9 News Briefs on Human Rights in Mental Health: Films, Protests, Meetings, etc.

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Tue, 30 May 2006 17:39:16 -0700

mindfreedom-news

9 News Briefs on Human Rights in Mental Health: Films,

Protests, Meetings, etc.

 

 

 

 

News on Winning Human Rights & Alternatives

in the Mental Health System - 30 May 2006

http://www.MindFreedom.org - please forward

 

*Below* are nine (9) brief news items about

an emerging nonviolent revolution in the

mental health system!

 

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(1) Short film on child abuse and human rights in the psychiatric

system wins honor, needs your vote.

 

Please vote for " The Hippocratic Oath, " by MindFreedom member Aubrey

Ellen Shomo, at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12721177 or

http://www.coerced.org. Vote by selecting the film, near the bottom on

the right-hand side, and clicking the vote button at the bottom of the

list.

 

" The Hippocratic Oath " is a 60-second public service announcement that

raises awareness of child abuse in the psychiatric system by telling of

a child forced to bathe in a shower contaminated with human feces -- in

the late 1990's -- in that child's own voice. It also speaks of the

near-absolute power that psychiatric institutions tend to have over

children.

 

The film is a semi-finalist in the prestigious national issue film

competition, _Film Your Issue_, and is one of 35 chosen from more than

300 submissions. The jury includes George Clooney, Walter Cronkite,

HeathCliff Rothman, and Brian Williams. Aubrey Ellen Shomo of Colorado,

the film's 21-year-old survivor producer, describes it this way: " I

heard about _Film Your Issue_, and I just had to submit a film. It was

only natural that it would be something that tells this untold story

that I and many others know all too well. I was thrilled to see they

had chosen it as a semi-finalist, and am hopeful it will receive the

votes needed to win. " Aubrey can be e-mailed at aubrey

 

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(2) Anti-electroshock protest and pre-protest planning meeting are

coming up

 

by Howard Shryock, MindFreedom San Francisco Bay Area

 

" We will protest against Electroshock, on Summer Solstice Day, June 21,

2006, starting 5 p.m. in downtown Berkeley at the Southwest corner of

Shattuck Ave and Center Street, and after 6 p.m. we will, if we have

enough protesters, march seven blocks South to the old Herrick

Hospital, now called Herrick Campus of Alta Bates Hospital, which is

where the electroshock treatments are still done. To help make the

protest a success we will have our next Electroshock Committee planning

meeting June 4. " [Contact Howard for details at hms5 ]

 

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(3) _The Electroshock Quotationery_ free online!

 

_The Electroshock Quotationary_ by Leonard Roy Frank -- writer, shock

survivor, activist, shock-fraud authority, MindFreedom member -- is

available free. You may download this 125 page pdf at no cost from this

link:

 

http://www.endofshock.com/Final%20version%20Quotationary.pdf

 

or use this smaller web address:

 

http://tinyurl.com/n75jx

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

(4) Romania violates rights of infants and children with mental

disabilities

 

Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI), a MindFreedom Sponsor

Group, has found children with disabilities hidden and wasting away,

near death, in Romania's adult psychiatric facilities. A report

released on May 10th, _Hidden Suffering: Romania's Segregation and

Abuse of Infants and Children with Disabilities_, describes teenagers

weighing no more than 27 pounds. Some children are tied down with bed

sheets, their arms and legs twisted and left to atrophy.

 

Despite Romanian government claims that it has ended the placement of

babies in institutions, MDRI found infants languishing in a medical

facility so poorly staffed that the children never leave their cribs.

Many of these children have no identity papers. Officially, they do not

exist.

 

These shocking revelations come at a time when Romania, in its effort

to join the European Union (EU), is under pressure to reduce the number

of children in institutions. Romanian officials admitted to MDRI that

they had no idea how many children with disabilities are in adult

facilities.

 

For a copy of the report, video clips and photographs contact MDRI at

202.296.0800. Visit http://www.mdri.org

 

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(5) Documentary filmmaker needs footage of opponents of psychiatric

survivor human rights

 

Perhaps resistance to human rights violations in the mental health

system has made some opponents shy. A professional documentary

filmmaker who is working on a film involving the psychiatric rights

issues is having some difficulty getting footage of opponents to our

human rights to show both sides of the story, such as Sally Satel, E.

Fuller Torrey, Laurie Flynn, etc. If you have leads to obtain footage

contact the filmmmaker at: aspectproductions

 

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(6) Request for photographs of psychiatric survivor resistance

 

Long-time psychiatric survivor activist and MindFreedom member Darby

Penney is working on an important photographic project, and needs your

help. Darby writes, " We're looking for older photos of psychiatric

survivor and mental health consumer protests. We need either electronic

versions of high resolution photos, or actual photos that we can borrow

scan & return. " If you have leads e-mail to Darby: darby

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

(7) Reminder: _Philadelphia Inquirer_ letters needed.

 

You are encouraged to write a letter to the Philly Inquirer about their

recent probe of psychiatric drug company funding for nonprofits

published on 29 May 2006. If you missed it, the investigation is here:

 

http://www.intenex.net/pipermail/mindfreedom-news/2006-May/000034.html

 

Or use this smaller web address:

 

http://tinyurl.com/mp5w2

 

Whether or not your letter is printed it can have an impact. Be *sure*

to keep your letter to editor word count *below* 200, and include your

postal mailing address, along with day and evening phone number for

confirmation. Please e-mail your letter soon to

Inquirer.Letters

 

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(8) Here are three upcoming conferences:

 

* October 7, 8, 9, 2006 * Washington, D.C. * Ninth Annual Conference of

the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology,

Inc. (ICSPP), a sponsor group of MindFreedom. The theme: Mental Health

& the Law. Held in collaboration with The American University

Washington College of Law Washington, D.C. more info:

http://www.icspp.org/

 

* October 20, 2006 * Eugene, Oregon * Alternatives in Mental Health

Care as a Human Right. Sponsored by City of Eugene Human Rights

Commission. MindFreedom is involved in putting this on. To be notified

as more information comes available e-mail office

 

* October 25 to 29, 2006 * Portland, Oregon, USA * Alternatives 2006 *

" Blazing the Trail to Recovery through Transformation " Hosted by

CONTAC, this conference promotes recovery, self-help, and empowerment,

and is made possible through funding from the federal government.

Because federal funds may not be used for activism, MindFreedom has

independently rented an " Action Space " meeting room from the Portland

Marriott Downtown Waterfront where the conference will be held to

provide independent community organizing. See http://www.contac.org

about the Alternatives Conference. Contact http://www.MindFreedom.org

about the independent Action Space.

 

* November 15-18, 2006 * Baltimore, Maryland, USA * National

Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy 25th Anniversary. Theme:

" Social Justice - The Time Is Now. " NARPA, a MindFreedom sponsor group,

is seeking proposals which address strategies, ideas, programs, and

emerging practices that support and promote NARPA's mission and

commitment to individual rights, liberty, freedom, and dignity for

people labeled with psychiatric disabilities. The Application for

Workshops and Presentations is available at http://www.narpa.org.

Deadline for Submission is June 22, 2006. For more info on NARPA e-mail

narpa or phone (205) 464-0101.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

 

(9) A few non-drug alternatives to psychiatry in California

 

The MindFreedom office is frequently asked about psychological care

alternatives to psychiatric drugging and force. While we do not have a

directory so far, below are three sponsor groups of MindFreedom in

California that offer non-coercive drug-free care:

 

* Sequoia Psychotherapy Center, Inc., Fresno, California

 

by Mark D. Popper, Ph.D., Executive Clinical Director

 

" Sequoia Psychotherapy Center (SPC) is a psychological treatment

facility that emphasizes a philosophy, not a technique. All human

beings are prone to grow emotionally, socially, and spiritually

throughout life if their humanity is not being violated. SPC is one of

only a few programs of its kind that is dedicated to and specializes in

drug free treatment. SPC's treatment philosophy and model is based upon

the model originally developed by the late Dr. Kevin F. McCready.

Therapists at SPC are committed to respecting the dignity and autonomy

of the person above all other concerns. Healing with SPC does not

include dehumanizing technologies that demean us and trivialize what it

is to be human and special. Human beings are innately designed to heal

from their suffering; even grow from it. But the source of healing is

not found in drugs and electric shock or surgery or the other trappings

of biopsychiatry. These things dehumanize us. Instead of techniques and

technologies that further impair our humanity, the source of healing

must be sought in the very things that make us human. These things

include literature, art, music, laughter, play, community, and of

course, basic human compassion. We must always seek to struggle

productively with our suffering; expanding, deepening, expressing and

sharing our humanity. If you have questions about our program or if you

wish to set up an appointment please feel free to call upon us. " Phone:

559-266-5200 x312 Web: http://www.medsfree.com

 

* Full Spectrum, San Francisco

 

by Matt Morrissey

 

" Full Spectrum is an innovative mental health center in San Francisco,

offering day programs for adults and adolescents. Our approach is

humanistic and respectful, focusing on accessing and building upon

client strengths. We help people in crisis avoid hospitalization and

support clients in their transition from institutionalization to

independence. We believe in addressing the whole person, mind and body.

We want to help people heal, not just cope. If possible we identify

causes and solutions rather than simply manage symptoms. " Website:

http://www.fullspectrum.cc

 

* Insight Center, San Francisco

 

" Services include psychotherapy specifically tailored to address the

needs of people who prefer treatment unaccompanied by medication, and

classes. " Web site: http://www.insightcenter.net/

 

- end of news briefs -

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

Join MindFreedom International or renew your membership today!

 

Do you want to...

 

* Win human rights campaigns in mental health?

 

* End abuse by the psychiatric drug industry?

 

* Support the self-determination of psychiatric survivors?

 

* Promote safe, humane and effective options in mental health?

 

You are not alone! MindFreedom is a nonprofit human rights group that

unites 100 sponsor and affiliate groups with individual members, and is

accredited by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization

(NGO) with Consultative Roster Status.

 

MindFreedom is one of the very few totally independent groups in the

mental health field with no funding from governments, drug companies,

religions, corporations, or the mental health system. While most of

MindFreedom's members are psychiatric survivors, *all* who support

human rights are invited to join and become active leaders.

 

JOIN, RENEW, DONATE, or give GIFT MEMBERSHIPS to MindFreedom

International today:

 

http://www.mindfreedom.org/join.shtml

 

For a MAD MARKET of books and other products to support human rights

campaigns in mental health: http://www.madmarket.org

 

MindFreedom International office: 454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB

11284; Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

 

web site: http://www.mindfreedom.org

e-mail: office

office phone: (541) 345-9106

toll free: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE or 1-877-623-7743

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Please forward.

 

 

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