The Icarus Project and Freedom Center partnered up to create the Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, a 52-page illustrated guide with the best available information about coming off psychiatric medication as of 2012.

A “harm reduction” approach means not being pro- or anti- medication, but supporting people where they are at to make their own decisions, balancing the risks and benefits involved.

The guide was written by Will Hall based on more than 10 years of work in the peer support movement, with an advisory board of 55 health professionals providing research assistance and more than 50 collaborators involved in development and editing. It features photographs and art throughout, and a beautiful original cover painting by Jacks McNamara.

The guide is used internationally by individuals, families, professionals, and organizations, and is available in a growing number of translations. It includes information on mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, risks, benefits, wellness tools, psychiatric drug withdrawal, information for people staying on their medications, a detailed resource section, and much more.

Read about the making of the first edition and second edition of the guide.

For more information on coming off psychiatric medication, please see the Icarus forums, BeyondMeds, ComingOff, and Will Hall’s webpage.

 

 

Download Links

The Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs is available to download for free in the following languages. Some are printable versions that can be folded into a booklet (click here for assembly instructions).

Note: the guide is Creative Commons copyright and you have advance permission to link, copy, print, and distribute for non-commercial purposes, as long as you credit the source and don’t alter the contents.