Page 164 - ReAwaken Ebook 1st Ed

ReAwakening through Irish Eyes

A fellow social work student asked me last week where I am on placement. I told her I'm
working in a hearing voices clinic, to which she laughed hysterically for a few minutes. I
don’t know what was so funny and I still don’t. Perhaps if I said I worked with

‘schizophrenics’ it wouldn’t have been so hysterical. Is it more acceptable to work with
people with labels rather than to hear a person’s story and treat them as individuals with

individual needs?

Which leads me to my experience at ReAwaken, which was an event with the purpose of
creating connection, compassion and shifting paradigms in the mental health system. Did
I see any mad people? No, what I saw were strong-willed people attuned to the idea of a

compassionate recovery rather that the current shitstorm of a mental health system
which provides limited emphasis or explanations on the impact that trauma and abuse
can have on someone. It was liberating to be in the company of like-minded individuals;

you could see in each persons eyes, the determination, the strength, the mirrored
frustration of seeing the system's lack of compassion and the impact this has on people.

We came from all walks of life, different countries, cultures, attitudes and beliefs, we all
had our own stories and experiences but at the end of the day we were all on the same

page about what we are fighting for. And that is for recognition that we are not broken,
recognition of earlier traumas and abuses and how they affect people’s mental health,

and the choice whether to be medicated or not.

One of the big ones for me is the importance of peer work. To recognise that these

people have suffered horrific and dark experiences, have got through it and are
dedicating their lives to helping others heal themselves. Although it may be painful and

triggering, it is powerful and will change the world. That to me is COMPASSION. Let’s not
lose the momentum, let’s keep everything we learnt fresh in our
heads, let’s spread the word, let’s keep talking until people are

tired of hearing about it!

Claire McClorey is a social work student at Flinders University in
Adelaide, South Australia. She is currently doing field placement
with the HUMANE Clinic and was a core member of the ReAwaken

organizing team.

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