Remarkable lives: Shaun Hunt in conversation with Jerome Carson
| Published date | 10 April 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-01-2017-0003 |
| Date | 10 April 2017 |
| Pages | 80-85 |
| Author | Shaun Hunt,Jerome Carson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Remarkable lives: Shaun Hunt in
conversation with Jerome Carson
Shaun Hunt and Jerome Carson
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Shaun Hunt.
Design/methodology/approach –Shaun provides a short biographical description of his life. Shaun is then
interviewed by Jerome.
Findings –Shaun tells us about the long journey of recovery that he has made to the point where he is now a
University Lecturer.
Research limitations/implications –In large group studies the individual gets lost in statistical tables and
the lived experience is absent. Single case studies provide us with stories to nurture and encourage us all.
Practical implications –Shaun says that we often miss the obvious question in our interactions with people
with lived experience. “What happened to you?”seems a simple but telling conversation opener.
Social implications –As Shaun says there are some amazing people who work in mental health services,
but they are the ones who spoke to him and not to a “schizophrenic”.
Originality/value –As Shaun also says, “Never, ever give up hope, no matter how dark and bad things
become, there is always a way back”.
Keywords Employment, Music, Relationships, Recovery, Hearing voices
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Standing at six foot four inches tall, Shaun is not someone you are likely to miss easily. I met him the
first time at the Hearing Voices Group Christmas Party in Sheffield and again the following year at the
same party. However it was only after I heard him give a talk about his recovery journey at the Hearing
Voices Conference in Manchester, that I truly appreciated what a remarkable man he was. He was a
wonderful, natural speaker with an amazing story to tell. Here he shares some of it with us…
Brief biography by Shaun Hunt
I was born in 1969 in a small Yorkshire town. It is my belief that my childhood set the scene for
what were to become quite devastating experiences later in life. I was the second oldest of four
siblings but I grew up thinking I was somehow different to them. I always felt unwanted by my
family and this was reflected in me being moved around a lot. First living with the family, then with
my Grandad, then back to the family before finally ending up in a children’s home. During all these
moves it was only me who went. The rest of my siblings stayed in the family home. I could never
get my head around why it was only me being treated in such a way?
Despite a catalogue of neglect and abuse from various people as I grew up there were a few
happy memories along the way. I reflect on my childhood quite differently now than I used to.
Previously I would always look back and only remember the trauma and abuses that I suffered.
Now as I have dealt with some of my demons, I can recall some of the happy times that I had too.
I moved into my Grandad’s at eightyears old and spentthree happy years there.Grandad was a big
strongmanwithaheartofgold.“Hercules”was his nickname but he was a kind and gentle man.
Shaun Hunt is a Lecturer at
Recovery Education Unit,
Sheffield Health and Social
Care NHS Foundation Trust,
Sheffield, UK.
Jerome Carson is a Professorof
Psychologyat the Department
of Psychology, Universityof
Bolton, Bolton, UK.
PAG E 80
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 21 NO. 2 2017, pp. 80-85, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-01-2017-0003
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