** Why aren’t we looking at what other countries are doing to tackle ‘mental health’ problems and suicide numbers and learn from them?? ‘Open dialogue’ is being used in some parts of Ireland but we need to be implementing it mainstream like Jaakko and others have done in Finland. If you ring up feeling suicidal or experiencing severe emotional distress, a support network will come to your house and support you everyday until you feel better, not one that tells you to go to A&E
Here is my interview with one of the developers of 'Open Dialogue' Professor Jaakko Seikkula. The need for revolutionary therapy emerged in Western Lapland, Finland, during the second half of the 20th century, when the region had one of the highest rates of schizophrenia in Europe. Nowadays this is no longer the case, and this change is due mainly to the method used to reverse this situation, 'Open Dialogue'.
What is Open Dialogue?
“Open Dialogue is a way of organising psychiatric services with the aim of helping the patient during a crisis with utmost urgency, working together with the family and other parts of their social network,”
The power of dialogue became evident in the remarkable results when 85 % could return to full employment and over 80 % living without any psychotic experiences at five year follow up. This was reached by minimum use of anti-psychotic medication, in 2/3 of cases none.
Jaakko has mentioned previously that “During the psychotic crisis the patient is more open to sharing his feelings”
I really enjoyed chatting with Professor Seikkula and feel very honoured that he gave up some of his time do to an interview with AnuWay.
