Shameless Plug

I saw this website linked from another blog, but I can’t remember what one, so I apologise for no acknowledgement.

I wanted to share it even further and decided to post the link here as well.

Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb

Garfield is one of my favourite cartoon strips and I find this idea fascinating. It works so well, it’s often very moving.

Garfield Minus Garfield

(Guest post by Becky Derham)

I thought the Mental Nurse readership might be interested to know that WISH’s campaign against the smoking restrictions in mental health inpatient units, Stubbing Out Our Rights, has been launched this week.

The arguments for and against the restrictions have already been debated here in a lot of depth so I won’t go into them again, but if you’d like to wander over to the campaign’s website you will see WISH’s take on the issue.
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Ok, that was a slight exaggeration, adding a bit of sensationalism, but the above point may come true in the future.

The NMC are currently running a review of pre-registration nursing education.

Questions include:

should nurses be prepared to diploma or degree level?

what proportion of a pre-registration programme should be spent learning in practice?

should shared learning be a requirement?

should there be generalist and/or branch programmes, and if so, what should the branches be?

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I thought it was only polite to properly introduce myself now I am listed as a contributor.

I am Bloo, a 2nd year Mental Health Student Nurse. I will start my final year in September ‘07. I have been visiting Mental Nurse for some time now, having not so recently changed my name. I fancied something different.

I often have trouble remaining (or even starting to be) serious, so expect some utter nonsense from me from time to time. I will hold back when posting here to try to keep up the excellent standard.

Now all we need is Mo to start posting regularly and this site will be fantastic instead of brilliant!

Oh, and you can see a photo of me here. Unfortunately I did not have on by Bloo uniform that day.

Have been asked in a very nice email to link to the following information I thought I would just post the press release.

NESTA launches £20m initiative to stimulate innovation

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) (http://www.nesta.org.uk) is today launching a new £20 million initiative designed to encourage innovative solutions to some of the UK’s most pressing social issues including chronic disease, mental health and climate change.

NESTA’s ‘Innovation Challenges’ (http://www.nesta.org.uk/challenges) will focus on several key themes, starting with Health Innovation and followed by the Environment. Each theme will last for three years during which NESTA will conduct a series of high-impact projects with key partners, designed both to unearth existing ideas, and stimulate new approaches in response to recognised problems.

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During my second year of university I suffered from severe depression which resulted in a very nearly successful suicide attempt. I can’t remember when during that year I started to hear voices and think delusional thoughts but about a year later I was diagnosed as suffering from psychotic depression.

Fast forward to the end of my student days - I spent a year working as a Nursing Assistant on a rehab/continuing care ward. I formed good strong relationships with many of the residents and the year I spent on the ward was undoubtedly one the things I have been most privileged to do during my life thus far. Not a day has passed when I haven’t found myself missing the residents.

Currently I work for an occupational psychology organisation and am studying psychology with a view to something psychologically career related. I made a conscious decision to leave nursing until I sort some of my personal demons out and then I shall return! I am not quite sure in what kind of capacity I shall return but I want to care and make a lasting difference.

However, enough about me and my background, I need your help!

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