Try this Automatic Flatterer, feel better:
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~geoffo/humour/flattery.html
Give a Listen:
Cat Power-
Allen Ginsberg-
Lewis Black- TV Pilot-
Take a look:
Think about these things (links):
free buddhist audio-
http://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/
Tao-
Ron Unger’ssite-
http://recoveryfromschizophrenia.org/blog/
Tomorrows news today-
http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/LHC/LHC-en.html
Filed under animated gif, animation, buddhism, CS/X movement, Free Music, Links: Recovery, Music, silly, Spirituality, Uncategorized
From MindFreedom:
Ann L. says her forced psychiatric drugging makes her “sick and is torture.” But New York State is aggressively pushing for more forced drugging of Ann L. on an outpatient basis in her own community residence.
Ann L. is 50 years old, and says she has been in and out of the psychiatric system since she was 15. Ann says she was locked up for the past seven years in the notorious Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in New York, where she experienced years of forced psychiatric drugging.
Earlier this year Ann L. finally won her freedom.
She thought.
Ann got out of the institution and has been satisfied living in the community in the Irving Berkowitz Residence in West Brentwood. But now the State of New York is threatening to continue her forced psychiatric drugging while living at home even outside of the institution.
The State of New York is seeking to use “Kendra’s Law” to continue to administer forced psychiatric drugs to Ann L. using Involuntary Outpatient Commitment.
Ann L. (not her real name) states that she fears the forced psychiatric drugging will continue to debilitate her health and put her at risk for diabetes and heart disease.
Two independent nonprofit advocacy groups, MindFreedom and PsychRights, have determined that Ann L.’s situation is a priority. They are working together to support Ann L.’s bid for freedom in both the court room and the court of public opinion.
Stop the forced psychiatric drugging of Ann L.!
Ann L. asks that you contact New York Governor Paterson. Use this web page:
http://161.11.121.121/govemail
or use this web link:
Phone: (518) 474-4623. Fax: (518) 486-4170
Your own words & experiences are best. Please be civil but firm:
“I oppose the State of New York continuing the involuntary outpatient psychiatric drugging of Ann L. who is living in the Irving Berkowitz Residence in West Brentwood, New York. Please stop all forced psychiatric drugging in New York State.”
1) Research shows that coercion is bad for a person’s “mental health.”
People subjected to forced psychiatric treatment have been shown to be at increased risk for drug dependence, disabling side-effects of medication, and suicide. Force can result in damage to self-esteem and the motivation toward recovery, as well as inducing or furthering fear and trauma.
2) People recover when they have a real choice among alternatives and volunteer services.
People recover when they are empowered to make their own choices, when they take responsibility for their own lives, and when they are offered hope. Under the conditions of Involuntary Outpatient Commitment this is impossible.
3) People deserve alternatives to psychiatric drugs.
Psychiatric drugging can cause additional mental and emotional problems, and can even kill. More humane and effective alternatives to psychiatric drugs ought to be offered for those who choose them.
4) Psychiatric human rights violations are life-threatening.
Research shows that people in the state mental health system die about 25 years younger than the general public. Remember the public death of Esmin Green who was denied any help while locked for 24 hours in a NY psychiatric emergency room.
Please forward this alert to all appropriate places on and off the Internet.
It just takes a moment to contact additional New York State officials. If you can also phone or write that is helpful, but at least e-mail them. Be civil, be firm, don’t stop!!
Let them all know that forced psychiatric drugging is wrong and must be stopped!
Please contact these New York State officials immediately:
*** Assemblyperson Peter M. Rivera is Chair of the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
He is a crucial elected leader focusing on the field of mental health.
Email: riverap@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (718) 931-2620
Every few years, the World Psychiatric Association holds a World Congress. The WPA has invited MindFreedom International executive director David W. Oaks to be a “special presenter” at the Congress, which is in September 2008 in Prague.
David W. Oaks, MFI Director, will address WPA.
Here is the title and abstract of the talk planned for the World Congress of the World Psychiatric Association by David W. Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International.
World Congress of Psychiatry
Document ID: WCP4323
MindFreedom International, Eugene, United States
David W. Oaks, oaks@mindfreedom.org
Topic: Ethics in psychiatry
Title: AN URGENT NEED FOR DIALOGUE ABOUT A “GLOBAL EMERGENCY” OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Abstract Body: The point of view of individuals who have experienced human rights violations in mental health care, and the organizations that represent us, need to be heard by psychiatric professional organizations. Mediated dialogue must be encouraged between groups representing psychiatric survivors and groups representing mental health professionals.
We are not alone. Dr. Benedetto Saraceno, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence at the World Health Organization (WHO), has stated, “The violation of human rights of … psychiatric services users and the recognition of their role and rights as citizens are a main concern for WHO. WHO thinks that no treatment can be credibly provided in a context which systematically violates human rights. There is a global emergency for the human rights of people suffering from mental health problems. I insist on the word ‘global’ as people tend to believe that these kinds of violations always occur somewhere else when, in fact, they occur everywhere.”
Certain human rights controversies are especially pressing, such as involuntary electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) against the expressed wishes of the subject, and long-term, high-dosage coerced administration of neuroleptic psychiatric drugs.
In a broader sense, though, if a family with a member in severe crisis is primarily offered psychiatric drugs, when non-drug approaches can work, this too is a kind of coercion. I respect an individual’s right to take prescribed psychiatric drugs. However, being offered only one choice is not really a choice at all. Creating more non-drug voluntary alternatives has become a human rights concern.
http://www.wpa-prague2008.cz/Text/oaks
From Recovery from Schizophrenia (Ron Unger):
Posted by Ron Unger on July 15th, 2008
An interview with me on “Madness Radio” can be found at
http://freedom-center.org/madness-radio-cognitive-therapy-ron-unger I talk about why I got interested in psychosis, mainly because of my own experiences as a young man that it seemed to me were understandable yet not likely to be understood by our current mental health system. Then I talk about cognitive therapy for psychosis and why I think it is a helpful and needed addition to the mental health field.
Download episode file directly:
http://freedom-center.org/audio/download/384/MadnessRadio-2008-07CognitiveTherapyRonUnger.mp3
Posted by Ron Unger on July 14th, 2008
Hugh Massengil videod part of a seminar I did, and posted it to YouTube. I’m discussing the relationship between cognitive therapy for psychosis and medications, and then talking a little about “what is psychosis” and the continuum between everyday errors and “psychosis.” If you want to check it out, it’s available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFjBnScM2Bk
Posted by Ron Unger on July 5th, 2008
Recently a couple people I know have put their recovery stories on the web. One is my friend Hugh Massengil, who got his story put on an official state website, even though his story suggests mental health treatment is almost completely off track, at least in its standard form. He is on a committee about increasing wellness among those with mental health diagnoses (very important given data that such people typically die 25 years earlier than average, often due to conditions that are aggravated by medication.) His story illustrates that wellness often is a result of successfully breaking away from traditional “treatment.” You can access his story at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/mentalhealth/wellness/success.shtml
Another is the story of Oryx Cohen, who is one of the leaders at the Freedom Center http://www.freedom-center.org/ You can access Oryx’s story at http://www.familymentalhealthrecovery.org/2008TorontoRecoveryConf/TorontoRecovery08-OCohenCrashCourseWithPsychiatry.doc It’s a great read, going from his attempt to get his car to fly on the freeway (not very successful) to his attempt to get off psychiatric medications and have a good life (much more successful, though not without difficulty and one big slipup.)
Finally, I’d suggest checking out the video at http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/acute-psychosis-in-mania-and-schizophrenia/ It’s an overview of the perspective of psychosis as all about reorganizing the mind, as a positive process if the person gets supported in working through it in a good way. The video is well done and worth the time you will take watching it!
Also, check out this link:
http://www.successfulschizophrenia.org/
Thanks for reading,listening, paying attention.
My prayers go out to you and my wish that everyone you meet will be kind, gentle and wise.
Mad Liberation
By MoonLight
Tonight! On KBOO Radio 90.7 FM
1- 2 a.m. Late Friday night
(yes, I know that it is technically Saturday morning- relax, it’s just a radio show)
August 15th, 2008
This show is dedicated to Everyone
*who has ever been given a psychiatric label,
*who experiences mental health challenges and of course to
*anybody who has the misfortune (or good fortune) of being awake at that hour.
You can participate!
Call in at (503) 231-8187
We also hope to have some live in-studio
musical performance by CS/X performers on
this show.
(Set your alarm if you aren’t usually up at that time)
Friday nights from 1 am to 2 am usually following the
full-moon, will be a segment on KBOO radio (90.7 on
your fm dial, to the left of NPR), also streamed on the
internet on their website,
http://www.kboo.fm/index.php will be time for
Mad Lib by Moonlight. The program is part of the
usual Friday night show, The Outside World.
I’ll get serious again in a couple days.
If the picture doesn’t animate, click on it. For now:
Non-animated- Mug Shots:
and then there’s this:
Bye for now. I’ll get serious tomorrow. Probably. Maybe.
Filed under animated gif, animation, comedy relief, pictures, silly
(you may have to click for animation)
Mad Liberation By MoonLight- this Friday night!
KBOO Radio 90.7 FM
1- 2 a.m. Late Friday night (PST)
(yes, I know that it is technically Saturday morning- relax, it’s just a radio show)
August 15th, 2008
I promise that I will be there!
Dedicated to Everyone
who has ever been given a psychiatric label, to anyone who experiences mental health challenges and to anybody who has the misfortune (or good fortune) of being awake at that hour.
You can participate!
Call in at (503) 231-8187
Friday nights from 1 am to 2 am usually following the full-moon, will be a segment on KBOO radio (90.7 on your fm dial, to the left of NPR), also streamed on the internet on their website, http://www.kboo.fm/index.php will be time for of Mad Lib by Moonlight. The program is part of the usual Friday night show, The Outside World.
Filed under animated gif, Mad Radio, Mental health recovery, Uncategorized
Comedy relief day
Cartoon:
A & W Reject:
I’m sure this is one that has been posted a million times. Still makes me laugh. Exams:
Riding the rails:
Strikes a little too close to home:
Not just the owner of Hair Club for Dogs, also a customer:
Cartoonist’s future:
Nice tat:
More interesting than funny:
Priorities:
Not my animation, but good:
Pregnancy helpful tips:
Crack police investigators:
Really unfortunate costumes:
Garfield translated:
Mower is less:
Skillz:
The last cartoon:
I just love this picture:
Pikachu:
Pro wrestling is not fake:
Aurora:
Daler-Walken-Shoes:
Andromeda- Visible to x-ray and back:
Americas funniest head injuries:
Bicycle Beach: Curious Kitty:
Kitten metaphysics:
Hey! My son has posted some new pictures on his blog, Better Bees than Nears! Here is a sample:
Bye for now- have a good weekend.
-Rick
Filed under animation, comedy relief, pictures, silly
Today is for Li Po-
I will bring in some of my other favorites later (Du Fu, Wang Wei etc.).
Taking Leave of a Friend
Blue mountains lie beyond the north wall;
Round the city’s eastern side flows the white water.
Here we part, friend, once and forever.
You go ten thousand miles, drifting away
Like an unrooted water-grass.
Oh, the floating clouds and the thoughts of a wanderer!
Oh, the sunset and the longing of an old friend!
We ride away from each other, waving our hands,
While our horses neigh softly, softly . . . .
To His Two Children
In the land of Wu the mulberry leaves are green,
And three times the silkworms have gone off to sleep.
In East Luh where my family stay,
I wonder who is sowing those fields of ours.
I cannot be back in time for the spring work,
I can help with nothing, traveling on the river.
The south wind blowing wafts my homesick spirit
And carries it up to the front of our familiar tavern.
There I see a peach tree on the east side of the house
With thick leaves and branches waving in the blue mist.
It is the tree I planted before my parting three years ago.
The peach tree has grown now as tall as the tavern roof,
While I have wandered about without returning.
Ping-yang, my pretty daughter, I see you stand
By the peach tree and pluck a flowering branch.
You pluck the flowers, but I am not there;
How your tears flow like a stream of water!
My little son, Po-chin, grown up to your sister’s shoulders,
You come out with her under the peach tree,
But who is there to pat you on the back?
When I think of these things, my senses fail,
And a sharp pain cuts my heart every day.
Now I tear off a piece of white silk to write this letter,
And send it to you with my love a long way up the river.
The Old Dust
The living is a passing traveler;
The dead, a man come home.
One brief journey between heaven and earth,
Then, alas! we are the same old dust of ten thousand ages.
The rabbit in the moon pounds the elixir in vain;
Fu-sang, the tree of immortality, has crumbled to kindling wood.
Man dies, his white bones are dumb without a word
While the green pines feel the coming of the spring.
Looking back, I sigh; looking before, I sigh again.
What is there to prize in the life’s vaporous glory?
Nefarious War
Last year we fought by the head-stream of the Sang-kan,
This year we are fighting on the Tsung-ho road.
We have washed our armor in the waves of Chiao-chi lake,
We have pastured our horses on Tien-shan’s snowy slopes.
The long, long war goes on ten thousand miles from home,
Our three armies are worn and grown old.
The barbarian does man-slaughter, not plowing;
On this yellow sand-plains nothing has been seen but
blanched skulls and bones.
Where the Chin emperor built the walls against the Tartars,
There the defenders of Han are burning beacon fires.
The beacon fires burn and never go out,
There is no end to war!—
In the battlefield men grapple each other and die;
The horses of the vanquished utter lamentable cries to heaven,
While ravens and kites peck at human entrails,
Carry them up in their flight, and hang them on the branches of dead trees.
So, men are scattered and smeared over the desert grass,
And the generals have accomplished nothing.
Oh, nefarious war! I see why arms
Were so seldom used by the benign sovereigns.
Drinking Alone with the Moon
From a pot of wine among the flowers
I drank alone.There was no one with me —
Till raising my cup, I ask the bright moon
To bring me my shadow and make us three.
Alas, the moon was unable to drink
And my shadow tagged me vacantly;
But still for a while I had these friends
To cheer me through the end of spring….
I sang. The moon encouraged me
I danced. My shadow tumbled after.
As long as I knew, we were born companions.
And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.
….Shall goodwill ever be secure?
I watch the long road of the River of Stars.
WATERFALL AT LU-SHAN
Sunlight streams on the river stones.
From high above, the river steadily plunges —
three thousand feet of sparkling water —
the Milky Way pouring down from heaven.
CLEARING AT DAWN
The fields are chill, the sparse rain has stopped;
The colours of Spring teem on every side.
With leaping fish the blue pond is full;
With singing thrushes the green boughs droop.
The flowers of the field have dabbled their powdered cheeks;
The mountain grasses are bent level at the waist.
By the bamboo stream the last fragment of cloud
Blown by the wind slowly scatters away.
SELF-ABANDONMENT
I sat srinking and did not notice the dusk,
Till falling petals filled the folds of my dress.
Drunken I rose and walked to the moonlit stream;
The birds were gone, and men also few.
TO TAN-CH’IU
My friend is lodging high in the Eastern Range,
Dearly loving the beauty of valleys and hills.
At green Spring he lies in the empty woods,
And is still asleep when the sun shines on igh.
A pine-tree wind dusts his sleeves and coat;
A peebly stream cleans his heart and ears.
I envy you, who far from strife and talk
Are high-propped on a pillow of blue cloud.
Filed under Chinese poetry, Mystic Poetry, pictures, poetry
David Romprey has died at the age of 42. First the article from the Salem Statesman Journal:
Mental-health activist dies at 42
Medical issue kills David Romprey before car crash
By Ruth Liao
Statesman Journal
Longtime Salem activist David Romprey, who is remembered as an outspoken crusader for Oregon’s mental-health system, has died, officials said.
Romprey was about to begin Monday as a coordinator of the Oregon Peer Bridgers Project with the Oregon State Hospital, spokeswoman Patricia Feeny said.
Romprey died Wednesday night in Salem as he was pulling out of a driveway near 12th and Chemeketa streets NE, Salem Police Lt. Mark Keagle said.
It happened about 6 p.m. when the vehicle crashed into a pole, police said. Police determined that Romprey died of a medical condition before the crash.
Romprey was 42. He is survived by two children, Max and Emily.
Romprey, who spent two years as an Oregon State Hospital patient until he was released in 1991, was a critic of the state’s 125-year-old Salem facility and fought to diminish stigmas attached to mental illnesses.
In 2005, Romprey was honored with the Mental Health Award for Excellence by the Oregon Department of Human Services, Feeny said.
Romprey was integral in helping to create the Oregon Peer Bridgers Project, a new program that would help released patients’ transition into the community, said Roy Orr, superintendent of Oregon State Hospital.
The program will help create individualized plans for patients who are either selected or who volunteer to join. On average, about 50 to 60 patients are discharged monthly from the state hospital campuses in Portland and Salem, Orr said.
The program also would track the patients’ progress and adjustment back into the community, Orr said.
“It’s just stunning to think, we’re now without David and the world’s a little poorer as a result,” Orr said.
Friend Mike Hlebechuk, a residential services coordinator for the state, said Romprey’s greatest gift was his command of the English language — in speech or writing.
Romprey once evoked Moses’ cry “Let my people go” in talking to representatives from the president’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Hlebechuk said.
Friend David W. Oaks, the director of MindFreedom International, called Romprey a “dynamic hero” for the mental-health advocacy movement in Oregon.
Oaks described Romprey’s efforts as a “community organizer,” who would travel to Eastern Oregon to help set up mental-health consumer support groups and networks.
“David had overwhelming passion for the most marginalized and powerless people in the mental-health system,” Oaks said.
Romprey was a longtime member of a statewide mental-health advisory council, said Madeline Olson, a deputy assistant director of the Addiction and Mental-Health Division.
Romprey also advocated wellness for everyone, not just those with mental illnesses.
“His whole life was an example that categorizing people and stigmatizing people was foolish and wrong,” Olson said.
rliao@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6941
Other comments about David arrived in my email as the day went on:
Many of you have heard the news, but for those of you that have not, I am sad to announce that we have lost a true member of the Consumer/Survivor movement. Dave Romprey died last night of what is believed to be natural causes.
Jim Russell of the BCN stated it correctly-A Hole in the world. That is truly what David has left. David left us last night in body but certainly not in spirit. As I sit here typing this notice I can? t help but reflect over the past 10 years that I have known David. For me David can be summed up in one word-Passion! Passion for Life, Passion for change, Passion for those still suffering, Passion for his friends and Passion for his family. He has left a legacy and a baton to be passed.
He is Truly missed.
Rebecca Eichhorn,
President, Oregon Consumer/ Survivor Coalition
It is a shock for me to read the news about David Romprey.
Oregon Consumer Survivor Coalition delegation meets with Oregon’s
governor
by Rebecca Eichhorn
In June 2008, representatives from the Oregon Consumer Survivor
Coalition (OCSC), Mental Health America, and several individual
consumers were invited to meet with Governor Ted Kulongoski. The
purpose of this historic meeting was to brief the Governor on matters
concerning mental health and consumer affairs in Oregon.
The hour long conversation offered an opportunity to familiarize the
governor with issues facing consumers and the public mental health
services.
Some of the topic discussed at the meeting included:
** The history of the consumer movement
** the concept of “recovery”
** consumer/survivors as partners in treatment
** peer support services, and
** the need for a continuum of mental health services.
The Governor set the agenda and led the conversation asking questions
and indicating genuine interest in each topic discussed. There was
not enough time to cover the Governor’s entire agenda. However, the
topics that were discussed seemed well received and layed the
foundation for a future meeting and continued dialogue with the
Governor regarding consumer voice and issues facing the mental health
system.
Rebecca Eichhorn, MS
OCSC Board Member
Consumer Affairs Specialist
Consumer Care Partnerships
New York Times covers Mad Pride!
http://www.mindfreedom.org/campaign/media/mf/new-york-times-mad-pride
Protests against forced electroshock-
From MindFreedom news-
(lazy blogger)
Electroshock — also known as electroconvulsive therapy — was protested by MindFreedom members in Cork, Ireland; Ottawa, Canada; Montreal, Canada. Here are brief reports from each.
MindFreedom Ireland in Cork, Ireland on 3 May 2008 protesting electroshock.
BELOW are reports from three May 2008 electroshock protests: Cork, Ireland (photo in upper right); Ottawa, Canada; Montreal, Canada.
The reports were compiled by Sue Clark, who is chair of the MindFreedom ZAPBACK Committee to end electroshock.
Update: A photo is now on this web page for each of the three protests.
MindFreedom Lane County will also include protest of electroshock in their 17 May 2008 skit protest The Normathon.
The reports begin with Ottawa, followed by a brief report from Montreal, and then from Cork, Ireland.
[Photo on right, more photos click here.]
Hello everyone:
Here are two articles re the ECT protest yesterday in Ottawa. The first one is from the CBC national news. There was a radio show yesterday on CBC radio at 7:30 p.m. I was told and there was a whole show on ECT. I will try to get the transcript. The first article from the CBC they put in Dr. Peter Breggin’s’ name wrong, and put in “Paul Breggin”.
The second article from CTV.ca said in the article “patients” I have free of psychiatry since 1990 and have not been a patient since then.
The ECT protest was also covered by CFRA radio, CJOH TV news in Ottawa, and A channel News in Ottawa. The CBC had a whole story on ECT on CBC radio on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and I did not hear the show. If anyone did, please let me know.
We will be holding the ECT protest every year on Mother’s Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Thank to all who participated in this ECT protest in Ottawa: Steven Wittenberg, my husband, Don Weitz, Graeme Bacque, Jane Scharf, Marco, Phillip and Jen, Cristian and Francois, Elisabeth Ziegeler and Jay, Debbie and Jennifer, Michael, Barbara Mainguy, Karen Dawe, and to the others who were there and to all the people who sent statements and encouragement to to the event: Mary Maddock from Mindfreedom Ireland, Helene Grandbois from Montreal, Dr. Bonnie Burstow from Toronto, Leonard Roy Frank from San Francisco, and Dr. John Breeding from Texas, and to David Oaks and his staff for their support and encouragement.
I will be on a radio show today on CHRY radio 105.5 at 5:30 p.m. which is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
talking about the ECT protest yesterday and other antipsychiatry issues.
Regards,
Sue Clark-Wittenberg
Chair
MFI committee on ECT & Human Rights
Ottawa (613) 721-1833
_______________________
Despite criticism, electroshock therapy commonly used in depression Last Updated: Monday, May 12, 2008 | 12:22 PM ET CBC News<http://www.cbc.ca/news/credit.html> http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/05/12/electroshock-therapy.html
(you can make comments at this link) – Sue
Despite protests calling for a ban on the treatment, electroshock therapy is frequently used by Canadian psychiatrists to treat severe depression.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) estimates that last year, the procedure, which dates back to 1938 and involves passing electrical currents though the brain to trigger seizures, was used more than 15,000 times in the country.
The figure has remained virtually unchanged since 2002, CIHI says, showing that the popularity of the procedure remains strong.
A report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal last week shows the procedure is commonly used to treat drug-resistant depression in seniors.
However, critics of the procedure believe its usage should be stopped, and it is a painful procedure that leads to brain damage.
On Sunday, about a dozen protesters rallied in Ottawa, calling for a ban of the procedure.
Protest organizer Sue Clark-Wittenberg had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) 35 years ago, and says it has kept her from getting an education and a good job.
“The bottom line is electroshock always damages the brain. Electroshock always causes memory loss,” she says.
ECT survives calls for ban
Dr. Nizar Ladha, a psychiatrist based in St. John’s, has been using ECT for three decades. He says the procedure does induce seizures, but they’re not painful and don’t cause convulsions.
“As an effective and lifesaving treatment, it rates right up there with the discovery of penicillin,” he told CBC News.
Ladha says he has seen ECT help fight depression and prevent many suicides.
The Canadian Psychiatric Association argues that ECT is safe and effective, though the Canadian Medical Association says it can cause memory loss.
But Dr. Paul Breggin, a New York-based psychiatrist, is in a minority of psychiatrists who says the procedure should be banned.
“We’re treating human beings as if they are a very crude machine which can be battered back into shape.”
Still, Dr. David Goldbloom, a psychiatrist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, predicts it will become even more popular, having survived numerous calls to ban it and two provincial inquiries.
“Each time the conclusion is the same — that the balance of evidence supports retaining this to try to help people with depression.”
_______________________
Shock therapy ‘barbaric, inhumane,’ say protesters
Updated: Sun May. 11 2008 18:29:27
ctvottawa.ca/<http://ctvottawa.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080511/OTT_protest_shock_080511/20080511/?hub=OttawaHome>
Past patients of electroshock therapy took to Parliament Hill today, requesting a ban on what they say is torture.
“Stop electroshock before it stops you,” chanted Sue Clark Wittenberg, a former electroshock therapy patient and vocal opponent to the practise.
Also known as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the American Psychiatric Association and the Canadian Psychiatric Association have deemed ECT to be safe and not cause brain damage.
The protesters claimed ECT is barbaric and inhumane.
Wittenberg said she was subjected to ECT 25 years ago. Now, she claims she suffers from memory loss and difficulty learning. Wittenberg and other patients want the Canadian Government to ban what is considered a therapeutic practice.
“The Canadian Psychiatric Association says on their website that electroshock therapy is safe. That is not true, look at me,” Wittenberg said.
Wittenberg claims 14,000 people in Ontario are subjected to electroshock therapy every year.
According to the Canadian Psychiatric Association, ECT is effective in the treatment of patients with major depression, delusional depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and catatonia.
________________
Montreal protest to ban ECT Saturday May 10, 2008 (photo on right).
Our protest was real success. About 50 persons were there. We had our choir perform two times and chant our slogans.
We had a bannière with “Disons non aux électrochocs Urgence d’agir”.
I made two times a speach one more general on my motivations to make ECT banned and a translation I made of Sue testimony that she send me.
Two other speakers made speeches. Two TVs station were there TVA and Radio-Canada who made a very good report of the situation about ECT not just a report from the protest but also they documented the fact that our Ministry of Health did nothing from the Banken report recommendation 5 years after the report.
Nobody was interviewed to counterfact our statements. The Ministry of Health was interviewed and could just say they do nothing to monitor or to tcheck about the situation of ECT and the women and elderly that were shocked. On the web site of both Radio-Canada and TVA our statement are well put into evidence. We also had interviews for a radio program that will be on the air on next friday night at 8 o’clock cannot say the result of this. We will see.
In general the protest was energizing and everybody who was there will sing our songs with us and say our slogans. Really a very exciting event.
As Mary said we shall overcome
Take care
Love
Hélène
______________________
Press Release – For more information contact Mary Maddock of MindFreedom Ireland
3 May 2008
Members of MindFreedom Ireland, the organisation which campaigns for human rights in the mental health system, protested against the use of electro shock as a ‘treatment’ both in our Irish hospitals and worldwide.
It took place outside the G.P.O. Oliver Plunket St. Cork, Ireland between 1.p.m. and 4.p.m.
Many members of the public expressed their own shock! that this barbaric practice was still performed both worldwide and in our Irish hospitals today ‘in the name of help.’
They were more outraged that it could even be legally forced on vulnerable people.
Many of them signed a petition to abolish the practice.
Four electro shock survivors from Cork spoke out and confirmed that it did indeed cause brain damage.
Last year both Kathy Sinnott, MEP and Dan Boyle, Green Party took part in the protest.
The protest was part of a worldwide demonstration in conjunction with Mother’s Day in Canada, to highlight the fact that two thirds of the recipients of shock are women. Messages of solidarity from Canada were read out.
On the same day MindFreedom Ireland celebrated the ratification of the UN treaty on the rights of people with disabilities (this importantly includes people with psycho/social disabilities) which hopefully will stop forceful ‘treatments’ used in present day psychiatry including electro shock.
Mary Maddock was the focus of an article about electroshock in in a major Irish newspaper, to read the article click here.
Some important facts about electro shock commonly known as ECT ( Electro Convulsive ‘Therapy’.
· CAUSES BRAIN DAMAGE, MEMORY LOSS AND DISORIENTATION
· IS AN ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
· CAN BE LEGALLY FORCED ON PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR WILL
· TWO THIRDS OF SHOCK VICTIMS ARE WOMEN – MOTHERS AND
GRANDMOTHERS
· IS PSYCHIATRIC TORTURE
Mad Liberation By MoonLight
KBOO Radio 90.7 FM
1- 2 a.m. Late Friday night
(yes, I know that it is technically Saturday morning- relax, it’s just a radio show)
July 25th, 2008
(Please do not note that the lunar calendar would generally put the show on July 18th but I can’t be in town that night- sorry for the incontinence. You can still listen to KBOO and be surprised at whatever you hear. Try not to get confused, I know I’m trying my best and it’s not working very well. The show will be on July 25th, 1:00 a.m. Friday night.)
This show is dedicated to Everyone
*who has ever been given a psychiatric label, *who experiences mental health challenges and of course to *anybody who has the misfortune (or good fortune) of being awake at that hour.
You can participate! Call in at (503) 231-8187
Please call in!
(Set your alarm if you aren’t usually up at that time)
Friday nights from 1 am to 2 am usually following the full-moon, will be a segment on KBOO radio (90.7 on your fm dial, to the left of NPR), also streamed on the internet on their website, http://www.kboo.fm/index.php will be time for of Mad Lib by Moonlight. The program is part of the usual Friday night show, The Outside World.
Some of the events are already past because I was late getting this up but much of it is still useful.
MindFreedom International News – 17 July 2008
http://www.mindfreedom.org/events_listing – please forward
A Few 2008 Events About Changing the Mental Health System
The calendar of events below, in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and UK
may be of interest to those who passionately care about human rights
and alternatives in the mental health system.
[Disclaimers: Most but not all events are organized by MindFreedom or
sponsor groups. Listing is not necessarily endorsement. The
organizers are solely responsible for their content. Date listed is
start date. This listing is not meant to be comprehensive. If your
event is not yet listed you may submit e-mail to news@mindfreedom.org ]
For more info and links for below events go to:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/events_listing
~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA:
Mad Pride Week in the City of Toronto – The Mayor of Toronto even
officially declared a Mad Pride Day! This wonderful series of events
is already underway, but there is still time to attend. A bed push
parade and party is scheduled for July 19, and a Mad Pride brunch on
the morning of July 20.
Watch for organizers from new affiliate, MindFreedom Ontario!
14 – 20 July 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOUTHWARK, UNITED KINGDOM:
BonkersFest – Poses the question ‘De-normalisation: The next civil
rights movement?’ This free event will take place on the actual area
where the infamous Bedlam was located. Past BonkersFests have drawn
three thousand participants.
BonkersFest is a showcase of mad creativity providing a day of
inspiring performance, art and music for the whole community.
19 July 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA:
Mad Pride Asheville – “Part of a 9-nation disorganization of similar
festivals, featuring week-long festivals in London and Toronto and
others in Portland OR, Montreal, and various other cities in the US,
Canada, Belgium, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa and Ghana.”
19 July 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, USA:
A vigil co-sponsored by MindFreedom International to remember Esmin
Green, who died so publicly while waiting in King County Hospital
Psychiatric Emergency Room:
25 July 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
URGENT! HELIOS MATCHING GRANT ENDS
July 31, 2008 is the deadline for MindFreedom to receive a matching
grant by raising a grand total of $500.00 from first-time donors. If
we reach this goal, the Helios Resource Network will double the total
amount donated by granting MindFreedom $500.00 in matching funds.
If you would like to help us reach this goal, and support human
rights and alternatives in mental health, please become a MindFreedom
member today by donating any amount — small or large — to MFI
through the Helios Resource Network.
For information on how to make your tax-deductible donation count
toward the Helios grant, please go directly to this Helios Web page
today:
http://www.heliosnetwork.org/grantinfo.htm#MFI
Or read more about this important opportunity here:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/double
But act now! The deadline is 31 July 2008!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND:
Education Day on Human Rights & Alternatives in Mental Health –
“PRAWI of New Zealand is a sponsor group in MindFreedom
International. Director Anna de Jonge announces PRAWI is holding an
all-day educational event using DVD’s from the conferences of the
International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology.”
17 August 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM:
Asylum! Conference and Festival – From the organizers: “The
conference will bring together organisations, activists, campaigners
and academics working for radical challenge and change in mental
health. It will showcase critical work on psychiatry and psychology
(‘Big Psy’) and the pharmaceutical industry (‘Big Pharma’), and
alternatives to diagnostic medical labels like ‘schizophrenia’ and
‘paranoia’.” This event is being held on the Elizabeth Gaskell
Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
10-12 September 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA:
NARPA 2008 Conference – This year the NARPA conference will be held
at the University of Texas at Austin, and will feature speakers
Michael Perlin, Catherine Penney, and Susan Stefan, and others.
1-4 October 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAMPA, FLORIDA, USA:
International Center for the Study of Psychology and Psychiatry’s
2008 conference – The ICSPP is a sponsor group of MindFreedom. This
is an excellent conference, especially to network dissident mental
health professionals critical of the current psychiatric system.
10-12 October 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUFFALO, NEW YORK, USA:
Alternatives 2008 – Since the 1980’s, the US federal government helps
fund a large conference of several hundred mental health consumers
and psychiatric survivors, many of whom are leading consumer-driven
projects such as support groups and drop-in centers.
29 October – 2 November 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ACTION: Please forward this events calendar!
For more info and links for above events go to:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/events_listing
~~~~~~~~~~~~
For hard-to-find books and gear go to MFI’s Mad Market here:
New DVD: “Little Brother, Big Pharma”!
http://www.mindfreedom.org/little-brother
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wherever you live, volunteer today for human rights and alternatives
in mental health!
MindFreedom International Office:
454 Willamette, Suite 216 – POB 11284; Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA
web site: http://www.mindfreedom.org
e-mail: office(at)mindfreedom(dot)org
MFI office phone: (541) 345-9106
MFI member services toll free: 1-877-MAD-PRIDe or 1-877-623-7743 fax:
(541) 345-3737
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