4. Congress of the European Network of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry

"Into the Next Millenium – Moving Forward to Our Own Future"

Luxembourg, February 19 – 21, 1999
Opinions about: accommodation, transport, meals | programme & workshops | organisation | main problems & missing | best moments | Luxembourg Index

Evaluation: What was Good and What was Bad at the Conference?

Total amount of evaluation forms is 24, 18 from the delegates and 6 from the participants.

Opinions about the accommodation, the transport, the meals etc.

Basically people were satisfied

  • "considering the costs, very good"

100% pleased with the transport.

10 of 21 answers brought up some critics:

  • "The accommodation was bad, the food was bad, the transport was o.k."
  • "Good except the meals, little variation, not really vegetarian."
  • "I expected the meals to be more social, an event to be together; the others were absolutely perfect."
  • "Accommodation was bad, but that is not very important. Meals o.k. Transport good. Entertaiment = 0, it is very important to have a good party."
  • "The accommodation was a bit loud, everything else was o.k. Would be a good idea to have the conference and the accommodation at the same place."
  • "H. was o.k. I am a vegetarian and do eat only biological food."
  • "More warm meals next time."
  • "Accommodation quite good, warm meal not proper, transport o.k."
  • "Not especially good."
  • "Poor on meals, accommodation correct, transport very good."

Opinions about the programme as a whole and the workshops

Basically very positive, only one negative answer

  • "too much wasted time"
Some useful notices:
  • "Too tight, especially the first day when we were almost only listening. Second day, long program, but self-activity, good."
  • "It was very interesting. Too many workshops at one day. Next conference 1-2 days longer. We need more time to discuss and take our experiences to the other people."
  • "Very positive contributions to topics in workshop, very intensive and productive."
  • "The programme was not too tight, we had enough time to chat."
  • "Well organised, useful and very instancive. The conference place was top quality."
  • "Good in that lots of breaks, but the second day was too log. There should be an open discussion session. Translators are needed."
  • "This was the best conference for me and the best working atmosphere too."

Opinions about the organisation of the conference

Much credits to the users/survivors from Luxembourg

  • "Very good or excellent. We have to learn something from the Luxembourg organising commitee. Everything seemed to go without problem."
Some useful notices:
  • "Well done the Luxembourg and the board, but clear financial information plus aims and objectives are needed."
  • "Didn't know what person to turn to, not to overload the board."
  • "There was delay and waiting"
  • "Too many coffee-breaks. I would prefer to have one more city-tour instead."
  • "It will be necessary in the future to have one more day for the reports of the workshops."

Main problems for to participate / Something missing

Language, communication and information were the basic problems
  • "Generally clear explanations are required. More procedures should be written."
  • "Only one problem. The first invitation-letter was late."
  • "I'm new and was not sure if I was listened to."
  • "It was a little difficult to understand all. It was not enough time to tell about our experiences."
Something missing:
  • "Hearing Voices Network. Spiritual elements."
  • "Possibility to rest at the conference place."
  • "A sightseeing tour in the town."
  • "Party."

Best moments

Meeting and exchanging experiences and ideas with other users/survivors was absolutely the best moment (strictly in 10 answers):
  • "We are all users, exusers and survivors and we come to the conference, what we will do for us, for the future – what is our way – and show what is happening in the psychiatry. We have ideas – we shall look a way what is good for us. We are a team + We are together."
Also the workshops were the best moments in 6 answers:
  • "When I heard proposals of all workshops."
Some others:
  • "The visit to the art-gallery."
  • "Joel Slack's speech."
  • "Jan Olof Forsen from RSMH calling his s.c. states of psychosis 'The Jesus Syndrome'."
  • "When B. and R. were lying in the floor at the bar."