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Welcome
If you hear
voices HVN can help we are committed to helping people who hear voices. Our
reputation is growing as the limitations of a solely medical approach to
voices become better known. Psychiatry refers to hearing voices as 'auditory
hallucinations' but our research shows that there are many explanations for
hearing voices. Many people begin to hear voices as a result of extreme
stress or trauma.
We offer
information, support and understanding to people who hear voices and those
who support them.
The aims of the network are
- To raise
awareness of voice hearing, visions, tactile sensations and other
sensory experiences
- To give
men women and children who have these experiences an opportunity to talk
freely about this together.
- To
support anyone with these experiences seeking to understand, learn and
grow from them in their own way.
We try to
achieve our aims through these objectives:
- Promoting,
developing and supporting self-help groups
- Organising
and delivering training sessions for health workers and the general
public
- Making
available a telephone line that gives information and help to people who
experience hearing voices, seeing visions and tactile sensations
- To give
men, women and children who have these experiences an opportunity to
talk freely about them
- Produce
four newsletters a year
About the Network
The
first UK hearing Voices
group was formed in 1988 in Manchester.
It was
inspired by the pioneering work of Professor Marius Romme
and Sondra Escher from Maastricht
University, and a Dutch
self help group, Foundation Resonance.
Following
a national conference held in London
in 1990, the Independent on Sunday newspaper published a prominent article on
the topic which generated a lot of correspondence. As a result we decided to
establish a network of voice hearers and individuals who were interested in
the experience of hearing voices.
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In 1989
the Manchester group organised a speaking tour
in the north of England
for Marius Romme and his colleagues Sondra Escher
and Anse Graf. The meetings were well attended by
people who hear voices, their relatives, friends and carers and interested
mental health professional’s.
Since
this time the work of the Network has been well reported in publications such
as Open Mind, journals, local and national newspapers and the broadcasting
media. Members of the group have continued to maintain a relationship with Rome and Escher, regularly visiting and attending
conferences in Maastricht
and throughout the world.
Hearing
Voices Self-Help Groups
Hearing
Voices groups are typically, a number of people who share the experience of
hearing voices, coming together to help and support each other, they exchange
information and learn from each other, They share the same problems and may
have similar life situations. Sometimes the group may include relatives and
carers of people who hear voices.
The
purpose of hearing voices groups is to offer a safe haven where people feel
accepted and comfortable. They also have an aim of offering an opportunity to
for people to accept and 'live with their voices', in a way that gives some
control and helps them to regain some power over their lives.
A
New Approach
Hearing
voices has been regarded by psychiatry as 'auditory hallucinations', and in
many cases a symptom of schizophrenia. However not everyone who hears voices
has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. There are conflicting theories from
psychiatrists, psychologists and voice hearers about why people do hear voices . We believe that they are similar to dreams,
symbols of our unconscious minds. Although the Network is open to many
diverse opinions we accept the explanation of each individual voice hearer.
Traditionally , the usual treatment for voice hearing has
been major tranquillisers, administered to reduce the delusions and
hallucinations . However not everyone responds to this treatment. There are
some psychiatrists and psychologists who now work with people who hear voices
using talking therapies and exploring the meaning of the voices.
Although
this is not yet 'the norm', this practice is increasing. As the improvement
in individuals who are encouraged to talk about their voices becomes more
apparent and increasing number of health professionals are beginning to understand
that the key to understanding voices lies in the 'content' of the voices.
Membership
Membership of the Hearing Voices Network
means that you will receive a newsletter four times a year,
you will be notified of events, conferences, meetings etc. We will also
support and help anyone wishing to start a new group. (Please note that the
prices below cover membership for a calendar year.)
To join, please print off this form, complete and return
to:
HVN, 79 Lever St., Manchester, M1 1FL
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I would like to
join
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renew
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my/our membership
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Name:
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Address:
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Postcode:
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Date:
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Please tick type
of membership required
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Individual:
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Organisation:
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£40
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Waged
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£10
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Unwaged
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£5
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Groups:
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People in secure
settings
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Free
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Funded
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£40
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Children (under
16)
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Free
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Self-funded
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£20
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Method of payment please tick appropriate box
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Cheque
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P.O.
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Cash
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Standing Order see
below
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Please
make cheques payable to Hearing Voices Network
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If you
would like to ensure your membership is renewed each year please fill in the
following standing order mandate and return
it to your bank.
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STANDING ORDER MANDATE
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To the Manager,
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Name of your bank:
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Address of Bank:
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Sort Code
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Account number:
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Please pay the sum of
£
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yearly to the
account of:
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The
Hearing Voices Network
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08-92-99
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65130067
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The Cooperative Bank plc, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8
6WT
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Signed:
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Date:
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Publication Order
Form
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Please complete and return to: HVN, 79 Lever St., Manchester
M1 1FL
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BOOKS
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Quantity
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Price
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Basic
Information about Hearing Voices
Chris
Stirk and Julie Downs. £1.85
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Medication
Dr
Philip Thomas and Rufus May. £1.85
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Starting
and Supporting Hearing Voices Groups
Julie
Downs. £6.00.
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Coping
With Voices and Visions
written
by people who have these experiences. £5.00.
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Mind
over Matter
M. Valerio
£3.50.
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Raising
Our Voices
Adam James £8.50.
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PAMPHLETS all £1.35
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Hearing
Voices: My own experience
Mickey de Valda
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Life:
a humorous perspective. Jon Williams
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Hearing
Voices: a description of the work of Professor Marius Romme on hearing voices. University of Maastricht.
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Different
Perspectives: the importance of a diversity of explanations. Paul Baker.
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Romme and Escher: The
Dutch Experience. Nigel Rose.
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