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National Association for Rights Protection & Advocacy (NARPA) Conference 2012
Global News
Irish Minister Launches Book Critical of Mental Health Industry
MindFreedom Ireland organized a gathering to launch a new book by dissident mental health professional, Dr. Terry Lunch, about 'Selfhood.' Irish Minister of State Kathleen Lynch TD performed the launch, praising Dr. Lynch's work for psychiatric survivors.
John McCarthy - Irish Poet, Mad Pride Leader, Psychiatric Survivor - RIP
Mary Maddock of the MindFreedom International board of directors just contacted us with the sad news: After a long motor neurone illness, mad pride leader, poet and psychiatric survivor John McCarthy of Cork, Ireland died this morning at 61. Whether you knew him personally or not, John is a hero for our "mad movement." Below are some Mad Pride memories of John. [Updated 14 Jan 2012]
New book on coercion in mental health includes chapter by MindFreedom director, David Oaks
World Psychiatric Association leaders created a book about coercion in psychiatry, much of it supporting coercion. A chapter by psychiatric survivor David Oaks condemns involuntary mental health procedures, and calls for peaceful protests. You may download a free sample of his chapter here.
New MindFreedom Journal Focus on Allies: Families, Theater, Advocates, Providers
The brand new MindFreedom Journal #51 is now out! Theme: How to work with people and groups who support the human rights of psychiatric survivors. Here's how you can get your new issue.
MF Alert: Canadian 9-year-old forcibly given psychiatric drugs, over family's wishes
Canadian authorities are allegedly giving powerful psychiatric drugs to a nine-year-old girl diagnosed autistic, over the united and expressed wishes of the family, according to her father. MindFreedom issued this alert about how you can help.
MindFreedom International Delegation Visits Ghana
A delegation from MindFreedom International, with support from Open Society Institute, visited Accra, Ghana, Africa to do a training, and meet with a wide variety of cross-disability organizations, a government official. The delegation visited Accra's psychiatric institution.
Worst Mental Health Media of 2010: Canada's National Post Biased Articles by Joseph Brean
MFI gives the "2010 Worst Media Coverage of Mental Health Award" to reporter Joseph Brean from Canada's National Post. During mental health month in May 2010, Brean horribly mis-covered the international PsychOUT conference of psychiatric survivors activists and allies, who gathered from five nations to resist psychiatric human rights violations. In December 2010, Brean capped off his angry year with a biased article lashing out at critics of mental health system human rights violations.
Journal Seeks Papers from Mental Health Consumers & Psychiatric Survivors
MindFreedom Members, Marcela Musgrove, Leticia Villarreal Sosa, and colleague Madalyn Marcus, are working on a special issue of The Journal of Participatory Medicine on Mental Health. They are seeking diverse perspectives from participatory research, opinion pieces, book reviews, writings by survivors/consumers, etc.
From Psychiatric Inmate to Honorary Doctor: Peter Lehmann receives Honorary Doctorate
Long-time MindFreedom member and activist Peter Lehmann has been given an honorary doctor for his decades of work to win human rights and alternatives in the mental health field. [Update 29 Oct. 2010]
Dispute Between Peter Breggin and the former International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology (ICSPP)
Update6: The group formerly known as ICSPP is now ISEPP, the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry. For years, ICSPP was one of the main networking organizations for dissident psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health professionals, allies and others to question mental health system. ICSPP, founded by psychiatrist Peter Breggin, is an MFI Sponsor Group. In 2002, Dr. Breggin announced he was turning over stewardship of ICSPP to new leadership. However, in 2009 Dr. Breggin had a dispute with the ICSPP board of directors, and in April 2010 he redirected the ICSPP.org web address to a new, personal effort of his own. ICSPP issued a response, and plans to change its name. [Update6 - Aug 2011]
New Featured Products in the Mad Market
New products in MindFreedom's online "Mad Market" store: DVD & CD. Plus there are books, brochures, and more. All proceeds benefit MindFreedom's human rights work!
MindFreedom Ireland's Annual Report for 2009.
MindFreedom Ireland MF(lrl) is a proud affiliate in MindFreedom International. MF(lrl) can look back at its performance during the year and report significant progress on a number of fronts.
MindFreedom Increases Web 2.0 Mental Health Advocacy, Collaborates with WebTalent SEO.
NEWS RELEASE: MindFreedom International members, sponsors, affiliates and allied mental health advocates are spread out all over the world. MindFreedom International is using more participatory web tools in campaigns for mental health rights and alternative mental health, thanks to help from Oliver Feakins, President of WebTalent SEO, and intern Anne from University of Oregon. Here's how you can participate.
Laurie Ahern, Mental Health Advocate, Named President of Mental Disability Rights International
Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) announces that Laurie Ahern, psychiatric survivor, has been voted by their board of directors to be MDRI President. MDRI is a sponsor group in MindFreedom International working for mental health rights and alternative mental health.
Successful ECT Protest Held in Ireland
On 31 May 2009 a protest against electroshock was held by MindFreedom Ireland in Cork.
WHO's Mental Health Director Calls MindFreedom's work "remarkable, fair."
The head of the UN's World Health Organization's mental health department from 1999 to 2010 was psychiatrist Dr. Benedetto Saraceno in Geneva, Switzerland. In that position, Dr. Saraceno issued a statement about WHO's work with MindFreedom International and MFI executive director David W. Oaks. Dr. Saraceno's support has continued in his next position as chair of the Global Initiative on Psychiatry (GIP).
Documentary on Coerced Psychiatry
Norwegian Television (NRK 1) will present a documentary about coerced psychiatry on October 28, 2008.
MindFreedom Ireland founder Mary Maddock was featured in a major newspaper story in Ireland.
Mary Maddock is a former nun, an electroshock survivor, founder of MindFreedom Ireland based in Cork, Ireland, and author of the book Soul Survivor. One of the main newspapers in Ireland ran a major feature about Mary. Mary is on the board of directors of MindFreedom International.
UK Guardian: Studies say antidepressants no better than placebo
UK's Guardian newspaper covers the news that a major study says SSRI antidepressant psychiatric drugs are no better than placebo.
Psychiatric Survivor Musician Works on Album
Vara Adams is a psychiatric survivor musician who is working on an album of songs that challenge the current mental health system. She has three of the six songs recorded so far. We've been enjoying these first three at the MindFreedom office! Go Vara!
