Jeanette Winterson

I was lucky enough to see/hear two very charismatic speakers this evening at the launch of the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Psychology, Health and Society’s ‘Mental Health in Context’ research programme.

Jeanette Winterson gave a thoroughly entertaining, impassioned, political and personal oration on the power of literature in maintaining good mental health and the pressing need for the arts and creativity in times of austerity – and at all times! As she said, the choice between libraries or free school meals, art galleries or home care services is a false one. We can afford them all, in this country at least, if we choose to organise things differently – and we have an opportunity to vote for change very soon! This was accompanied by fantastic readings from her great book, ‘Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?’, – which I think I’ve recommended before in this journal.

She was followed by University of Liverpool Research Fellow, Dr Eleanor Longden, who gave a barnstorming reprise of her acclaimed TED talk, ‘The Voices in My Head’, which details her experience of hearing voices, being diagnosed with schizophrenia, hospitalised, drugged and desperate before coming to an understanding with the voices and working collaboratively with them to turn her life around. Absolutely inspirational stuff. Do listen to her talk if you have the time to spare – it’s well worth it!