NEWS: Independent from Inhumane Mental Health Care?
News and alerts from www.MindFreedom.org
http://www.mindfreedom.org/directory -- please forward now!
DECLARATION OF MIND INDEPENDENCE!
Declare Your Mind Independent from Inhumane Mental Health Care!
MindFreedom International Launches Directory of Alternatives.
A Call for Mental Health Alternative Providers to List Their
Services!
MindFreedom International announced today the much-anticipated launch
of its MindFreedom Directory of Mental Health Alternatives, and is
issuing an international call for services that would like to be listed.
To try out the geographically-searchable directory, which already
lists a few alternatives, go to the Directory Gateway:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/directory
MindFreedom's new directory is unique in that every provider listed
has agreed to uphold key principles on such issues as the use and
discontinuation of psychiatric drugs, the "biomedical model," and
forced treatment. The principles were devised by the the MindFreedom
International Choice in Mental Health Care Committee, and endorsed by
the MindFreedom International board of directors.
The text of the MindFreedom Principles for Mental Health Alternatives
is BELOW.
The Directory will be international in scope and draw upon
MindFreedom's allies in many countries.
MindFreedom board member Matthew Morrissey, who is a mental health
counselor, stated, "An important new component to MindFreedom's work
of promoting human rights in the mental health system is to build an
extensive network of practitioners and agencies who fundamentally
respect the dignity and resiliency of the people they serve."
While the idea for a directory is not new, the goal of creating it was
officially proposed and discussed at the Wisdom House Conference on
Alternatives in July of 2007. There, the conference attendees helped
brainstorm the broad outlines of the project.
Thanks to the generous donations of MindFreedom members, enough funds
were raised to build a customized database. MindFreedom's web master
NetCorps encountered technical difficulties with the custom database,
but work was completed in June 2009.
July is widely considered "Mad Pride Month," so organizers consider
this is an especially appropriate month for the public launch.
Providers of services who agree with the MindFreedom Directory of
Alternatives Principles, and who would like to apply to be listed in
the directory, may inquire here:
The "Gateway" page to the directory has links to the search engine,
principles and this news release with a photo of Matt Morissey
speaking at a recent protest in front of the American Psychiatric
Association Annual Meeting:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/directory
~~~~~~~~~~~~
MindFreedom Principles for Mental Health Alternatives
We in MindFreedom envision a world where many useful, humane,
empowering and competing models replace the dominance of the bio-
medical model -- where the resultant flourishing of services, groups,
philosophies, and products allows for a genuine freedom to choose. In
order to be listed in our planned directory, all individuals, groups,
and agencies must agree to uphold certain principles. These principles
set them apart from traditional services.
ON PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS
Our practitioners, groups, and agencies . . .
** Respect the rights of people to make an informed choice about
psychiatric drugs and treatment. This includes making available to
people unbiased information on the risks and side effects of any
treatments and services.
** Offer support and encouragement for people to discuss the side
effects of psychiatric drugs. If necessary, they will offer to
advocate for them with the prescribing physician.
** Never pressure people into taking psychiatric drugs OR into getting
off them. Services are never contingent on a person being "med-
compliant" (i.e., "I/we will only treat you, offer you shelter, or
allow you to participate in the program if you are on/stay on your
medications.").
** Respect the right of people to want to discontinue using
psychiatric drugs. If it is within their scope of practice and the
person desires it, they will aid the person getting off drugs to taper
off the drugs in the safest way possible. If it is not within their
scope of practice, they will proactively seek resources and
practitioners who will aid them in this process.
ON THE BIO-MEDICAL MODEL OF "MENTAL ILLNESS"
Our practitioners, groups, and agencies. . .
** Do not tell people that they suffer from irreversible genetic and
biochemical abnormalities. Instead, they believe that recovery,
growth, and change are extremely probable, especially given the right
conditions.
** Understand and are highly sensitive to the effects and implications
of diagnosing someone with a psychiatric disorder.
** Do not use psychiatric diagnoses as the primary way of
understanding and relating to people.
** Are willing to have an open, collaborative dialogue about the
diagnosis if one must be given for insurance or other purposes.
ON FORCED TREATMENT
Our practitioners, groups, and agencies. . .
** Recognize and uphold the rights of people to conduct their lives
free from coercive treatments.
ON HONORING OUR KNOWLEDGE
Our practitioners, groups, and agencies. . .
** Collaborate with people they serve on the desired outcomes from the
service or product.
** Allow people to make their own choice as to when to leave the
service or discontinue using the product.
Our agencies. . .
** Grant the people whom they serve an active role in shaping agency
policy.
ON DISCRIMINATION
Our practitioners, groups, and agencies. . .
** Do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, religion,
sexual preference, disability, etc.
ON RESPECT
Our practitioners, groups, and agencies. . .
** Prevent the sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional abuse of people
served.
** Preserve the mental and physical integrity of people served.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you a mental health care provider who agrees with the above
principles?
Would you like to submit your mental health alternative for potential
listing in the MindFreedom Directory of Mental Health Alternatives?
Please email creativer...@mindfreedom.org for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gateway to MindFreedom Directory of Alternatives:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/directory
~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
MindFreedom's knowledge of those listed in the directory comes from
their own self-report and willingness to agree to certain principles.
MindFreedom, along with its board, staff, members and all contributors
to this directory, cannot endorse any particular individuals/groups/
agencies and will not be held accountable for any outcomes resulting
from contact with those listed in this directory.
MindFreedom provides no warranty whatsover, and makes no assurance
about quality. This directory is provided as a public education
service, and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a
licensed professional. Just like any other product or service, we at
MindFreedom urge you to inform yourself about the product or service
beforehand. If you do have a complaint about any service or provider
listed, please direct this to creativer...@mindfreedom.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE FORWARD this "Declaration of Mind-ependence" far and wide, to
all interested people on and off Internet!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINDFREEDOM 2009 SUMMER SUPPORT DRIVE
Unite to Change Mental Health Care!
Join, renew, donate now to MindFreedom International, click here:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate
Please act today! Show your Mad Pride during MAD PRIDE MONTH!
MindFreedom International is one of the few totally-independent,
activist nonprofits in the mental health field, with zero funding from
the mental health system, governments, drug companies or religions.
That means YOUR membership and donation are CRUCIAL to MindFreedom
International's campaigns for human rights alternatives.
Times are tough, making it even more important that each gives what he
or she can.
Your MindFreedom member benefits include:
* MindFreedom Journal - new issue is going to print soon!
* Member-only web and e-mail networking
* Discount on http://www.madmarket.org purchases
* Staffed member-services office
* Affiliate and Sponsor Group grassroots community organizing
* MindFreedom Shield issues alert for any member at risk of mental
health human rights violation
* More than two decades of human rights victories
* MOST IMPORTANTLY: *YOU* Build the People Power for a Nonviolent
Revolution in Mental Health!
Please donate, join now or renew, NOW, click here:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please forward this important news alert to all supportive people on
and off the Internet, now!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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