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

Tue May 30 19:39:16 CDT 2006

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 at aubreyshomo.net

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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 at pacbell.net ]

~~~~~~~~~

(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

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(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 at hotmail.com

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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 at capital.net

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(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 at phillynews.com

~~~~~~~~~~

(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 at mindfreedom.org

* 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 at aol.com or phone (205) 464-0101.

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(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 at mindfreedom.org
office phone: (541) 345-9106
toll free: 1-877-MAD-PRIDE or 1-877-623-7743
fax: (541) 345-3737

Please forward.