Theme of August meeting was recovery. Small groups discussed the theme; some people talked about personal experience of distress others discussed professional experience of working with people in distress. Recovery experiences and strategies were also discussed. Meeting agreed on madness and creativity as September’s theme.

• Presentation by Ron Coleman on his experiences of his recovery journey and his aspiration

to provide acute services.

• Sandra Escher presented on self-harm introducing a new approach similar to that devised

for voice hearing inc. a structured interview.

• Sam Warner explored how mental health activists can learn from the women’s movement.

She also criticised AA and NA approaches as they focus on illness rather than strength.

• Rufus May presented the importance of making madness visible and reclaiming language

and ownership of experience.

• An Austrian psychiatrist highlighted the importance of time in life.

• There was a high level of energy and involvement at the conference.

Robin Hanau gave a short presentation on madness and creativity including covering a range of areas from Aspergers syndrome to questioning whether medication may channel creativity rather than suppress it. Points raised in the discussion included: recreating yourself after distress or breakdown; creativity as challenge (eg the theatre of the oppressed); challenging the creative aspects of capitalism creatively; visual arts, meditation and other ways of being creative; creativity is in the eye of the beholder; stifling influence of mental health services; glamorisation of madness and voyeurism; need for safe spaces in which to create; not being allowed to be creative about managing your own distress; " symptoms" as creative solutions to impossible situations.; creativity is anything that gives you a buzz; services not very creative.