For report and photo from Toronto protest click here.

For report and photo from Montreal click here.

Here is report and photo from Ireland:

by Mary Maddock, MindFreedom Ireland

The first ever public demonstration against electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) in Cork, Ireland took place on Sunday, 13 May 2007 at Daunt Square.

Organised by MindFreedom Ireland, who campaign for a non-violentrevolution in the mental health system, the demonstration was insolidarity with similar demonstrations in Montreal and Toronto Canadawhich also took place on Sunday, May 13th. For background information on the Toronto protest including news conference and poster click here.

The day is Mothers Day inthe U.S. and Canada and was selected to mark the fact that the greatestnumber of recipients of ECT are mothers and grandmothers.

ECT has been in use since 1938. It involves passing an electriccurrent through the brain of a depressed person who has beenanaesthetised, resulting in a ‘grand mal’ seizure. It has always beena controversial treatment. Its proponents claim it helps in cases ofsevere depression but its critics argue that it causes permanent braindamage and memory loss and is often ‘threatened’ on a patient oradministered without proper informed consent. Every year, over 1000people are given ECT in Ireland.

The demonstration heard first hand testimonies from a number ofrecipients of ECT, including Mary Maddock, founder-member ofMindFreedom Ireland. Other speakers were Kathy Sinnott, independentMEP, Dan Boyle TD and John McCarthy, independent health candidate inthe upcoming election.

For more photos of the MindFreedom Ireland protest go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/maryemaddock/EctProtestDauntSquare

 

The Irish Times published this report [corrected]:

Tuesday 14 May 2007

Protesters urge cessation of electro convulsive shock therapy in State

by Michelle McDonagh

A complete ban on the use of electro convulsive shock therapy (ECT) in Ireland was called for at a public demonstration against the treatment held in Cork city yesterday.

A small group of some 30 people, including former ECT patients, turned out in the pouring rain to voice their opposition to the controversial treatment.

The demonstration, which was held at Daunt Square, was organised by human rights group MindFreedom Ireland.

Director of the advocacy group Mary Maddock, who describes herself as an “ECT survivor”, called for a total ban on the therapy which she said caused her to suffer memory loss and other problems.

“Two-thirds of those who get ECT are women. Mothers and grandmothers are the chief recipients of ECT. We held our public demonstration in conjunction with … two other protests in Montreal and Toronto also today, which is [Mother’s] Day in Canada,” she explained.

The event was attended by Cork MEP Kathy Sinnott who said some 800 people receive the treatment every year in Ireland. Independent health candidate for Cork North Central, John McCarthy, said the practice should be completely banned.

For  more information about  the  protests in Toronto and Montreal see “Related Content” below.