NEWS: Mental Health Nonviolent Revolution in Oregon
mindfreedom-news at intenex.net
mindfreedom-news at intenex.net
Thu Oct 12 18:30:04 CDT 2006
The BELOW guest column by a mental health professional highly
critical of the mental health system was published today in the main
daily newspaper for Eugene, Oregon, USA.
AT BOTTOM is info about lots of free events & issues in Oregon in
October 2006 to launch a much-needed "nonviolent revolution in the
mental health system." Please spread the word, especially to contacts
in Oregon or those visiting Oregon.
~~~~~~~~~~
_The Register-Guard_, Eugene, Oregon, USA
October 12, 2006
GUEST VIEWPOINT
Mental health system due for radical reform
BY RON UNGER
The mental health system is expected to care for people whose
apparently mistaken beliefs, or "delusions," make them disabled or
possibly dangerous. One might hope that mental health professionals
would be the first to notice when their own beliefs become mistaken
enough to be disabling or dangerous.
Unfortunately, nothing more illustrates the need for radical reform
than the huge gap between the beliefs guiding much of current
treatment and the actual evidence about mental health problems and
outcomes. This gap is most extreme with regard to the most serious
and costly problems, such as those labeled as schizophrenia.
The beliefs shaping most current schizophrenia treatment might be
summarized as follows:
"These people have a brain disease. Their bizarre thoughts, emotions
and experiences are not understandable, and are simply due to the
disease, not to their life experience. Psychotherapy is ineffective
with them. Their best hope is to adjust to their disability, relying
on modern medications for the rest of their lives."
These beliefs themselves qualify as delusional when compared with
research evidence.
True, people diagnosed with schizophrenia often show brain
abnormalities - but then again they often do not, and people not
mentally troubled frequently show the same abnormalities. Trauma,
especially childhood trauma, has been demonstrated to make a later
diagnosis of schizophrenia much more likely. Children who have been
traumatized are also more likely to show the same brain abnormalities
sometimes seen in people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Some forms of
psychotherapy have been proven significantly effective and helpful.
In the long term, many people diagnosed with schizophrenia recover
completely, eventually not needing any medication or other treatment.
When people do recover, they credit a trusting relationship with
someone who believed in them more frequently than they credit medical
treatment. Such recoveries, according to two World Health
Organization studies, are twice as likely in less developed
countries, which mostly lack our modern medical approaches.
If recovery from a particular cancer were found to be twice as likely
in less developed countries, we would fundamentally question our
treatment methods. Yet critical self-examination has been rare in the
mental health field. Since the second WHO study was released in 1992,
it has been mostly business as usual, with the emphasis on biology
and more medications.
So how do we make the transition from ineffective mental health care
based on misinformation to an effective system that actually helps
people recover?
In many fields, consumer demand leads to changes in services. But the
mental health field has discounted consumer opinions, has defined
"mentally ill" people as incapable of making useful choices, and has
insisted that diagnosed people passively accept whatever treatment is
offered. When people resist, treatment is often forced, commonly
resulting in emotional trauma that in turn increases emotional problems.
More recently, however, mental health consumers and ex-consumer
"survivors" are organizing to resist this paradigm, and are asking
both for a voice and for choice in the treatment they receive. While
some see this push as disruptive, it seems more likely that it is our
best hope for a transition to a more effective (and ultimately less
costly) mental health system.
Perhaps our most fundamental human quality is our ability to choose.
Psychiatrist Victor Frankl wrote that his ability to choose his
attitude toward unfolding events was the one thing the Nazis couldn't
take away from him in a concentration camp. Yet mental health
treatment is designed to change people's minds and attitudes, and if
it is delivered without consent or choice of alternatives, people
feel dehumanized.
On the other hand, when people are given treatment choices, and
especially when some of those choices involve collaborative
relationships with others who assist them in learning to sort things
out and make better choices in the future, people feel respected and
real recovery becomes possible.
Ron Unger, a member of the Eugene Human Rights Commission's
Subcommittee on Mental Health and Human Rights, is a mental health
counselor specializing in recovery-focused psychosocial methods. The
commission is sponsoring a free conference, "Choice in Mental Health
Care as a Human Right: a Vision of Recovery and Success," [all day]
Oct. 20 in the Erb Memorial Union at the University of Oregon. For
information and registration, contact Anne Johnstone-Diaz at
hrcintern at ci.eugne.or.us or (541) 682-6378.
- end of essay -
~~~~~~~~~~
Action: Up to 250 word letters to the editor may be submitted to:
rgletters at guardnet.com
~~~~~~~~~~
For more info on the above-mentioned free conference, see below City
of Eugene Public Service Announcement:
~~~~~~~~~~
From: City of Eugene Human Rights Program Intern --
hrcintern at CI.Eugene.OR.US
Subject: Human Rights in Mental Health Care Conference info
Please distribute widely:
REGISTER NOW
Human Rights in Mental Health Care
Free Conference
Friday, October 20, 2006
University of Oregon, Erb Memorial Union
CEU's Available (6.5)
Program Text Attached
What: Choice in Mental Health Care as a Human Right, A Vision of
Recovery and Success, a one day conference to explore choice in
mental health, support the human rights and self determination of
consumers, educate community, and network with consumers, providers,
advocates and others to create a dialogue that moves mental health
systems to uphold human rights and support recovery and success.
Who: Everyone has a stake in effective mental health care. All are
welcome at the conference; mental health consumers, psychiatric
survivors, family members, mental health professionals and workers,
family and human service providers, students and educators, lawyers
and advocates.
Sponsors: City of Eugene Lane County Mental Health, Lane Care, Lane
Independent Living Alliance, University of Oregon Department of Human
Services and University of Oregon Office for Institutional Equity and
Diversity. Endorsers: Lane County Mental Health Advisory Council,
MindFreedom International, Safe/Wonderland, Shelter Care, and Laurel
Hill Center.
When: Register Now through day of conference.
How to pre-register: Call or email: we need your name, address, phone
& or email, & lunch preference (veggie or not). You can leave this
on our machine at 541-682-6378; talk to a person at 541-682-5177; or
send an email to hrcintern at ci.eugene.or.us. The Conference is Free
and includes box lunch; registrations accepted day of conference, pre-
registration encouraged to reserve your spot.
Registration information and a complete list of Conference Workshops
are located on the City of Eugene's Human Rights Program Website @
www.ci.eugene-or.gov, select "Human Rights Program" from "City Quick
Links", then select "Current Activities" and look for Conference
Information
Contact: Francisca Leyva Johnson, Human Rights Program Staff,
541-682-8442; Anne Johnsotne-Díaz, Conference Coordinator,
541-682-6378; 541-510-5045; Carmen Urbina, Human Rights Commission
Education and Outreach/ Mental Health Committee member, 541-510-0302.
- end of City of Eugene announcement -
~~~~~~~~~
AFTER THE EUGENE CONFERENCE!
MindFreedom Road Show in Corvallis, Eugene, Portland
~~~~~~~~~~
CORVALLIS, OREGON ROAD SHOW:
Public Service Announcement
MindFreedom Oregon - Save the Date!
Corvallis hosts free mental health "MAD PRIDE"
event with out-of-state speakers & music
WHAT:
"MindFreedom Mad Pride Road Show: Unite for a Nonviolent Revolution
in Mental Health Care!"
ALL FREE FREE FREE!!!
Free live music and out-of-state speakers about winning empowerment,
self-determination, alternatives, human rights and advocacy in the
mental health system! All are welcome!
WHEN:
Sunday, 22 October 2006, 5 pm to 7 pm
WHERE:
Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St., Corvallis, Oregon
WHO:
MUSIC by David Rogers -- Singer-song writer, classical-guitarist,
mental health consumer, ally of psychiatric survivor, and performing
publicly for 30 years. David is known for his hilarious songs about
eccentricity and passion.
SPEAKERS:
Judi Chamberlin of Massachusetts -- Psychiatric survivor human rights
activist since 1971, author of the book _On Our Own: Patient-
Controlled Alternatives to the Mental Health System_, director of
education at National Empowerment Center.
Al Galves of Arizona -- Mental health consumer, a licensed
psychologist in Colorado and on the board of MindFreedom International.
David Oaks of Eugene -- Psychiatric survivor human rights activist
for thirty years, and director of MindFreedom International.
WHY:
* Have fun and meet others who care about improving mental health care!
* Hear from psychiatric survivors and mental health consumers about
the international social change movement for human rights and
alternatives in the mental health system!
* Learn about activism for empowerment, recovery and advocacy in the
mental health system in Corvallis, and throughout Oregon, USA and
internationally!
* Be part of a Road Show from Eugene to Portland, Oregon, building to
the Alternatives 2006 conference, funded by a grant by McKenzie River
Gathering.
* Enjoy this FREE event with free music, a wonderful panel of
speakers, and a chance for *you* to speak out in a forum!
* Plus, Old World Deli itself will stay open for all who wish to
purchase their treats and beverages.
~~~~~~~~~~
EUGENE, OREGON ROAD SHOW:
Public Service Announcement
MindFreedom Oregon
Eugene hosts free mental health "MAD PRIDE"
event with out-of-state speakers & music
WHAT:
"MindFreedom Mad Pride Road Show: Nonviolent Revolution in Mental
Health Care!"
ALL FREE FREE FREE!!!
Free live music and out-of-state speakers about winning empowerment,
self-determination, alternatives, human rights and advocacy in the
mental health system! All are welcome!
WHEN:
Tuesday, 24 October 2006, 7 pm to 9 pm
WHERE:
First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive Street Eugene, Oregon.
WHO:
MUSIC by David Rogers -- Singer-song writer, classical-guitarist,
mental health consumer, ally of psychiatric survivor, and performing
publicly for 30 years. David is known for his hilarious songs about
eccentricity and passion.
SPEAKERS:
Judi Chamberlin of Massachusetts -- Psychiatric survivor human rights
activist since 1971, author of the book _On Our Own: Patient-
Controlled Alternatives to the Mental Health System_, director of
education at National Empowerment Center.
Al Galves of Arizona -- Mental health consumer, a licensed
psychologist in Colorado and on the board of MindFreedom International.
Oryx Cohen of Massachusetts -- A psychiatric survivor who is also
working inside the mental health system in Massachusetts to create
innovative alternatives. Founder of the Freedom Center in
Northampton, an activist group run by psychiatric survivors,
providing advocacy and humane alternatives.
David Oaks of Eugene -- Psychiatric survivor human rights activist
for thirty years, and director of MindFreedom International.
WHY:
* Have fun and meet others who care about improving mental health care!
* Hear from psychiatric survivors and mental health consumers about
the international social change movement for human rights and
alternatives in the mental health system!
* Learn about activism for empowerment, recovery and advocacy in the
mental health system in Eugene, and throughout Oregon, USA and
internationally!
* Be part of a Road Show in Eugene, Corvallis and Portland, Oregon,
building to the Alternatives 2006 conference, funded by a grant by
McKenzie River Gathering.
* Enjoy this FREE event with free music, a wonderful panel of
speakers, and a chance for *you* to speak out in a forum!
* Plus, there will be free snacks and beverages.
For more info and updates on Lane County events, get on MindFreedom
Lane County's e-mail public alert list here:
http://www.intenex.net/lists/listinfo/mindfreedom-lane-county-news
~~~~~~~~~~
PORTLAND, OREGON ROAD SHOW
MindFreedom Action Space Roster
Portland, Oregon will host the annual federally-funded Alternatives
2006 conference with hundreds of mental health consumers and
psychiatric survivors from throughout the USA. While MindFreedom is
supportive of the organizers, the fact is that the federal government
requires in their contract that the conference *forbids* organizing
and activism.
Therefore, MindFreedom and several sponsor groups have rented a
separate, independent meeting room -- the Willamette Room -- off the
lobby of the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel (1401 SW
Naito Parkway, Portland, Oregon) for three days -- Thursday, 26 to
Saturday, 28 Oct. where we will be facilitating an "Action Space."
Anyone may drop by the Action Space *FREE*, you do not need to be
registered for Alternatives 2006 conference. Come by to network,
strategize and take action!
SPONSORING THE MFI ACTION SPACE
MindFreedom International -- Eugene, Oregon
http://www.mindfreedom.org
MindFreedom leads a nonviolent revolution of freedom, equality, truth
and human rights throughout the mental health system. MindFreedom
unites over 100 sponsoring groups from around the world working for
human rights and alternatives in mental health.
The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights) -- Anchorage,
Alaska
http://www.psychrights.org
PsychRights has a mission to bring fairness and reason into the
administration of legal aspects of the mental health system,
particularly unwarranted court ordered psychiatric drugging and
electroshock. The public mental health system is creating a huge
class of chronic mental patients through forcing them to take
ineffective, yet extremely harmful drugs. The purpose of the Law
Project for Psychiatric rights is to promote and implement a
strategic legal campaign in support of psychiatric rights and against
unwarranted court ordered psychiatric medication akin to what
Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP mounted in the 40's and 50's on
behalf of African American civil rights.
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law -- Washington DC
http://www.bazelon.org
The Bazelon Center is the leading national legal advocate for people
with mental disabilities. The Center uses test-case litigation,
federal policy advocacy, technical support for local advocates and
public education to advance the rights of adults with mental
illnesses and children with serious emotional disorders, and to
promote their access to the resources they need for a successful
independent life in the community.
Full Spectrum Progressive Mental Health-- San Francisco, California
http://www.fullspectrum.cc
Full Spectrum Progressive Mental Health is a unique, non-profit
psychological health center that serves individuals, families,
couples, and groups. Our approach integrates depth psychotherapy
with wellness modalities such as body-oriented therapy, nutritional
counseling and expressive arts. Our aim is to help people heal
rather than just cope-- we focus on finding and treating root causes
instead of symptoms. Full Spectrum's distinctive offering is the
adult day program, an intensive form of community support for those
labelled with a mental illness. This program is a humane alternative
to hospitalization, the over-reliance on medications, and the all too
often invalidating practices of the current mental health system.
Freedom Center -- Northampton, Massachusetts
http://www.freedom-center.org
Freedom Center is Western Massachusetts' only support/activist group
run by and for mental health consumer/survivors ourselves. We defy
stereotypes of helplessness, break the silence around psychiatric
abuse, expose the propaganda of pharmaceutical companies and
challenge people to stand up against a system that fails to meet
people's true needs. In five years we have established weekly support
groups, where as many as 15-20 people gather to share stories of
frustration and hope, recommend resources and recovery strategies,
and plan our educational and advocacy campaigns for change. We have
also established free weekly yoga classes, two local acupuncture
clinics, a writing group, a drug withdrawal group, a legal training
series, and a weekly radio show. Our groups are entirely peer-run by
volunteers, and allow people to speak openly about their experiences
and share rage and pain in ways impossible in groups run by mental
health professionals.
Empowerment Initiatives -- Portland, Oregon
http://www.chooseempowerment.com
Empowerment Initiatives is one of a very few peer run service
brokerages [which allows the customers/clients to decide how
resources are spent] in the United States. Empowerment Initiatives
is also the central point of access to the Oregon SPIRIT training
which develops a recovery curriculum. Developed by Pat Risser and
expanded by EI, this training is fast becoming the empowered and peer
determined standard for those wishing to transform the system through
providing the competencies for assisting peers to decide the nature
of the help that is available in the system.
~~~~~~~~~
LAUNCH A STATE-WIDE COALITION IN OREGON
Friday, 27 October 2006, starting at 6:30 pm, a candle light vigil
will leave from the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel (1401
SW Naito Parkway, Portland, Oregon) in memory of those killed and
damaged because of their psychiatric label, including expressing
concern about the circumstances surrounding the death of James P.
Chasse Jr.'s (see news article below).
We will peacefully walk the few blocks to the Portland Building (1120
SW 5th Ave.) for a 7 pm meeting proposal to launch an Oregon Mental
Health Consumers/Psychiatric Survivors Coalition (OCSC).
[See below for proposal, please circulate with Oregon groups.]
~~~~~~~
DRAFT proposal for "OCSC":
Oregon Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Coalition
Mission Statement:
To establish a statewide network of people who have been diagnosed
with a psychiatric disability to share ideas; provide mutual support;
work toward common goals; strengthen peer-run organizations; and
advocate for positive change in the mental health system.
Draft Tenets:
1) Unity among network members is a chief priority. To this end,
mutual respect and dignity will be afforded all network members.
Ideas will be debated and be subject to criticism. Personal attacks
will not be tolerated.
2) Inclusion is a core principle upon which the network will be
built. The network will honor the expression of ideas from a full
spectrum of viewpoints.
3) Core values and core goals will be developed from the various
viewpoints of the members who compose this network. These mutually
agree-upon values and goals will drive the activities of the network.
Start-up Committee:
The start-up committee will be made up of one representative each
from initial sponsor organizations, who may add more groups with
everyone else's consent.
Proposed structure:
We realize that without adequate funding, we will all need to do just
"do our best" to unite and have the coalition represent Oregon groups
and geographical areas.
The general long-term goal will be to have a governing council that
is composed of representatives from these two different groups:
1) ORGANIZATIONAL representatives from each from mental health
consumer/psychiatric survivor group in Oregon who endorses the
mission and tenets.
This is similar to the start-up committee representatives.
2) GEOGRAPHIC representative from each region in Oregon.
The start-up committee will draft a bylaws, define the geographic
regions, and "do their best" to see that all those interested in each
geographic region are notified and have a chance to vote on their
geographic representative.
If the governing council becomes too large, it may then select some
of its members to form a smaller working board of directors and
officers.
Reflecting the principles of this DRAFT proposal, YOUR INPUT and
suggestions and feedback are encouraged! Thank you!
- end proposal -
~~~~~~~~~~
[Here is one of many more reasons to organize and protest and speak
out in Oregon for human rights of people labeled with mental health
problems!]
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/
116052811482670.xml&coll=7
or
http://tinyurl.com/u3gsj
_Oregonian_
Jury extends review of Chasse death
Grand jury - So far, 29 witnesses have appeared, in the 42-year-old's
death in police custody
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
MAXINE BERNSTEIN
The Oregonian
A Multnomah County grand jury's review of James P. Chasse Jr.'s death
in police custody will stretch into next week, prosecutors and police
said.
The grand jury already has heard testimony from 29 witnesses over
four days, starting Oct. 3.
Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk has asked Chasse's
family attorney whether he wants to suggest any other witnesses to
appear before the seven-member jury. To accommodate that, and the
schedule of one grand juror, who will be unavailable for several
days, authorities do not expect the grand jury to rule until Tuesday
at the earliest.
According to police, Chasse's family attorney, Tom Steenson, has
asked for one additional witness. Steenson declined comment Tuesday.
Chasse, a 42-year-old mentally ill man who suffered schizophrenia,
died in police custody on Sept. 17.
Two Portland police officers and a Multnomah County deputy sheriff
who noticed Chasse acting odd, and possibly urinating in the street,
approached him, and he ran. They chased him and struggled to arrest
him. Witnesses said police tackled Chasse to the ground, forcefully
fell on top of him, and then kicked and punched him repeatedly.
Police said one officer pushed Chasse, causing him to stumble to the
ground. They said he tried to bite an officer, and they struggled to
handcuff him and take him into custody. At one point, an officer used
a stun gun against Chasse's torso, police said.
Ambulance and Portland Fire Bureau medics responded to examine
Chasse, who witnesses said appeared unconscious.
Medics found Chasse's vital signs normal, and police drove him to
jail on accusations of resisting arrest and assaulting an officer.
Once he was at the jail, nurses said he needed further medical
attention. Police drove him to Portland Adventist Hospital, but he
died on the way.
An autopsy showed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to
the chest sustained as police were trying to take him into custody,
the state medical examiner said.
Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer said the Police Bureau has been
patiently waiting for the grand jury's conclusion to provide details
of its investigation.
"The Police Bureau is disappointed because we have been anxious to
share all of the factual information regarding this investigation.
However, allowing Mr. Chasse's family to participate in the Grand
Jury process is ultimately in the best interest of the entire
community," Sizer said in a prepared statement. "The Police Bureau
stands ready to openly discuss the entire investigation as soon as
the Grand Jury completes its work."
- end -
More news is expected in the next week. To get MindFreedom Oregon
public e-mail updates sign up here:
http://www.intenex.net/lists/listinfo/mindfreedom-oregon-news
For more info on the death see:
http://www.mentalhealthportland.org/
~~~~~~~
And one more great reason to nonviolently protest the mental health
system in Oregon, this just in:
MindFreedom Oregon News
Oregon Governor Told Not to Fund State-Wide Voice of Mental Health
Consumers/Psychiatric Survivors
The State of Oregon Addiction and Mental Health Division announced
that they will *NOT* recommend to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, who
is up for re-election, that Oregon's state budget include funding for
a modest bill for mental health consumer self-determination and
choice that Oregon's consumer/survivor community has been working
toward for three years.
The Governor, however, is planning to ask the legislature to raise
one-third of a billion dollars to build *more* psychiatric facilities.
Oregon is one of a minority of US states that has no funding to
support the organized state-wide voice of mental health consumers and
psychiatric survivors to speak out about their wishes -- that means
no consumer liaison, no ombudsman, no annual conference, no state-
wide organization, no state peer-advocacy system, nothing.
Use this form to complain:
http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/contact_us.shtml
Sample e-mail [your words are best]:
Is it true that DHS director Bruce Goldberg, MD is submitting a
budget to you with zero support for the state-wide voice of mental
health consumers and psychiatric survivors? Please fund empowerment
and self-determination in Oregon's mental health system!
~~~~~~~~~~
LISTEN to the MindFreedom News Hour -- live free Internet radio --
every week at a new day and time: Wednesday 4 pm EST, 1pm PST, or
hear the archive later, at http://www.theprn.org.
~~~~~~~~~~
A new issue of _MindFreedom Journal_ has been mailed to MFI members.
This issue #47 profiles positive accomplishments of psychiatric
survivors, including an MFI team that has championed human rights
inside United Nations meetings, which recently proposed a binding
global treaty on disability rights.
Note that receiving this e-mailed MFI E-news announcement, which is a
free public service, does not necessarily mean you are an MFI member.
If you are not an MFI member and want one free sample copy of the
print journal -- or you want to check your membership status -- e-
mail to office at mindfreedom.org. Or better yet, join or renew now at
http://www.mindfreedom.org and you'll be sent the journal and other
information as an MFI member!
~~~~~~~~~
Watch for a new MFI web site in the next few weeks... MFI is
launching a new content management system web site using Plone. If
you would like to volunteer contact the MFI office at
office at mindfreedom.org.
~~~~~~~~~
Join MindFreedom International, donate, or renew your membership.
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. Join or donate
today!
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
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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
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