Gathering in Montreal to Ban ECT
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MFI News
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Double your new membership to MindFreedom International!
Thinking of joining MFI? Now is the time. For a limited time only, when you join MindFreedom International for the first time, your donation will be matched by the Heilos foundation!
United Nations Disability Treaty in Effect
A United Nations treaty -- or "convention" -- on disability has been ratified by enough nations to go into effect on 3 May 2008. MindFreedom activists worked for years with hundreds of other advocates to achieve this victory.
MindFreedom Ireland Protests Electroshock
NEWS RELEASE: Electroshock -- also known as electroconvulsive therapy -- is being protested in May in Cork, Ireland; Ottawa, Canada; Montreal, Canada; Eugene, Oregon, USA. Here's a brief report from the MindFreedom Ireland protest of shock in Cork.
MindFreedom Journal #48 available
Issue includes news about Global, USA, Media, Choice and Mad Pride Campaigns. Available now in paper, PDF, and plain text versions.
NEWS: MindFreedom Launches All-New MadMarket
1 May 2008: An all-new MadMarket is launched! The MadMarket has hard-to-get books, DVD's and gear about changing the mental health system. Proceeds support the human rights campaigns of MindFreedom International.
News release: Launch of the Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition Board
On 22 April 2008, a state-wide teleconference launched the board of directors of the new OCSC, or Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition. Here's the news release, and how you can become active.
Debate in The Register-Guard newspaper continues about antipsychotic psychiatric drugs
The daily newspaper for Eugene, Oregon, USA -- The Register-Guard -- ran a guest commentary by long-time mental health worker Chuck Areford highly critical of the powerful psychiatric drugs known as neuroleptics or antipsychotics. This was followed by a guest perspective by a psychiatrist defending the drugs, as well as letters to the editor. Now Ron Unger, a mental health counselor and coordinator for MindFreedom Lane County, has weighed in. Follow the debate here, as well as links to research, citations, etc.
Oregon Public Broadcasting Radio spotlights MindFreedom opposition to forced psychiatric drugs.
David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom, is interviewed on OPB radio about his experience of forced psychiatric drugging, and MindFreedom's opposition to forced mental health procedures.
New Zealand court "quashes" psychiatrist du Fresne attempt to silence survivor of her own forced electroshock
When New Zealand psychiatrist du Fresne tried to stop a TV station from interviewing a survivor of her own forced electroshock, the public was outraged. A court ruled that Dr. du Fresne had no legal leg to stand on.
New Task Force on Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Activism
NEWS RELEASE: PsychRights & MindFreedom have formed a joint effort to win battles against forced psychiatric drugging in both the court of law and court of public opinion. The effort targets human rights violations in California, Massachusetts and New York.
A Mental Health Alternative for Youth in Denmark May Be Shut Down: Save Gaderummet!
Gaderummet is an innovative psychosocial alternative for young homeless people in Copenhagen, Denmark that may be replaced by a more traditional mental health service. Here's an easy e-mail action you can take to help show there is international support.
USA federal prisoner commits suicide after forced psychiatric drugs
Mike Heston was a member of MindFreedom who wrote many times to the MFI office saying he is a prisoner who is experiencing involuntary psychiatric drug injections in the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. MindFreedom issued a human rights alert on his behalf. Mr. Heston's family has informed MindFreedom's office that he has committed suicide. Both the family and MindFreedom call for an investigation. Update: A Rochester newspaper published a news story on this topic.
How Teenage Rebellion Has Become a "Mental Illness"
Psychologist, author and MindFreedom member Bruce E. Levine has an article on Alternet exposing the way rebellion by young people is being diagnosed as a psychiatric "disease" to be drugged.
Patch Adams, MD Agrees to be New Chair of the "IAACM"!
This day, 21 January 2008, is the official national holiday in the USA to celebrate the life of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., who would have turned 79 last week. Just moments ago, Patch Adams, MD phoned up MindFreedom International from his home in Virginia. Patch agreed to be the new chair of a dream MLK had that never came true: The IAACM. That's the International Association for the Advancement of Creative Maladjustment,
MFI Calls for Investigations of Neuroleptic (Antipsychotic) Drugs
More and more mainstream media and research studies are exposing extreme hazards and human rights violations associated with the prescription of antipsychotic psychiatric drugs, which are also known as neuroleptics, without adequate advocacy, information and alternatives. MindFreedom calls for multiple investigations.
New York State Continues Cover-up of Data on Forced ECT
News Update: 1 January 2008. Long-time human rights activist Darby Penney continues her quest to use the law to make New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) release data about forced electroshock over the expressed wishes of the subject. OMH provided a bit of info, but their cover-up continues.
MFI Alerts Result in Many Speaking Out To NIMH
Because of a MindFreedom alert, many people wrote to the USA National Institute of Mental Health by the 21 Dec. 2007 deadline with comments about NIMH research goals over the next three to five years. Read some of the remarks and find out how to contact NIMH after the deadline.
Australians leaflet World Psychiatric Association conference
When the World Psychiatric Association held a major meeting in Melbourne, Australia, psychiatric survivor activists representing three different groups were there to leaflet participants from all over the world on opening day, reports psychiatric survivor David Webb.
Al Galves Receives Humanitarian Award
MindFreedom sponsor group International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology (ICSPP) awarded Al Galves, PhD with a special award at their annual meeting in Arlington, Virginia. Al is a board member of MindFreedom International.
MindFreedom Maine speaks out about Kitty Dukakis book
Here's a report about a MindFreedom vigil that helped break the silence about bias in a book that unfairly promotes electroshock.
