2009 Susan Mitchell
“In Every One: a psychiatrist’s reflections on spirituality.”
Susan Mitchell considers the spiritual dimension in mental health care and the benefits of attending to this. In this lecture she discusses the relationship between stress and vulnerability and how stress vulnerability models of disorder can incorporate a spiritual dimension. There are examples of a humane, ‘spiritually attentive’ approach with reference to the Retreat’s part in the development of humane mental health care. The lecture concludes with some thoughts about how all mental health staff might be helped to have a better understanding of meeting spiritual needs.
Susan Mitchell is a retired general and rehabilitation psychiatrist, latterly the Medical Director of the Retreat (York) where she worked with people with severe psychosis in what was called the complex mental health recovery unit.
The full text of Susan’s lecture can be viewed or downloaded here.
2011 Christopher Holman
“Friendship, Community and Mental Health”
Chris Holman's lecture explores the relationship between the individual and society. He suggests it is a dynamic, two-way process. To achieve a sense of wellbeing and optimal mental health, each of us need to feel engaged with and have an active participation in the Community of which we are part. There is a problem, however: those of us who are able may build our own sense of Community from which we can derive our well- being; those who are struggling may not, and their exclusion will damage their well-being.
Chris Holman was a Consultant Psychiatrist at The Retreat, York, for 20 years, and Medical Director from 2010 to 2014. His interest was focused on psychiatry as a social discipline, particularly in Therapeutic Communities and Group Therapies, and also in the role The Retreat played in the evolution of psychiatry as a discipline.
The full text of Chris’s lecture can be viewed or downloaded here.
2014 Jane Muers
‘Friends, meet together and know one another in that which is eternal’
In this lecture Jane Muers looks at some ways in which mental health issues show in relationships and how those relationships are affected. She considers some aspects of the work of The Retreat before looking at positive aspects of relationships which can be emphasised in communities such as Quaker Meetings, especially when the meeting is living with mental health issues.
Jane Muers was a Clinical Psychologist with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust until her retirement in 2014. She also served as a Trustee at the Retreat (York) from 2011-2017. Jane was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Rugby, Warwickshire including contributions to chaplaincy across the community, supporting Rugby prison, and the local Alzheimer's and dementia networks. It was also in recognition of her role within the Quaker community.
The full text of Jane’s lecture can be viewed or downloaded here.
2017 Bronwen Gray
“Spirituality, Hope and Community”
This lecture is about spirituality, hope and community and the implications for Quakers today. Based on her experience as the Quaker chaplain at The Retreat, Bronwen Gray concludes that perhaps there is an increased opportunity, and need, for people such as Quakers to become engaged in spiritual care, whether voluntarily or paid, in mental health or other areas, as individuals or within wider movements of people.
Bronwen Gray is an experienced, committed and creative chaplain with a passion for providing inclusive spiritual care to people of any faith or of none.
The full text of Bronwen’s lecture can be viewed or downloaded here.
2021 Alison Mitchell
“Faith, hope and love: equality, truth and privilege in mental health”
Drawing on her experience as a social worker, and sharing her personal story, Alison Mitchell looks at the social causes of mental health problems. She asks “Is good mental health a privilege?” Privilege is the benefits that come to you from the accidents of birth – your body, your family, the way you’re brought up, the society you live in – your race, your class, your sexuality, your gender, the opportunities you have – the advantages that are down to luck rather than to hard work. Is good mental health another advantage that is down to luck?
Alison Mitchell has been a Quaker for many years, and worked with people who have problems with their mental health for even longer. This included five years working for the Quaker Mental Health Fund as Mental Health Development Officer. Alison is now retired - still involved with Quakers and still involved in mental health.
The full text of Alison's lecture can be viewed or downloaded here.