About Peter Lehmann

Born in 1950 in Calw (Black Forest), Germany. Education as social-pedagogist. Living as author and publisher in Berlin. In 1986, foundation of Peter Lehmann Publishing and Mail-Order Bookstore (Germany), in 2003, founding of a branch in UK, 2004 in USA.

In 1980, co-founder of a self-help group of (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry and advising in psychiatric drugs and withdrawal until 1989. In 1989, co-founder of the Organisation for the Protection from Psychiatric Violence (running the Runaway House Berlin). Since 1990, board member of PSYCHEX (Switzerland) and co-editor of the Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (United Kingdom). In 1991, co-founder of the European Network of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP). From 1994 to 2000, board member of the German organisation of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (BPE), now webmaster.

From 1996 until September 1999, member of the Executive Committee of Mental Health Europe (European section of the World Federation for Mental Health). From January 1997 to February 1999, Chair of ENUSP; since 2004 board member for the region of North-East Europe (Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia) and Secretary of the ENUSP Board. From 2002 to 2004 ENUSP, Interim Secretary.

Member of MindFreedom International and its designated representative to the United Nations, since 2002. In 2002, co-founder, board member and training course leader of Für alle Fälle (In Any Case), Berlin. Since 2004, member of INTAR (International Network Toward Alternatives and Recovery), since 2005, of Patients Rights Advocacy Waikato Inc. (New Zealand) and the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (USA). Member or the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (WNUSP). Representative of MindFreedom, ENUSP and BPE in the Organizing Committee of the conference on Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry: A Comprehensive Review, run by the World Psychiatric Association 2007 in Dresden.

Publications include

* Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry [in English] and Statt Psychiatrie 2 [in German], both edited together with Peter Stastny, release on September 20, 2007

*   Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and Tranquilizers [in English], edited 2004

  Psychopharmaka absetzen: Erfolgreiches Absetzen von Neuroleptika, Antidepressiva, Lithium, Carbamazepin und Tranquilizern [in German], edited 1998, 2., revised edition 2002

  Liberarsi dagli psicofarmaci: Riuscire con pieno successo a liberarsi da neurolettici, antidepressivi, stabilizzanti dell'umore, Ritalin e tranquillanti [in Italian], in preparation for January 2008)

  Βγαίνοντας από τα ψυχοφάρμακa: Εμπειρίες επιτυχημένης διακοπής νευροληπτικών, αντικαταθλιπτικών, λιθίου, καρβαμαζεπίνης και αγχολυτικών [in Greek], in preparation for March 2008)

* Soteria und Empowerment: Über die Interessen Psychiatriebetroffener (Soteria and Empowerment: About the Interests of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry), published in 1997 [in German], re-published 2001

* Schöne neue Psychiatrie (Brave New Psychiatry), Vol. 1: Wie Chemie und Strom auf Geist und Psyche wirken (How Chemistry and Electricity Work on Mind and Psyche) · Vol. 2: Wie Psychopharmaka den Körper verändern (How Psychiatric Drugs Change the Body), published in 1996 [in German]

* Statt Psychiatrie (Instead of Psychiatry), edited 1993 [in German] together with Kerstin Kempker

* Der chemische Knebel: Warum Psychiater Neuroleptika verabreichen (The Chemical Gag: Why Psychiatrists Administer Neuroleptics), published in 1986 [in German]; 2. edition 1990, 3. edition 1993, reprint 2000, 2005 reprint of the original edition)

Since 1980 many contributions in specialists' magazines, between others in: Amalie (DK) · Brückenschlag (FRG) · Changes: International Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy (GB) · Clinical Psychology Forum (GB) · Co`med: Zeitschrift für Komplementärmedizin (FRG) · Courage: Berliner Frauenzeitung (FRG) · Current Opinion of Psychiatry · Deviant (NL) · Dr. med. Mabuse (FRG) · Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale (I) · Excerpta Medica (NL) · FAPI-Nachrichten (FRG) · Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (UK) · Kerbe (FRG) · ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ & ψυχική ΥΓΕΙΑ (GR) · Matrix 3000 (FRG) · Pro mente sana aktuell (CH) · Psychologie & Gesellschaftskritik (FRG) · Psychosoziale Umschau (FRG) · Society and Intervention (GR) · Soziale Psychiatrie (FRG) · Störfaktor (A) · Tetradia Psychiatrikis (GR) · Themes from Finland (FIN) · Trauma (CH) · Widerspruch (CH) · Zeitschrift für systemische Therapie (FRG).

Contributions in anthologies and other books, between others in: Mosher / Burti: Seelische Gesundheit: Community Mental Health. Ein Leitfaden für die Praxis, 2004 · Trialog praktisch, 2004 · 25 Jahre Psychiatrie-Enquete, 2001 · Sozialpsychiatrie: Entwicklungen-Kontroversen-Perspektiven, 2001 · This is Madness Too: Critical Perspectives on Mental Health Services, 2001 · Proceedings of the European Conference on Promotion of Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 2001 · Manage or Perish? The Challenges of Managed Mental Health Care in Europe, 2000 · Emergency Psychiatry in a Changing World, 1999 · Flucht in die Wirklichkeit: Das Berliner Weglaufhaus (Escape into Reality: The Berlin Runaway House), 1998 · Deprived of Our Humanity: The Case against Neuroleptic Drugs, 1998 · Behandlungsvereinbarungen, 1998 · Der aufgestörte Blick: Multiple Persönlichkeiten, Frauenbewegung und Gewalt, 1997 · Abschied von Babylon, 1995 · Det mindst onde, 1993 · Von Langzeitpatienten für Akutpsychiatrie lernen, 1990 · Vormundschaftsgerichtstag, 1989 · Hjernemedicin: En bog om den giftige psykiatri, 1988 · Gekte zonder grenzen: Hoe de gekkenbeweging de psychiatrie overbodig maakt, 1985.

About Peter Lehmann Publishing (http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/)

The Peter Lehmann Publishing House is orientated toward the interests of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry whose main concerns are self-determination and freedom from bodily harm. The publisher, Peter Lehmann, is familiar with the problems of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry because of his own experience. To avoid censorship from mainstream publishing houses, he founded his own publishing house in Germany in 1986. He went on to create branch offices in Great Britain in 2003, and in the USA in 2004. The Peter Lehmann Publishing House has no connection to the pharmaceutical industry and to organizations that are dependent on them, nor to Scientology or other sects and dogmatists of whatever color. Beyond health, nothing is more valuable than freedom and independence.

Peter Lehmann publishes literature filled with a contrarian spirit and the fundamental conviction that (1) psychiatry as a scientific discipline cannot do justice to the expectation of solving mental problems that are largely of a social nature, (2) its propensity and practice to use force constitutes a threat, and (3) its diagnostic methods obstruct the view of the real problems of individuals.

For these reasons, Peter Lehmann Publishing pleads for (1) developing adequate and effective assistance for people in emotional difficulties, (2) safeguarding civil rights in treatment on a par with 'normal' patients, (3) joining forces in cooperation with other human rights and self-help groups, (4) support in withdrawing from psychiatric drugs, use of alternative and less toxic psychotropic substances and a ban of electroshock, (5) new ways of living with madness and being different-with as much independence from institutions as possible, and (6) tolerance, respect and appreciation of diversity at all levels of life.

At Peter Lehmann Publishing, written contributions by (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry are taken seriously, are free from unsolicited interpretation and are paid for in the same manner as any other publications are paid for.

About Peter's current work

"The last year I worked very hard to produce the book “Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry”, which I edit together with Peter Stastny and publish it in English and simultaneously in German in my own Publishing House in September 2007. The book highlights alternatives beyond psychiatry, current possibilities of self-help for individuals experiencing madness, and strategies toward implementing humane treatment. 61 authors—(ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry, therapists, psychiatrists, lawyers, social scientists and relatives from all five continents—report about their alternative work, their objectives and successes, their individual and collective experiences. Find information at http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/books/without.htm

http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/books/without/large-size.htm and the cover back-side at

http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/books/without/large-size-u-4.htm already now.

"Parallel I work at the third German edition of the book my book ““Coming off Psychiatric Drugs. Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and Tranquilizers“, which I edited in the first edition in 1998, it was the world-wide first book about this topic, and includes experience-reports of 28 (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatric drugs from all over the world and additional articles of psychotherapists, physicians, psychiatrists, natural healers and other professionals helping withdraw. Next year an Italian and an Greek edition will be published, but not from my Publishing House. In 2004, I published an edition in English language, with a preface by Loren Mosher, who wrote:

This book is a must read for anyone who might consider taking or not longer taking these mind altering legal drugs and perhaps even more so for those able to prescribe them.

Pirkko Lahti, President of the World Federation for Mental Health, 2001-2003 wrote in her preface:

The book has a provocative message, life-experiences some¬times differ from scientific agreements. The book is based on the personal experiences of (ex-)users and survivors of psychiatry and the few professionals helping people to come off psychiatric drugs. So it is a good place to begin the discussion. The book should be available in each medical practice, in each therapeutic ward, in each patients’ library.

Find the complete prefaces, more information about the book and how to order it at

http//www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/withdraw.htm

More info is on Peter's own web site here: http://www.peter-lehmann.de/inter