28 February 2001

GroupInterVisual™ sponsors 1st National Conference of Survivor Workers

On 28th February at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester, birthplace of the TUC, the 1st UK national conference was held for workers in the fields of mental health and social care who have themselves used, or survived, psychiatric services. The conference addressed their well-being, the discrimination they face and the civil and human rights issues encountered in their work. It also promoted the view of their experience as a source of expertise.

The concept of recovery from mental ill health is too little known, but this workforce, who turned up in large numbers, were ample proof that recovery from severe mental illness is not only possible, but the community of those who have made such a recovery is growing from strength to strength.

Said one delgate: "I got into this movement from an interest in civil rights initially. It's great to see how many people with mental health problems are now employed in jobs within mental health and social care, as well as other fields" . The testimonials and personal profiles of delegates and speakers at the conference, published on the www.survivorworker.co.uk website in the weeks leading up to the conference, demonstrates the range of experience referrred to.

Rose Snow, the Conference Co-ordinator said, "There was much more interest than we'd anticipated. GroupInterVisual™ were invaluable. They built our website over a period of weeks, and at short notice, as we got the information together, which suited us. They worked closely with us at every stage. The bulletin board facility was invaluable as a focal point for those contributing as well as those who were just interested. As the conference became oversubscribed it became a way of connecting up with those who couldn't attend, but had valuable contributions to make. We copied all the email addresses down and are compiling a database."

There were over 20 workshops throughout the day, as well as keynote papers and speeches, which will be transcribed and incorporated into the www.survivorworker.co.uk website in due course. For about half of the 400 applicants, who had to be turned away due the size of the venue, this will provide a continued focus and building block from which the survivorworker community can develop. Ron Colman, one of main stage speakers got rapturous applause when he expressed the optimism felt by everyone at the event, predicting he would see the next Survivor Workers conference being staged at Blackpool!

Says Rose "We were delighted with the service GroupInterVisual™ provided and I am aiming for the next conference to urge the planning group to solve the problems of a geographically dispersed team by videoconferencing regularly on our GroupInterVisual™ site in preparation for the event. Thanks, GroupInterVisual™ for an extremely user friendly, high tech, high quality service, you can pat yourself on the back big style."