Activism in New York State to Change the Mental Health System

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Here are a few of the events and news in New York State about changing the mental health system. Some are by sponsor and affiliate groups of MindFreedom. Others are organized by other groups, and endorsed and/or co-sponsored by MindFreedom International.

Attention New York State Residents:

Celia Brown is board president of MindFreedom International, and lives right there in New York City! Celia has a special interest in encouraging the building of the affiliate, MindFreedom New York City. If interested, contact the MFI office.

To support organizing throughout New York State, MindFreedom has two different e-mail lists:

Public news list: This is a free, public, one-way news announcement list about activities in New York for human rights and alternatives in mental health.

Anyone may join this NY State News list, click here.

Discussion list: This is the MindFreedom New York State TALK list. It is open to current MindFreedom members to exchange information and views about actions in New York State to change the mental health system. If you are a current MindFreedom, you may get on the list click here.

News Items From New York About Changing the Mental Health System (in date order):

http://lists.mindfreedom.org/pipermail/mindfreedom-nystate-news_lists.mindfreedom.org/

Protest of Judge Rotenberg Center Electrical Jolts to Children

(Published: Aug 02, 2012 07:42 PM)

The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) uses electrical jolts to the skin of children to try to change behavior, resulting in worldwide outrage, and a charge of ‘torture’ by a United Nations representative. Here is info about an upcoming protest.

Event time: 2012-08-09 (12:30-15:30)

Occupy American Psychiatric Association New York City

(Published: Jun 26, 2012 07:10 PM)

Protesters will be making our voices heard again at the American Psychiatric Association’s fall conference.

Event time: 2012-10-06 (12:00-14:00)

Intl Day of Persons With Disabilities & Human Rights Day

(Published: Dec 01, 2011 02:29 PM)

BELOW is a forwarded invitation from NGO Committee on Mental Health to attend a panel discussion in NEW YORK CITY on 8 December 2011. Topic: “Celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Human Right Day.” MindFreedom International president and UN team chair CELIA BROWN will be moderator.

Event time: 2011-12-08 (14:00-16:00)

PsychOut 2011 Coming to New York

(Published: Dec 10, 2010 03:25 PM)

In 2010, a successful PsychOut conference was held in Toronto. In 2011, another PsychOut event will be held in New York.

Event time: 2011-06-20 (09:00) – 2011-06-21 (17:00)

Protest two years after Esmin Green “murder by neglect at Kings County Hospital Center Psychiatric Emergency Room.”

(Published: May 20, 2010 08:05 PM)

It’s been two years since Esmin Green’s death in a psychiatric emergency room in New York State was caught so vividly by a security camera, and made international news. What has changed? We The People is holding protest and vigil to speak out. MindFreedom New York supports this important event.

Event time: 2010-06-18 (17:00) – 2010-06-19 (17:00)

State urged to ban electroshock on minors

(Published: Jul 20, 2009 01:37 PM)

A publication covering the New York State legislature reports on the protest organized by electroshock survivors, calling for a ban of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on children below age of 16. MindFreedom endorsed this protest.

Protest of use of electroshock (ECT) on children.

(Published: Jul 05, 2009 07:55 PM)

Survivors of electroshock and their allies are holding a protest all day and night in front of the State Capitol in Albany, New York on 14 July, which is Bastille Day, a day often used for protests for human rights in psychiatry.

Event time: 2009-07-14 (05:00) – 2009-07-15 (05:00)

Speaker at Esmin Green 2009 vigil.

(Published: Jun 28, 2009 10:10 AM)

Candles lit during 2009 vigil to remember Esmin Green.

(Published: Jun 28, 2009 10:09 AM)

Sign held in air at the Esmin Green 2009 vigil

(Published: Jun 28, 2009 10:07 AM)

Photos of the Esmin Green 2009 vigil

(Published: Jun 28, 2009 10:05 AM)

In June 2009, We the People and several co-sponsoring groups, including MindFreedom International, held a vigil to remember Esmin Green, who died so publicly in a psychiatric emergency room in New York in 2008.

News on Esmin Green Campaign 2009

(Published: Jun 27, 2009 03:58 PM)

Lauren Tenney reports about the campaign in New York State to remember the life and death of Esmin Green. Ms. Green died very publicly in 2008 in a psychiatric emergency room, and the security video tape was shown to millions. One year later, on 19 June 2009, We the People, with co-sponsorship from other groups such as MindFreedom, held a vigil to remember, and educate the public. The day began with two people doing civil disobedience.

Hospital May Have Falsified Records Of Allegedly Neglected Patient

(Published: Jun 21, 2009 04:57 PM)

NY1 News outlet cited investigators as saying that hospital authorities had falsified and lied in an effort to cover up neglect involved with the death of Esmin Green. This media report mentions the protest of Esmin Green.

Family of Esmin Green Wins $2 Million Settlement

(Published: May 28, 2009 02:07 PM)

Vigil: In memory of Esmin Green, murdered-by-neglect, one year later.

(Published: May 21, 2009 02:59 PM)

BELOW is a forwarded calendar item from the group “We the People” about a memorial vigil for Esmin Green, whose death in a psychiatric emergency room was videotaped and broadcast widely, one year ago. MindFreedom International is one of the sponsors of the vigil.

Event time: 2009-06-19 (13:00) – 2009-06-20 (00:00)

Lecture: “Bad to the Bone: Horrors! – Can Our Genes Help Make Us Act Badly?”

(Published: Feb 02, 2009 01:55 PM)

This lecture announcement was forwarded to MindFreedom by one of our members.

Event time: 2009-02-24 (14:30-16:30)

Did Psychiatric Drugs Cause Esmin Green’s Fatal Blood Clot?

(Published: Aug 14, 2008 05:35 PM)

A news release from PyschRights concerning the possible connection between the psychiatric medications Esmin Green was taking and her tragic death.

Esmin Green vigil photo – 2

(Published: Jul 27, 2008 10:47 AM)

Esmin Green vigil photo – 1

(Published: Jul 27, 2008 10:44 AM)

Photos from NY vigil about death of Esmin Green

(Published: Jul 27, 2008 10:43 AM)

Here are a few photos from the vigil held in New York in front of the hospital where Esmin Green died from criminal neglect.

Esmin Elizabeth Green

(Published: Jul 25, 2008 01:45 PM)

MindFreedom International co-sponsored and supported vigils to remember Esmin Green, who died so publicly in a psychiatric emergency room. Here are updates.

Multi-Media Installation About the Death of Esmin Green

(Published: Jul 24, 2008 06:01 PM)

Announcement for an art exhibit by Dawn Robyn Petrlik about the Death of Esmin Green.

Event time: 2008-07-26 (14:00) – 2008-08-17 (19:00)

Dawn Robyn Petrlik

(Published: Jul 24, 2008 05:59 PM)

Dawn Robyn Petrlik creates her multi-media installation about the death of Esmin Green that opens this Saturday July 26, in Brooklyn, NY.

Esmin Elizabeth Green Vigil

(Published: Jul 17, 2008 05:55 PM)

“VIGIL TO MOURN THE LOSS OF MS. ESMIN ELIZABETH GREEN AND CONDEMN VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.” MindFreedom International is a co-sponsor and supporter of this important event.

Event time: 2008-07-25 (18:00-23:00)

Esmin Elizabeth Green

(Published: Jul 07, 2008 01:12 PM)

Information on MFI affiliate activities in New York pertaining to the death of Esmin Elizabeth Green.

Human Rights! Know them, demand them, defend them!

(Published: Jun 20, 2008 12:31 PM)

Teach In – Demonstration – 24 Hour Vigil

Event time: 2008-06-28 (10:00) – 2008-06-29 (17:00)

1 January 2008 Update: New York State Continues Cover-up On Forced Electroshock

(Published: Dec 31, 2007 09:02 PM)

New York State admits it conducts involuntary electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject, but it won’t provide basic data about this practice, which is opposed to legal recommendations of the World Health Organization. Activist Darby Penney filed an information freedom of information law request, and gleaned a bit of info, but the basic cover-up continues.

New York State Continues Cover-up of Data on Forced ECT

(Published: Dec 30, 2007 09:25 PM)

News Update: 1 January 2008. Long-time human rights activist Darby Penney continues her quest to use the law to make New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) release data about forced electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject. OMH provided a bit of info, but their cover-up continues.

Whistleblower: New York State Cover-up on Electroshock “Is A Lie”

(Published: Nov 21, 2007 12:53 PM)

An individual who identifies himself as retired nurse James Gordon says that he worked in a New York State psychiatric institution, and personally saw electroshock there from the inside. Mr. Gordon says he can confirm accusations by activist Darby Penney that New York State is covering-up data about electroshock, including the amount of involuntary electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject.

Darby Penney responds to New York State’s reply.

(Published: Nov 05, 2007 09:44 PM)

This is a PDF of the 2 November 2007 reply that human rights activist Darby Penney sent back to the New York State Office of Mental Health under the state Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Darby was seeking information about the State’s acknowledged use of forced electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject. Darby submitted her initial letter for information on 2 October 2007. NY OMH replied on 29 October 2007.

New York State’s reply to request for information about forced electroshock.

(Published: Nov 05, 2007 09:41 PM)

This is a PDF of the 29 October 2007 reply by New York State Office of Mental Health to human rights activist Darby Penney under the state Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). On 2 October 2007 Darby had requested information about the State’s acknowledged use of forced electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject.

Darby Penney request to New York State about forced electroshock

(Published: Nov 05, 2007 09:38 PM)

This is a PDF of the 2 October 2007 request that human rights activist Darby Penney sent to the New York State Office of Mental Health under the state Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), to find out about the State’s acknowledged use of forced electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject.

Darby Penney: Right to Know about Electroshock in New York State

(Published: Nov 05, 2007 09:20 PM)

Long-time human rights activist Darby Penney wants to know what New York State is trying to cover up about electroshock, including their ongoing use of involuntary electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject.

Stop Forced Electroshock in New York State!

(Published: Aug 28, 2007 03:00 PM)

Here are some tips about how you can say “no” to the use of involuntary electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject in New York State.

Victory for John Kelly! Forced Electroshock Stopped… So Far

(Published: Aug 06, 2007 07:05 PM)

Apparently because of many complaints, the forced electroshock of John Kelly in Rockland Psychiatric Center has been prevented. Attorney Aaron Frishberg had issued an alert on 30 July 2007 alert about his client John Kelly facing more forced electroshock in Rockland Psychiatric Center. MindFreedom distributed the alert to thousands of people, and many made their concern known to the psychiatric institution.

Download MS word file on July “Comprehensive Plan” meetings

(Published: Jul 19, 2007 05:46 PM)

You can download a New York State Office of Mental Health document about the July 2007 “Comprehensive Plan” meetings. These are perfect opportunities for you to speak out about forced electroshock by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Stop Forced Shock! Speak out at July 2007 public hearings in New York State!

(Published: Jul 19, 2007 05:26 PM)

You can speak out at four (4) public hearings in the next two weeks in New York State to oppose their practice of giving forced, involuntary electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject!

Give feedback to NY State “Recipient Affairs”

(Published: Jul 19, 2007 05:06 PM)

New York State Office of Mental Health “Recipient Affairs” is holding a public meeting on Monday, 23 July 2007 at 3 pm (extending to Tuesday). You are invited to speak out, especially speak out peacefully and strongly against involuntary electroshock!

New York State Office of Mental Health Invites Feedback: July 2007

(Published: Jul 19, 2007 04:12 PM)

Concerned about the way the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is aggressively pursuing involuntary electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject? You may want to bring up your concern at one of their events. The below is from the OMH web site and lists meetings you can attend in July.