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National Association for Rights Protection & Advocacy (NARPA) Conference 2012
"Voice, Choice and Human Rights in Mental Health Care"
A panel on the movement to change the mental health system and its connection to wider struggles for civil rights was held in Eugene, Oregon on 15 January 2010. The speeches by David Oaks, Tracey "TC" Dumas, and Ron Unger are now available online as text, video or audio.
Tracy "TC" Dumas, PhD
The City Club of Eugene panel "Voice, Choice and Human Rights in Mental Health Care" is now available in audio, text and video formats online.
On the panel were:
- David W. Oaks, director, MindFreedom International
- Tracey "TC" Dumas, PhD
- Ron Unger, mental health counselor
The panel linked the movement to change the mental health system to the
influence of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement in general.
The panel also addressed enacting empowerment guidelines for Lane County Mental Health Clients.
Many are familiar with complaints about the mental health system, but
now MindFreedom and allied consumers/survivors have written
guidelines for change and are asking that LaneCare and Lane County
Mental Health officially adopt them.
Said Ron Unger, coordinator of MindFreedom Lane County:
"What these guidelines aim at is a mental health system truly oriented
around the rights of people, and around their long term, not just short
term, interests.
"They envision a mental health system that is more likely to listen to the voices of those it is trying to help; one that recognizes that there are differences in what works for different people; one that fosters realistic hope for regaining healthy self direction; and one that recognizes that being "normal" is not the only way to be healthy.
"2010 could begin a new decade of increased respect for voice, choice,
and human rights in Mental Health: Let's all ask Lane County to agree
to make these improvements become standard in mental health care!"
The City Club of Eugene web site has panelist information and photos here:
http://www.cityclubofeugene.org/calendar/2010_01_15.html
Listen Online
You can listen to an MP3 recording of the panel from the KLCC-FM web archives here:
http://www.klcc.org/audio/cityclub2010_01_15.mp3
Watch Online
The speech given by David Oaks can be viewed on YouTube, here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CityClubEugene#p/a/u/1/IQ0_Wo_Kdf8
Watch Tracey "TC" Dumas's speech on YouTube, here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CityClubEugene#p/a/u/0/adrDTtGeFRc
The panel can also be viewed on Ustream, here:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3998744
Listen at the Eugene Public Library
In a few weeks, an audiotape of the whole event will be available at the Eugene Public Library. Check with the Adult Reference librarian for availability at 541-682-5450 or email: LibraryAskUs@ci.eugene.or.us
Read the Text of the Speeches
You can read the original text of each panelist's speech (the final is a bit different) by clicking on the links below:
