event

Event Archive | Shared Resources (General)

Topic: The Difference Between “Opposite” and “Backward” Medicine
and its Application to Mental Health Treatment (In English)

Date:    Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Time:    5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Please join us for a discussion around “Forward Motion”, “Opposite Motion” and “Backward or Contrary Motion” as well as the psycho-social view of these models.  This session will present some ideas, information, resources for consideration and discussion with the intention of supporting our learning together, encouraging self- and community-empowerment, and affirming or discovering helpful thoughts and practices.

Speaker:

Jimi Kelley’s family is Quapaw and Cherokee from Western and Northeastern Arkansas.  He does outreach, and works with the Native American Community in mental health issues and practices his family’s traditions.  His life’s pursuit has been to see better treatment for Native people.  He is currently employed with NAMI Tennessee, and serves on NAMI National’s American Indian/Alaska Native Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Workgroup.
 
In this presentation we will offer participants the opportunity to discuss:

1. Discuss concepts of “Forward Motion” (the way things are generally done in day-to-day life)
2. Discuss basic concepts of “Opposite Motion” (the way things are done when people are working with the intention of destructive living)
3. Discuss the concepts of “Backward or Contrary Motion” (or people who do things in ways that may be disruptive but not destructive) and how this fits into society.
4. Discuss the psycho-social view of these models as to how they pertain to mental/emotional health, and the kinds of medicine/treatments available in U.S.

Forward Living

1. Basic understanding of life’s function as progressive
2. Respect for community and inclusion of all community members
3. Respect for resources and understanding that they are long-term providers for community survival

Opposite Medicine

1. Based in fear rather than love/harmony
2. Destructive to one’s community
3. Destructive to one’s resources
4. The effects of fear on psychological/emotional well-being
5. The subsequent effects of fear on physical well-being

Backward Medicine

1. Based on humor, love and tolerance
2. Safe method of pointing out community flaws
3. The psycho-spiritual effects of contrast-oriented humor
4. The effects of laughter as treatment for stress, depression, anxiety
5.  Studies on laughter and its improvements to physical health

Questions for Reflection for Personal, Program, and Community Application

1. In terms Forward Living, how do you (and your program, policies, and practices) specifically experience and demonstrate respect for self and others in an inclusive way?
2. How do you understand, use, and appreciate resources in a way that integrates long-term sustainability?
3. How would you know that you and/or your organization is acting from fear? What would you feel, see, hear, sense, intuit, and observe?
4. What impact has fear had on your life, work, progress, and goals?
5. What role does humor and compassion/love play in your life, program and services?
6. How would you know that humor is affirming and playful, and not demeaning? How would you respond to humor when used in demeaning ways?
7. What specific role can laughter and merriment play in your life?
8. What would it look like for you and your program to expand a sense of tolerance and acceptability/integration of individuals who are disruptive but not destructive?
9. How would integrating these ideas and insights make a difference in policies, practices, staffing, your environment, and your/program’s objectives? 

Resources:

1. Muris, Baddon, Merckelbach, Ollendick, and King – Dept. of Medical, Clinical, and Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, Netherlands

2. Study of Israeli citizens with PTSD, Anxiety related to terrorism – Bleich et al. 2003, Inness and Barling 2005, Zeidner 2005.

3. Study of 52 Natural Disaster Survivors and their subsequent psychopathology (Rubonis and Bickman, 1991)

4.  PLIM Report article (available online), May 1993

5. New York Times article (available online), 1970 “Four year old Dies by Dentist”

6.  Dr. Flanders Dunbar study on fear (Book: “Psychosomatics”, Viking Press)

7.  Lee Berk, Loma Linda University, California

8.  Dr. Michael Miller, University of Maryland Medical Center

9.  Dr. Gita Suraj Narayan – Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work and Community Development, Switzerland

10.  Melissa B. Wanzer, EdD, professor of Communication, Buffalo, NY

Audio

Outline

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.