Ben Robinson in conversation with Jerome Carson
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-12-2017-0052 |
| Published date | 12 February 2018 |
| Pages | 13-17 |
| Date | 12 February 2018 |
| Author | Ben Robinson,Jerome Carson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Ben Robinson in conversation with
Jerome Carson
Ben Robinson and Jerome Carson
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Ben Robinson.
Design/methodology/approach –Benp rovidesa short summary of his li feand is then interviewed by Jerome.
Findings –Ben talks about his inpatient treatment for anorexia and his long journey of recovery.
Research limitations/implications –Single case studies provide us with unique insights into the lived
experience of people with mental health problems. They often provide us with hints as to how services could
be improved.
Practical implications –Ben argues that the voice of service users needs to be heard more by
professionals. “The only experts of a mental health problem are the people who have been through a mental
health issue themselves”.
Social implications –One of the classic recovery reports talked about “going the extra mile”. Ben talks
about how his family therapist would visit him at the end of her working day. As he says, “this was something
she didn’t have to do, but wanted to do as she genuinely cared for us”.
Originality/value –Ben is determined to use his experiencesfor the benefit of others. Even to have helped a
single person will be his biggest life achievement.
Keywords Hope, Recovery, Peer support, Suicide, Anorexia, Voices
Paper type Case study
Introduction
I came across Ben through a most unusual route. He was recommended to me by my barber,
Dean Cocozza! Dean knew of my work at the university and wondered if Ben’s story would be of
interest to our students. I arranged to meet Ben and it was clear to me that he had a remarkable
story to tell. Indeed, his story, like everyone else’s in this series, is not static but continually
evolving. Here is his story thus far in his own words […]
Brief biography of Ben Robinson
I was 15 when I began to have doubts about my body image. I’d always been a chunky lad, built
like a rugby player really. I loved my food, and was always known in school as the “human
dustbin”. I had never been called fat, and had actually always been a sporty person from a young
age. I loved playing tennis and golf, and spent any spare time participating in those sports.
My mates were all slim and good looking, and gradually for the first time in my life, I started to
think that I wanted to be like them. So I decided to change my approach to my diet and started to
eat “healthy”. At the time, this was just simply swapping chocolate and sweets for bananas and
fruits. I also decided to join the gym with a view to becoming “leaner”and to “build muscle”.
However, knowing what I know now, this is virtually impossible to achieve. I didn’t seek any
professional advice regarding the gym. I went in, pumped weights and came out. I hated my
chest and arms, so that’s all I trained. Ego lifting! When I returned to school in 2010, after the
summer break, lots of people commented on how much better I looked for losing a bit of weight.
Comments like this would obviously boost your confidence, which motivated me even more.
I initially felt better for it too, and clearly other people had noticed.
Ben Robinson is a Peer
Support Worker based in
Bolton, UK.
Jerome Carson is a Professor
of Psychology at the University
of Bolton, Bolton, UK.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-12-2017-0052 VOL. 22 NO. 1 2018, pp. 13-17, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAG E 13
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