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MindFreedom International director David Oaks gave a lecture at Oberlin College on May 2, 2012, calling for a revolution in mental health. He was also interviewed that morning by The Oberlin Review.

David Oaks Gives Lecture and Interview at Oberlin College

Date Published:

Jun 09, 2012 12:00 AM

Author: Alex Howard

Source: Oberlin Review

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What sparked your interest in mental health activism?

I like to say my recruiting room was when I was a working-class kid going to Harvard, and I ran into mental and emotional problems, and I ended up in a psychiatric institution. There I was in solitary confinement, getting forcibly drugged, and I vowed that when I got out I would do something to change it. I’ve always been kind of an activist. Even at 9 years old, I was putting out an underground newsletter, so I’ve always been into social change and activism.

When was MindFreedom International founded and what is its overall purpose?

It was 26 years ago, back in 1986, that we formed what became MindFreedom. Part of its purpose is to keep the activist part of the mental health advocacy field alive and organized….

Read the rest of the interview at the Oberlin Review’s website.