Thread by @rcpsych

Kickstarting our final day we have a talk on: How to make friends and influence people:A psychiatrists guide to lobbying and campaigning with Dr Jon Goldin - @DrJonGoldin, Sir Norman Lamb - @normanlamb, Luciana Berger - @lucianaberger and Dr Ben Spencer - @DrBenSpencer #RCPsychIC

We had some technical issues - apologies - we are back!

Raising an issue with a politician: @normanlamb - If you are communicating - politicians won't understand complex psychiatry language keep it succinct and clear communicative language #RCPsychIC

Luciana says when raising an issue with a politician is to: "Keeping it simple sweetheart"

Dr Jon Goldin says about contacting your MP "hugely satisfying and worthwhile thing to do"

#RCPsychIC @lucianaberger @DrJonGoldin

Jon Goldin @DrJonGoldin : Have we reached parity of esteem?

Norman Lamb @normanlamb : No we are not there yet, we have made a lot of progress but still got a long way to go in terms of negativity surrounding acute mental illness

#RCPsychIC

"We still have laws that discriminate directly against significant mental ill-health e.g. some countries won't allow marriage, or buying a property" - @normanlamb

#ChangeNeeded #RCPsychIC

Luciana @lucianaberger Here we are in 2021 we still don't consider mental health the same as physical health. How do we close that gap and achieve parity of esteem?

#RCPsychIC

How do we know when we have reached parity of esteem?

Dr Ben Spencer @DrBenSpencer We need to measure it.

#RCPsychIC

Dr Jon Goldin @DrJonGoldin Has there been real improvements in care?

Sir Norman Lamb @normanlamb There have been great improvements but we shouldn't say we have cracked it

Length of stay from one trust to another can be significant, we can't compare apples with pears but if we are able to reduce the length of stay with consistent good practice you can free up beds and resources to support people better. @normanlamb

#RCPsychIC

Campaigning has been ongoing regarding - "Conversion practices: this should have no place in a modern society"

@normanlamb #RCPsychIC #ConversionTherapy

Dr Jon Goldin @DrJonGoldin : any bad examples where someone has missed the mark?

@DrBenSpencer "Amusing emails where people say, Dear Ben, I'm sure you know nothing about mental health...I can put a good response back in terms of what I do"

Such an interesting and informative discussion from
Dr Jon Goldin - @DrJonGoldin, Sir Norman Lamb - @normanlamb, Luciana Berger - @lucianaberger and Dr Ben Spencer - @DrBenSpencer

Thank you so much

#RCPsychIC