MFI Conference/Retreat
The 2007 conference/retreat is over. But you can read about it here. This is information for pre-registered participants in the Creative Revolution in Healing conference/retreat 12 to 15 July 2007. Pre-registration was required and capacity for the conference was reached more than two months before the event.
New Network for Mental Health Empowerment in Lane County Launched
A new alliance called the “Opal Network” is beginning in Lane County, Oregon to support the voice, empowerment and self-determination of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. All agencies involved with mental health, along with all interested mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors, are invited to the initial meeting on Tuesday, 29 May 2007.
Forced electroshock to be debated at New York State High Court
31 May 2007: Receiving hundreds of forced electroshocks for years against the expressed wishes of the subject is becoming the “norm” for some mental health clients in New York State psychiatric institutions, says attorney Dennis Feld. In this news release Mr. Feld announces he will be arguing for the right of his client — Simone D. — to resist more forced electroshock in a New York State High Court.
Shareholder Class Action Filed Against Eli Lilly and Company
This is a forwarded news release announcing that a group of shareholders of Eli Lilly are seeking to sue officers and directors of the corporation for illegal fraud regarding their psychiatric drug Zyprexa.
Authorities: 9 prescriptions “killed” Anna Nicole Smith
Media reported 26 March 2007 that authorities have concluded that celebrity/playmate Anna Nicole Smith was on nine prescriptions drugs “that killed her.” Several of these prescriptions were psychiatric drugs.
60 Minutes: Death of psychiatric inmate in prison
The TV newsmagazine 60 Minutes exposed the torture and killing of a man with mental and emotional problems inside prison through hour upon hour of agonizing restraint.
News: Oregon Consumer Survivor Coalition Proposal
Oregon groups of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors have created a steering committee for a state-wide alliance called “Oregon Consumer Suvivor Coalition” (OCSC). You are invited to participate. Here are the latest news updates.
A Victory for People with Psychiatric Labels in Virginia!
Alison Hymes announces that Virginia has stopped a proposed outpatient commitment program which would allow many Virginians to be court ordered to take psychiatric dugs while living in their own homes.
A troubling diagnosis in Iraq
Associated Press reports that a US soldier accused of murdering a family in Iraq had previously disclosed his desire to kill innocent Iraqui civilians, but had primarily been prescribed a powerful neuroleptic psychiatric drug Seroquel and returned to duty.
“Call Me Crazy” Play Challenges Psychiatric Labeling
The award-winning play “Call Me Crazy” written by MindFreedom member Paula Caplan demystifies psychiatric labeling. The script is now online.
Alert protests NASW link to psychiatric drug industry
Nineteen social work academics have signed an open letter protesting the way the National Asociation of Social Workers (NASW) has entered into a financial relationship with the huge psychiatric drug manufacturer Jannsen.
Psychiatric drug maker gives record pay-off
Pfizer manufacturers the psychiatric drug Zoloft, and announced they were giving a record “golden parachute” to their top executive Hank McKinnell.
The NY Times exposes multiple psychiatric drugging of kids.
On 23 November 2006 The New York Times ran a major article questioning the way young people in the USA are frequently prescribed a “chemical cocktail” of prescribed psychiatric drugs.
Court ruling on Illinois warehoused psychiatric inmates
Federal Court Advances Challenge to Illinois Policy Warehousing Residents Labeled with Mental Illnesses
US launches federal center on ‘trauma informed’ care.
The US government announces a new national center on care from a trauma perspective. Disclaimer: This is a forwarded public service announcement and views do not necessarily represent MFI.
Candlelight vigil remembers Jim Chasse, Jr.
James P. Chasse, Jr. was a resident of Portland, Oregon, USA diagnosed schizophrenic who died in police custody. Psychiatric survivors and mental health consumers marched from the Alternatives 2006 conference to a memorial on 27 October 2006.
Dialogue in law journal about value about psychiatric advanced directives.
Psychiatric advance directives can be one tool to assert your right to be free from coerced psychiatry, but they can sometimes be “superceded” or even misused as a tool against your human rights. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry & Law had a dialogue featuring an article and replies, including from Robert Bernstein, director of Bazelon Center, an MFI Sponsor Group.
Mad Arts Artist Wins Half Million Dollars
A New York City-based artist who works on transforming abandoned psychiatric institutions into memorials with art (such as Northampton State Hospital in Massachusetts) won a MacArthur “Genius Award” of $500,000.
Psychiatric Drug Corporations Enter USA Schools With New Program
An article reveals that the American Psychiatric Association is launching a curriculum in USA schools to promote their perspective on the mental health system, which tends to promote psychiatric drugging. Funders of the APA’s campaign are mainly drug companies giving more than $400,000 in total.
American Psychiatric President Admits “Bio Bio Bio” Rules
When the elected president of the American Psychiatric Association complains about undue influence of the psychiatric drug industry on his profession then you know there’s a problem. Here are MindFreedom’s comments, followed by the text of President Stephen S. Sharfstein’s essay warning about “Big Pharma’s” huge “kickbacks and bribes.”