
Welcome to the final session of #SocialPowerMH @CRASSHlive

We’re absolutely delighted to welcome @RaiWaddingham for our second keynote
You can view the livestream of the session here: http://YouTube.com/CRASSHCambridge
I’m @JoannahDewDrop and I’ll be livetweeting today’s session.
Tweet me if you have any questions!
#SocialPowerMH
Tweet me if you have any questions!

#SocialPowerMH
Rai is a practitioner, trainer and researcher, and Chair @HVN_England
The title of her talk is:
Listening to ‘Mad’ Voices in a Crazy World
#SocialPowerMH
The title of her talk is:
Listening to ‘Mad’ Voices in a Crazy World
#SocialPowerMH
Rai reflects on the strange times of the pandemic - how much nicer it would be to share a physical space, see and talk to each other.
Rai would like to address that many of us are not and have not been heard, particularly over the past year. This might be hard.
#SocialPowerMH
Rai would like to address that many of us are not and have not been heard, particularly over the past year. This might be hard.
#SocialPowerMH
Rai recalls an encounter with some entrepreneurs 'experience-mining' with no thought as to how they might value or credit input from her. It wasn't ill-intended but it was exploitative.
This happens in research. We are seen as resources.
#SocialPowerMH
This happens in research. We are seen as resources.
#SocialPowerMH
A quote of Rai's was published mis-credited to a 'Lucy Waddington'. Survivor work from Mind in Camden was also taken.
Rai has also many times had parts of her story re-framed. Qualitative analyses in research have left her questioning if they heard her story.
#SocialPowerMH
Rai has also many times had parts of her story re-framed. Qualitative analyses in research have left her questioning if they heard her story.
#SocialPowerMH
Rai has experienced being cut off when she has been truthful about her view, her experiences, her opinion.
Rai reflects on how she is generally considered 'acceptable' to speak- how must it be for those who are more Mad in their presentation? "When they speak who is listening?"
Rai reflects on how she is generally considered 'acceptable' to speak- how must it be for those who are more Mad in their presentation? "When they speak who is listening?"
Rai recalls complaining about serious issues in treatment and not being heard.
"There is a structural not-listening-to-survivors, it's not okay."
It's systematic, it's neglect.
#SocialPowerMH
"There is a structural not-listening-to-survivors, it's not okay."
It's systematic, it's neglect.
#SocialPowerMH
SIM: Serenity Integrated Mentoring
Rai talks about SIM, how inhuman it is.
(there is lots to read on Twitter about this, we will share some information for those who would like to read more)
Rai talks about SIM, how inhuman it is.
(there is lots to read on Twitter about this, we will share some information for those who would like to read more)
Rai: "It feels like the world is on fire right now. It feels like there is no space, there is no air."
Rai: It's okay to express anger, to say something is not okay, to hear others, have dialogue, or choose not to. To choose battles, spaces. Solidarity is needed.
#SocialPowerMH
Rai: It's okay to express anger, to say something is not okay, to hear others, have dialogue, or choose not to. To choose battles, spaces. Solidarity is needed.
#SocialPowerMH
Rai: Sometimes I have to ask myself "Is this pain worth it?"
What makes it worth it? Despite the harm, Rai believes it's worth connecting w/ others, making spaces for change.
Surviver initiatives- people are doing great things!
@MadCovid @dear_gp @myillumind
#SocialPowerMH
What makes it worth it? Despite the harm, Rai believes it's worth connecting w/ others, making spaces for change.
Surviver initiatives- people are doing great things!

@MadCovid @dear_gp @myillumind
#SocialPowerMH
And @adiraorguk - you can read more about Adira here: https://www.adira.org.uk/
Q&As
What do you think about survivors training as researchers as a solution to some of the inequalities you discuss? Potential risks & rewards
Rai: Cool question! It's essential. The knowledge in services is from research. Survivor research is a niche, we need more spaces.


Rai: Cool question! It's essential. The knowledge in services is from research. Survivor research is a niche, we need more spaces.


Rai: Make noise! Make it personal. We need allies, researchers, managers, to do this too. We need to work together.
#SocialPowerMH


Rai: I do know Black researchers, but not many survivor researchers at all. We need to make research accessible. It's exclusionary. If it's so painful as a white woman, with more barriers it must be more painful.


Rai: This is a live debate for me!
#SocialPowerMH


Rai: These are the dilemmas. Everything in the survivor network is not equal. We can have power & misuse it. We need many positions "so we are not everything to everyone all the time"

And that brings us to the end of the second keynote and final session of the conference!
Thanks so much to @RaiWaddingham
We’ll be posting the video of today’s session at the bottom of this thread soon.
If you have any questions, tweet us using the hashtag #SocialPowerMH