“HOW WOULD I FEEL IF PEOPLE CALLED ME CHICKEN?”

This is a sequel to our article: https://getgoing.org.uk/rts/2021/01/363/fewer-rights-than-free-range-chickens/

Featured image sourced from: (https://aardman.fandom.com/wiki/Rocky) – 11 Jan 2021

Subtitle: We are not human beings – we are HUMANS BEING!

Once I had a big problem and it was consuming me. I happened to talk to my friend and he just said “Today is yesterday’s tomorrow – think about it.” This statement to me said, “hey it doesn’t matter what has happened yesterday, because today I am making plans for tomorrow and whatever plans I make are going to be changing my life. So my life today should be better because of the those decisions I made yesterday.”

It doesn’t matter if we are slandered, called names, ridiculed and feel when we object, there is no access to redress, or implied you have committed wrongdoing, level the field (like in a football match when they change goals half time), roles are now reversed. If you feel you have had a hard break, that is only yesterday or today. Tomorrow you change goals and live your life how you want it played.

The motto of our site is STAND BACK – SIZE UP THE SITUATION – SOLVE THE PROBLEM!

If you have a problem take yourself out of the situation, have a holiday (or a triple chocolate gateau) make the changes and start your new life tomorrow. And don’t be afraid if they call you “chicken.” I mean Rocky. Thanks Nick!

White board (to be used in breakaway rooms)

The chickens don’t have a way out – only if they stop laying
Job security when hospitalized – Heart surgery hospitalization 2 weeks/Mental hospital treatment 1-3 months.
Is it essential for people to provide a product for society?
Rocky and Ginger (Aardman Animations) got free from captivity!
We know more about chicken’s upkeep than we do about the mentally ill (or anyone)
We are not the same as anyone else – is that good or bad?
Are we allowed to decide what the environment we exist in is like (at least two options)? ¹
We want to be judged on our views and opinions not our circumstances!
Rocky believed he could fly – he had the opportunity and so he flew the coop!
You can’t make institutional decisions for us that take away the opportunity to “fly”
I don’t want to be ignored just because I don’t have the same views as you!
I want to be listened to because I don’t have the same views as you!
It’s not about being mentally ill, it’s about all people!

The purpose of this article is not to blame or badger people to act a certain way. Stigma RTS is an ideas company and we are interested in promoting assertiveness. If you are part of a group or company, use the whiteboard ideas to create discussion within your organization, then put your plan into gear.

If you are an individual try to think about decisions you have made previously about yourself or others. If you come up with a better idea than us please use our contact form to send us your ideas so we can include them in future projects. If you have an article you have been thinking of writing please send a copy of it to stigmaticket@gmail.com. We can post it on the site for you.

If you like our site you can write a Google review for us on reversingthestigma.business.site and sign up for our newsletter on the homepage getgoing.org.uk/rts.

---

¹From research that the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) undertook in 2012, which included a “REPORT ON TREATMENT AND SUPPORT FOR DEPRESSION” (https://www.samh.org.uk/documents/Decisions_were_made_about_me.pdf) – Sourced 11 Jan 2021

“There were 281 people who completed the survey. 74 percent were female and 24 percent male. Respondents had to be over 16 years old, living in Scotland and have received or been referred for treatment for depression within the last two years. In this new report, we decided to specifically focus on depression due its prevalence, and in acknowledgement of the fact that people’s experiences of being prescribed treatment can vary depending on their mental health problem.

“Key Findings: In total, 281 people completed the survey and 12 people took part in focus groups. The research found that almost half of respondents (48%) were not referred to a psychological therapy. Additionally almost half of respondents who were prescribed an antidepressant (49%) were not referred to a psychological therapy, despite medical guidance advising that antidepressants should be prescribed alongside a psychological therapy. Most respondents (68%) had been treated for depression for over two years. The research found that respondents who were happier with their level of involvement in decision making about their treatment and support were more likely to be satisfied with their treatment. This is important because we know that people who have higher levels of treatment satisfaction are more likely to benefit from it. However, over a third of respondents to SAMH’s survey (36%) were unhappy with their level of involvement. The findings give some insight into the barriers to involvement in decision making. For example, 46% of respondents were not given treatment options; almost a third (32%) did not feel well informed; and around a quarter (24%) did not feel like their doctor understood them.” (https://www.samh.org.uk/documents/Decisions_were_made_about_me.pdf) – Sourced 11 Jan 2021

There is an alarming continuity about the SAMH study. Chickens in the previous article (https://getgoing.org.uk/rts/2021/01/363/fewer-rights-than-free-range-chickens/) were not able to respond, but were checked by ASDA to see if their living conditions were adequate. However the study participants from the SAMH felt that though they can respond to treatment options “46 percent were not given treatment options.” An option must by definition include at least 2 alternatives.

---

---

Ideas for discussion:
1. Why must my rights be compared to chicken’s rights? But I’m not a chicken – I’m a human.
2. I want to decide how I want to be treated today, and I want to decide tomorrow how I want to be treated tomorrow.
3. Everyone is the same – because we’re all different!
4. If you were arrested for doing what you think is right – what would you like to be arrested for?