Very succinctly, you have expressed what I wrote far too much text to say!
I do find this to be an area that involves public policy and private misery. There was a bizarre proposal a while back that Job Centre staff would work in doctor's surgeries to help depressed people with job searches. I think that I understand the intent, but I know that I would be very unhappy at the idea of someone having to share their innermost miseries in the presence of someone who was paid to resist engagement and discount all empathy in favour of proffering a job.
My Laughter colleague, Robin Graham, is running a Laughter on Prescription course as a combined Arts NHS offering: it is targetted at people with depression. I'm interested by this because there is a plausible physiological and body bio-chemistry explanation to argue that this might be helpful. But, I supposed that my image of depression is very much a combination of the black dog and the Brollachan - a dark, smothering force that extinguishes all emotion and connection, and would make it difficult to participate in such workshops. I'll write and ask Robin to tell us what his experience is so far.
tonyplant
May 11, 2006 - 09:19Very succinctly, you have expressed what I wrote far too much text to say!
I do find this to be an area that involves public policy and private misery. There was a bizarre proposal a while back that Job Centre staff would work in doctor's surgeries to help depressed people with job searches. I think that I understand the intent, but I know that I would be very unhappy at the idea of someone having to share their innermost miseries in the presence of someone who was paid to resist engagement and discount all empathy in favour of proffering a job.
My Laughter colleague, Robin Graham, is running a Laughter on Prescription course as a combined Arts NHS offering: it is targetted at people with depression. I'm interested by this because there is a plausible physiological and body bio-chemistry explanation to argue that this might be helpful. But, I supposed that my image of depression is very much a combination of the black dog and the Brollachan - a dark, smothering force that extinguishes all emotion and connection, and would make it difficult to participate in such workshops. I'll write and ask Robin to tell us what his experience is so far.
Best -Tony Happystance
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