USA News
The Huffington Post Carries Attack on Alternatives 2010 Mental Health Conference
Live from Alternatives 2010 in Anaheim, California: MindFreedom director David Oaks says more than 1,000 mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors have registered, and there’s lots of great news. But rather than cover this news, The Huffington Post is once more carrying a political attack by extremist D. J. Jaffe. You can ask The Huffington Post why they broadcast hate speech about our people, but they do not broadcast any voice from the “mad movement” itself. [Update 5 Oct. 2010]
Robert Whitaker’s new book takes on mental health myths about psychiatric drugs.
The new book by journalist Bob Whitaker — Anatomy of an Epidemic — challenges the massive psychiatric drugging inundating our society. He also spotlights MindFreedom’s activism more than once as a model of effectiveness.
Alert helps free Emily Darguzhyte who was locked inside Western State Hospital
A 28-year-old woman from Lithuania, who has trouble with English, was being heavily forcibly drugged while held in extended ongoing involuntary lock-ups at the notorious Western State Hospital. Her family and friends asked that she be released. MindFreedom issued the below alert. UPDATE 24 AUGUST 2010: THIS CAMPAIGN HAS WON! Emily was freed 24 August 2010.
Human Rights Group Files “Torture” Charge with UN Against USA Facility
A Massachusetts facility that uses painful electric jolts on people diagnosed with mental disabilities has been charged with “torture” by Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI), in a complaint filed with the United Nation Special Rapporteur on Torture. MDRI is a sponsor group of MindFreedom International. Read the MDRI news release here:
US Senator Turns Investigation to NAMI State Chapter Drug Company Money
Senator Grassley has written to NAMI director Michael J. Fitzpatrick (pictured on right) requesting information about psychiatric pharmaceutical industry funding of NAMI state chapters.
Reachout.org Launches with Input from MindFreedom International Youth
According to many studies, more and more young adults are reporting feeling more stressed and depressed this year. MindFreedom International Youth Committee members pitched in with Reachout.com to help make a video to educate the public about this challenge.
Portland Mental Health Examiner Runs Three-Part Interview with David Oaks about Oregon
Electroshock, Oregon, mental health, and MindFreedom are all topics of a three-part interview with MindFreedom director David Oaks that was run in the Portland Examiner, on 19 January 2010.
Update: MindFreedom Helps Reach Thousands About FDA & Electroshock
Thousands spoke out to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oppose their controversial proposal to approve devices used for electroshock — also known as electroconvulsive therapy or ECT — without any testing for safety and effectiveness. The deadline of 8 January 2010 has passed, but you can still speak out. [Update: 27 Jan. 2010]
City of Eugene Passes Resolution for Choice in Mental Health
Other cities are encouraged to follow the lead of the City Council of the City of Eugene. On 26 October 2009 they unanimously passed a resolution on affirming the city’s commitment to human rights, self-determination and choice in mental health care. The resolution No. 4989 says “special emphasis should be placed on providing diverse alternatives in treatments, including non-drug alternatives, whenever possible.”
MindFreedom member wins Facebook prize. And he completed 100 day vigil in front of psychiatric facility.
MindFreedom member Godly Mathew won a prize on Facebook today 22 Sept. 2009. Nice end of his summer. In an unrelated victory, Godly vigiled this summer at least one hour each and every day, in front of a psychiatric facility where he said he was abused, Friends Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In this update, Godly completed his pledged 100 days.
Brian Henley Freed From Northeast Florida State Hospital
Update Jan 2011: Brian Henley is freed. Brian Henley was a 34-year-old man held against his will, and forced to take psychiatric drugs, at Northeast Florida State Hospital in Macclenny, Florida. The town of Macclenny is 35 miles west of Jacksonville in northeast Florida. “I want my freedom so I can visit my mother who has Alzheimer’s, and my son who I haven’t seen in three years,” said Brian. Update: Brian is now free.
Al Siebert, alternative mental health psychologist and psychiatric survivor, dead at 75.
Long-time MindFreedom member and supporter Al Siebert has died at the age of 75. Al was well known as a psychologist, author and lecturer on the topic of resiliency, and surviving even the most traumatic of events. His books on resiliency and mental health alternatives were very popular. What is less known is that Al as a graduate student experienced the psychiatric system and a diagnosis of “schizophrenia,” but after a few days escaped the institution, and went on to his successful career. Once he was established, Al later self-published a little-known book about how he personally survived the psychiatric system.
News on Esmin Green Campaign 2009
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.
National TV Show Looks for People Going Off All Psychiatric Drugs
A national USA television show is seeking individuals with diagnoses such as “schizophrenia” who have totally quit or are quitting all prescribed psychiatric drugs, for a show on Mad Pride.
Senate Probe Reveals that Majority of NAMI Money from Drug Companies
For years NAMI — the National Alliance on Mental Illness — has had an official secrecy policy on the amount of funds NAMI receives from psychiatric drug companies. Because of a US Senate probe in April 2009, NAMI has now disclosed that for the past five years a majority of their funds — 56% — are from the pharmaceutical industry.
New Bibliography of Personal Accounts of Madness
The most recent edition of a comprehensive bibliography on personal accounts of madness is now available.
Let Garrison Keillor Know About Minnesotan Ray Sandford’s Forced Electroshock
Humorist Garisson Keillor has had to tangle with the American Psychiatric Association before. You can encourage this humorist, inventor of Lake Wobegone, to speak out again, this time about Raymond Sandford of Minnesota.
M-POWER reports on psychiatric emergency room rights bill
Cathy Levin from M-POWER reports about progress on their fight for a bill in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts legislature for a bill of rights for people who use psychiatric emergency rooms. Often these emergency rooms abuse individuals diagnosed with psychiatric labels. M-POWER reports that the bill is still alive! M-POWER is a sponsor group of MindFreedom International.
Esmin Elizabeth Green
MindFreedom International co-sponsored and supported vigils to remember Esmin Green, who died so publicly in a psychiatric emergency room. Here are updates.
Oregon Consumer Survivor Coalition delegation meets with Oregon’s governor
A report on the recent meeting between the OCSC, Mental Health America, and Governor Ted Kulongoski.
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