May SHARE

Safe Place to Express Yourself

While we were visiting the Bethel House during this spring’s Hokkaido study tour, we met people who had psychological challenges like schizophrenia, addiction, and some who were recovering from agoraphobia. We also met social workers, doctors, and staff who worked alongside them managing the various Bethel projects like konbu sales and creating books and DVDs to teach others about Bethel. Because everyone works together in the same space there is a very friendly atmosphere and members are encouraged to express themselves freely. One of the social workers, Etsuko Mukaiyachi, helped us to understand how the ‘Bethel Way’ differs from contemporary medicine in that they try to avoid medication but to help members cure themselves through learning how to express their feelings and emotions in healthy ways.

I was reminded about a period in my life right after I graduated from college. I didn’t have much success finding work and it seemed like everyone else around me seemed happier and more successful than me. At the time, I lived with a friend who had graduated from university the same year as me. We had lived together for almost 3 years and could talk about all the stresses of each day. I also had one teacher in school that I respected very much and always made time for me when I came to his office. Because I had this support network of friends who helped me verbalize the anxieties I had about my future I was able to realize that there was nothing wrong with me and that I had talents too. When I did finally receive my first job offer, the thing that made me the most happy was telling those same friends.

Something that was unique about Bethel is that members and staff work together as equals and it was often difficult to tell who was recovering from mental illness. We all have anxieties and a low degree of mental illness in away. But, maybe we can also learn to help ourselves by seeking out a community we can trust to talk about and express all the joys and difficulties in our lives. Through simply expressing them aloud to others, we learn to appreciate both our talents and faults and grow from them.

- SKLT


北海道の「べてるの家」を訪れたとき、精神障がいを負う人たちがスタッフと一緒になって働いている姿に驚いた。スタッフの向谷地悦子さんによると、べてるではクスリで病気を治すというよりは、当事者自身がいろんな人に自分を表現できる方法を通して病気とつき合う道を求めているとのことだった。

　自分が大学を卒業したばかりの頃を思い出す。就職活動が上手く行かず、他の人たちの方が自分より幸せに見えた時期があった。あのころ一緒に生活していたルームメイトとは日常的なストレスとか何でも話し合える仲だった。また尊敬していた先生も、いつでも私のために時間を取ってくれた。このような人たちのネットワークの中にあったから、私は自分の将来に対する不安などを表現できたし、自分はおかしくない、自分にはいろんな可能性があることに気付くことができた。やっと仕事が決まった時、私は喜んで真っ先にこの人たちに嬉しい知らせを伝えたのだった。

　べてるの大きな特徴の一つは当事者とスタッフが対等な者として隣り合わせで働いていることだった。誰が当事者であるか分からないほどだった。私たちにだって不安はあるし、精神「病」も少しはあるのではないかと思う。自助努力として私たちができることと言えば、自分を表現できるコミュニティーを探すこと。信頼して自分の悩みや喜びを伝えることのできる場所を見つけることだと思う。単純に言葉でもって自分の内面を他の人に表現することで、自分の良いところも悪いところも見えて来るし、それと付き合って行く力が与えられて行くのだと思う。

サンディー（SKLT）