What does the group do?
The Oor Mad History group is a unique and important community history project and collective advocacy group. It aims to reclaim and promote the history of activism and collective advocacy by people with mental health issues. The group started in 2008 and grew out of the Lothian Mental Health Service User Movement. When we document and archive, we do so as part of our advocacy work. Inherent in that work is the goal to change power structures in society, and the belief that understanding our history and sharing that understanding is essential in that structural change. We use community history to have a stronger voice about mental health and the mental health system, build community, challenge assumptions about people who use mental health services and tackle discrimination.
The group has made some profound accomplishments since 2008 when it started. We have developed a rich and extensive archive focusing on the history of advocacy and activism. Currently, we are digitising these materials into a comprehensive space accessible to all.
The project published its first book in 2010, capturing peoples’ memories and stories from the 1980s to 2000s. A further book ‘Oor Mad History Ten Years On’ was published in January 2022. It looks at the history of collective advocacy and ‘mad activism’ in Lothian from 2010 to 2020.
The group hosted a new four-week community course called ‘Understanding Oor Mad History’ in partnership with the Lothian Health Services Archives (LHSA) at the University of Edinburgh. The course is designed for people with lived experience of mental health issues, and participants are able to explore topics such as the history of confinement and treatment, sexuality, gender and intersectionality, and activism then and now. We received some excellent feedback on the content, sense of community and solidarity that was created during the course. We will be running the course again at the end of August this year.
Additionally, the group further collaborated with LHSA on a ‘Discovery Session’. Members spent time researching topics of their interest within the archives and brought their lived experience to draw out important messages, learning and stories found within the collections.
What would be lost if the group ends – to us and to the wider community.
Knowing and interpreting our history helps us to understand the nature of power and how we can help to shift power imbalances. In highlighting lessons of history, we can help prevent past mistakes being repeated. Without this work, we would lose the opportunity to record our experiences and make these accessible for learning and reflection. We would risk losing the many positive and transformative impacts of activism and relationships of trust we have built.
We and the wider community would lose these safe spaces to share learning and build community. We would lose the opportunity to collaborate with each other and partners like LHSA and build skills in research, writing and public speaking to name just a few.
The loss of the project would also take a toll on our mental health. Our self-esteem, confidence and knowledge of mental health has been boosted due to our involvement in the project, knowing we are contributing to positive change. Knowing that the project is long-term and is there for people whenever they want to be involved has been a great source of comfort and that would consequently also be lost.
Group member Pauline states: “It’s very empowering. It’s been a staple in our lives. You are not judged, and you know that what you share is confidential. We are there to make progress for ours and others’ futures.”
To lose this project, this work, these voices, would be devastating. The legacy and efforts of Oor Mad History and the Lothian Mental Health Service User Movement has been the catalyst for so much of Edinburgh’s mental health scene and services, including the Crisis Centre, The Patient’s Council, Advocard, independent advocacy being enshrined in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and much more. The group is unique, deeply meaningful and historically significant. We cannot let go of this project which has made such a profound impact on people’s lives in the past and present. We want to carry it into the future and continue our impactful work of advocacy, activism and solidarity.
Any other information that’s important to us as a group.
Our future lives and other people’s lives are at stake and the group needs to stay together to continue working for positivity in mental health and against stigma. We’ve come a long way to get here together as a group. It is by us and for us and it’s shocking that what we’ve built is being threatened to be taken away. We want to take this hard work into the future and this group is the product of so many hundreds of people fighting for their voices and human rights. We campaign on behalf of those who cannot speak up for themselves. We don’t know how other people can decide whether our group is worthwhile when they have not been part of it. They have no idea about the feelings and hard work that goes into it. They only worry about the monetary value. It brings up a lot of anger, frustration and helplessness. In a way, if they say that the group isn’t worth saving then they’re basically saying that we’re not worth saving.
Finally, as a group, we ask the question:
Who else, if not us, would document this information in such a thorough and compassionate way?
Read more testimonials here.