United for a Revolution in Mental Health Care
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Winter 2009-10 www.MindFreedom.org Protesters give a Mad Pride injection to the psychiatric industry directly outside the doors of the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting during a “Festival of Resistance” co-sponsored by MindFreedom International and the California Network of Mental Health Clients. See page 8 for more. Victory! MindFreedom Helps Ray Sandford Stop His Forced Electroshock Mad Pride in Media Launched: Directory of Alternative Mental Health Judi Chamberlin Leads From Hospice United for a Revolution in Mental Health Care www.MindFreedom.org Published PbyAGE MFI • MindFreedom International Wins Campaigns for Human Rights and From the Executive Director: Everyone Has Something To Offer Alternatives in the Mental Health System Please join! BY DAVID W. OAKS all psychiatric oppression “BY This is a TUESDAY.” MindFreedom International Sponsor Group or Affiliate has a Because of generous support from place where www.MindFreedom.org (MFI) is one of the few groups liaison on the MFI Support Coalition MindFreedom groups and members, “So,” Judi said, “that’s what I MindFreedom in the mental health field that is Advisory Council. [email protected] in the last few months I have had want. By Tuesday.” members can post to forums independent with no funding from MFI’s mission: “In a spirit of the privilege of visiting MindFree- In that spirit, here are some tips for and blogs that are or links to governments, mental mutual cooperation, MindFreedom MindFreedom International dom International (MFI) activists in our members in effective leadership open to public health providers, drug companies, International leads a nonviolent 454 Willamette, Suite 216 Norway, Maine, Massachusetts, Min- in MindFreedom International, for a view. You can use religious organizations, etc. Funding revolution of freedom, equality, nesota and California. Talking face- P.O. Box 11284 nonviolent revolution… by Tuesday! this site to easily Executive Director is entirely from members like you, truth and human rights that unites to-face with so many of you inspires Eugene, OR 97440-3484 U.S.A. get out news David Oaks and a few foundations. people affected by the mental health my hope. Start by finding your team, your about you and your group’s activity system with movements for justice phone: (541) 345-9106 project, your passion with MindFree- MFI is rooted in a global Members are spread all over the to the world, and to network with everywhere.” toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE dom. Al Galves on our board puts it movement to change the mental planet, which can make community this way, “Everyone has something other members. Current members health system. The majority of If you are not yet a member, become fax: (480) 287-8833 building difficult. However, MFI to offer. The important thing is to do are invited to join in by going to MindFreedom’s membership, a member or donate, now! If you are is about what Martin Luther King MOVING? Please provide your new it. Just find your own way to help www.my-mfi.org and clicking on board and staff identify themselves already a member, consider an early called “creative maladjustment.” postal address. out.” Community organizing hap- the link “Create new account” in the as mental health consumers and renewal donation. MindFreedom A number of MindFreedom mem- pens when you realize you are an lower left hand corner. psychiatric survivors. However, is a non-profit organization under Privacy: The MindFreedom bers are building affiliates, sponsor MFI leader, a mad movement leader. Thanks also to MindFreedom intern membership is open to everyone IRS 501(c)(3) and your donation database is private. MindFreedom groups are finding a way to pitch in, Anne Blumenthal and expert Oliver who supports our human rights is tax-deductible. (To join or volunteers help in so many ways, WEB 2.0 organizers may be given contact Feakins of WebTalent SEO. With their goals. Advocates, mental health donate, see the back cover or visit dedicated board members continue lists. If you prefer no contact, Jeremy Bensman in our office help MFI and members are now ac- professionals, family members www.MindFreedom.org.) inform the office. to coordinate and so many people recently launched the new Mind- and the general public are all tively using Twitter, Facebook, Linke- You are also encouraged to check respond to MFI alerts. Thank you. Freedom social networking web site, valued members and leaders in the Copyright: Unless noted, you din, Wikipedia and more. out our Mad Market of books and As I was taught in community called “My MFI.” MindFreedom community. may copy for non-commercial continued on page 14 products at www.MadMarket.org. organizing about such successes: use as long as you credit MindFreedom International also Proceeds support MFI’s human “Keep doing what you’re doing, and unites grassroots organizations. Each rights work. www.MindFreedom.org © 2009 do more of it!” Your active leader- tm. MindFreedom ship is the number one way to help Conserve: Printed with soy-based MFI today. ink on partly recycled paper. If you are an MFI member who MindFreedom Journal #50 MindFreedom plants trees to help “simply” donates, great. We “sim- Table of Contents: replace paper used. ply” need many more of you! But if you want to do even more to support Thanks to donors and to members Welcome to MindFreedom International ..................................................2 MFI activities with your valuable who volunteer through mailing time, this note is for you. Everyone Has Something To Offer..............................................................3 parties, research, tips, writing, editing and much more. In my travels I had two evenings Ray Sanford Campaign Wins!......................................................................4 with a great leader, our wonderful Mary Maddock Interview..............................................................................5 Board: Celia Brown (President), Ted Judi Chamberlin, who is a long-time Chabasinski, Judi Chamberlin, Krista MFI board member. Judi is a move- News In Brief..................................................................................................6 Erickson, Janet Foner, Al Galves, ment heroine now in hospice care The Normality of Madness...........................................................................7 Mary Maddock, Matt Morrissey. with an apparently untreatable lung problem. Protestors Overcome Psychiatric Corruption...........................................8 Staff: David Oaks (Director), Jeremy Bensman (Director of Member As we reflected on our thirty-three Molly Hogan Interview.................................................................................9 Services, Editor). years working together, I asked Judi, How can the cross-disability movement and mental health consumer/psychiatric survivor “Is there anything I can do?” Minnesota Protest To End Forced Shock..................................................10 Webmaster: Hal Noble/NetCorps. movements work together? TC Dumas, Claire Seminara and Bjo Ashwill, shown above, She said, “Remember when you presented with David Oaks at a successful conference to 70 people co-organized by sponsors Poetic Justice with Bonnie Schell...............................................................11 Desktop publishing: showed up at Mental Patients Liber- MindFreedom International, LILA and Bazelon Center. The workshop presented the model McKenzie Printers Guild, Mental Health Alternatives Directory Launched......................................12 ation Front? You were so optimistic. of the Opal Network, where allies are mobilized to amplify the voices of those diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities. Together we can help implement the goals of the US Supreme Court TV Highlights Mad Movement....................................................................13 [email protected]. You put a sign on the wall.” Olmsted decision, to integrate our people into the least restrictive community alternative. Spread the Word - Truth Injection Flyer....................................................15 ISSN 1537-5013 I did remember. The sign These Opal Training Institute workshops are now available nationally. instructed our members to end Ask about bringing this training to your area. PAGE • www.MindFreedom.org www.MindFreedom.org PAGE • 3 It was good. It was difficult but it strengthened our bond Stopping Forced Outpatient Electroconvulsive Therapy: MARY MADDOCK INTERVIEW and enlightened us on our mutual journey together. Jim is a great support to me. He is my best friend and is more Ray Sandford Campaign Wins! Can you tell us a little about your experiences in the mental and more conscious that his role is respecting me as an health system? equal. He was very courageous to allow me to ‘BE’ and refrain from taking me over. I am forever grateful for hav- If you’ve visited the MindFreedom turned to electroshock. It does not I first encountered the controlling ‘mental health’ sys- ing him as part of my life. website in recent months you have appear that any alternatives had tem at the age of 28 after the birth of my first child, Claire. What’s next for you? And what do you see for the future of the undoubtedly seen the regular alerts been offered to Ray and his fam- After a horrendous experience of drug ‘treatment’ and movement? about the campaign to help end the ily beyond psychiatric drugs and electroshock I finally emerged and was free again for forced outpatient electroshock of Ray shock. seven productive