual emergence journey, which took her in, and thankfully back out of, the world of mental health…

Anna Book

Hi, my name is Anna Lipska and my story is one of a million others.

In 2012 I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features, told I would never recover, and had to take psychiatric drugs for the rest of my life.

I was treated according to the biomedical model with pharmacotherapy. Mood stabilizers, antidepressants and finally antipsychotics had a disastrous effect on my health both mental and physical, but what in my case proved to have been most harmful was the label, which took away from me hope to live a life that had a meaning.

My life has changed in many ways and now I don’t feel like an alien on Earth as I describe it in the book. I know human life on Earth involves experiencing both beauty and sometimes immense suffering and there is no running from that. I know that I am not as special as I used to think – neither in the amount of my suffering nor in what I perceived as weirdness. I have found out that the diagnosis I heard when I was in my early 20s was both inaccurate and simplistic. Most of all it didnt explain anything – about me, other diagnosed individuals, or the nature of life.

I looked for alternative ways of understanding my experience and I have found it. I have found incredibly wise and strong people whom I am honored to call my friends and my tribe. They are giving me the reason to go on and with whom I share stength and hope when I have it. I shifted from the mentality of a patient convinced of having no impact on my life due to ”a chemical imbalance in the brain”, to an awareness that years of my depression, mania and psychosis were attempts to integrate experiences that were extremely hard to integrate and that I was constantly breaking down to finally break through.

My life is far from perfect, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes it’s simply a massive pain in the ass. But it is not a result of my ‘mental illness’. It’s because life is simply bloody hard. And now I don’t have an escape which my ‘insanity’ granted me.

But I am grateful.

I had the chance to get a degree in Clinical Psychology, recover (in terms of having no drastic episodes, being free of psychotropic drugs for over 4 years, being able to work full time and be a useful member of society), write this book, start a postgraduate training in Integral Psychotherapy and tell my story – something so many people are not given a chance to do. Not because their history is less interesting but because of difficult internal and external circumstances.

My story is one of million others and it is in no way unique.

”The Heavy Volume of Aliens” is a guide book about how all of that was possible in my life despite my morbid prognosis. I started writing it when I had some insight and at the same time a lot of my issues were still unresolved. It has its limitations and reading it now, I feel like I’d like to change a fair amount of it. Maybe it’s not the best recomendation, but I did not write this book having in mind it should become a best – seller, nor do I suffer from a delusion that I have it all figured out and I have discovered an ultimate cure for the so called Bipolar disorder or Schizophrenia. I am just sharing my experience. I started writing it when I was in a deep despair and I was looking for books which would guide me through the maze of my inner chaos. I didn’t find it and decided that meant I needed to write my own book.

The process of writing it helped me a great deal in integrating myself and so I thought maybe it could help someone too.

Although I come from Poland the book is written in English because from my observations the Peer Support movement is getting very strong in UK and US while in Poland it’s practically nonexistant. In the near future I will work on translating it to my original language to facilitate the change in mainstream mindset of Psychiatry in my country.

I hope some of you read it and find it helpful. And if you don’t, I’ll be grateful if you share your insights with me. I’m sure it will help me grow.

Thank you for your interest in my book and for your support. Coming out of my closet and showing more of who I really am, was, and still is, terrifying. But the alternative would be far worse…

As Maya Angelou brilliantly put it:

”There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you”.

Well, now the story is told. This chapter ends here. And I can move on.

THANK YOU ❤

Thank YOU Anna, with love from the #Emerging Proud community and all who we are sure will find your book an inspiration.

We’ll be interviewing Anna about her journey, the contents of her book AND the Polish Spiritual Emergence Network in a few weeks, but in the mean time, you can get hold of your copy of Anna’s book here:

www.annalipska.com

Anna website

 

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We’re Emerging Kind with FREE film screenings around the UK!

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Katie Mottram

As part of the Emerging Kind project, newly – trained Peer Group Facilitators will be hosting their own Emerging Proud community film screenings in their UK localities, funded by the Missing Kind charity. The idea of these screenings is to attract people who resonate with the concept of spiritual emergence, and may benefit from attending a Peer support group to help with the integration of their STE (spiritually transformative experience).

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We noticed previously, after running screenings, that people were often relieved that someone finally seemed to understand what they’d been going through, and were left asking; ‘But what now? Where can I go to connect with others?”

The resources are still few, and so we wanted to create more of the much needed ‘Safe Spaces’ for people to go to; to feel less isolated, to talk openly without fear of being told they were ‘crazy’, to connect with others who’d experienced something similar…

That is what the Emerging Kind Project aims to do.

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Last week I held my first support group in Norwich; it was the most beautiful, heart – expanding experience. A true Peer – Peer space where we started to, and will continue to evolve, our own group guidelines to keep the energy of our space together protected…where we treat each other with unconditional positive regard for the varied journeys that have brought our paths to converge. My path took me around the world, and finally I feel like I’m putting down my community roots back where I belong ❤

If you’re interested to see if a screening and local group are happening in your area, go to this page, which will be regularly updated as new screenings are planned, and groups are set up.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated to keep our valuable work going; the Crowdfunder has now ended, but you can contiue to donate directly into the charity’s tEK project pot; all money raised will go to expanding the number of support groups and ultimately, we pray, towards saving lives of those who may be suffering alone ❤

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Chris Cole interviews yours truly about then and now!

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Katie Mottram
Today’s blog involves a bit of shameless self – plugging! It was an honour to be invited to join the inspiring Chris Cole, host of the Waking Up Bipolar podcast, (focused on the intersection of bipolar disorder and spiritual awakening), for a chat. He is the author of The Body of Chris: A Memoir of Obsession, Addiction, and Madness, inspired by his own journey of spiritual unfolding and mental health challenges.
Chris
In a few weeks Chris will be #EmergingProud himself and the shoe will be on the other foot as he sits in my interview hot seat! Keep posted to hear all about Chris’ journey, but for now this is Chris’ interview with yours truly…
Katie Mottram: Training Peers, Emerging Proud, and Mending the Gap
by Chris Cole

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

In this episode of Waking Up Bipolar, Chris Cole speaks with Katie Mottram— author, speaker and producer, but most importantly, a peer experiencer. Having worked in the mental health system for 15 years, she experienced a spiritual awakening in 2012 which completely changed her view of “mental illness.”

She is the author of Mend the Gap: A Transformative Journey from Deep Despair to Spiritual Awakening, and her personal story is featured in the 2016 publication by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Spirituality and Narrative in Psychiatric Practice: Stories of Mind and Soul.

Katie was one of the Founding Directors of the International Spiritual Emergence Network, providing a collaborative platform for the global networks that exist to support people going through the spiritual emergence process. (www.spiritualemergencenetwork.org)

Katie’s latest projects are the anti-stigma campaign in support of those experiencing spiritual phenomena, #EmergingProud: www.emergingproud.com and the Emerging Kind; a project training Peers to hold ‘Safe Space’ support groups for those going through a difficult spiritual emergence process.

As you’ll hear in our conversation, Katie Mottram is someone who has seen the current biomedical paradigm of mental health from all angles and is filled with passion to empower others, as we all move toward a more compassionate approach to crisis and transformation. It is with great pride and honor that I present to you the incomparable Katie Mottram. Thanks so much for joining us!

 

Support Katie’s crowdfunding campaign here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-emerging-kind

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FREE Emerging Proud screenings to initiate tEK Peer Support Groups

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Katie Mottram

Funded by the Missing Kind Charity in support of the Emerging Kind project to set up Peer Support groups around the UK, we will be hosting FREE community screenings and discussions…

The first will be in Worcester, and you can book your FREE ticket HERE 

This is an informal full film screening hosted by Ellie, one of our newly trained Emerging Kind Peer Group Facilitators.

Watch how Peers managed to ’emerge’ transformed from their perceived mental health crises; can a breakdown really be a journey to breakthrough?

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This screening is free to attend and is intended to initiate interest in an ‘Emerging Kind’ Peer support group on the topic of spiritual emergence, for those who resonate with the concept. A regular Peer support group will be facilitated by Ellie in the area following the event. Interested participants names will be taken on the night; places are limited so please ensure you book your ticket quick!

Ellie B

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Testimonials from the world premier on 12th May 2017:

 “Thank you so much for working to further this movement. You’ve given me a safe space to shed many tears of joy and hope.” Theodore

“The film was extremely affirming and emotive to watch. I found myself relating deeply to the people discussing their experiences of spirituality within mental health, and resonated with the struggle of being severely misunderstood. It was especially inspiring to witness each beautiful person have the courage to speak openly about their awakening with such depth and humour.” Thomas

 “The film blew me away – it was beautifully put together, and totally inspiring. More than just addressing the stigma attached to mental health, it speaks to the human condition in general and I think we all have a lot to learn from the stories that are being told. Absolutely loved it.” James

Watch this page for details on the other UK location information to follow soon!  

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CRAZYWISE at the Monastery; a week today!

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Katie Mottram
Crazywise

Sunday 14th January 2018, 11:30 am – 3.45 pm 

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE

What can we learn from those who have turned their psychological crisis into a positive transformative experience? The CRAZYWISE film adds a voice to the growing conversation that believes a psychological crisis can be an opportunity for growth and potentially transformational, not a disease with no cure.

CRAZYWISE follows two young Americans diagnosed with “mental illness.” Through interviews with renowned mental health professionals including Gabor Mate, MD, Robert Whitaker, and Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD, Phil explores the growing severity of the mental health crisis in America dominated by biomedical psychiatry. He discovers a growing movement of professionals and psychiatric survivors who demand alternative treatments that focus on recovery, nurturing social connections, and finding meaning.

If you’ve not yet had the opportunity to see Crazywise then don’t miss this one!

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE

This event includes a full informal film screening with the opportunity to ask questions LIVE via webinar link to film Producer Phil Borges, and to join an open discussion on the topic.

The day’s schedule:

11.30 am Introduction from Katie Mottram, Founder of the aligned #EmergingProud campaign

11.45am Full film screening (1 hr 20 mins)

1.10pm *Lunch break: Why not treat yourself to a cream tea in the Pantry on site! Networking and ‘nature time’ opportunity

2.00pm Reflections and sharing session

3.00pm LIVE Q+A with Phil Borges via Skype

3.45pm – finish

(*Please note that lunch is not included with your ticket cost)

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE

 

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Wishing you a Kinda Emerging 2018!

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Katie Mottram

2018

2017 brought us success and sadness …Without these inevitable cycles of life; the darkness and the light, we wouldn’t be inspired to create change; evolution is born through chaos and pain. Let us embrace the chaos, and give birth to whatever magic wants to emerge in 2018. Together let’s make it historical ❤

 

 

 

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Introducing the new tEK Peer Support Groups

Posted on December 30, 2017 by Katie Mottram

WELCOME to our tEK Peer Support Groups

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What are Emerging Kind Peer Support Groups?

The Emerging Kind (tEK) Peer Support Groups are for people who view their mental health crisis as part of a spiritual transformation process, and would like to be part of a group where they are validated and supported to find meaning in their experience. tEK groups aim to provide safe spaces where experiencers feel empowered to speak openly without fear of judgement or pathologisation of their experience. tEK support groups are facilitated by a trained peer supporter; someone who has emerged through their own crisis and now feels inspired to help others who are going through a similar process.

The training framework and documentation is inspired by the work of ACISTE (https://aciste.org), to whom we are extremely grateful and continued to be closely aligned.

What is the purpose of a tEK Peer Support Group?

The purpose of the support group is to provide a safe and confidential space for experiencers to share and discuss their experiences, derive meaning, explore the challenges and after effects, in order to facilitate integration.

Peer support groups consist only of Peers. This means everyone participating, including the facilitator, is a person who has had a spiritually transformative experience as defined below.

An experience is spiritually transformative when it causes people to perceive themselves and the world profoundly differently: by expanding the individual’s identity increasing their sensitivities, and thereby altering their values, priorities and appreciation of the purpose of life. This may be initiated by surviving a near death experience, alternative states of consciousness and can also be related to trauma.

We do not question the basis for the experience. If an experiencer is going through changes and would benefit from sharing them, he or she is welcome to attend the group, as long as there is space. Most groups will be ‘closed’ to new members for set periods of time to allow for depth of group bonding.

The groups are not to provide therapy – but each member attends to help each other process and integrate their own experiences, their meaning and challenges.

We aim to be non- judgemental and empowering, listening with compassion to how the experiencer feels. Group agreements will be made together during the first session. Groups are free to attend (with shared donations to cover refreshment costs) and Facilitated by Peer volunteers.

What are the goals of a tEK Peer Support Group?

  • To assist each other in understanding that our experiences are normal.
  • To create a safe space to encourage open sharing
  • To encourage each other to talk about spiritually transformative experiences, common needs and challenges, whilst respecting each other’s wish to just listen sometimes.
  • To assist and encourage each other in developing self-confidence and compassionate self- expression
  • To assist each other to find helpful and life – affirming meaning in our experiences
  • To share ideas and suggestions from our own perspective and only offering insight when invited.
  • To assist each other in identifying our own needs.
  • To assist each other in getting our needs met in ways that do not impede others from meeting their own needs.
  • To assist each other to live with integrity in all aspects of our life

Not alone

 

Where are the tEK Peer Support Groups? 

Location and Facilitator contact details will be listed HERE as groups are initiated. If you’d like to attend, please contact the location Facilitator directly to enquire whether there are any spaces available.

We look forward to creating a safer society in which to talk about our extreme human experiences together ❤

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