chris goodchild - book - a painful gift
Posted by
michaelz
on 2nd August 2010
at 10:50
speaking of schizoprenia :
...What others have said
Salley Vickers, author of Miss Garnet’s Angel and The Other Side of You:
‘This impressive first-hand account of coping with a relative suffering from a serious mental illness highlights the shameful lack of proper resources available for the mentally fragile in our allegedly “caring society.” Tim Salmon’s moving and disturbing book should be read by the families of sufferers but more importantly should be compulsory reading for all those responsible for mental health welfare.”
Nina Bawden, novelist; author of The Birds on the Trees:
‘I have just finished reading Schizophrenia: Who Cares?… Salmon writes of the bureaucratic hurdles he has had to face in order to get help for his damaged child; including as evidence some of the letters he has received from organizations supposed to help the weaker members of our society which reduced me, on occasion, to both tears and laughter. We could do better than this. Salmon’s story – which I found a riveting read, a proper page-turner, might show us the way...
Posted by
michaelz
on 3rd August 2010
at 10:57
...Mr Salmon criticises the “idiotic rhetoric of political correctness” – phrases like “journey of recovery”, “therapeutic optimism” and “flexible pathways” – swamping the health service.
The book reveals how Jeremy was left waiting in the Royal Free for 12 months longer than necessary because Camden Council could not find him a suitable home.
Mr Salmon said: “My principal concerns are about the discharge system. People with schizophrenia need peace and quiet...
http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2010/jul/terror-fear-and-grief-story-mental-health-care
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Posted by
michaelz
on 30th April 2010
at 10:15
http://www.chrisgoodchild.com
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article in the london evening standard - monday 26 april.
the print article contains a large photo of chris (with longer hair than at his website) .
a story depressingly similar to my own.
[there was a guy at my jobcentre-referral who kept surprising everybody with unusual noises (barks, whistles, hysterical laughter etc). i assumed tourettes was his problem but chris suggests such ejaculations could be autism-related.]
..."I was adopted and had a difficult childhood. My adoptive parents found it very hard to understand elements of my behaviour. I preferred to spend time on my own, I had facial tics and I would make unusual noises.
"Things really began to break down for me when I was at boarding school, as it was harder to hide elements of my behaviour there without any privacy. I was institutionalised when I was 15 for around a year-and-a-half, where I was wrongly treated for schizophrenia. I saw various professionals, none of whom recognised I had autism.
"The suppression of my autistic self led to recurrent bouts of depression, difficulties with employment and maintaining relationships throughout my adult life. I'd reached a point where I didn't want to live any longer because I couldn't cope with this cloud of unknowing."
Chris called The National Autistic S o c i e t y He l p l i n e a n d w a s recommended a psychologist who eventually diagnosed Asperger syndrome when he was 42.
"I saw a counsellor who helped put everything into place. Concealing my difference had made me ill, receiving my diagnosis saved my life," he says...
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+chance+to+rise+above+disability%3B+Autism+has+at+last+been+given...-a0224869408