News about MindFreedom Lane County

Eugene Weekly covers alternatives to psychiatric drugs, quotes MindFreedom activists.

Change Lane County Guidelines on Mental Health Client "Empowerment"!

Activists are struggling to change written guidelines created by Lane County regarding the empowerment and participation of Lane County mental health clients.

You have two free events in February 2010 where you can learn more, and speak out.

Background in brief:

In 2008, Lane County Mental Health and LaneCare (their headquarters are pictured here) came up with guidelines for empowerment of mental health clients in Lane County.

MindFreedom Lane County considers their guidelines ineffective.

Lane County's guidelines do NOT:

• ...inform consumers that full recovery is possible.

• ...explain the diversity of non-drug alternatives that ought to be available.
• ...offer adequate assistance to those who wish to reduce or get off psychiatric medication.

You may read a copy of Lane County's 2008 guidelines by clicking here.

Because of dissatisfaction with Lane County's guidelines, in 2009, Lane County Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Council drafted their own revised guidelines, and recommended that these be adopted by Lane County.

To download an attached text file of the Consumer/Survivor Council revised draft, click here.

To help you compare these two documents, you may also download a text document, "Why the 'Lane County and LaneCare Guidelines Relative to Consumer Participation and Empowerment' require revision."

If you would like to read a timeline of the history of these guidelines, click here.

The main changes MindFreedom Lane County has identified: * HOPE: Make it clear full recovery is possible. * CHOICE: Spell out availability of non-drug alternatives. * TRANSITION: Provide help for those who wish to taper off prescribed psychiatric drugs.

Action For Stronger Guidelines for Empowerment in Mental Health

Lane County residents are encouraged to contact their County Commissioner to speak out for stronger guidelines.

You can contact your County Commissioner, and even use a map to figure who represents you, by clicking here:

http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/BCC

More information about MindFreedom Lane County Activities

Click here to get calendar of MindFreedom Lane County activities from Jan. to March 2010.

Eugene City Council Unanimously Passes Resolution that More Non-Drug Alternatives are a Human Right!

City of Eugene Council passed a resolution supported by MindFreedom International for choice, empowerment and alternatives in mental health.

To read more, download the resolution, see a photo, and read background info, click here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/or/lane/eugene/choice-resolution/

Read a GUEST COLUMN OP-ED by David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International, about Resolution 4989, published in the Register-Guard on 10 December 2009, Human Rights Day! Click here.

Get Involved in the Opal Network!

MindFreedom Lane County -- with the cooperation of a lot of other groups -- helped launch the Opal Network in May 2007. This is a quarterly meeting at the Eugene Public Library where all people and agencies who support the voice of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors are invited.

The local Center for Independent Living for cross-disability, LILA, especially staff person Bjo Ashwill, has been important in building the Opal Network.

This model of organizing that unites cross-disability and mental health consumers/psychiatric survivors is now going national!

Learn more about the Opal Network, click here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org.opal

The next Opal Network meeting is 29 December 2009, at 2 pm, at Eugene Public Library. Click here for details and to download flyer.

Other MindFreedom Lane County information and news:

You may get free occasional e-mail news announcements about MindFreedom Lane County activities by signing up here:

To read an archive of past MindfFreedom Lane County News Alerts, click here:

To join an e-mail list to participate in a discussion about changing mental health system in Lane County, Oregon, USA, click here:

Click below for an example of a MindFreedom Lane County Mad Pride theater with the MindFreedom Lane County Youth Committee that won national news coverage on ABC-TV:

Inspired by this grassroots activity? You can form an affiliate of MindFreedom International wherever you are! Ask the MindFreedom office for more info.

See "Related Content" links below for more information about the many activities of MindFreedom Lane County!