BBC HORIZON seeks volunteers! Are you one?

[Jill]

BBC HORIZON seeks volunteers!
>
> Horizon, the BBC's flagship science documentary series, is producing
> a programme that will challenge the stigma of mental illness in
> society. The issue of labelling and stigma is one of the greatest
> and most under-reported challenges in mental health care today.
> Horizon is looking for a number of volunteers willing to take part
> in a series of tests designed to probe the difference between mental
> illness and health.
>
> We are seeking volunteers with a history of mental illness who are
> now in a stable condition and feel confident about taking part in a
> television programme. Volunteers can be of all backgrounds between
> 18 – 50 years of age living in the UK.
>
> If you would like to find out more about the programme please
> contact the Horizon team on 0208 008 3978
or email [e-mail]

Apparently the eligibility criteria ending at 50 is because the tests include some physical

ones. Even so I pointed out this was discriminating against those with physical disabilities!

So anyone interested in applying to go on't telly?!

Bye for Now
Jill

[phil lancaster]

Dont do it, the stingy skinflints get thousands of pounds for such a programme, all the technicians, the interviewer, the cameraman, the sound recordist, they all get paid for thier services, but they want us to 'volunteer' and not be paid, that about sums it up really..........its a form of exploitation........dont do it.
Phil Lancaster

[Mandy Lawrence]

I'm with Phil on this and some.

I think the fact that it has an age group limit is discriminatory. I think it is going to be about stigma in work. Does that mean anyone over 50 is not seen as being useful to the workforce?

I am sick to death of the millions of pounds (and media attention) being pumped into anti stigma campaigns with no evidence of it making the slightest bit of difference. It also adds insults into the wounds of those of us struggling to get the right kind of care support from the NHS. As in where is the balance in where the money is going? Whose priorities are being taken into consideration? And where are the voices of those with mental illness in the big decision making arenas?

I wouldn't touch this programme with a mouldy barge pole. It is using 'service users' and will be biased before it even starts. These sorts of things make me very angry.

[Jill]

Hi

The woman I spoke to, who is the assistant producer, about this said the volunteers will go for a week of tests some of which will be physical ones hence the age barrier. I did say this was discriminating against those with physical disabilities.

She said they are going to have 2 groups. One will be of people with a history of mental health disabilities and one without. Then a panel will be asked to spot who is who. She didn't mention anything about work.

She said the volunteers will be asked to stay somewhere for this week of tests and all expenses will be paid but nothing about them being paid anything for taking part.

I did feel like they have their own agenda for the programme already and are looking for people who will fit in with what they have already decided the outcome will be.

Bye for Now
Jill

[Mandy Lawrence]

So it is literally a spot the loony competition.

the only question that springs to my mind is WHY?

As for excluding people over 50 because there are physical activities, do those organising this think people over 50 are clapped out? I guess it depends on what kind of physical activities. But even so....the more I hear about this, the more irrelevant it becomes.

A programme that asks people with mental illness how life in the 21st century is for them would be more relevant. Something that compares say treatment and life experiences now to different times in the last century. Maybe every 20 years from 1950 onwards might be more useful. As in looking at the sort of medications there were and are. Also life expectancy, standards of living, support mechanisms and such like. That would be too much for a one off programme but could be part of a series.

I am at a funeral today, but I think I am going to contact the BBC and put my views forward. Will write some stuff down and make contact.

[Jill]

Hi Mandy

Yes why? Well they will probably dress the mad people up in smart suits and the others up like tramps and thugs. Then the panel will guess the tramp and thugalikes are the mad ones and then they will go 'NO only well dressed people in suits like Johnathan Naess have mental health problems' This will then prove that there is stigma and that a lot more money needs to be spent on this bad problem.

Which as we know is what they want in order to keep attention away from real issues like inadequate basic services.

I think it is a good idea to contact the programme makers and give them some alternative views and suggestions for making programmes on issues which are relevant to us.

I hope you don't get too stressed by the funeral.

Bye for Now
Jill

[Rodney Yates]

Interested, Jill, but age disqualifies me. Just the sort of exclusiveness we don't need, methinks...
Rodney

[Jill]

Hi Rodney

I think it is worth letting them know they are guilty of age discrimination here.

Bye for Now
Jill