The Locked up Living Podcast: Surviving and thriving in prisons and other challenging environments

John Adlam and Chris Scanlon. Psycho-Social explorations of Trauma, Exclusion and Vilence

Today's conversation is with Chris Scanlon and John Adlam. Chris and John are both psychotherapists and they worked together at the Henderson Hospital which was sadly and unjustly defunded in 2008. They prefer to think of themselves as working and thinking as inter-professional and trans-disciplinary. They have worked together for about twenty years and written a number of papers around the theme of the unhoused mind. In 2022 they published the highly praised book ‘Psycho-Social Explorations of Trauma, Exclusion and Violence: Un-housed Minds and Inhospitable Environments’
Christopher Scanlon is a psycho-social consultant/researcher and consultant psychotherapist in forensic and adult mental health. He is a training group analyst and the Institute of Group Analysis and the Irish Group Analytic Society, and founder member of the Association for Psychosocial Studies.
John Adlam is a group psychotherapist and independent researcher, working mainly in the National Health Service, UK. He is a founder member of the Association for Psychosocial Studies and a former Vice President of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.
 
https://www.routledge.com/Psycho-social-Explorations-of-Trauma-Exclusion-and-Violence-Un-housed/Scanlon-Adlam/p/book/9780367893316
Key points from the conversation.
1. The conversation is focused on themes from a book that explores social, political, and individual dynamics.
2. The authors emphasize the use of parable, storytelling, poetry, myth, and allegory to convey their ideas.
3. They discuss the need to avoid using other people's stories and instead focus on lived experiences and conversations.
4. The conversation touches on the current state of ruling powers and the potential for a depressing exploration of societal issues.
5. The authors discuss the benefits of working together on projects and the importance of collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches.
6. They mention the need for psychologists and psychotherapists to engage more with the world outside of their consulting rooms and to work together with other professionals.
7. The authors express a sense of passion and hope in addressing societal issues, despite the potential for suffering.
8. The conversation concludes by highlighting the rewarding nature of the book and the depth of its ideas.

Kym Staton, Filmaker; on the tregedy and injustice of Julian Assange prosecution.

This conversation features award winning film director Kim Staten, who's based in Australia. Kim has devoted nine years to the documentary industry.
He's the founder and director of Films4Change, an educational enterprise that's been operating since 2014. And initially Films4Change was a hybrid distributor bringing live in person cinema screenings. of documentary films to 90, 90 cities across the world, including Australia, New Zealand, New Zealand, the UK and America.
During the pandemic, Films4Change evolved into streaming with their platform, Films4Change.stream, launching in May 2020. (https://filmsforchange.stream/)  In 2021, Kim put himself behind a camera and a pen and he lends his highly trained eye for subject interpretation and narrative to direct his first documentary. The Trust Fall, includes eight animations and 23 interviews with Kim directing, co producing and writing the powerful narration for the film. (https://www.cinemanova.com.au/films/mdff-trust-fall-julian-assange-the)
This powerful film has won various awards and continues to be shown in festivals all around the world as it gears up for cinema release. We have watched quite a few films about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks and whilst most made us feel predominantly very angry, The striking thing about this film was it also made us feel deeply sad.
Key points from the conversation;
The film discusses the mistreatment and violation of due process in Julian Assange's case, including manipulation of evidence. - The film includes animation to provide a brief overview of the history of free speech. - WikiLeaks is known for publishing accurate and thoroughly researched documents. - The filmmaker reached out to various individuals, including John Shipton, Daniel Ellsberg, Tariq Ali, Nils Melzer, and John Pilger, to be interviewed for the film. - The film focuses on the treatment of Julian Assange and the decline of press freedom. - The filmmaker wanted to explore the reasons behind Julian Assange's persecution and the lessons to be learned from his exposures. - The accusations of rape against Julian Assange were seen as a way to destroy his character. - The plan to destroy Julian Assange and WikiLeaks involved a team of individuals assigned to the task.
 
The United States has played a significant role in various aspects discussed. Here are some key points:
The United States has been at war for a significant portion of its existence, with 235 out of 247 years being marked by war.
The U.S. has been responsible for 20 million deaths, although it is not specified in what context or time period.
The U.S. has 750 overseas military bases, indicating its global military presence.
The film highlights the shocking figures related to the Iraq war, including three million deaths (with 80% being civilians), five million orphans, and nine million refugees.
The film also features footage of unarmed civilians being murdered by American forces, which is described as a war crime and embarrassing for the U.S. government.
The U.S. government is implicated in the plan to destroy Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, with evidence of a task force assigned to this purpose.
The U.S. government is accused of covering up the truth about the killing of civilians in New Baghdad in 2007, where Reuters journalists were mistaken for carrying weapons and were shot down.
The document does not provide a comprehensive overview of the United States' involvement in various global events or its foreign policy. It focuses on specific aspects related to war, military presence, and the treatment of Julian Assange.

Joseph Davies talks about food, our insatiable desires and how obesity impacts our mental health and forensic populations.

Dr Joe Davies, Chartered Psychologist, and lecturer in Applied Psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Joe’s research primarily explores the causes and consequences of obesity within secure psychiatric inpatient services. Following his PhD, Joe worked for the National Collaborative Commissioning Unit of NHS Wales on Welsh Government commissioned projects aimed at improving care for secure inpatients, subsequently publishing the national review of secure inpatient services: Making Days Count. (See main points of the conversation below)
Weight Gain is Not Associated with Antipsychotic Medication, Sociodemographic Factors, or Diagnosis in a Welsh Secure Mental Health Unit (tandfonline.com)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6011-8591
 
Main points from conversation,
- The conversation is about the issue of weight gain and obesity in forensic health and prison settings. - We discuss the lack of data on whether going to prison or hospital leads to weight gain or weight loss. - The importance of interviewing patients to understand their experiences and perspectives is emphasized. - We mention the potential link between overeating and trauma as a way of protecting oneself. - Attentional bias, where individuals pay more attention to salient stimuli, is discussed as a potential factor in weight gain. - The lack of integrated physical health care in forensic settings is highlighted. - The need for better nutrition and healthier behavior in prisons is mentioned. - The importance of patient involvement in shaping policy and improving care is emphasized. - The complex interaction of various factors contributing to weight gain is acknowledged. - The lack of input from nutritionists in forensic settings is mentioned. - We highlight the need for more research and awareness to bring about lasting change in addressing weight gain and obesity in forensic health and prison settings.

Eileen Chubb, carer and whistleblower, describes the tribulations of facing up to abusive power in social care.

See the main points at the bottom.
Eileen is one of the BUPA7 whistleblowers, the first case to use uk whistleblowing law. As a result of her experiences She founded the charity 'Compassion in Care' to help protect vulnerable elderly people and whistleblowers. They have to date supported13k whistleblowers and  9k families of abuse victims. Eileen has written three books
'Dismantling the façade'
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1915643910/ref=syn_sd_onsite_desktop_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pf_rd_p=9063114e-563d-44f5-8cdc-badd8f379876&pf_rd_r=DWTEV4066KWQTGC0G10S&pd_rd_wg=QgaS0&pd_rd_w=0w3JF&pd_rd_r=22971bf0-50ce-4f52-9d8e-cccdba5ee61a
There is no me in whistleblower, the case for Edna’s Law
https://www.amazon.co.uk/THERE-NO-ME-WHISTLEBLOWER-TWO-ebook/dp/B084X7W89B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KED63MHR2HLS&keywords=There+is+no+me+in+whistleblower+eileen+chubb&qid=1688138105&s=books&sprefix=there+is+no+me+in+whistleblower+eileen+chubb%2Cstripbooks%2C76&sr=1-1
 
 
They also have a petition for Edna’s law https://www.change.org/p/protect-the-protectors-with-edna-s-law-need-one-law-for-all-whistleblowers-ednaslaw-whistleblowing
 
Their website www.compassionincare.com has extensive information on both whistleblowing and abuse of vulnerable people.
 
Their most recent reports include abuse of LGBTQ elders. How the proposed whistleblowing law is currently being dictated by those with financial interests in exploiting whistleblowers. This is a small sample of their work.
https://compassionincare.com/news/stripped-of-pride/
https://compassionincare.com/news/democracy-what-vested-interest-cash-buys/
https://compassionincare.com/news/no-owb-our-letter-to-the-prime-minister/
 
They also founded https://www.thewhistler.org/ for whistleblowers from all other sectors.
 
Main points from the conversation
 
Eileen and six other whistleblowers witnessed abuse in a care home.
They reported the abuse to their manager, who told them to gather evidence.
Eileen believed that reporting the abuse would save lives. But she found that reporting alone did not bring change.
She initially felt alone and isolated in their fight against the abuse.
The experience transformed Eileen into an outspoken advocate for justice.
Eileen believes that whistleblowers should be compensated for the loss of trust they experience.
She learned about the justice system through reading "The Rule of Law" by Tom Bingham.
Eileen criticizes the way whistleblowers are treated differently based on the sector they work in.
The inquiry report that supported the whistleblowers' claims was initially suppressed by Bupa.
The head of Bupa care homes denied the allegations and called the whistleblowers liars.
Eileen and the other whistleblowers had to go to the media to expose the abuse.
The abuse allegations were supported by evidence and independent reports.
Eileen found fulfillment in caring for patients with dementia.
Eileen highlights the difference in whistleblower protection between the US and the UK.
In the US, whistleblowers can receive financial rewards, while in the UK, they may only get their job back.
Eileen acknowledges the importance of a courageous individual who released the suppressed report in court.
Bupa hid abusers in other care homes, and the whistleblowers conducted surveillance to gather evidence.

Julian Reid: Exploring Addiction and Recovery

 
In this episode, we hear from Julian Conor Reid, an NHS drug and alcohol recovery worker at HMP Grendan. Julian shares his personal journey of addiction and recovery, highlighting how his own experiences have shaped his career path. He discusses the challenges of alcoholism and the inability to control or moderate drinking. Julian's story offers valuable insights into the world of addiction and the importance of recovery. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of addiction and the work being done in custodial environments to support individuals on their recovery journey.
TIMESTAMPS[00:01:04] Julian's journey
[00:07:22] Addiction and its definition.
[00:08:16] Addiction ahead of other areas.
[00:13:59] Advantage of having a lived experience.
[00:23:32] Limitations/vulnerabilities of having had a lived experience.
[00:28:04] Substance abuse/addiction in prisoners
[00:31:32] Effects of custodial period in addicts
[00:33:59] Environmental effects on addicts
[00:37:02] Toxic compassion in the recovery process
[00:40:35] Application of lived experience in other addict fields.
[00:45:39] Spiritual prominence in addicts.
[00:53:55] Keeping yourself emotionally nourished
RESOURCES MENTIONED12 Step recovery movement
Connect with Jullian Reid on LinkedInConnect with Dr. Naomi Murphy on LinkedInConnect with David Jones on Linkedin
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165. Gael Cochrane and David Russell: Can Restorative Justice work with people who sexually offend?

See show highlights below.
 
David Russell is Community Safety & Justice Manager at Midlothian Council and the lead for the development of Restorative Justice. Prior to this he was a senior practitioner with Barnardo's specialising in work with children and young people with harmful sexual behaviour and / or who had experienced sexual abuse or exploitation. David has extensive experience in providing assessments and interventions for vulnerable children, adolescents and adults within the field of sexual harm and
violence and has also worked in custodial settings. David provides training independently on a range of themes about sexual violence and has facilitated multi-disciplinary training internationally. He currently sits on the NOTA Scotland executive committee and is the chair of the Community Justice Scotland network. He is also the chair of the national advisory panel for the third sector organisation, Thriving Survivors in which he supports the practice and development of restorative justice in cases of sexual harm.
Gael Cochrane is a Learning Development and Innovation Lead for Community Justice Scotland, tasked with driving learning through innovation. Gael focuses on the design and delivery of world-class training and professional development in collaboration with justice sector partners and the wider Scottish workforce.
 
The researchers found that reading and transcribing content related to sexual harm had a significant impact on them emotionally.
They emphasized the importance of maintaining a non-biased approach and outlining the goals and objectives of their research.
The researchers acknowledged the consuming nature of their work and the need for a balance and a switch-off point.
They discussed the high levels of self-disclosure and the significance of understanding the psychosexual development of individuals involved in restorative justice.
The researchers highlighted the need for well-trained facilitators and a better understanding of the nature of sexual harm for organizations working with victims.
They emphasized that sexual harm is not a homogeneous issue and that different cases require different approaches.
The researchers found that the majority of the men interviewed took responsibility for the harm they caused and had a good understanding of restorative justice.
They mentioned the challenges of justifying their work, particularly in the face of criticism from feminists.
The researchers emphasized their motivation to prevent future harm and improve the lives of individuals involved in sexual harm.
They discussed the importance of debriefing and having a safe space to express emotions, as well as the need to switch off and engage in other activities for self-care.

164. Harry Maguire: Restorative justice in Northern Ireland.

See the conversation highlights at the bottom
Harry Maguire was the Director of Community Restorative Justice Ireland from 2011-2022. He has a long record in peace work since being released from prison in 1998. A Republican ex-prisoner Harry has spent 25yrs working on peace building projects across Belfast, from Chairing Interaction Belfast a cross community interface project through to spearheading engagement between Nationalist communities and the Criminal Justice System.
The work of developing restorative justice and community safety projects has been the focus of his work for 24yrs. Harry is an accredited restorative practitioner, trainer and facilitator. He is an experienced mediator and has worked with all the agencies that compromise the CJS. Harry views the building of positive working relationships based on mutual respect as key to advancement for communities who wish to have a say on all matters criminal justice.
Harry also chaired the first West Belfast Community Safety Forum, an important and valuable project that was the first opportunity for Community and the CJS to collectively engage across a range of issues. Harry has also sat on the Principle PCSP and the RJ Forum NI.
Harry has travelled the length and breadth of these islands presenting the lessons learned from his experience in developing RJ projects to a wide and varied audience. From communities in need, Criminal Justice Agencies and academia, all have been able to avail of the knowledge gained. This has been  so of the international community who watch and learn from the work of the community based restorative justice programmes in the north.
 
1. Community Restorative Justice Ireland is involved in restorative justice and restorative practice.
2. They work in communities affected by conflict and violence.
3. They aim to address the underlying issues and not just the presenting issue.
4. They believe in involving the community and individuals in finding solutions.
5. They have seen positive outcomes and resolution through their work.
6. They advocate for strategic approaches and early intervention.
7. They have expanded their work to different areas.
8. They emphasize the importance of understanding the drivers and dynamics of conflict.
9. They believe in teaching conflict resolution skills from a young age.
10. They have worked with both Catholic and Protestant communities.
11. They faced challenges in engaging with the police due to the legacy of conflict.
12. They believe in addressing antisocial behavior, crime, and criminality in the community.
13. They mention violent responses to crime, including executions and beatings.
14. They believe in finding non-violent and dialogue-based solutions.

163. Jan Rosenthal:How does a career in elite sport impact on well-being?

It is not often that we get to talk to an elite sportsperson (Tanni Grey Thompson excepted) but Jan Rosenthal, midfield giant from the German League talks about his life on the field, the culture enveloping elite and yound players and the challenges of an empty life after retirement or career failure. Jan talks about his own work in helping players and others in making these adjustments. Jan is also notable for being a rare example of an outfield player in a major league, saving a penalty. He didn't even boast about this when I mentioned Wolfsburg in the convesation.
https://gfycat.com/plaintiverawjoey-goalkeeperhighlights
Today’s guest is Jan Rosenthal who is a former professional football player and has played for German First League Clubs like Hannover 96, SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.He’s now 37 years old and lives with two kids with the age of 4 and 6 in Oldenburg, Northern Germany.Jan was described by Jonathan Harding as being “ahead of your time’. He writes “The youngster who swapped the German countryside for Hannover’s academy was one of Germany’s rising stars but his love for the game wained the longer he was in it.Football demanded so much of him that there was little room for anything else. And he previously said of hisr footballing career: “Every day you’re physically in the fight or flight mechanism. So much happens unconsciously that there’s no space to find a way through,” Today, Jan is trying to work with individuals and clubs to make sure players have the space and time during their career that he never had in order to deal with feelings that impact both their lives and performance.

162. Tamara Cherry: Ethical journalism and Trauma

 
Welcome back to Locked Up Living Podcast, Today we are joined by Tamara Cherry, who's a trauma researcher, author, and communications consultant who spent the bulk of her career as an award-winning crime reporter in some of Canada's largest newsrooms, including the Toronto Star, the Toronto Sun, and CTV News Toronto. In 2019, she left journalism to launch Pick Up Communications, a public relations firm that supports trauma survivors and relevant stakeholders. She is also the author of the Trauma Beat, a case for rethinking the business of bad news, where she draws on the experiences of more than a hundred trauma survivors from homicides to traffic fatalities, sexual violence, to mass violence as she reflects on all the way she gets things wrong as a crime reporter when she thought she was getting them right.
TIMESTAMPS[02:09] Tamara’s background[06:14] Balancing needs of the public, organization & subject of the story[09:45] Good intentions aren't enough [11:34] There's no too young in dancing[15:04] Do the emotional stories bring about change?[24:52] What journalists see on screens[31:00] Difference between hourly news vs 24-hour news[40:19] Why aren't more journalists talking about this issue?[43:51] Less empathetic journalists, what does that mean for news[47:48] About Tamara's PR company[50:24] How Tamara looks after herself[54:01] Self-support program for journalists
RESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Trauma Beat: A Case for Re-Thinking the Business of Bad News
Connect with Tamara Cherry on LinkedInConnect with Dr. Naomi Murphy on LinkedInConnect with David Jones on Linkedin
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161, Jens Binder: Causes and Consequences of online radicalisation.

Jens is a psychologist working in collaboration with HMPPS to understand online radicalisation.
'One of the more sobering findings is the prevalence of mental health issues (in the widest sense) among those labelled as radicalised extremists. Prevalence is quite high, and it is highest among those who got radicalised through online influences. And, as many have expected, autism spectrum condition is at the top of the list, but is by no means the only entry.'
Jens is Associate Professor of Psychology and a member of the Department of Psychology in the School of Social Sciences.
Jens is currently course leader for the MSc Cyberpsychology. In the past, he has been a course leader at the UG level and an Associate Course Leader for the Professional Doctorate in Forensic Psychology. His teaching focuses on Social Psychology and Cyberpsychology. He also regularly supervises 3rd year dissertations, Masters projects and PhD-level projects.
 
Jens studied at the Universities of Tuebingen, Germany and Massachusetts, US. He completed his doctoral work in 2005 in the area of small group decision-making and negotiation under the supervision of Michael Diehl.