ALI-G MEETS THE USERS FORUM

Ali-G: I am eer talking to Nick Dent at the Mental Health Forum, to discuss services for mental people with problems.

Nick Dent: People with mental health problems.

Ali-G: Ie! I know they do! Nick Dent: Yeah, cos we don’t say "mental people".

Ali-G: Ie! Me with it! So, wot is the User movement? Is it like people using a place to plan to kill all the Daily Mail readers, or something like that? Why is they using you like that?! Why?!

Nick Dent: No, it means Users of mental health services, which we try to work with people to improve and to give Users a voice.

Ali-G: Yeah, but why do you let them use you to kill all de Daily Mail readers?! What have they done to deserve that for reading the Daily Mail and the Sun, or whatever?!

Nick Dent: Most people who have mental health problems are not violent, and don’t threaten or hurt others any more than anyone else.

Ali-G: Yeah, but if they didn’t go around mad all the time, shouting and killing innocent people like, then they wouldn’t need any form or Forum services.

Nick Dent: This isn’t a service - this is to empower people for their say in their mental health services.

Ali-G: But you is not a service then?

Nick: Yes. Well no... er ...

Ali-G: Why is them like mad then? Is it cos they tried to kill their mum and shag their dad like Signet Freud said?

Nick Dent: No, a lot of it is poverty and oppression, and people who have gone through stages and struggles in their lives, or they have a lack of social skills.

Ali-G: So if me not have social skills, is that because I’m mad, or because me black?

Nick Dent: Well, I think we all lack social skills, but some more than others.

Ali-G: Wot if me black?

Nick Dent: No. Not necessarily.

Ali-G: Wot is like social skills? Is it getting wicki at getting all the money out of the social to say you is mental?

Nick Dent: Mental health problems you mean ..

Ali-G: Ie! Is that wot social skills are then?

Nick Dent: Social skills are about people learning to communicate better ...

Ali-G: Ie! Me figure!

Nick Dent: ... function more healthily ...

Ali-G: Ie! Me figure!

Nick Dent: ... and have esteem about themselves and others.

Ali-G: Why can’t they let off steam elsewhere?

Nick Dent: No "esteem"! Confidence, y’know, self-confidence.

Ali-G: That’s what me said about letting off the steam for it innit.

Nick Dent: Yeah that’s, well yeah.

Ali-G: So if these people not mental and off their nutters like, why do they psychiatrists keep putting them in the straight jackets and locking em up in loony bins? Are the psychiatrists mad?

Nick Dent: Well some of us think they are.

Ali-G: Me figured!

Nick Dent: They go there for protection, or because people can’t handle them or understand them, because of all the prejudice and discrimination in society, and the mentalism.

Ali-G: Well then the psychiatrists should stay locked up then.

Nick Dent (laughs): Yeah, that’s right.

Ali-G: I has been rapping and a-boppin wid Nick Dent of de Mental Problems Users Forum ... Boom shaka! Boom shaka! Viva la struggle!

Nick Dent: Cheers.

Ali-G: Keep the peace!