Global News
From Psychiatric Inmate to Honorary Doctor: Peter Lehmann receives Honorary Doctorate
Long-time MindFreedom member and activist Peter Lehmann has been given an honorary doctor for his decades of work to win human rights and alternatives in the mental health field. [Update 29 Oct. 2010]
New Featured Products in the Mad Market
New products in MindFreedom’s online “Mad Market” store: DVD & CD. Plus there are books, brochures, and more. All proceeds benefit MindFreedom’s human rights work!
MindFreedom Ireland’s Annual Report for 2009.
MindFreedom Ireland MF(lrl) is a proud affiliate in MindFreedom International. MF(lrl) can look back at its performance during the year and report significant progress on a number of fronts.
MindFreedom Increases Web 2.0 Mental Health Advocacy, Collaborates with WebTalent SEO.
NEWS RELEASE: MindFreedom International members, sponsors, affiliates and allied mental health advocates are spread out all over the world. MindFreedom International is using more participatory web tools in campaigns for mental health rights and alternative mental health, thanks to help from Oliver Feakins, President of WebTalent SEO, and intern Anne from University of Oregon. Here’s how you can participate.
Laurie Ahern, Mental Health Advocate, Named President of Mental Disability Rights International
Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) announces that Laurie Ahern, psychiatric survivor, has been voted by their board of directors to be MDRI President. MDRI is a sponsor group in MindFreedom International working for mental health rights and alternative mental health.
Successful ECT Protest Held in Ireland
On 31 May 2009 a protest against electroshock was held by MindFreedom Ireland in Cork.
WHO’s Mental Health Director Calls MindFreedom’s work “remarkable, fair.”
The head of the UN’s World Health Organization’s mental health department from 1999 to 2010 was psychiatrist Dr. Benedetto Saraceno in Geneva, Switzerland. In that position, Dr. Saraceno issued a statement about WHO’s work with MindFreedom International and MFI executive director David W. Oaks. Dr. Saraceno’s support has continued in his next position as chair of the Global Initiative on Psychiatry (GIP).
Documentary on Coerced Psychiatry
Norwegian Television (NRK 1) will present a documentary about coerced psychiatry on October 28, 2008.
MindFreedom Ireland founder Mary Maddock was featured in a major newspaper story in Ireland.
Mary Maddock is a former nun, an electroshock survivor, founder of MindFreedom Ireland based in Cork, Ireland, and author of the book Soul Survivor. One of the main newspapers in Ireland ran a major feature about Mary. Mary is on the board of directors of MindFreedom International.
UK Guardian: Studies say antidepressants no better than placebo
UK’s Guardian newspaper covers the news that a major study says SSRI antidepressant psychiatric drugs are no better than placebo.
Psychiatric Survivor Musician Works on Album
Vara Adams is a psychiatric survivor musician who is working on an album of songs that challenge the current mental health system. She has three of the six songs recorded so far. We’ve been enjoying these first three at the MindFreedom office! Go Vara!
Review: “Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry” reviewed by Mary Maddock
Mary Maddock of Cork, Ireland reviews the new book “Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry” co-edited by Peter Lehmann and Peter Stastny. Mary is co-founder of MindFreedom Ireland.
Alert: Psychiatric Survivors & Allies May Comment in Medical Magazine
Maths Jesperson is a long-time psychiatric survivor activist, leader and actor in Sweden, who is calling upon psychiatric survivors and allies all over the world to submit comments to an online medical magazine. This magazine covers all kinds of medical topics, but the editor, who is a psychiatrist, has reached out to psychiatric survivors and allies to ask for their commentary, and articles.
Declaration from protest of Eastern European Psychiatric Congress
A nonviolent protest using banners and guerilla theater was held in and outside of the “First Eastern European Psychiatric Congress” in Thessaloniki, Greece on 21 September 2007. The protest was by the Pan-Hellenic Coalition for Psychiatric Reform. There is a link to a brief video of the action that you may watch.
Bonkersfest 2008 Announcement
Bonkersfest is a wonderful annual Mad Pride event in UK that brings thousands of people together for creativity, music, costumes, strangeness and even a bit of education about human rights of people in the mental health system! Bonkersfest announces a call for proposals for 2008 events, along with some other wonderfully Mad Pride activity in UK.
Bonkersfest 2008 Announcement
Bonkersfest is a wonderful annual Mad Pride event in UK that brings thousands of people together for creativity, music, costumes, strangeness and even a bit of education about human rights of people in the mental health system! Bonkersfest announces a call for proposals for 2008 events, along with some other wonderfully Mad Pride activity in UK.
World Hearing Voices Day is 14th September 2007
This is a news release from INTERVOICE about a day for celebrating humane alternatives for people who hear distressing voices.
MDRI Wins International Human Rights Award
The 2007 Thomas J. Dodd Prize hfor International Justice and Human Rights has been given to Mental Disability Rights International, a sponsor group of MindFreedom International. Here is MDRI’s news release.
Terence McLaughlin, editor of Asylum magazine, dies
Ian Parker forwarded the sad news that long-time movement activist Terence McLaughlin has died. Terence edited Asylum magazine and supported MindFreedom’s work.
MindFreedom Responds to a Call for “More Money” for Mental Health in Poor & Developing Countries
Media are widely covering a news story about global mental health. Lancet, the widely-respected medical publication, published a study calling for more money for mental health services in poor developing countries. World Health Organization promptly put out an endorsement of this call for more money. But MindFreedom asks, “more money for what”?
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