PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROPOSED PROJECT 'The Trutyh Teller'
Since my appearance on ABC National News last night, (10th Feb, 2006), continuing my public advocacy role supporting Mental Health Awareness, and of course, in light of the COAG, (Council of Australian Governments), meeting this last Friday 10 th February, 2006 addressing the crisis in Australia's mental health system, I have decided to make this bold, yet fleeting post on the front page of my site for a short duration.
It is most appreciated if you take 3 minutes to read this synopsis of a very timely, and I think important written and multimedia project addressing holistics and mental health, consumer rights, and the stigma and discrimination still endured by the mentally ill, tentatively titled: 'The Truth teller'.
Please refer it onto interested parties believing in validating the voice of those who suffer, will suffer, or are carers of those with mental health issues. Thank you.
Synopsis: 'The Truth Teller' - A work in progress from Richard McLean.
'The Truth Teller' is a considered, and extensive work in progress. It is a first-hand cathartic yet considered snapshot of my artistic expression, digitally recorded communications, creativity, and expression of experience in regard to the state of Mental Health, and the rights of those affected by Mental Illness in Australia and Abroad.
My name is Richard McLean, and I am a National and International advocate for the rights and voice of those suffering the burden of mental health issues, public speaker, consumer representative, schizophrenia survivor, author and artist.
'Recovered, Not Cured, a journey through schizophrenia', (Allen and Unwin, 2001), was my autobiographical art book on my experience with the illness, that was released to high praise in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Japan, in e-book, and free downloadable audio-book format.
It received a 'Highly Commended' in the 'Arts, Non-Fiction' category from HREOC, (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission), 2003, and SANE Australia's 'Book of the year', 2004.
It has been recommended as a text in schools, turned into a first-person-read 5 part series for ABC National, and supported by such people as Anne Deveson (AO), and international author of the best selling 'Surviving Schizophrenia', by psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey.
It was written in the midst of working as a graphic designer - and was indeed be a purging of written reflection, art images, ideas and pure experience, told in an unflinchingly and matter-of-fact style to comfortably distance the dischordancy of my past and define, in physical written terms, an epoch I would not wish upon my worst enemy.
An epoch, I believe will not only be treated in a more holistic way in the future, that values an individual and their potential, yet very much preventable, with the advent of greater community awareness and appropriate support from institutions and Governments.
More tolerance of mental illness is direly needed; a thing which IS tangable and reachable in our lifetimes. The issue requires flexibility and acceptance from such parties as employers, peer groups, institutions, governments, and of course, next-door neighbours.
Through the learning process in my illness, I have appreciated now, spectral wealth in many forms, not just monetarily, in the world we exist in.
If only for a second consider loving relationships, emotional union in a partnership, sound environmental stability, the joy of a new baby, fresh sheets or your favorite meal...the list goes on...a beer, receiving a sincere handshake, hug, kiss, or wrapped gift.
What of course, of a friend to turn to?
You can put a price on a smile...
This...is true wealth.
This 'true wealth' has an, of course, immeasurable value to each of us, yet sadly, in the context of the world we live in, this kind of richness is related proportionally to financial wealth.
No one has the joy of fresh new sheets or a quiet moment of content reflection in their life, without the support network of an institution, charity, government, family or friends.
Still, many mentally ill affected people are not afforded what is the most sought form of wealth, contentment and comfort, food and empathy, things non-sufferers dont need, and too often take for granted.
In light of this spectrum of wealth, if mental health continues to be treated as it has been, then the damage in heartache, emotional pain, wasted creative potential (especially in terms of youth, employment, and new ideas), the castration of 'celebrating individuality and diversity', and indeed the subsequent ongoing suffering, stigma, discrimination, and death of people suffering from mental illness worldwide, will continue to be ongoing.
It is something which can very much be held accountable - to those in control - nthat allocate resources to a cause that is valid, indeed a too often ignored human right, yet still underfunded, and under-resourced.
37,000 Australian's are diagnosed annually with schizophrenia, and 1 in 5 people worldwide will suffer from mental illness at some point in their lives. Sadly, in this very day, up to 15% of all people diagnosed with schizophrenia, will eventually commit suicide - because the burden of one's own torment in the context of society's measured expectations, discrimination, stigma and misunderstanding, is too much to bear.
It could have easily been me.
I represent someone who is 'Recovered, Not Cured', and learnt tolerance of his mental health issues, and an example of the creative potential of many of the 'forgotten people', that suffer.
Hopefully, also an example, of the unlocked potential of somebody affected, most of whom are shunned by a society that embraces mediocrity, and would rather sweep under the mat, and ignore. It's reflected in health budget's worldwide.
The proportion of the Mental Health Dollar in any budget, as you might expect, needs to reflect its proportional demand, and sadly, as one affected might expect it to be so, simply is not.
I know this to be true. You might expect a cup of tea in a psychiatric inpatient unit wouldn't you? DONT BE SO SURE.
Since the release of my first book, I have travelled Nationally (Sydney, Canberra, Dubbo, Warnambool), and Internationally (Montreal, Canada), for exhibitions of my own cathartic art, speaking at mental health related exhibition openings, international book launches, attending art and mental health / homelessness exhibitions, tours of continuing-care teams, and public psychiatric hospitals, talks to consumer groups, sat on panels such as the world cannabis and psychosis conference, held arts therapy classes, counselling individually and systemically, presentations at forensic mental health institutions, mental health research labs, documentaries, newspaper, radio and television appearances, talking to students and awareness days...the list goes on.
I also presented at McGill University, (Montreal), sharing my storey to an audience of anthropologists, psychiatrists, social workers, university lecturers, fellow artists, and philosophy/art students.
This will be released on DVD in March, this year from The Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University.
This travel and international public advocacy role, was disappointingly self funded, with the assistance of close family members who know me well and believe in my capabilities. (With thanks to Mum and Dad, Jode and Uncle Bruce especially), yet I am still trying to financially recover, however I am adamant I will continue my mandate and passion-and I kindly ask you to consider below.
My waking passion for bringing mental health issues has also seen me on prime time TV numerous times, and even speaking in Australian Parliament, on mental health in detention centres, (In particular the Cornelia Rau issue, a mentally ill person who was locked in an Immigration Detention Centre and left undiagnosed for months), and being a consumer representative for SANE Australia's 'Guide for Parliamentary Offices'.
(I am a consumer advocate for SANE Australia, and trained in public speaking for them through NIDA. The purpose being to articulately, sensibly and responsibly promote awareness from the perspective of someone who has gone through an illness.)
It seemed a natural progression to evolve my career into that of an advocate for those with Mental Health issues in my departure from Graphic Design and illustration, and did so as a 'consumer consultant', advocating for over 900 patients for an area wide mental health service here in Melbourne.
I am, even now, after all of my personal and professional experience, more shocked and appalled at the treatment of the mentally ill in this country and abroad, and the poor resources allocated.
'The Truth Teller', aims to counteract this.
The bane of my life involves the knowledge of extreme stigmas and discrimination in terms treating the mentally ill, and I am committed to advocating for adequate government funding to eclipse the need of our citizens mental health, whom to this day, sadly, are subjected to homelessness and drug abuse, are being locked up in jails, (no less detention centres), drugged to the eyeballs, even deported, and too often killing themselves.
Covered up in shame; outcast from mainstream society and left with no real consumer voice.
I once spoke to myself in the street - thought streetlights could talk to me, and for want of a better word, acted 'inappropriately' around people, causing their embarassment and facilitating a shameful reaction.
Look at me now! LETS NOT WASTE THE ENDLESS POTENTIAL OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS!
The diversity of societies inhabitants and their potential is also not addressed, particularly by the psychiatric profession, who's mandate seems quite cold in reducing the symptoms of a patient chemically, until such a time as they will fit more gracefully into employment, and/or society.
On a personal note, I am also a web designer and engage in many multimedia interviews with prominent and not-so-prominent people, create music, traditional and digital art. This will all be part of the process of this multimedia and written project: 'The Truth Teller'.
It promises to be a worldwide multimedia release of epic proportions, followed up with public speaking, advocacy, and performances, and hopefully, change for the good, and the validation and dignity restored to those forgotten people with mental illness.
I anticipate this book to be a highly controversial and blatantly truthful document, facilitating the beginnings of more community and media awareness, that there is something dreadfully wrong, with our ideas on what mental health means to us, and its treatment of such by society, peers, and influential authorities.
Personal philosophy and the creative process will be existentially celebrated in conjunction with pure fact and observation from direct experience.
This will be a book like no other: from a world-celebrated author on his experience with schizophrenia. And as part of the books journey, it is also revealed that I, apparently, in psychiatry's indecision, is offered an alternative diagnosis alltogether...again highlighting the naiivity of a profession 60 years old, and forgetting that the world existed for many years pre-Freud, pre-Stelazine and Zyprexa, and our ancestors had a very different contextual society in which to accept the mentally ill.
I anticipate the finished product to be a must read (and look/listen!), for those with any amount of empathy, creative interest, and certainly for the one in five, that at sometime in their lives, suffer the burden of mental illness.
This book promises to be an extremely personal journey in sound, music, interviews, words, and first hand experience of being employed as a mental health worker, and a consumer, who appreciates 'sanity', and appreciates what it is like to be 'mad'.
Richard McLean.
Ammended: 13/02/06
PS: Any kind donations will definitely assist me to be 'a voice for those who's voice is but a whisper', (quote from friend and fellow consumer).
All donors will be published and thanked, and is appreciated from the bottom of my passionate heart.
You will also assist the rights of one in 5 who will at some time in their lives, endure mental illness, and those that care for them.
Any kind donations will definitely assist me to be 'a voice for those who's voice is but a whisper', (quote from friend and fellow consumer).
All donors will be published and thanked, and is appreciated from the bottom of my passionate heart.
You will also assist the rights of one in 5 who will at some time in their lives, endure mental illness, and those that care for them.
With my warmest wishes for wealth in non-obvious spectrums, and with thanks for reading, your consideration, interest, and support.
Richard McLean.
13/02/06. - PS My rent was due on the 09/02/06 and the first donation yet to come will assist my accommodation to create this project. Please consider.
