Free Britney Spears!

As I write this, Britney Spears is being held involuntarily in a psychiatric facility. Again.

Our youth outreach coordinator showed me a poster. It made me laugh. But I wasn't sure it would be okay to publish.

Our poster has caused some controversy.

The poster had a photo of Britney Spears when she was bald and looking wild eyed. It's not the photo here. (To download the poster with the photo our youth committee used, click here.)

The poster says, "We are all Britney. Seriously, what are we all doing for youth in the  mental health system. If a celebrity can't get real help what about the rest of us?"

The poster advertised a 6 February 2008 meeting our local affiliate, MindFreedom Lane County, is having here by our office in Eugene, Oregon, USA. The theme of the meeting is about alternatives and choice for youth in the mental health system.

Is Britney youth? The local government has a rule of thumb that anyone under about age 24 is youth, so by that definition yes.

Some felt that our poster mocked Britney, and that gave me pause. After all, the photo was not very flattering.

One person asked, "Would you publish this poster if it was of anyone else?"

Here's why we decided to publish the poster:

We're sincere. We really are all Britney, in the sense that she is widely considered "crazy." Well, have you checked out what it's like to simply be alive? Have you checked out being a human being? Have you checked out quantum theory and string theory? How about climate crisis, have you checked out the Greenhouse effect?

Add it all up... and guess what. If you use the word "crazy" for anyone, we are all in the same boat. Everyone of us. In fact, one of the most out-of-touch-with-reality things you can do is to claim

In terms of utilizing an image of her, Britney has chosen to get herself out there in the public's face in an extreme way. She's definitely made that choice for some time.

But here's the main thing. Britney proves a point. A lot of times people who care about mental health issues have a simplistic two word position: "More Money." And more money could help in some mental health services.

However, Britney has plenty of money. Yet, she's apparently been unable to access the large range of alternatives that we know can help. Even now, forcibly brought into the mental health system, we would be very surprised to find out she has been offered alternatives.

No doubt, Britney is being offered the mental health system's ten point plan. I realize there are other aspects of the mental health system, but it's the ten point plan that is offered, emphasized, promoted, funded and praised.

For those new to it, here is the mental health system's ten point plan:

1. drug
2. drug
3. drug
4. drug
5. drug
6. drug
7. drug
8. drug
9. drug
10. drug

As Frances Farmer discovered long ago, being a celebrity doesn't mean you have immunity from psychiatric oppression. Today, Britney may be learning that her riches and celebrity don't mean access to the range of alternatives that our members have used to reach well being and recovery.

It takes more than money to create plenty of wholistic and empowering alternatives. It takes democracy getting hands on with the mental health system. Perhaps Britney's tragic experiences may help educate the public that youth in crisis do not have adequate choices.