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Alternatives to the Traditional Mental Health System

Folder Consumer-Driven Resources
 
Folder Non-Drug Alternatives for Label of Schizophrenia
 
Article Mental health system due for radical reform
A guest column by dissdent mental health worker and MindFreedom Lane County activist Ron Unger says that a range of real choices in mental health care is crucial for for recovery.
Folder Trauma model as alternative
Viewing emotional distress through a trauma perspective can be one alternative to the domination of the medical model.
Folder ecopsychology
Alternatives to the traditional mental health system that involve nature and the environment.
Link yoga-for-depression
An MFI member said, "Here is the site I mentioned to you. I have book 'Yoga For Depression' which has been EXTREMELY helpful to me these past months. I checked out her website which is chock full of interesting stuff. Also check out her newsletter esp. one on teens & the dangers of antidepresents."
Article Easy access to acupuncture, Freedom Center in Northampton offers free treatments
Freedom Center is a sponsor group in MindFreedom International. This newspaper article is about how Freedom Center, which is run by and for psychiatric survivors, offers acupuncture as an alternative to the traditional mental health system.
Article Alternative Healing: How to navigate the psychiatric system if you're caught, and how to present yourself as "normal."
An anonymous psychologist wrote this article about how to avoid and escape psychiatric oppression if you find yourself caught up in it. Calling himself "Dr. Deceptively 'Normal,'" this mental health professional is a longtime MindFreedom member who has worked at psychiatric institutions and in mental health settings for years. His opinions are his own. (Pictured here: "Tranquilizer Chair" designed by Benjamin Rush who is widely considered "Father of American Psychiatry.")
Article Positive Psychology is Getting a Tryout at McLean Hospital
The major psychiatric institution McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, a Harvard teaching facility, announced it is introducing "positive psychology" as an alternative approach to assist in mental and emotional well being recovery.
Folder Recovery and Mental Health
Full and complete recovery -- meaning re-integration into society without dependence on the mental health system, is an achievable goal for every known problem labeled as a "psychiatric disorder."
Folder Consumer-Driven Services - International
International consumer-driven resources
Page "Inspiration for a Creative Revolution" by Janet Foner
Janet Foner, board member of MindFreedom International and Chair of Choices in Mental Health Committee, presented this speech on Thursday evening, 12 July 2007, at the MindFreedom International Conference: Creative Revolution: Turning Our Minds Around near Litchfield, Connecticut, USA.
Folder Nutritional and Orthomolecular
This is a folder about alternatives to the conventional mental health system that involve supplements, vitamins, nutrients, orthomolecular approaches, herbs., etc.
Folder peer support
Peer mutual support is now proven through studies to, in many circumstances, add to the likelihood of recovery following a diagnosis with some mental health problems.
Folder Hearing Voices
There are a range of alternatives that individuals have successfully used to address the problem of experiencing extremely distressing voices, thoughts, visions, etc. that others do not experience. While some individuals choose a medical model approach, such as psychiatric drugs, many others have reached recovery or manage their challenges with a wide variety of options and choices. For example, the peer support network Hearing Voices USA is a sponsor group of MindFreedom International. There are many Hearing Voices peer support groups in Europe.
Folder Alternative Medicine Resources
Links to websites providing alternative medicine resources
News Item Review: "Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry" reviewed by Mary Maddock
Mary Maddock of Cork, Ireland reviews the new book "Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry" co-edited by Peter Lehmann and Peter Stastny. Mary is co-founder of MindFreedom Ireland.
Link BBC News: "More funds for talking therapies"
The English government will spend millions more on "talking treatments" for depression and anxiety.
Folder Finland Open Dialogue
A Finnish alternative to the traditional mental health system for people diagnosed with "psychoses" such as "schizophrenia" is "Open Dialogue." This approach aims to support the individual's network of family and friends, as well as respect the decision-making of the individual. Here are two follow-up studies: One is a two-year follow-up and the other, which is the recommended study, is a five-year follow-up.
Event Bruce Levine's New England Book Tour (New England, from Mar 22, 2008 12:00 AM to Mar 30, 2008 12:00 AM)
A New Englnad tour to promote Bruce Levine's new book: "Surviving America's Depression Epidemic: How to Find Morale, Energy, and Community in a World Gone Crazy"
Link Link to info on Chinese herbal psychiatry
Here is a link to a simple "pharmacopoeia" of traditional Chinese medicine herbal blends for mental heath diagnoses from depression to psychosis.
Page Brainstorm of our favorite alternatives from Opal Meeting in Lane County, Oregon, USA
Psychiatric survivor and vet Hugh Massengill addressed the sixth meeting of the Opal Network in Eugene, Oregon on 29 July 2008 about moving from madness to mental wellness. The Opal Network brings together advocates for empowerment of people in mental health system in Lane County. Moderators Bjo Ashwill and Tom Wilson led a brainstorm about our favorite methods to reach and maintain mental and emotional well being. Here is a draft based on notes by David Oaks.
Article A New Group for People Who Hear Voices Celebrates Mental Illness Diversity
A weekly newspaper in Portland, Oregon covers "mad pride" alternative medicine, and profiles MindFreedom member Will Hall.
Article Mental health: Out of the cuckoo's nest
UK Guardian is one of the most influential English-speaking newspaper in the world. They ran an article about psychiatrist and psychiatric survivor Dan Fisher, and his work for more empowering alternatives in the mental health system such as peer support.
Article Therapy Without Force: A Treatment Model for Severe Psychiatric Problems
This paper offers real-world examples of how therapists can avoid resorting to coercive interventions while attempting to respectfully help those in severe distress. (Author is responsible for content.)
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Leonard Roy Frank

Leonard Roy Frank is a survivor of dozens of brutal forced electroshock and insulin coma. He went on to become one of the foremost activists for human rights of people harmed by electroshock. Leonard is a long-time MindFreedom supporter. He has edited many books including: Frank Quotes (1970), The History of Shock Treatment (1978), Influencing Minds: A Reader in Quotations (1995), Random House Webster's Quotationary (1998), and Random House Webster's Wit & Humor Quotationary (2000).