What maybe doesn’t come through in the interview is that these mutual aid networks are meant to provide the support (including material support) that might be prerequisite for participation in those networks in the way you describe.
When I first started going to AA, I had no access to money, was physically and mentally incapacitated to th…
What maybe doesn’t come through in the interview is that these mutual aid networks are meant to provide the support (including material support) that might be prerequisite for participation in those networks in the way you describe.
When I first started going to AA, I had no access to money, was physically and mentally incapacitated to the point of disability. The community there provided a great deal more than just meetings: transportation, housing assistance, etc. and AA is far less holistic in its mandate than the networks I’m describing.
It’s not just about meetings and supportive conversations, it’s about directing resources to where they are needed, especially in situations where individuals find themselves estranged from government or familial supports.
This exists already in many places, I’m advocating for its popularization and validity in the eyes of professionals in related fields and service sectors.
Both you and Jaqui make valid points about how difficult this type of work is. But you have to start somewhere. I hope you learn a lot from this venture you have created and change the way that the public view and use drugs to respond to various conditions. People need to feel less passive and more empowered about how to change what they are taking, and more informed and aware of what PROs and CONs are in play when they try a new medication, to prevent a culture of dependency. However, autonomy is a tricky area with severe mental health conditions.
but your wife did, if i recall the profile rachel aviv wrote correctly, and lots of people on this path do. if you want to talk about what is possible, again, money is part of it. a big part of it. WHOSE money, from WHERE, to WHOM, distributed HOW, under what CONDITIONS? all
also, in your example about your own experience, it DID take money, it was just other people’s. which is ok! which is mutual aid! but it wasn’t guaranteed and not every meeting has people with the financial resources who can and will help people.
What maybe doesn’t come through in the interview is that these mutual aid networks are meant to provide the support (including material support) that might be prerequisite for participation in those networks in the way you describe.
When I first started going to AA, I had no access to money, was physically and mentally incapacitated to the point of disability. The community there provided a great deal more than just meetings: transportation, housing assistance, etc. and AA is far less holistic in its mandate than the networks I’m describing.
It’s not just about meetings and supportive conversations, it’s about directing resources to where they are needed, especially in situations where individuals find themselves estranged from government or familial supports.
This exists already in many places, I’m advocating for its popularization and validity in the eyes of professionals in related fields and service sectors.
Both you and Jaqui make valid points about how difficult this type of work is. But you have to start somewhere. I hope you learn a lot from this venture you have created and change the way that the public view and use drugs to respond to various conditions. People need to feel less passive and more empowered about how to change what they are taking, and more informed and aware of what PROs and CONs are in play when they try a new medication, to prevent a culture of dependency. However, autonomy is a tricky area with severe mental health conditions.
but your wife did, if i recall the profile rachel aviv wrote correctly, and lots of people on this path do. if you want to talk about what is possible, again, money is part of it. a big part of it. WHOSE money, from WHERE, to WHOM, distributed HOW, under what CONDITIONS? all
of this matters.
also, in your example about your own experience, it DID take money, it was just other people’s. which is ok! which is mutual aid! but it wasn’t guaranteed and not every meeting has people with the financial resources who can and will help people.