News and Events

Lead Psychologist at Raphael Healthcare’s The Farndon Unit, Phil Coombes responds to Mental Health Foundation report and emphasises the need for genuine human interactions.
 
Phil says “The role of human nature is to seek out family and friends and communicate in daily interactions this is not only on a verbal level but also on a physical.  The depth that face to face interactions have compared to an electronic version is far different, the ability to relate to someone, to see the emotion is often lost in electronic styles of interaction.  Seeing someone laugh releases chemicals within us (that give us that warm feeling) the response on a text of ‘lol’ doesn’t really have the same effect.
 
The benefits of the social network sites are that they often give access to support and help from a wider group and if people struggle in social situations and feel awkward then this may be useful.  However there is concern we may be creating more problems for that person, could their social skills deteriorate even more along with their confidence, potentially feeling like the only way they can interact with others is electronically and not face to face, could this lead to a more isolated existence, as by its nature, electronic speech is an isolative format, with users of this often disappearing from places in a house where live conversation and interaction is happening to one where it is cyber.  
 
At The Farndon Unit, the emphasis is on normalisation of difficulties and facing the problems with the help and support of other people, knowing there is a friendly face or voice on the end of the phone is often enough to ease our troubles, being able to meet someone for a coffee and share a laugh gives us a natural high which can lift an otherwise difficult day, physically interacting with others who experience similar things highlights that we are not alone with our problems and that what we experience is normal.  It is very easy to feel isolated and fall in to becoming more so, it takes a larger step to physically pick up the phone and connect to someone or better yet get up leave the safety of the house and have a face to face interaction.
 
Raphael Healthcare addresses community re-integration as part of the recovery and rehabilitation process for patients experiencing mental health difficulties.  The Occupational Therapy team at the unit provide a diverse programme of activities which include therapeutic community sessions for the patients which promotes social inclusion and societal integration for individuals and can help to develop a certain level of independence and confidence.”
 
To read the report click here