MindFreedom Media Coverage

Check Your Head: Examining Youth Mental Health Resources by David W. Oaks — last modified 2009-06-30 14:27

WireTapMag.org is doing a special on youth and mental health. This article, first in a series, quotes several MindFreedom members, including MindFreedom Committee Chair Martin Rafferty, MindFreedom director David Oaks, and several MindFreedom activists.

"Minnesota mental health patient Ray Sandford forced into electro-shock therapy" by Jeremy Bensman — last modified 2009-06-03 11:34

This article, from the Minneapolis newspaper City Pages, details the ongoing forced outpatient ECT of Ray Sandford.

Minnesota patient wants right to refuse electroshocks by David W. Oaks — last modified 2009-05-11 13:17

The Associated Press covered MindFreedom's protests about Ray Sandford's ongoing, involuntary, outpatient electroshock. Unfortunately, the AP quotes four "experts" -- a psychiatrist, guardian, psychology professor and ethicist -- who refuse to criticize Ray's forced electroshock. MindFreedom offered AP plenty of experts who would speak against Ray's forced electroshock, but AP declined. Psychologist Al Galves was present at the protest, and gave quotes to the reporter critical of Ray's forced electroshock. But the reporter simply mentions that Al was present and does not actually quote any of his words about Ray. At bottom is how you can give feedback to AP.

Greening of Mental Health? by David W. Oaks — last modified 2009-03-16 20:59

The main weekly newspaper in Eugene, Oregon, USA -- home of MindFreedom International headquarters -- featured an article questioning the "label of bible" of American psychiatry. MindFreedom's director David W. Oaks says that democracy need to get hands on with the way psychiatry creates its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).

Coalition seeks mental health consumer 'voice' for Oregonians by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-12-19 18:17

One of the main publications for the mental health industry in the United States, Mental Health Weekly, covered MindFreedom's work to help support funding for the state-wide voice of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors in Oregon.

"Minnesota man fights forced electroconvulsive therapy" by Jeremy Bensman — last modified 2008-12-15 19:11

Here is a transcript of the Minnesota Public Radio's piece on Ray Sandford.

Against his will: Minnesota man fights court-ordered electroshock treatments by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-11-24 18:18

 

Oregon benefits from Lilly case by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-10-08 18:09

David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International, is quoted in this article about a court judgment against Eli Lilly calling for criminal penalties for drug company executives who violate human rights.

Mental-health activist dies at 42 by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-08-01 16:19

David Romprey was frequently quoted in his home town's newspaper in Salem, Oregon. There have been articles covering his work, and letters to the editor by David. One of the reporters who has interviewed him previously wrote this piece about his death. [Correction: Newspaper mistakenly said David's daughter is Emily; Becky Child tell us her name is actually Eleanor.]

Mad Pride: Beyond depression, a demand for rights from mental illness sufferers by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-05-19 13:01

An online publication for "citizen journalists" has a brief article about the Mad Pride movement that includes mention of MindFreedom and MFI director David Oaks

New York Times Covers Mad Pride! by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-11-07 20:53

The 11 May 2008 New York Times published an article about the global Mad Pride movement, including spotlighting MindFreedom International, and several sponsor groups in the MindFreedom coalition. Mad Pride celebrates the international movement for creative maladjustment!

'I'm myself again and I cherish it daily' by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-04-29 14:33

MindFreedom Ireland founder Mary Maddock was featured in a major newspaper story in Ireland. Mary Maddock is a former nun, an electroshock survivor, founder of MindFreedom Ireland based in Cork, Ireland, and author of the book Soul Survivor. One of the main newspapers in Ireland ran a major feature about Mary. Mary is on the board of directors of MindFreedom International.

Critics fear changes could worsen voluntary care by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-04-15 14:46

As one of the impacts from the Cho massacre at Virginia Tech, Virginia is passing laws making it easier to forcibly drug citizens on an outpatient basis. Here, Frank Blankenship of MindFreedom Virginia (and chair of the MindFreedom Affiliate Support Committee) warns that this can lead to massive psychiatric drugging, while ignoring drug-free alternatives.

New mental health coalition organizes survivors for reform by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-04-10 16:44

The main newspaper sold by low income and homeless people on the streets of Portland, Oregon, USA -- Street Roots -- covers the launch of the board of directors for the Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Radio spotlights MindFreedom opposition to forced psychiatric drugs. by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-03-21 19:59

David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom, is interviewed on OPB radio about his experience of forced psychiatric drugging, and MindFreedom's opposition to forced mental health procedures.

Shock Therapy Emerges As Detail in Therapist's Killing by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-03-15 09:23

One of the main newspapers for New York City -- the NY Sun -- ran this brief article about electroshock because the topic came up in coverage of a murder. MindFreedom director David Oaks is quoted criticizing electroshock.

Group calls for investigation of suicide at Federal Medical Center by David W. Oaks — last modified 2008-03-15 09:26

The main newspaper for Rochester, Minnesota carried a story about how MindFreedom International is calling for an investigation of the death of MFI member Michael Heston, who committed suicide after years of forced psychiatric drugging.

One year later, few new policies by David W. Oaks — last modified 2007-11-23 12:56

The main newspaper for Eugene, Oregon looks back over the one year that has passed since the shooting death by police of 19 year-old Ryan Salisbury, who ran out of his home holding a knife. MindFreedom Lane County has worked on the issue for a year, and the article includes a reference to MindFreedom director David Oaks.

Addressing a 'Shocking' Issue by David W. Oaks — last modified 2007-10-18 11:41

The student newspaper for Northeastern University covered a vigil by MindFreedom Maine outside a speech by Kitty Dukakis in Boston. Ms Dukakis co-authored a book that, while warning of memory problems from electroshock, mainly praises the procedure. MindFreedom members are quoted in the article as saying that the book unfairly omits information critical of the procedure.

Eli Lilly to bolster Zyprexa warning by David W. Oaks — last modified 2007-10-12 21:44

This newspaper from the home city of Eli Lilly - Indianapolis - covered the announcement that the Food & Drug Administration is forcing the drug company giant to emphasize a warning about certain hazards related to their psychiatric drug Zyprexa. The article quotes MindFreedom director David Oaks as calling the Eli Lilly warning "too little, too late."