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A proposal to establish a Scottish Hearing Voices Network National Office and Support Service

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You can click on the red coloured headings and this will take you straight to the section of the report you want to read, otherwise please continue reading

1. Introduction:

2. Issues and Needs

3. Responses

4. The National Support Service:

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1. Introduction

This is a proposal to establish a national office for the Scottish Hearing Voices Network (SHVN) that has been drafted by members of the SHVN Steering Group and the coordinator of INTERVOICE. It is based on thinking and work carried out by the SHVN over the last few years.

The objective of this plan is to identify the means of establishing a strong presence of hearing voices initiatives throughout Scotland supported by a national SHVN office.

This consultation will assist the SHVN to strengthen this plan that will then be be used to negotiate with funding bodies

The 3 month consultation process will start on the 5th July 2008.

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2. Issues and needs:

2.1 People who hear voices, like other groups with specific needs and issues can be regarded as a community of interest, not defined by their location on a map, by profession or by socio-economic status. Voice hearers are scattered all over the country, and come from many walks of life. The definition comes out of their specific issue or need arising from hearing voices, making them a broad-based "community of interest".

2.2 People who hear voices experience social exclusion and marginalisation through issues such as their medical diagnoses, behaviour and in some case the consequences of their social and economic position. For instance periodic incapacitation leads to unemployment, low income status and social exclusion. The consequences of social exclusion are in themselves damaging to self esteem and bad for mental health

2.3 Voice hearers who are overwhelmed by their voices are often surrounded by professionals, who protect, make judgements and decisions about their lives leading in some cases to passivity and loss of self-direction

2.4 Many voice hearers do not talk leading to invisibility and isolation from other ´Voice Hearers’.

2.5 There is a social stigma attached to hearing voices, arising from the lack of knowledge and understanding by the wider community of voice hearing. This lack of knowledge leads to mistrust and to further isolation for some voice hearers.

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3. Responses

3.1 Our work will be positioned outside of psychiatry:

1. Public meetings, conferences and self-help groups are held as much as possible in non-medical settings

2. We will organise as a network not as a hierarchical organisation.

3.2 We will develop, support and establish self help groups: Because self help groups have been one of the most successful ways to open up discussion about hearing voices, we believe a safe place to talk about voices is important in a society that stigmatises the experience and that has resulted in many voice hearers have to keep silent about their experiences.

3.3 Self help groups can reduce the isolation that people feel and it can be very helpful to talk to other people who share your experience. In England there are over 150 self help groups where voice hearers meet regularly to share their experiences and to learn more about how to cope with their voices. Self-help groups “ideally” meet in the community, led by voice hearers

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4. The National Office and Support Service:

These are our aims and objectives for the support service:

Our Aims:

1. Bring together people who hear voices

2. Increase involvement of people who hear voices in the Scottish Hearing Voices Network

3. Improve the quality of life of people who hear voices

4. Address the isolation and withdrawal of people who hear voices

5. Build a sense of community (based on the common interests of people who hear voices)

6. Support individual people who hear voices

7. Support existing self help groups and the development of new groups

Our Objectives:

What will we do?

1. Involve voice hearers across Scotland in the work of the SHVN

2. Help self help groups and local networks to become better organised

3. Establish an interactive website to allow people to share coping strategies, stories, etc.

4. Hold an annual conference

5. Employ 2 workers (1 expert by experience and 1 expert by profession)

6. Provide training and support to self help group facilitators and to other people working with voice hearers

How will we do this?

1. By producing a business plan to enable SHVN to apply for funding for a national office and workers to provide organising support for the network

2. Build skills and capacity for participation and involvement by individual voice hearers including through this consultation

Why do we need a national office?

1.To increase the support to individual voice hearers throughout Scotland, including quantity and quality of mutual support available

2.To reduce the isolation of voice hearers in remote areas

3.To establish support structures to assist local groups to be set up and establish themselves and to support existing and new self help groups:

What will the national office do?

This project intends to develop a National Office for the SHVN staffed by two workers providing a support service to complement and to extend the work of the network

We will seek to help people better understand and cope with their voice hearing experiences by developing new ways for people to participate and work together as experts of experience.

This project will marry the best of “traditional” and “virtual” community development methods and techniques to enable the strengthening and expansion of the SHVN

We believe that by harnessing both the power of traditional community work and by using the internet we can reach more people who hear voices in need of support and further enhance the work of the SHVN by strengthening the self help and peer support groups that operate in Scotland.

The project will help extend the reach and increase the effectiveness of the organisation in delivering low-cost support services. This will be achieved by developing ways of working that emphasise collaboration, mutual support and the sharing of ideas and resources.

Specifically we aim to do the following:

Participation: Establishing an on-line community to provide additional support and information to members between meetings, thereby increasing member participation and strengthening the links between existing self help and peer support groups

Support: Increasing the level and quality of support provided by groups by providing mentoring and training to group facilitators. Mentoring will enable the skills and knowledge of experienced facilitators to be passed on to new facilitators

Development: Providing the means to develop further self help groups (including on-line groups) in areas where no such support exists, particularly in rural communities, by helping to draw together isolated voice hearers and supporting mental health workers

We will undertake the following:

Community based work will include:

Increasing the level of support available from the national office to the membership by employing two workers (ideally one expert by experience and one expert by profession)

Supporting, establishing and further developing self-help groups across Scotland

Increasing the membership of the Network and providing services such as a regular newsletter, information services, publications

Training services:
For Self Help Group facilitators and providing for their ongoing mentoring and support
For training trainers

Mentoring

Outreach services

Holding an Annual National Conference

Establishing a Recovery Consultancy Service

Establishing an Experience Focus Counselling Service

On-line work will include:

Develop of an on-line community centred on the SHVN which includes the following:

Peer to peer on-line telephony (e.g. Skype, MSN etc.), to enable no cost/low cost regular one-to-one “mentoring” support for group facilitators and members of the groups;

On-line conference calls to enable ongoing support between members of real time support groups
– and
to assist in the development of new groups by bringing together potential members to discuss and plan establishing new groups

Instant chat-rooms to provide moderated live text based discussions between memberships of different self help groups and between self help group members, workers and carers

Establish a national on-line forum to provide a means of developing support to individuals and other groups concerned with supporting individuals who hear voices

Increase the knowledge base of the groups and increasing the potential for interactivity between the local groups and the Network national office via on-line information sharing

The establishment of ”My Voices” recovery blogs, a service enabling members to use to keep an on-line diary of their recovery experiences that they can share with their friends and supporters

The establishment of an accessible website providing the opportunity for a single point of entry to the above services

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Key words:

Facilitating;

Non-hierarchical;

Underpinning;

Encouraging diversity and pluralism

A Person centred structure looking like this:

People who hear voices (working towards empowerment & recovery)

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Self help groups

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Local Networks

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Scottish HVN National Office and Support Service

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INTERVOICE

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What do you think of our proposal?

We welcome your comments and views about this consultative document, which is primarily for people who hear voices from Scotland.

We would be grateful if you would let us know whether you hear voices or if you know or work with someone who hears voices and whereabouts you are from (you don´t need to be specific eg. you can just tell use what what region you are from).

Please indicate in your response if you would be happy for us to contact you.

If you would like to give your views confidentially, require any further information about the Scottish Hearing Voices Network or if we can asist in any other way, you can contact us here
or write to us at SHVN, 216 - 220 Hilltown, Dundee, DD3 7AU

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Page updated 10/07/2008

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Welcome to our consultation

We are planning to set up a national office to support the development of hearing voices groups throughout Scotland and we have written this proposal about what the office would do.

We would like to hear what voice hearers from Scotland think about our ideas. We know many voice hearers feel isolated and unsupported. We would therefore encourage voice hearers to complete the questionnaire, read our proposals and become members of our network. No one needs to feel alone in their experience of voice hearing. It's good to talk!

We would also like to hear from everyone who is concerned about people who hear voices.

If you make a response to our consultation we would be grateful if you would let us know whether you hear voices or if you know or work with someone who hears voices and whereabouts you are from (you don´t need to be specific eg. you can just tell use what what region or district).

We have put together a questionnaire for people who hear voices asking what kinds of support you would like to see us provide. You can complete it here.

There is also a "Hearing Voices Groups" questionnaire for self help groups and networks asking what kinds of support you would like to see us provide. You can complete it here.

If you would prefer to see a hard copy of the consultation document you can download it here.

You can also let us know your views by going to the "Have your say" section at the bottom of the page or by clicking here

Note: We have provided some information about the consultation process, other planning methods we are using and also information about the Scottish Hearing Voices Network and INTERVOICE here.

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If you would like to become a member of the Scottish Hearing Voices Network please download the application form here.

Read our press release here

Print the "Complete the Questionnaire" poster here and display it for us.

Read the letter to supporting organisations here

We would like to give a big thank you to Awards For All in Scotland for their generous support in funding this consultation exercise and development project.

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Scottish Hearing Voices National Office and Support Service Consultation: Background papers

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In this document we have provided some background information about the consultation process, other planning methods we are using and information about the Scottish Hearing Voices Network and INTERVOICE.

If you would prefer to see a hard copy of the consultation background paper you can download it here

You can also let us know your views by going to the "Have your say" section at the bottom of the page or by clicking here

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1. The Consultation process

2. Planning Methods and Tools

3. Timetable

4. Appendix

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1. The Consultation Process


1.1 The Scottish Network has received funding from the Awards For All Fund to help it put together a plan for the further development of hearing voices work in Scotland. This plan is to be developed by the SHVN with the on-going support of Paul Baker, the INTERVOICE Coordinator.

The Scottish Hearing Voices Network are using the services of Paul Baker to facilitate the process of writing and consulting people who hear voices about the plan.

1.2 How we will consult people about our plans

This proposal concerns how we will go about agreeing a plan to enable SHVN to apply for funding for a national office and paid workers to support the network, as well as how that work will be carried out.

This proposal will be open to consultation with all those people and groups interested in developing the support available to people who hear voices with a special focus on existing hearing voices groups and people who hear voices.

As part of the consultation process we will use the internet and other methods of contacting individual voice hearers and groups around the country. We will also use Skype (a free on-line telephone service) to link people and set up a web page to let people see and comment on the progress of the writing of the plan.

Following contact through Skype, e-mails, letter, texting and phone calls, we will then be organise visits to meet groups to discuss the proposed plan with Hearing voices Groups around the country.

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2. Planning Methods

2. 1 As well as the consultation process outlined here there will be a planning process that will have the following components:

(i) A mapping exercise:

to determine the number and strength of hearing voices groups in Scotland (e.g. self-help groups):

to evaluate their strengths, weaknesses and support needs

to identify areas where no hearing voices work is being carried out - and - to determine whether support is available for the development of new hearing voices groups

to identify other hearing voices initiatives such as training provision, one to one work, anti-stigma work, emergency help and telephone support etc.

to identify key supporters amongst voice hearers, allied professionals and voluntary & statutory services
2.2 This task will help determine the level of need within Scotland for Voice hearing work, to establish the priorities for such work and to audit the level of support available.

(ii)An evaluation of the current status of the Scottish Hearing Voices Network
Including the steering group and other support functions carried out by the Network. This would include membership issues, formal status, current funding and other forms of support.This task will help identify the organisational and structural needs of the organisation and work needed to ensure it is prepared for the work required in carrying out the proposed Action Plan

(iii)Determine the availability of resources to fund and support a national office and workers to provide support services to an emergent national network of voice hearing initiatives.

(iv) Establish a 3 year work programme for the further development of the SHVN that will ensure the SHVN will be an effective:

Change Agent: e.g. by identifying gaps; developing innovative practice

Service Developer: e.g. promoting joint working, education and training

Capacity Builder: initiate, develop and sustain community initiatives around voice hearing

Access Facilitator: to services; community resources; overcoming language and cultural barriers.

2.3 It is critical to the success of this exercise that voice hearers are in control of the processes, including this consultation.
This will include:

Goal Setting;

Planning;

Implementation

2.4 This approach considers people who hear voices as the experts by experience and the people who work with them as experts by profession. Value is placed on the personal involvement of both voice-hearers and professionals. Seeing each other first as people, secondly as allies, and thirdly, as all having different but mutually valuable expertise to offer.

2.5 The exercise will adopt participatory approaches to development, based on principles of empowerment and the ownership of the development process. It will focus on how to engage people as citizens (rather than clients) in development, and how to make the resulting services more effective and responsive.

2.6 The Business Plan will be drawn up using community development principles as follows:

The appreciation and mobilisation of individual and community talents, skills and assets (rather than focusing on problems and needs)

It will be a community-driven development rather than developments driven by external agencies

2.7 We will utilise the internet to complement meetings and written reports.

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3. Timetable

The work started with a visioning meeting with members of the SHVN and will be followed up by an action research programme that will lead to the development of an Action Plan. This Plan will then be subject to discussion, amendment and adoption by the SHVN.

Timetable dates:

15th and 16th March 2008
Meetings with the SHVN steering group and members of the Dundee HVN and Aberdeen HVN to draw up ideas and to set the process in motion

31st March 2008
Paul writes up and sends out initial proposal as agreed at the meeting to the steering group members for agreement.

1st July 2008
The Outline proposal is sent out widely, ideally we would like to involve about 300 people.

It will be available in the following formats:
The document will be available as a paper document and sent to those who wish to see a hard copy.
It will be available as a word document and a pdf that can be sent as an attachment by email
A web page will be set up which will allow people to read the document and comment on-line and to see how the document is progressing>/p>

Paul will be available to discuss the document by email, instant chat and by phone and/or Skype*

Paul will also meet with groups as required:

Meeting in September (date to be decided)

The business plan will be adopted and launched at a special meeting of the SHVN

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4. Appendix:

4.1 The Scottish Hearing Voices Network

The Scottish Hearing Voices Network was established in April 2001, by members of Hearing Voices groups throughout Scotland.

The Network aims to:

Relieve the suffering and distress of people who are voice hearers, vision seers and/or have related extraordinary experiences.

Promoting the development of hearing voices support groups in Scotland.

To provide mutual support

The advancement of education through training and research

4.2 INTERVOICE

The Scottish Network is a member of INTERVOICE, the International Network for training, education and research into Hearing Voices and hosted the 2006 INTERVOICE seminar in Dundee.

INTERVOICE is an international support group for hearing voices initiatives. There are currently 19 active national organisations in membership. INTERVOICE aims to:

show that hearing voices is a normal though unusual variation in human behaviour

show that the problem is not hearing voices but the inability to cope with the experience

educate society about the meaning of voices so as to reduce ignorance & anxiety and to ensure this innovatory approach on voice hearing is better known by voice hearers, families, professionals and the general public

demonstrate the wide variety of voice hearing experiences and their origins, and peoples' approaches to coping

increase the quality and quantity of mutual support available to all people and organisations involved in hearing voices work across the world

make our work more effective and develop more non-medical ways of helping voice hearers cope with their experience

4.3 SHVN meeting with Paul Baker on 15 and 16 March 2008

Present: Ann, Bill, Christine, Ian, Gavin, Mary, Pat, Richard and Paul

The meeting with Paul were very productive and he went away to produce a draft proposal for the objective of producing a business plan to enable SHVN to apply for funding for a national office and workers for the network. He will be sending this out to us shortly for our comments.

Paul had good ideas re use of the internet in addition to other methods of contacting individual voice hearers and groups around the country. The idea would be to use Skype to link people and to set up a web page to let people see the progress of the writing of the plan.

Following contact through Skype, e-mails, letter, texting and phone calls, Paul will be better placed to best organise visits to meet groups.

The initial draft proposal will include the following ideas re what is needed from the SHVN and these will be amended and added to as the process goes on.

Address isolation and withdrawal of voice hearers

Build a sense of community (of common interest)

Support individual voice hearers

Support the development of groups

An interactive website to allow people to share coping strategies, stories, etc.

An annual conference

To employ 2 workers (? 1 expert by experience and 1 expert by profession)

Training services

The meeting on the 16th with members of the HVN-D management committee went well and they were very positive re the development of SHVN. We will continue to work closely with them to ensure their needs from SHVN are met and that we are able to start supporting them rather than their continued of us. For example, they will additional funds through rent payments.

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Page last updated 4/09/2008

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Welcome to our consultation

We are planning to set up a national office to support the development of hearing voices groups throughout Scotland and we have written this proposal about what the office would do.

You can read our proposal here.

If you would prefer to see a hard copy of the consultation document you can download it here read it and post your comments to us at SHVN, 216 - 220 Hilltown, Dundee, DD3 7AU.

We would like to hear what voice hearers from Scotland think about our ideas. We know many voice hearers feel isolated and unsupported. We would therefore encourage voice hearers, hearing voices group members, family members, carers and workers to complete the questionnaires, read our proposals and let us know what you think of them. And of course you can also become members of our network. No one needs to feel alone in their experience of voice hearing. It's good to talk!

We would also like to hear from anyone else who is concerned about people who hear voices.

IIf you make a response to our consultation we would be grateful if you would let us know whether you hear voices or if you know or work with someone who hears voices and whereabouts you are from (you don´t need to be specific eg. you can just tell use what what region or district).

Other ways you can help

Complete a questionnaire

People who hear voices: We have put together a questionnaire for people who hear voices asking about your situation and what kinds of support you would like to see us provide. You can complete it here.

Carers and people who work with people who hear voices: There is a second questionnaire for carers and people who work with people who hear voices that you can fill in here and tell us what kinds of support you would like to see us provide. You can complete it here.

Hearing Voices Groups: This questionnaire for self help groups and networks (and members of these networks) asking what kinds of support you would like to see us provide. You can complete it here.

Help spread the word

You can print the "Complete the Questionnaire" poster here and display it for us.

Read our press release and let newspapers know about we are doing here

Read the letter we have written to supporting organisations and pass it onto any services you are in contact with here

You can also let us know your views by going to the "Have your say" section at the bottom of the page or by clicking here

Note: We have provided some information about the consultation process, other planning methods we are using and also information about the Scottish Hearing Voices Network and INTERVOICE here.

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Information about the Network

Information about the Scottish Hearing Voices Network here.

Information about local hearing voices groups here.

Find out more about the work of local Hearing Voices Networks in Scotland by visiting their websites here

If you would like to become a member of the Scottish Hearing Voices Network please download the application form here.

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Thank you

We would like to give a big thank you to Awards For All in Scotland for their generous support in funding this consultation exercise and development project.

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INTERVOICE meeting held in Dundee 1st – 3rd June 2006 at the Verdant Works: A report

1. Introduction

2. Reports from Member countries

3. Presentations/Discussions

4. Next meeting

1. Introduction: The INTERVOICE steering group meeting was attended by 85 delegates from 15 countries. This makes it one of the best attended INTERVOICE meetings in recent years. New countries represented included Australia, New Zealand and Palestine. The two day meeting started with a Scottish bag-piper welcoming the delegates and ended with a wonderful BBQ, in between we had two days of intensive discussions on a wide range of topics, whilst also finding out all the latest developments from all the member countries (see below).

Also we cannot forget the receptions held at the Dundee Hearing Voices Network offices and the Verdant Works Museum with live music. Our grateful thanks go to the Scottish Hearing Voices Network and to Ron and Karen Coleman for organising the event and for making everyone so welcome.

2. Reports from INTERVOICE member countries

Paul Baker, who lives in Alicante, Spain, provides support for INTERVOICE, such as sending out a newsletter from time to time and more recently developing an online discussion forum to help develop contact between INTERVOICE members and friends. Paul was ably assisted in setting up the online forum by Frans Wever, from Holland and Caroline von Taysen, from Germany. The result has been a very busy forum (see below for more information), which already has almost 200 members, although the forum is still in development and there have been some initial problems, the signs are good that this will become a very useful way to continue contact between members throughout the year.

England: We have learnt with sadness that Jon Williams died on the 5th of February. Jon will be remembered with great affection by many people throughout the world. In particular he will be held in great respect for his stewardship of HVN through some of its most difficult years. The National Hearing Voices Network, based in Manchester continue to be very active with the support of their co-ordinator Julie Downs. The Network has recently moved into new office premises. There are now over 180 self-help groups, a telephone helpline and training and education initiatives. HVN publishes a quarterly newsletter and has its own website. London also has its own development worker, Jacqui Dillon, to help co-ordinate voices groups across the capital, London recently received a large grant from the governement to develop work in London.

Scotland: Scotland has a National network, local groups and has been organising regualr meetings. The Network has an active steering group, including Pat Webster, Roddy Gordon, Audrey Reid, Maria Griffins and Ron Coleman. Roddy Gordon and Babs Johnston continue to be active in Scotland too. Dundee Hearing Voices Network have just open their impressive new offices, with beautiful work and creative areas it is a place that reflects the values of the voice hearers who run it.

Wales: Has a National network and has been organising meetings. The work is supported by Hywell Davies

Finland: This is the country that, after England, was the first to translate and publish “Accepting voices” into Finnish. There are now 23 self-help groups in Finland, the Association for Voice Hearers has its own office with two part time administrators. The Association organises seminars (4 in 2005) and is activley promoting their work and ideas through the media and by working with other organisations. They publish 6 newsletter a year to keep their membership informed.

Germany: Has a National network of 100 members, has its own office and has organised two conferences in Berlin. Sadly we have to announce that Hannelore Klafki, died recently from a cerebral accident, which was sudden and completely unexpected. It was Hannelore Klafki, who started the activities in Berlin and organised the German Network. Everybody who knew her is very sad, because she was such a wonderful person, creative and active and a good friend to so many people. Antje Muller who has been involved with the Network for many years has taken over the co-ordination of the German Network. Monica Hoffman has also supported the network since the beginning and does so to this day. Andreas Gehrke wrote an interesting book about his voice hearing experience. ‘Aufbruch aus dem Angstkafig – anus Verlag’. It is only available in German at the moment. Perhaps somebody could find the means to translate it into English? Also, as I said earlier, Caroline von Taysen has been involved in setting up and supporting the new INTERVOICE Online Discussion Forum.

Holland: Resonance is still very active, has 200 members, publishes a well organised periodical and holds two yearly meetings. It has a number of contact people are available for telephone information about hearing voices. There are still only a few self-help groups. Recently, the book of Ron Coleman “Recovery an Alien Concept” has been is translated into Dutch, entitled ‘Herstel kan dat wel’. Sandra Escher has also finished her research into the experience of children hearing voices and has written her PhD. She became Dr. Escher in May last year. Resonance now has its own website.

Austria: In Linz, Chuck Schneider and Marlene Weiterschein are active with supporting self-help groups and running a training program. Whilst in Vienna, Professor Katschnig and Professor Michaela Amering organised a big congress held in January 2003 in Vienna with 600 participants.

Italy: Marcello Maccario is now helping to co-ordinate a hearing voices movement in Italy with the help of regular appearances by Karen & Ron. There are now more centres in Italy (Savonna, Milan, Rome, Bologna, Parma and Trento in the North with Sicily coming on stream soon). Ron’s book “Recovery an Alien Concept” has recently published in Italian by Manifesto Libro. Working with Voices 2 is now translated into Italian as well. Activities in Prado (near Florence) continue, with conferences held on a regular basis, ably organised by Pini Pini and Donatella Miccinesi.

Sweden: There are two active networks in Stockholm and in Lund. In Lund, Maths Jesperson leads the activities, whilst in Stockholm, Amy Rohnitz and Siv Wetterberg are also very active. Alain Topor, who originally stimulated the approach in Sweden and co-ordinated the translation and publication of ‘Making Sense of Voices’ into Swedish, has also started a new research program on recovery. “Managing the contradictions on recovery”, is the title of his Ph.D, published in 2003.

Norway: activities in Norway depend mainly on a number of interested individuals. We had two congresses in Oslo, the first held in Molden, initiated by Geir Fredriksen, who has almost finished publishing a book on his psycho-drama work with people who hearing voices. In Oslo, Marit Borg and Siri Blesvik are involved in a EEG project, which involves users in training professionals about user perspectives. It is project involving six countries and also includes INTERVOICE members, Mervyn Morris from Birmingham and Harrie van Haaster & Sandra Escher from Holland. Alain Topor from Sweden is also involved.

Switzerland: Theresia Krummenacher has organised two, three day training programs for psychiatrists in psychiatric clinics in Basel and Geneva. She also founded a self-help group in Geneva and has organised the translation of “The Voice Inside”.

Denmark: has become very active since the first congress in Arhus, organised by Karl Bach and two subsequent conferences organised by Inger Mosbaek-Greve, also held in Arhus. There are active groups of professionals working with voice hearers in Herning organised by Nina Stenshoj and one group run by Jorn Erikson and his wife Ann in Lungby, near Copenhagen. In Arhus, Trevor Eyles now has a full time job working with a voice hearing project. The book ‘Making Sense of Voices’ has also been translated into Danish. They now have their own website and interest in hearing voices work is growing rapidly.

Spain: There is new interest in Spain where Prof Dr. Manuel Gonzalez de Chavez Menendez has initiated the translation of ‘Making Sense of Voices’ into Spanish. This edition was published in December 2005 and presented at a course in Madrid with 800 participants. Interest has been expressed in setting up a group in Gijon, Asturias.

Australia: Work is developing in Australia, mainly around Perth in Western Australia and the Western Australia Hearing voices Network will be launched in May, supported by the Richmond Fellowship who have seconded a part time development post to help the work develop further.

New Zealand: Arana Pearson is busy developing a national hearing voices network. Whilst Vanessa Bevan has now completed her research into voice hearing experiences in New Zealand.

Palestine has 2 voices group running in Bethlehem Hospital , with new groups being set up in Ramala & Hebron and hearing voices training also carried out in the Gaza Strip.

We are also aware of work on voice being carried out in Ireland.

In the USA, there is a group in Madison, Wisconsin.

Work continues in Japan.

3. Presentations/Discussions

Hearing Voices and Psychodrama
Led by Gier Fredericksen and Ronny Nilsen from Norway

Reasserting the importance of a diversity of explanations
led by Julie Downs and John Robinson form the Hearing Voices Network, England

Making sense of voices/Trauma and Voices
led by Vanessa Bevan from New Zealand and Marius Romme from the Netherlands

Voice dialogue and the Windhorse method
led by Jakob Litschig and Verana Barfuss from Switzerland.

Working in services as a person with history of using mental health services.
Led by Joanna Fox from the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge

INTERVOICE: planning for the future.
Discussion led by Caroline Von Taysen and Paul Baker

4. The next INTERVOICE meeting
will be held in Denmark in 2007, dates and venue to be confirmed and a meeting for voice hearers who are members of INTERVOICE is also being planned.

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