MindFreedom Oregon News Zone
This web folder of news about a nonviolent revolution in Oregon’s mental health system is sponsored by MindFreedom Oregon, a state-wide affiliate uniting Oregonians for human rights and alternatives in the mental health system.
Oregon Consumer Survivor Coalition
Representatives from several groups of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors in Oregon have formed a steering committee for a state-wide coalition. The official name is Oregon Mental Health Consumer and Psychiatric Survivor Coalition, and Articles of Incorporation were successfully filed with the State of Oregon on 31 August 2007. MindFreedom Oregon won a grant from McKenzie River Gathering to help provide technical assistance. The nonprofit technical assistance center of attorney David Atkin has filed incorporation papers and is assisting with the legal end of the start-up. [Update 30 Jan. 2008]
Tell Oregon Governor Now: Change Our Mental Health System!
MindFreedom Oregon Human Rights Alert: Strength in numbers! Now is the time for you to ask Oregon’s Governor to change Oregon’s mental health system.
Oregon-SB363-SB364
These two bills in the 2007 Oregon legislature were created by mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors to build empowerment in the mental health system.
MindFreedom Oregon E-News
Get occasional public alerts about activity throughout Oregon for human right and alternatives in the mental health system.
MindFreedom Lane County
MindFreedom Lane County is very active in City and County levels to change the mental health system. Drop by the monthly First Wednesday Roundtable… Sign up for a public e-mail discussion list… participate in a variety of campaigns… volunteer. Check out the news here!
Portland
Info about MindFreedom member activity in Portland, Oregon, USA for human rights and alternatives in mental health.
We helped STOP HB 3524 and HB 2995: Defend Privacy of Oregonians with Psychiatric Diagnoses!
HB 3524, if it had passed the 2007 Oregon legislative session, would have allowed Oregon police to create a database of certain Oregonians with psychiatric labels. HB 2995 would have allowed private mental health care information to be disclosed by health care practitioners without permission. Because of citizens speaking out in testimony and letters and calls, including following MindFreedom Oregon alerts, these two bills were STOPPED! Thank you! [Update July 2007]
It’s a beautiful mind: Schizophrenic experience leads man to medicine
Diagnosed with schizophrenia, a Princeton PhD’s dehumanizing experience in psych wards leads to a career in psychiatry, with an aim to fix the broken mental health system, reports East Oregonian. Fully recovered, Dr. Dan Fisher emerges from the experience to become a member of the White House Commission on Mental Health and the executive director of the National EmpowermentCenter, a resource center for psychiatric survivors.
Past MindFreedom Oregon Activities
Archive of actions, events, etc. in which MindFreedom Oregon played a role.
Psychiatric Survivor Guest Column Challenges Oregon Governor
Dave Romprey is a long-time Oregon psychiatric survivor and activist. Dave has written a guest column published by the Salem, Oregon “Statesman Journal” challenging the governor of Oregon to truly change Oregon’s mental health system.
Oregon News to Change Mental Health System: Bills, Call to Governor
News about activities in Oregon for human rights, empowerment and alternatives in the mental health system. MindFreedom Oregon updates and alerts.
One way to advise Oregon’s mental health system director
For the past few years, the director of the Oregon state mental health system, Bob Nikkel, has convened a public meeting about every other month, especially to hear from mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. Here’s how you can be informed of these meetings, and participate.
Letter to editor: Why does Governor budget zero for voice of mental health clients?
Here is a letter to the editor published in the main daily newspaper for Eugene, Oregon, USA, written by the director of MindFreedom, David Oaks. The letter asks why Governor Kulongoski of Oregon has budgeted zero for the state-wide voice of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors since 2003. There’s an easy way you can ask the Governor.
Finances troubled Cascadia from start
One of many articles published in the largest newspaper in Oregon, The Oregonian, about various scandals in Oregon’s mental health system. This one mentions that a top executive for the largest mental health provider in Oregon moved to France two years ago, but continues to collect a hefty full time paycheck!
Proposed Oregon office of mental health consumer affairs
Information about a proposal by State of Oregon for an office of mental health consumer affairs. Apparently the voice of mental health consumer and psychiatric survivors in Oregon may be getting loud and united enough to be heard.
Info for OCSC Board
Here are documents, material, info, etc. that may be of interest to the board of directors of OCSC.
Oregon Ted Governor vs. state-wide voice of mental health consumers
Information about how Oreegon’s Governor Ted Kulongoski has — for more than six years — refused to grant any resources for the state-wide voice of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. Ever since January 2002, the Governor’s first month in office, he has continued to propose zero funds for activities such as a mental health consumer affairs office. Most USA states have some kind of funding to support the state-wide empowerment and voice of mental health clients. Not Oregon. Ask the Governor, “Why Zero?”
From the Desk of Oregon Representative Carolyn Tomei
It’s time for the State of Oregon to take a stand about pharmaceutical corporation corruption. Nationally, more and more revelations are emerging about how this scandal, especially by leadership from US Senator Grassley (R-Iowa). Here in Oregon, Representative Carolyn Tomei has take the lead to pass a bill on the State level that is similar to a bill Sen. Grassley is working on nationally. Here are the details.
More information on “Why Zero?” Campaign
MindFreedom has been asking the State of Oregon why we are one of the very few USA states with zero — 0 — funding for the state-wide voice of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. Here’s where you can find additional information on this very good question!
Another Suspicious Death Inside Oregon State Hospital
According to the below MindFreedom Oregon Exclusive Report, another psychiatric patient died inside Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon under suspicious circumstances on Saturday, 17 October 2009.
One of the ash cans containing more than 5,000 patients at Oregon State Hospital.
Oregon State Hospital “had a policy, between 1912 to mid-1970’s, of cremating those who pass away at the hospital and storing their ashes in copper canisters, a very basic funeral urn. The hospital maintains custody of all the canisters that go unclaimed. Over time, due to the poor storage conditions and the canister’s materials of construction, many of the exterior surfaces of these copper urns have radically changed.” – From http://thephotobook.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/david-maisel-library-of-dust/. Photo by David Maisel.
Rethinking psychiatry and moving mental health recovery forward
“Anatomy of an Epidemic” author, Robert Whitaker, will lead panel in Portland, February 10, 2011
Information about the Rethink Psychiatry Event in Portland Oregon
On 13 and 14 May 2011, a gathering was held in Portland, Oregon called “Rethinking Psychiatry” featuring author/journalist Robert Whitaker and 40 workshops calling for deep change in the mental health system.
Proposed new psych. institution in Junction City, Oregon
The State of Oregon has had no funding for the state-wide voice of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors since 2002. But millions of dollars were found, during a recession, to propose building a new, huge, “big box” type state psychiatric institution in Junction City, Oregon. Here’s the news about this proposed facility.
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