Spring 2008 www.MindFreedom.org Join a nonviolent revolution in Support Youth Survivors of Mental Health Human Rights Violations!

Mad Pride!

Humane Alternatives to the Mental Health System!

How Psychiatric photo by James Becker James by photo Drug Money Members of the MindFreedom Youth Committee. Dominates the From left: Ishi, Lotus, MindFreedom’s new Youth Coordinator Martin Rafferty, Iana, and Skye. Martin’s story is on page 3. Media!

Table of Truth in Media • 4 Contents Affi liate Drive • 5 MFI Wins • 2 Wisdom House New Staff Welcomed • 2 Conference • 5 Much More News: Youth for Choice • 3 Poetic Justice • 6 Law & Activism • 3 Fundraising • 6 www.mindfreedom.org • 4 Diversity Welcomed • 7

www.MindFreedom.org Published byPAGE MFI • MFI Wins Campaigns for Human Rights and Alternatives in Mental Health Please join! MindFreedom International unites cooperation, MindFreedom Interna- thousands of individual members. tional leads a nonviolent revolution of www.MindFreedom.org The majority of MindFreedom’s mem- freedom, equality, truth, and human bership, board, and staff are psychiat- rights that unites people affected by [email protected] ric survivors. However, membership the mental health system with move- is open to everyone who supports ments for justice everywhere.” MindFreedom International our human rights goals. Advocates, If you are not yet a member, become 454 Willamette, Suite 216 mental health professionals, family a member or donate, now! If you are members, and the general public are P.O. Box 11284 already a member, consider an early all valued members and leaders in the Eugene, OR 97440-3484 U.S.A. renewal donation. MindFreedom is MindFreedom community. a non-profit organization under IRS phone: (541) 345-9106 MindFreedom International (MFI) 501(c)(3) and your donation is tax- toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE unites 100 grassroots organizations. deductible. (To join or donate, see fax: (541) 345-3737 Each Sponsor www.MindFreedom.org.) Group or Affiliate MOVING? Please provide your new You are also encouraged to has a liaison on the postal address. check out our Mad Market MFI Support Coalition of books and products at Advisory Council. Privacy: The MindFreedom database www.MadMarket.org. is private. MindFreedom organizers MFI is rooted in a global Proceeds support this may be given contact lists. If you movement to change the mental human rights work. prefer no contact, inform the office. health system. MFI is one of the few You can now also groups in the mental health field download a free copy of Copyright: Unless noted, you may that is independent with no funding our MindFreedom brochure! You can copy for non-commercial use. Please from or links to governments, mental then print it out and distribute it to in- credit www.MindFreedom.org © health providers, drug companies, tm. form people about MFI campaigns for 2008 MindFreedom religious organizations, etc. Funding human rights and humane alterna- is entirely from members like you, and tives in the mental health system. It is Conserve: Printed with soy-based a very few foundations. available at: www.mindfreedom.org/ ink on partly recycled paper. MFI’s mission: “In a spirit of mutual brochure. MindFreedom plants trees to help replace paper used.

MFI Welcomes Martin Rafferty Thanks to donors and to members and Jeremy Bensman who volunteer through mailing parties, research, tips, writing, There were two new additions to the MindFree- editing and much more. dom office in 2007. Martin Rafferty joined the team in January and is currently both MindFreedom’s Office Board: Celia Brown (President), Ted Manager and Youth Coordinator. A psychiatric survi- Chabasinski, , Krista vor – see this issue’s cover story! – Martin writes: “I am Erickson, Janet Foner, Al Galves, passionate about change, and passionate about includ- Mary Maddock, Matt Morrissey. ing youth in that change... I am excited about taking a Director of Staff: (Director), Martin strong stance against the abuse that is happening in our Member Services Rafferty (Office Manager), Jeremy mental health care system. Taking that stance is impor- Jeremy Bensman Bensman (Director of Member tant work, even though so much more must be done.” And in September Jeremy Bensman became the new Director of Member Services). Services. Jeremy recently obtained an M.A. in philosophy from the Univer- Webmaster: Hal Noble NetCorps. sity of Oregon, where he studied social justice issues and the work of . He writes: “It has been exciting to be able to meet and correspond Desktop publishing: mckenzieprint with so many talented people working with so much heart for human rights in [email protected] mental health. The world needs more independent voices like these! If you’re interested in finding out how to become more active in MindFreedom, let us ISSN 1537-5013 know at [email protected].” PAGE • www.MindFreedom.org would be very shallow. Assumptions like these reflect the Youth Voices oppression of youth in our culture. The Youth Voices For Choices campaign is countering this oppression by offer- For Choices ing new and exciting ways for youth to use their voice. Our international efforts will involve creating a more vibrant online community. Sites like YouTube and BY MARTIN RAFFERTY MySpace are very popular in the youth culture. Mind- Freedom has taken advantage of this by inspiring youth At the time MindFreedom launched its youth campaign, to create content around voice. You can already see some Youth Voices For Choices, I was twenty years old. As a examples of this on our website. Humorous skits and youth, I myself experienced forced drugging. A nurse actu- serious stories are given, as well as a complete conversa- ally shoved a stick in my mouth to make sure I swallowed tion with a group of seven youth with very diverse back- my pills. My voice as a youth was not heard. I said no, grounds. This is just part of our plan to create a presence they said yes. Eventually, when they gave me water to take for youth in our movement! the pills with, I started taping the pills under the paper cup. I had no idea that there was an organization like This year our youth campaign is also addressing mental MindFreedom fighting for my right to choose. health screening in public school systems. We will release a Teen Screen Manual to educate students, teachers, and Most people don’t believe that youth talk seriously parents about a system designed to put millions of chil- about this issue, or think that if they did the discussions dren on dangerous drugs. Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Activism Task Force Warns Forcing Psychiatric Drugs Can Increase Violence

Promising to fight what they call often increase violence, rather than expertise for strategic litigation and pervasive and harmful violations decrease it. If people were warned the “people power” of MindFreedom of mental health clients who that both taking and withdrawing activists around the country will are involuntarily drugged and from these drugs can at times bring a synergy and geographic electroshocked in the United States, contribute to committing terrible reach to their demands for the Law Project for Psychiatric acts, they and their loved ones people’s legal and human Rights (PsychRights) and the can be alert to the possibility and rights. Daniel Hazen, MindFreedom Shield Campaign tragedies averted.” Northeast Coordinator with announced a joint Task Force on PsychRights, added, “In Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Krista Erickson, MFI the United States the Activism. The new partnership of board member and ‘mental health’ industry law and nonviolent direct action Chair of the MFI Shield is a labeling system has an initial focus in California, Campaign, said, “I’m that often dismisses Massachusetts, and New York. excited about MFI self-determination, and PsychRights legal capacity, PsychRights’ President Jim expanding our and alternatives. Gottstein declared, “People’s rights partnership and ‘Treatment’ can be forced in forced drugging proceedings focusing the combined power through the court systems. are ignored as a matter of course, of legal advocacy and activism on People ought to have their day in resulting in great harm to them and specific cases.” The MFI Shield court but this is often far from what decreased public safety.” David Campaign supports the wishes of actually occurs.” Oaks, Director of MindFreedom a member to be free of involuntary International, noted, “Violence by mental health intervention with an The Law Project for Psychiatric a few individuals labeled ‘mentally international “Solidarity Network” of Rights is a public interest law firm ill’ has led to a backlash calling advocates. The new Task Force plans devoted to the defense of people for a massive increase in forced to use both the court of law and the facing the “horrors of unwarranted psychiatric drugging.” court of public opinion. forced psychiatric drugging and Mr. Gottstein added, “Contrary other forced psychiatric procedures.” to public perception, forcing people Task Force organizers say the Find out more about PsychRights at to take psychiatric drugs can combination of PsychRights’ www.psychrights.org. www.MindFreedom.org PAGE • 3 AD RIDE MMindFreedom welcomesP Ruth Ruth of The Friendly Spike Theatre and John McCarthy of MindFreedom Ireland, as the new co-chairs of the Mad Pride 2008 campaign!

Here are just a few highlights from Mad Pride events in 2007. More information about Mad Pride can be found online at: www.mindfreedom.org/campaign/ MindFreedom Ghana celebrates Mad Pride madpride/. The Great Escape through the center Accra amid music and dancing. We printed and Bed Push distributed T-shirts and caps to the For the first time this year, a Mad On Saturday, July 14, activists in marchers, and printed 3,000 fliers Pride event was held in Capetown, Canada and England participated that were distributed to people along South Africa. A small crowd gathered in a bed push, simulating an escape the way. A petition was delivered to celebrate near District Six, a site of from forced treatment. A bed push to the Minister of Health before the forced removals during the apartheid was also held by the Freedom Center march concluded with a cultural era. Members of the Cape Consumer in Northampton, Massachusetts, on event in Independence Square. Advocacy Body (CCAB), World Sunday, July 29. This was the third Network of Users and Survivors of Bed Push in England but the first in (WNUSP), and IAACM Ireland Canada and the US. For more details convened. Good weather and an MindFreedom Ireland member see: www.bedpush.com. excellent sunrise helped to keep us John McCarthy celebrated Mad all in good spirits before marching Pride by standing in the general to Parliament and staging a vigil Ghana election, the first ex-user of the and picket for the victims of coercive For the second year, Mad Pride system to do so in Ireland. John psychiatric abuse. A memorandum is was celebrated in Ghana. Activists writes, “I like to think we won the on its way to parliamentarians. Read held a 260 person strong, 5 kilometer campaign and lost the election... more at: southafrica.indymedia.org/ March for Dignity and Human The function now is to keep that news/2007/07/12612.php. Rights in Psychiatry, marching debate ongoing.”

MindFreedomʼs Truth in Media Campaign Often the writers of these articles know little about science or medicine BY JOHN M. RYAN, “chemical imbalance in the brain”; and uncritically just repeat what some CHAIR, MFI MEDIA COMMITTEE articles favoring forced drugging, or psychiatrist, doctor, or other health forced psychiatric incarceration, or care professional tells them regarding The purpose of the MFI Media forced outpatient treatment; articles the subject. My belief is that authors Committee is to serve as a “watchdog” giving false praise to psychiatric drugs. are largely unaware that there is any for articles or material put out opposition to the opinion(s) stated by by TV, magazines, or newspaper I could use some assistance, either the “professional.” If no one voices columnists that are at variance with in spotting offenders, writing the any objections, they will continue the principles of MindFreedom. When retorts, or both. I can’t see everything. to parrot whatever is told them by I encounter such an article, I write the If you are content to just spot “professionals.” But if they are made author or the network, or someone offenders, send me the article or a aware that there is opposition to the associated with the article, and state link to the article. If you want to write assertions in their articles, they may my objections to the assertions in the a retort yourself, by all means do in the future write more balanced article. so, subject only to MindFreedom’s articles on these topics. general guidelines -- keep it civil, You have all seen them: Articles keep it on the issue, keep it short. One Anyone desiring to help should stating that depression is due to a ordinary page or less should suffice. email me at: [email protected]. PAGE • 4 www.MindFreedom.org MindFreedom Begins Affi liate Drive MindFreedom has launched a obstacles, MindFreedom is here to campaign to start 20 new affi liates in help. Our new MF-Grassroots email 2008. What is an affi liate? It’s simple! list makes it easy for our affi liates, An affi liate uses the “MindFreedom” whether just starting out or engaged name, and is similar to a chapter. An in moving to the next level, to com- affi liate is based on local geography. municate with one another and share For instance, there is a MindFreedom ideas. As Frank Blankenship, the Maine and a MindFreedom Ghana. chair of the new MFI Affi liate Sup- New MFI board member Mary port Committee writes, “Networking Maddock and MFI UN representa- You don’t need a large number of with other members of MindFree- tive John McCarthy attend a protest people or resources to begin. Mary dom International who are working with MindFreedom Ireland in Maddock of MindFreedom Ireland on forming affi liates can help us to Cork, Ireland. writes, “All you need to form an af- circumvent, and to deal with, some fi liate are a few good, hardworking of the obstacles that are sure to crop very empowering and supportive. It people you can trust... You should try up in the course of building affi liates. has helped me in my recovery from to have as little bureaucracy as pos- There is no need to isolate oneself psychiatric abuse and it has also given sible with the emphasis on working from others in our movement when a me the strength to encourage and together and respecting each other’s connection with a colleague is as close support other psychiatric survivors opinions.” as the keyboard of a computer.” both nationally and internationally.”

And if you have questions - whether Starting an affi liate can be a reward- If you would like to learn it’s wondering what’s next after a ing experience. As Mary Maddock more, please visit the affi liate and great success or what to do when writes, “I have found becoming an af- sponsor page on our website at: you’ve come up against unexpected fi liate of MindFreedom International www.mindfreedom.org/as.

The MindFreedom Wisdom House Conference An important goal that emerged like a well-oiled machine, although from the conference was the creation defi nitely human! Celia Brown, of an on-line directory of agencies and as Conference Coordinator, groups that provide alternatives to was well supported by Matt mainstream mental health care. This Morrissey and Florence Brown. network will include MindFreedom The MindFreedom offi ce staff sponsors, and will also welcome other and volunteers, including David organizations that offer these services. Oaks, Martin Rafferty, and Violet Oaks, are also deeply appreciated. Virtually all of the participants were Additionally, MFI Board members very satisfi ed with the conference, Judi Chamberlin and Al Galves, Janet Foner, Will Brady, and Jim and at least ten or more people said as well as many volunteers at the Maddock speak at the MindFreedom that this was the best they had ever conference, pitched in to make sure Wisdom House Conference attended. The organizers functioned things went well. Thank you!

BY JANET FONER, CHAIR, MFI CHOICE COMMITTEE

The MindFreedom Conference was held in July 2007 at Wisdom House, a beautiful retreat center in rural Connecticut. It was a gathering of people from many countries, mostly new to each other and to MindFreedom, who had a lot to share about alternative When Alternatives 2007 conference was held in St. Louis, a number of Mind- recovery processes and places. Freedom members held a “Normality Screening.” No normality was found! www.MindFreedom.org PAGE • 5 Fundraising in 2008 Our Poetry Stirs - Poetic Justice BY AL GALVES, CHAIR, MFI DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE BY BONNIE SCHELL We’ve got a big job ahead. We’ve Definitions: Different, Discounted, and Diminished committed ourselves to working People who are different enough to make a unique contribution to society are for a non-violent revolution in the told that they suffer discrimination and are stigmatized. These poets challenge mental health system. How are we the language we have all bought that we are less than... Our poetry stirs. going to do that? We’re going to encourage, TOM GREENING support, illuminate, and help build alternate ways of helping people Mental Illness (Sic) who are experiencing spiritual There is one thing that I abhor: emergencies, emotional crises, a badly misused metaphor difficult life dilemmas, frustration, Thus I have really had my fill and hard times. of being told my mind is “ill.” We’re going to help people Do not tell me that my brain whose human rights are being is ganz vermischt and quite insane.... threatened by the mental health I get violent perforce system. We do that by maintaining if you mix levels of discourse. the MindFreedom Shield, a Please use our language as permitted solidarity network of people with or I’ll have miscreants committed. advanced directives against forced (c) Tom Greening 2007 treatment who are committed to help each other avoid such MAMA JOY maltreatment. We do that by Poetry Editor Bonnie Schell helping individuals whose right to informed consent is being violated. Words about Us HAROLD A. MAIO Psychologically speaking, We’re going to put pressure on we’re all quite insane. governments to use the money they Financially speaking, spend on mental health in ways Diminishment we’re a taxpayer’s drain. that are safe, humane, and effective “The truth is at my core I do not truly believe Medically speaking, rather than harmful, oppressive, I am fully human.” – Ed Cooper we all should be drugged and ineffective. Politically speaking, We’ve got a lot on our plate and People walked to the front of the bus, they want us all bugged. our plate isn’t nearly big enough Literally and figuratively, Anthropologically speaking, to hold it all. So the Development Mindlessly accepting status we’ve always been around. Committee is raising additional Mindlessly denying that status to others. Legally speaking, funds for MindFreedom. We’re I raise my Voice to address Word that hurts, we all should be found. applying to foundations, contacting Knowing in my lifetime I will never defeat it Individually speaking, members whose memberships As it was by women and African Americans. we’re not the ones to fear. have lapsed, building a cadre At the end of each day But, popularly speaking, of potential major donors, and When depression rules my mind, they wish we’d disappear. developing ongoing relationships I know I have lost. (c) Mama Joy 2005 Each morning when it is again light, with them. I sit at the computer, search the web news Thankfully, a group of members For diminishment and address it.Like the Black Press before me, have agreed to help. They include: Fighting oppression and segregation Krista Erickson, Mary Ellen In a land dedicated to equality, Gottlieb, Chaya Grossberg, Chris I have little effect upon the diminishments, Hansen, Tom Hughes, Harry But one day, who knows? Lichtenstein, Cathy Seitz and Vonne Society has changed before, Worth. Influenced by Voice, society Has altered, reformed itself. Together we’re going to get this Maybe again. job done. PAGE • 6 www.MindFreedom.org We Welcome a Diversity of Members

BY DAVID OAKS, DIRECTOR, have leaders and organizations and has helped launch a dream that MINDFREEDOM INTERNATIONAL members all over the world. We MLK referred to in many speeches encourage involvement from outside and essays. He said the world is Because MindFreedom chooses the USA. in dire need of a new to be independent from funding or organization, the In- control from corporations, drug com- • Persistence ternational Association panies, the mental health industry, or I’m asked what sus- for the Advancement of government, MFI relies on members, tains my own personal Creative Maladjustment, members, members. Mutual support efforts. For one thing, or IAACM. While the between our members and coalition over the years I keep IAACM is a concept, it organizations is MFI’s engine. going back to core val- also needs to be a true ues. For example, I keep reality. MFI’s support of I want to emphasize that the MFI returning to excerpts Mad Pride campaigns is community invites and welcomes all from Rev. Martin Luther one way for us all to sup- kinds of members. This diversity is King, Jr.’s sermons. port a global nonviolent MindFreedom Director more than a good idea, it’s a necessity. Lately I’ve been study- revolution for human David Oaks ing what MLK called rights, empowerment • Time the “transformed nonconformist.” and self-determination. If you are so busy with your life at Clearly, our organization’s interest in the moment that the most you can freedom of mind means that we sup- If you are considering whether do is donate annually and perhaps port nonconformity. But MLK called or not to join MindFreedom, please participate in the occasional e-mail for us nonconformists to go further. know you are welcome. If you are alert campaign, you are welcome. already a member, please know your Or if you would like to become very Simple nonconformity can lead to leadership at whatever level you active on a particular campaign com- bitterness, alienation, hopelessness, seek is encouraged. If you have tried mittee, or form an affiliate, you are and anger about our greater world before, but due to MFI’s grassroots also welcome. and society. MLK warned that this nature this was challenging, don’t kind of nonconformity can lead us give up. Keep trying. Please know • Belief to “speaking irresponsible words we welcome all transformed noncon- We are united in our support for which estrange without reconciling formists for creative maladjustment! human rights, but our diversity is and from making hasty our strength. If you believe in coun- judgments which are seling, or do not believe in it… If you blind to the necessity of take vitamins for your recovery, or social process.” A trans- you do not… If you use spirituality formed nonconformist for your well being, or you do not… seeks to transcend this You are welcome. If your personal automatic impulse to health care decision is to take pre- division and isolation. scribed psychiatric drugs each day, or if you swear you will never take MLK said, “This psychiatric drugs the rest of your life, hour in history needs you are welcome. a dedicated circle of transformed noncon- • Identity formists.” Yes, a majority of our members, according to a survey, identify as As many of you psychiatric survivors. But if you are know, MindFreedom a psychiatrist or attorney or family member or just an interested member of the public, you are welcome.

• Geography While we started in the USA, we By Diane Kern, Founder of Insight Center www.MindFreedom.org PAGE • 7 A l t e r n a t i v e s B e y o n d P s y c h i a t r y MindFreedom International E d i t e d b y P e t e r S t a s t n y a n d P e t e r L e h m a n n New MadMark et W ebsite! S i x t y - o n e ( e x - ) u s e r s a n d s u r v i v o r s o f p s y c h i a t r y, t h e r a p i s t s , From rubber chickens and normality screening kits to the best p s y c h i a t r i s t s , l a w y e r s , s o c i a l new books on alternatives and human rights in mental health, the s c i e n t i s t s a n d r e l a t i v e s f r o m a l l MadMarket has everything you need to stay informed, to work for c o n t i n e n t s r e p o r t a b o u t t h e i r change, and to just have fun. a l t e r n a t i v e w o r k , t h e i r o b j e c t i v e s All proceeds from the MadMarket benefi t MindFreedom’s a n d s u c c e s s e s , t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l campaigns for human rights. a n d c o l l e c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e s . Surviving America’s Depression Epidemic w w w.m a d m a r ke t . o r g By Bruce E. Levine, Ph.D. The rate of depression in the U.S. has A F i g h t t o B e increased more than tenfold in the B y R o n a l d B a s s m a n , P h . D . last fi fty years. The good news is that A s t o r y o f c o u r a g e , age-old wisdom and legitimate science d e t e r m i n a t i o n , h o p e a n d - uncorrupted by the profi t-margin pres- p o s s i b i l i t y, D r B a s s m a n ’ s sures of pharmaceutical and insurance u n i q u e i n s i g h t f r o m corporations - have much to inform us b o t h s i d e s o f t h e l o c k e d about revitalizing depressed people and a d o o r c h a l l e n g e s r e a d - depressing culture. e r s t o o p e n t h e i r m i n d s a n d t h e i r h e a r t s , r e e x a m - w w w.m a d m a r ke t . o r g i n e a s s u m p t i o n s , d i s c a r d l i m i t a t i o n s a n d S o t e r i a : T h r o u g h M a d n e s s t o D e l i v e r a n c e e m b r a c e p o s s i b i l i t i e s . B y L o r e n R . M o s h e r a n d Vo y c e H e n d r i x T h i s b o o k r e c o u n t s a n o b l e e x p e r i m e n t t o a l l e v i a t e o p p r e s s i o n a n d s u f f e r i n g w i t h o u t d e s t r o y i n g t h e i r v i c t i m s . A n e x p e r i m e n t t h a t w a s s h u t d o w n b y d r u g c o m p a n i e s b a s e d p u r e l y o n i t s s u c c e s s . T h i s i s a n i m m e n s e l y i m p r e s s i v e a n d m o v i n g b o o k , f u l l o f v i v i d c l i n i c a l a n d p e r s o n a l d e t a i l , a b o o k w h i c h i n s p i r e s a n d r e m i n d s u s a l l o f w h a t c a n b e a c h i e v e d i n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f m e n t a l i l l n e s s .

Yo u r s u p p o r t f u n d s M i n d F r e e d o m c a m p a i g n s f o r h u m a n r i g h t s a n d h u m a n e a l t e r n a t i v e s i n m e n t a l h e a l t h c a r e

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Name (please print):______Address:______City:______State/Province:______P ostal Code:______Country:______Phone:______E-mail: ______Y ou may donate with check or money order made out to MFI. Or use any credit card. I want to charge my gift. Circle one: Mail to: MindFr eedom Visa American Express Discover MasterCard P.O. Bo x 11284 Card number: ______Expir ation:______Eugene, OR 9 7 440-3484 Name as printed on card: ______US A Signature: ______phone (541) 345-9106 or toll fr ee in the US A, 1-8 7 7-MAD-PRIDE, or by fax at (541) 345-3 73 7 You may also donate on-line at an y time using the secur e form at www .MindFr eedom.org. PAGE • 8 www.MindFreedom.org1 5