Call for papers: "PsychOUT: A Conference for Organizing Resistance Against Psychiatry"
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NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Up one levelThis is a folder regarding "NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness," a USA-based nonprofit founded by parents of individuals in the mental health system. While some NAMI members support the mission of MindFreedom and are members, some of the leaders of NAMI have worked to oppose many of our social change movement's goals. NAMI is one of the few large mental health organizations to refuse to disclose the full amount of funding from the pharmaceutical industry, which according to media investigations is substantial.
NY Times: NAMI Board Member Resigns in Protest Over Drug Money
The New York Times disclosed that when the US Senate forced NAMI to disclose that more than two-thirds of their money secretly came from psychiatric drug companies, one NAMI board member resigned in public protest: Professor H. Richard Lamb.
Drug Makers Are Advocacy Group's Biggest Donors
The New York Times revealed in Oct. 2009 that the US Senate had to force National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to disclose that a majority of its money is from psychiatric drug companies, a fact that NAMI's board kept secret for years.
NAMI named in lawsuit about Pfizer and psychiatric drug corruption
You may download a PDF of this lawsuit filed on behalf of several US States about drug company corruption. NAMI was named as one of the defendants because, for example, "Among the strategies intentionally designed to obscure the actual sources and amounts of funding for promotional activities, drug manufacturers have developed relationships with front organizations—industry-funded grassroots, consumer advocacy, research, and educational organizations whose primary goal is to promote marketing, influence regulations, or advance other industry interests." (page 25)
Grassley Probes Financing of Advocacy Group for Mental Health
US Senator Grassley has investigated the way pharmaceutical money has led to corruption in the mental health industry. Today, 6 April 2009, Sen. Grassley announced he is investigating the amount of psychiatric drug company money going to one of the largest mental health organizations, NAMI, a group largely led by parents of people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities.
Senate Probe Reveals that Majority of NAMI Money from Drug Companies
For years NAMI -- the National Alliance on Mental Illness -- has had an official secrecy policy on the amount of funds NAMI receives from psychiatric drug companies. Because of a US Senate probe in April 2009, NAMI has now disclosed that for the past five years a majority of their funds -- 56% -- are from the pharmaceutical industry.
Keep a count on NAMI web site: "biologically based"
While some NAMI members support MindFreedom's mission, a number of extremist NAMI leaders have worked over the years to oppose MindFreedom campaigns for human rights and alternatives. One reason they may be creating this divisiveness in the mental health advocacy community is a NAMI bias toward a narrow "medical approach" that promotes the use of psychiatric drugs over other approaches. MindFreedom initiated a count on their web site to reveal this bias.
