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I just heard the show, and I'm so glad that guests and host Emily Harris brought up Bob Whitaker's book. However, I'm concerned about the replies from Greg Roberts. I did get on the show and here are my 3 main comments in brief:

1) INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER VOICES

Thank you Emily for including the voices of individual mental health consumers right at the top of the show. I think this really humanizes those of us diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities. 

2) GROUP VOICE

So my question was about the priority of including representatives of GROUPS of mental health clients. I mentioned that today Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition unites about 14 groups (I'm on OCSC board). 

I also plugged MindFreedom International, based here in Eugene. I've been director for its 25 years. 

3) CONCERN ABOUT INFLUENCE ON GREG ROBERTS

Because our groups don't have as much influence with Greg, I'm concerned about whether bullying by the old fashioned, disproven medical model is unfairly impacting him. 

On the show, Greg claimed that people in Oregon State Hospital are NOT over-drugged. He said there was fair due process about forced drugging. He said while he was not a clinician, he felt the majority of patients should be on psychiatric drugs, and that psychiatric problems were like diabetes. 

Wait a minute! Countless people have seen massive over-drugging to this day in Oregon State Hospital, it's the main approach used. Forced drugging "override" requests are easily and routinely rubber stamped. And if the majority of people in OSH have a mental "illness" similar to diabetes, then is there a lab test for any known mental health problem?

I asked twice about the lab test, and Greg did not answer. 

I ended by saying that listening to him felt like hearing an administrator for the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the day before the Tsunami. We'd be told by the administrator that he's not a nuclear engineer, but he's sure things are safe. 

I especially appreciate that Sarah Smith, whose daughter has recently experienced over-drugging and forced drugging at OSH, had the last question. Sarah is a mom with a lot of courage. She asked about "Open Dialogue," but Greg thought she meant talking with family organizations. Sarah was referring to the alternative in Finland discussed at the end of Whitaker's book, that is showing far better results than the over-drugging approach. 

I hope all reading this connect up! You can contact OCSC at oregon.united@gmail.com. Contact MindFreedom at office@mindfreedom.org. Thanks. 

David W. Oaks, Eugene, Oregon

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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I appreciate Emily responding. However, I think it might help if Think Out Loud leaders would acknowledge they have had a problem with the who when it comes to mental health, over a several year period. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard a show, and there's been barely any representation from the state-wide voices of groups representing mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors.

I was a guest on a TOL show that had a couple of moms. For about 10 minutes at the end I did have an opportunity to try to respond about the many points brought up about involuntary psychiatric care, but it was certainly not equal time 

Afterwards one of the moms phoned me and we had a long chat: She actually had a perspective similar to ours. She was horrified by the massive over-drugging her adult child had endured at Oregon State Hospital, day after day with injections. 

My theory is that the oppression involved with the psychiatric industry is so off the charts extreme... and the voice of those on the receiving end has been so extremely suppressed... that there is an "ism." You've heard of sexism and racism, but what about "sanism"?

It's particularly challenging when the sanism involves a show that one would hope would include a diversity of views, including those who the show is ABOUT. Could you imagine TOL doing repeated shows on gay rights, immigrant issues, women's issues, labor issues... and never giving equal time to representatives from groups OF those constituents?

OPB has really taken the progressive community for granted. Now when they are being challenged by the right wing, they are counting on the grassroots. But I have to say KBOO radio has done a far better job in reaching out to our constituency, and actually including voices from the population of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors, and our groups. 

You know, ever since the Japanese nuclear catastrophe, I'm starting to get a tiny bit disappointed with "normal." Those were so-called "normal" people who designed those plants, despite the existence of tsunami's. Similarly, I'm beginning to wonder about media representatives who also consider themselves "normal." In fact, I'm beginning to feel that what is called "normal" on our planet -- a conformity that persists despite the planet shredding itself in so many ways, such as the climate crisis -- may be one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced. 

Friday's show is not the only one by Think Out Loud to focus on industry representatives, rather than those on the "sharp end of the needle."

OPB has had about six shows on mental health in the last few years that have tended to marginalize the voice of, by and for our constituency. Is OPB standing for Oregon Psychiatric Broadcasting?

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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Thanks for encouraging public attention to this. However, I have a question for OPB, Think Out Loud and Emily: There have been a number of shows on your program about mental health, and it feels to me that the primary mental health consumer and psychiatric survivor perspective has not been adequately represented. Can you assure us you're providing adequate time to individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities, and the groups that represent them? As the disability movement says, "Nothing About Us Without Us." For those interested, there is a state-wide coalition of nonprofits run by mental health clients, called Oregon Consumer Survivor Coalition. People can contact the group at oregon.united@gmail.com. Thanks, 

David Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International

posted 2 years, 1 month ago
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Thank you Amy for your helpful and positive comment. 

Now I see that the individual identifying as "Gereng" tells those of concerned about his incivility here to "lighten up" about calling our constituency  "... Demented... crazy.... defective... simpletons... nutty...." in his recent post. 

I love humor, but it seems to me really offensive speech is still offensive, whether serious or humorous. 

Actually, I do find humor in witnessing this kind of thing from someone who apparently claims to be mentally well, normal, etc. 

We have had a "Heal Normality" campaign for some time. Patch Adams clown troupe even taught us to do street theater "screenings" for normality using rubber chickens! They are hilarious, because we never find any normality. 

The best fun is when someone claims they are normal. We make a big deal, saying finally, we have the first one. We rejoice. We do the rubber chicken and... turns out it's false alarm, person is NOT normal.

And by the ay, I studied Latin a little, and the correct phrase for apologizing is: 

"Mea culpa."

At least the phrase was uttered, if facetiously. 

Here's another Latin quote about 'normality,' this one from Julius Caesar:

"Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt."

That means:

People readily believe what they wish. 

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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For an illustration of the deep problem that those of us diagnosed with a psychiatric disability face in our society, consider the comment to my post by someone identifying him or herself as "Gereng."

Witness the words used for us: " ... Demented... crazy.... defective... simpletons... nutty...."

If this were an OPB online discussion about race, and an individual used any of the common pejorative street epithets for any ethnic group, their comment would probably be removed as offensive speech.

My concern is not about 'politically correct' language; I have an essay on the web about mental health and words, that can be found by just googling the four words -- Stop Saying Mental Illness.

I ask people to witness the kind of speech directed our way, because it's an example of discrimination that is very deep in our society. We've all heard of sexism and racism, even ablism and agism. But how many people have heard of "sanism," which is discrimination based on perceived mental unwellness. 

As someone who was in the environmental movement for years, what I'm learning in the mental health field is the universality of what is commonly called "madness" or "nuttiness." To be human is in fact to wrestle with extreme overwhelm. The best of science is now finding that humanity has little grip on reality, and such a grip may be impossible. 

My point is, use of hate speech toward our folks on an online comment board is a teaching moment. Because my guess is this individual would describe him or herself as mentally "well," as "normal," as someone who does not qualify for a psychiatric diagnosis. 

But really, could we ask if directing such ugly language against a very vulnerable marginalized population, is truly well? Isn't it an example of the kind of spiritual illness -- the moral illness -- that Martin Luther King drew our attention to?

If OPB could put representatives from our organizations on its many Think Out Loud shows about mental health, it would help humanize our population, and make such hate speech less likely. 

Please -- we may all disagree, but let's seek civil dialogue, especially at this time in our nation's history. Even though I myself was diagnosed as "schizophrenic" and "bipolar," and "psychotic," Martin Luther King pointed out that it's the content of our character that really matters. In all humility, I hope if he compared my speech to the person who feels they are "well," he would repeat one of this most famous quotes, which he said many times... MLK said he was proud to be psychologically maladjusted because "The salvation of humanity lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted." 

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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Once more... As Think Out Loud has done repeatedly for several years.... The show is talking about mental health issues, without a representative from a group OF mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. Oregon today has a state-wide coalition of about a dozen such groups, all run by present and former Oregon mental health clients. This is not to necessarily criticize the NAMI representative who is a guest. But NAMI is largely a parents' organization, and it was disclosed a majority of their funding was coming from the pharmaceutical industry. The disability movement has a saying, "Nothing About Us Without Us." Last year, Think Out Loud did an hour show about the mental health system, and I was invited on -- for about 10 minutes of that whole show. There's an inherent, ongoing, bias inside the structure of Think Out Loud, that is direct representation from marginalized, disempowered and poor people. Ironically enough, this is one of the main challenges with police training in Oregon: Without any support for the state-wide organizations of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors, there are few resources to provide advice, input, training to police, etc. Oregon is one of the very few USA states with zero (0) support for the state-wide voice of mental health consumers/psychiatric survivors. Perhaps the way Think Out Loud APPEARS to be progressive, but leans toward more "middle class" representatives, and EXCLUDES marginalized people is a reflection on the State of Oregon?

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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Well put, Meghan, especially your call for "compassion for all the persons on all sides of this discussion."

Let me focus on one FACT in this whole OPB discussion.

One of Dianne's comments is, "I don't know of anyone on the atypical antipsychotics who has tardive dyskinesia." Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a side effect of neuroleptics that can involve permanent involuntary muscular movements of the face, arms, etc. (go to YouTube and search for the phrase to see what it  looks like).

Dianne signed her comment about TD as a representative of "NAMI Mid-Valley."

Dianne is talking about the newer neuroleptics (like Risperdal, Abilify, Zyprexa, etc.), also known as "antipsychotics."

Dianne is implying that the rate of involuntary muscle movements known as "tardive dyskinesia" is less than the older antipsychotics (like Haldol, Thorazine, Mellaril) back in what Dianne calls in another post the "dark ages" before newer drugs.

On 2/19/10 Reuters Health wrote about a study in Journal of Clinical Psychiatry: "Although atypical antipsychotics have a better safety reputation than conventional antipsychotics, they actually pose similar risks of tardive dyskinesia, according to the first prospective study to evaluate the issue."

I feel certain that Ms. Farrell has compassion for people in mental health care. I hope she knows I have compassion for family members of people who have overwhelming, even life-threatening mental and emotional problems.

Compassion must include ethics.

I can understand if Dianne posted her personal anecdotal impression, speaking for herself. She did not.

For decades I've seen official NAMI representatives give out falsely reassuring information about psychiatric drugs. They're good people. But the practice needs to stop.

Elsewhere in this dialogue, Ms. Farrell claims MindFreedom has been fighting for civil rights, and has not been fighting for more mental health services, when we've actually had many campaigns on that for many years!

Enough.

Those interested in more can use the Google search engine to look up our folder on this history by searching these two words: mindfreedom nami

I call again for a "new day" when instead of division and polarization, we can unite for the need for more humane, empowering services. I've seen you Meghan as one of those unifying leaders, thanks.

David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International


posted 2 years, 12 months ago
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An open note to Dianne Farrell: 

1) While I can't speak for her, you will find the wonderful Meghan Caughey supports Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition. Her group is the latest group to join OCSC!

2) During the OPB Think Out Loud show a few weeks ago on Oregon State Hospital, Meghan and I both tried to get on the show as call-ins, and were on hold for much of the show. Neither of us was put on the show. No representative of a mental health consumer/psychiatric survivor group was put on. I'm glad with yesterday's show, this has changed.

3) I find it polarizing, Dianne, for you to categorize me and the groups I work with as "at war with medication." As I said on the show, and as I repeat many times: We are pro-choice about the personal decision to take prescribed psychiatric medication. Many of our members willingly choose to take prescribed psychiatric drugs as part of their recovery. We are united in opposing bullying, pressure, and the "one size fits all" approach of overdrugging that is currently dominating and harming so many people. We are in a peaceful war with illegal human rights violations, such as force, fraud and a lack of alternatives. 

4) Dianne, I see you signed your note as an official representative of a NAMI affiliate. Please note that many NAMI members share the concerns I raise. I have a recent column in a newspaper on the subject of this. I encourage NAMI to leave polarization in the past, and to seek common ground. I hope you share the concern of me and many NAMI members about the recent US Senate investigation that found that more than half of NAMI's funds -- more than 50 percent! -- over the past three years, on average, were directly from the pharmaceutical industry, and that this fact had been hidden even from your own members. People can read my column about this by using Google to search for this set of words -- eugene weekly david oaks opposing bully model

5) To Dianne and other NAMI members -- it's a new day! It's time to unite for common ground such as peer delivered services, empowerment, recovery, peer supported housing, employment, and other psychosocial alternatives. Many moms and dads of mental health consumers are saying their families deserve more than just a bag of pills. They deserve a full range of alternatives. Let's leave the division back in the 20th century, and move forward. 

posted 2 years, 12 months ago
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I appreciate being on this morning. Anyone wishing to contact me is welcome to at oaks@mindfreedom.org

What is better is that there is now a state-wide coalition in Oregon - OCSC - that unites more than a dozen mental health consumer/psychiatric survivor groups. While there are differing perspectives in mental health, it's time to include the 'other side of the story.'

I appreciate being a guest on today's show. But note that for the first two thirds we heard from three guests who all essentially supported involuntary commitment, with small differences about opinions about psychiatric drugs. There was an appearance of consensus that everyone agrees forced treatment is the way to go.

In the last segment did we hear a voice of mental health client organizations. I want to say there are many articulate representatives doing great work.

Our spirit of empowerment needs to be heard by family members. Because families with a member in crisis ought to DEMAND more than just a court order and a bag of pills. Why settle for that?

Why, for example, does one need to be in Finland or another Scandinavian country to have the proven "Open Dialogue" approach? In fact, why have Oregonians never even heard of this model, that lessens the level and time of drugging, and has a better rate of success? (To read about that, see the new book by Bob Whitaker ANATOMY OF AN ILLNESS, you can look it up in Amazon, or see an article about this on the MindFreedom International home page.)

I hope everyone reaches out to groups like OCSC and MindFreedom International (just google us, we're based in Eugene). We need more than reform. We need a nonviolent revolution in mental health care.

This begins with civil dialogue about all the various perspectives, and including a voice from mental health client organizations as part of that discussion.

Thanks,
David
David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International
www.MindFreedom.org
Board member, OCSC and USICD

posted 3 years ago
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Thank you Dianne, for asking for me to update my story. Every day, here at the MindFreedom International office, we hear from people by e-mail, phone and postal mail, a similar story to what I went through: Disempowerment, lack of choice and alternatives, primarily pushing drugs and more drugs as the main answer (realizing that we are pro-choice on the decision to take prescriptions drugs, but concerned about the bullying and lack of choice).

If anything, things are far worse today. Dianne implies that the psychiatric drugs are far better. Actually, I was mainly given a "neuroleptic" also known as "antipsychotic." The public was told that the newer antipsychotics were far more effective and less hazardous. Therefore the taxpayer was charged tremendous amounts to apply the newer neuroleptics. But recent studies show that the efficacy rate is about the same as the older drugs. Plus, the rate of physical twitching (such as tardive dyskinesia) is "similar," according to one of the first large comparison studies released this past February!
Today, we see neuroleptics such as Abilify actually advertised on TV! Today we even see children -- yes, even as young as one years old -- placed on neuroleptics, by well-meaning people!
If anything the myth of a "chemical imbalance" is more entrenched. Again, we are pro-choice, and many of our members find comfort in a chemical imbalance model. But the scientific jury is still out, even after all these years. There has been no actual scientific evidence showing this alleged "chemical imbalance."

We have, however, found ample evidence of a POWER imbalance.

Those who care about our constituency, should fight to make sure our voice is heard. Oregon is one of the few states NOT to support the state-wide voice of mental health consumers/psychiatric survivors! For the last eight years, there's been nothing in Oregon's budget, and Oregon is one of the few states with zero.

So in several ways things are worse.

Thanks,
David
David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International
www.MindFreedom.org
Board member, Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition and USICD

posted 3 years ago
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I look forward to a civil discussion about a controversial topic, and I am honored to be invited as a guest for Monday's show. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the tragedy that has led to this discussion.

While this "Think Out Loud" is two days away, I can commend OPB now for seeking out and including a voice representing mental health client organizations. I am on the board of a state-wide coalition of organizations run by mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors called Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition (OCSC). 

In the general disability movement with which we are allied, there is a saying "nothing about us, without us." In so many other topics -- labor, immigrants, gay/lesbian, women, etc. -- a public discussion would automatically include a representative from an organization of that constituency. The same needs to be true in mental health. Those of us diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities do have our own groups, and we are united for human rights, empowerment, choice, recovery, and alternatives.

I'm not saying we all have the same answer. I'm not saying there is an easy answer. But it's important to have a voice from those who have been through mental health care in these dialogues. Anyone wishing to reach me may e-mail to me at oaks@mindfreedom.org. I am also director of the human rights group MindFreedom International, and on the board of United States International Council on Disabilities. 

I'm also an individual who has experienced involuntary psychiatric care. I was one of those diagnosed with serious psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar, by a dozen psychiatrists. I've been on the "sharp end of the needle." Solitary confinement in a psychiatric institution was my recruitment room to become a community organizer in this field the last 34 years.

I know from personal experience there are better ways to help people than the overwhelmingly profound trauma of forced psychiatric interventions; I look forward to sharing that perspective, and hearing others.

- David

David W. Oaks

board member, OCSC

director, MindFreedom International

board member, USICD

Eugene, Oregon

posted 3 years ago
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You are not alone. If one listens to mental health client organizations, one can learn a lot!

Last week I was in a staff meeting with an individual and her family about her concern regarding forced psychiatric drugging. During the discussion, I helped find out that the individual's mother was a survivor of brutal forced electroshock, which traumatized the whole family about mental health care.

It took me a few minutes to find out this family had experienced trauma from the care system.

And one more example: It's actually MindFreedom Oregon, our state affiliate, that blew the whistle on the death of Mr. Perez, FIRST, in our state-wide alert. This was before the Oregonian report, before coverage by Statesman Journal. It was OUR alert system that put out the word.

So please note an immediate example of the silencing of mental health clients. OPB's Think Out Loud has a persistent, ongoing pattern of excluding the voice of mental health client organizations. This problem was brought up before with OPB's Think Out Loud. 

But for today's show we were told that NAMI would represent "us." There are more than a dozen mental health client organizations in Oregon. We are united through Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition. 

There's a saying in the disability movement, "Nothing About Us, Without Us."

I would much rather have this conversation be about the perspectives of our constituency, rather than the persistent exclusion of that voice by OPB's Think Out Loud. 

Without that voice, the conversation becomes about asking for "more money" for the broken mental health system, without asking what can really be done to change a culture. 

How does one change a culture of the organization, without including the voice of groups representing the customers? 

The problem is beyond Oregon State Hospital.... Obviously it's a cultural problem in Oregon itself, reflected in OPB's exclusion of that voice. In fact, it has a name, that hardly anyone has heard. You've heard of racism, sexism, etc. But have you heard of "sanism." Hardly anyone has. But we're seeing a clear example of it in the staff of Think Out Loud. Not just today, but for over a year, persistently and repeatedly. 

OPB, you have a problem... I hope OPB members are listening.

- David

David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom

Board member, Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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Why won't OPB's "Think Out Loud" include representatives of the mental health consumer/psychiatric survivor organizations in Oregon?

I phoned up right at the beginning of the show to ask about including the voice of Oregon's mental health client groups in the discussions about Oregon State Hospital.

I was told the director, decided not to ask this question. 

The individual answering the call told me that OPB felt that NAMI represented "our" voice. 

This is not to knock NAMI. But NAMI is primarily a parent's organization, and is not an organization of, by and for mental health clients in Oregon. 

We went around this problem with Think Out Loud some time ago when they did a special series about mental health. The voice of mental health consumers was being neglected, we complained, and right at the end they did a segment about mental health client organizations. 

I'm profoundly disappointed with OPB. We'll definitely put in a complaint to OPB. But what will finally change the culture THERE at OPB, to include the voice of marginalized groups?

David Oaks, Director, MindFreedom

Board member of Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition.

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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Hopefully someone has informed you and your family that neuroleptic psychiatric drugs (now more commonly called "antipsychotics") can suppress the gag reflex. Choking deaths have not been uncommon related to neuroleptics. In fact, if I remember correctly, on the same day years ago, Oregon State Hospital had two choking deaths on the same day (I think from pancakes). The solution has been to address treatment for choking. But there's a bigger question: What about the MASSIVE INCREDIBLE BIZARRE over-drugging of people in the  mental health system. Please understand we are pro-choice on psychiatric drugs. Many of our member take prescribed psychiatric drugs (and they're the most interested in this topic, it's their lives at stake!) I myself asked for psychiatric drugs. This is not about being pro- or con- psychiatric drugs. BUT THERE IS AN ENORMOUSLY HUGE AMOUNT OF OVER-DRUGGING, off the charts!!!! This can be one reason people in public mental health system die more than 25 years earlier than the general public! Use Google search engine to look up our folder on this, use these words-- neuroleptics mortality mindfreedom

And while you're there, use the search engine to look up:

antipsychotics brain damage

That's another thing that is suppressed.... that long-term high-dose neuroleptics can cause FRONTAL LOBE SHRINKAGE. Again, we're pro-choice, many of our members make the difficult choice to take them. But don't the public, taxpayers, families and the brain owners have a right to know????

Remember, we the taxpayers were told the "newer" neuroleptics caused less twitching (tardive dyskinesia) and were more effective. But instead it turns out they cause similar rate of TD, and are not that much more effective. But they were tremendously MORE EXPENSIVE. Now we know they have their own mortality issues.

Oregon State Hospital has ash cans full of ashes of patients, many now without names.

What will it take to change this culture of extreme disempowerment?

How about listening to and amplifying the VOICE of the customer????

I sure hope Think Out Loud producers include that voice! Even though we have reached them on previous shows, they did not phone us to participate in this show.

- David Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International

board member, Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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LET'S HEAR THE VIEWS OF GROUPS THAT ARE OF, BY AND FOR OREGON MENTAL HEALTH CLIENTS! 

I need to emphasize that for seven years, Oregon has had a huge problem: Zero funding for the state-wide voice of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. 

Most US states have something... A newsletter, an office of mental health consumer affairs, an annual conference, something. 

But for seven years, Oregon has had zero resources to amplify the state-wide voice of customers of the mental health system here. 

In the disability movement, there's a saying "Nothing About Us, Without Us"! 

I direct MindFreedom International. We regularly work with individuals who have lived in or currently live in Oregon State Hospital. Because of this, MindFreedom's state-wide alert system sent out the very first public word about suspicious circumstances in the death of Moises Perez.

On Thursday we were one of the sponsors of an all-day Peer Wellness Forum, and a number of OSH patients were there, side by side with all the others. 

It takes extra effort to hear the voice of groups representing marginalized groups. Now there is a state-wide coalition uniting such groups, Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition (OCSC), and we're a proud part of that coalition.

I'd like to remind the producers of Think Out Loud that individual OSH workers or patients are important to hear. But it's also important to hear from the groups that represent this voice. 

If media did a major story about immigrant rights.... gay/lesbian issues... or any other marginalized group, then we would hear representatives of groups of, by and for those constituencies, as we should. But what about mental health? 

We've all heard of sexism and racism. But few have even heard of 'sanism," or laugh when they hear the word. Discrimination against and silencing of citizens diagnosed with serious mental health problems is extreme, persistent, and proven. I know, because this is my 34th year as a community organizer for this constituency, and I myself am a psychiatric survivor.

David W. Oaks, Director, MindFreedom International 

www.mindfreedom.org/oregon

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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Correction: In my post I used the phrase "Talk Out Loud" instead of "Think Out Loud" by error, that was purely accidental, sorry.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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Once more, "Talk Out Loud" has done a recent show on mental health.

But once more, no guest directly represented the more than one dozen mental health consumer and psychiatric survivor organizations or coalitions in Oregon.

Why?

KBOO radio regularly includes such voices.

Why not OPB's "Think Out Loud"?????

For more information about this see http://www.mindfreedom.org, a group that for more than 20 years has worked in Oregon representing mental health consumer and psychiatric survivor voice on mental health. For info on Oregon work see http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/or

OPB does not list MindFreedom in its web list of Oregon group.

I encourage people reading this to speak out to OPB and ask for guests on "Think Out Loud" that directly represent mental health consumer and psychiatric survivor groups!

You can contact OPB here:

http://www.opb.org/insideopb/contactus/

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US!



David W. Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom International
454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

web: http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org
office phone: (541) 345-9106
fax: (541) 345-3737
member services toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRID[e] or 1-877-623-7743

United Independent Action for Human Rights in Mental Health!

MindFreedom International is an non-profit coalition with a vision of a non-violent revolution in mental health. Accredited by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with Consultative Roster Status.

Join now! http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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As a follow-up to my earlier post...

As I mentioned I was the first to phone in, and I had been on hold for 37 minutes. So I phoned back in to the OPB program and pleaded that as a representative of an organization of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors, it would be good to have me on. Scot, the individual taking the call, replied that I hadn't been listening, there had been a psychiatric survivor on the show early on as a caller.

I replied that Scott hadn't been listening to my point: That there was no representative if an ORGANIZATION of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors. The earlier caller was great, but called in as an individual.

Yes, we folks with psychiatric diagnoses have our own organization. More than a dozen of them.

I was told to keep my question very brief, and I was finally allowed on.

Thank you OPB for letting me have that moment.

I quickly mentioned the importance of including the voice of consumer/survivor ORGANIZATIONS on these shows....

And then I quickly gave a quote on the EAST web site, "Psychosis is basically an imbalance in the brain?s neurochemistry."

That sure would seem to promote one particular (unproven) point of view over others, and tend to lead to a chemical bias.

After all, Ms. Sale had said on the show that, "EAST is different, a paradigm shift" - clients "define their own illness," there's supposed to be a "shared explanatory model."

After I was able to get a sentence back on and ask... Ms. Sale of EAST promised to remove that sentence, she said removing it had been on her to do list for a while. Hopefuly, this dialogue will help make this modification a much higher priority at EAST.

OPB -- if anyone is listening -- why the bias against the voice of mental health consumer and psychiatric survivor groups?

For instance, you have done a bunch of shows lately... but without such representatives.

Your web site on mental health lists a bunch of groups... but OPB's web site area on mental health doesn't list the MindFreedom web site, and we've been here for more than two decades! We're also one of the few totally independent groups, with zero funding from any mental health organization, drug company, religions, or government.

Not that such funding is inherently bad, but it's interesting that one of the few totally independent groups isn't listed on the web site, when I know a bunch of OPB folks are familiar with us?

We're at http://www.mindfreedom.org

You can use the internal search engine in upper right hand corner to search for OREGON news and OCSC news.

Or go directly to:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/us/or

There you'll find Oregon news, and also the folder about the Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition.

There's a wonderful book on the history of the mental health system called "Masters of Bedlam." A lesson I take from the book is that the history of the mental health system is a history of "reform." Constantly the media and decision-makers lament about what a horrible mess the mental health system is, how there is an enormous need for change... and this reform leads to more and more and more and more money, for more of the same.

I appreciate that EAST leaders are saying they will use low dose, or no dose approaches. But I also note that when Emily the host ask Tamara the guest about the number of clients in EAST who are *not* on psychiatric drugs at all, there was no answer. Reform is not enough. We need to get into the details, and look for what amounts to a nonviolent revolution in the mental health system.

It is this call for very deep change that I think raises warning flags with mainstream media. Over at KBOO radio, here at KLCC radio, etc., they have no problems with such deeper calls for change, and we have no problem getting the voice of consumer/survivor groups on those radio shows.

I am glad to know OPB may run some interviews with myself and other consumer/survivors on their news program on mental health, that's a great start and I look for more of the same.

I also look forward to Thinking Out Loud agreeing to even CONSIDER doing a show from the consumer/survivor group perspective. It's only fair.

Clearly, we need to relearn lessons from historic leaders of extremely marginalized constituencies, such as Martin Luther King. He endorsed nonviolent civil disobedience, and I encourage more and more people to consider the importance of this path.

If you want to reach me, or MindFreedom, you can call toll free at 1-877-MAD-PRIDE or e-mail me at oaks@mindfreedom.org.

Thanks,

David



David W. Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom International
454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

web: http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org
office phone: (541) 345-9106
fax: (541) 345-3737
member services toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRID[e] or 1-877-623-7743

United Independent Action for Human Rights in Mental Health!

MindFreedom International is an non-profit coalition with a vision of a non-violent revolution in mental health. Accredited by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with Consultative Roster Status.

Join now! http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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Once more, OPB is running a show without a guest officially representing organizations of mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors.

There are certainly more than a dozen groups that could be asked. For instance, there is a new network called Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition that unites 14 groups.

There's also our group, MindFreedom Oregon, based on Oregon that works on mental health. I am guessing the show feels that "experts" ought to be put on -- but in this case actually being on the receiving end of mental health care does not make our constituency "experts."

Can you imagine a show on disability... immigrant rights... people of color.... gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender... with no guests representing groups of such constituencies??????

I myself experienced bipolar label as a teen. I've been a human rights activist in this field for 32 years. We shall see if I ever get on the show... I was the first one to call in and I've been waiting... and waiting....

We hear on today's show how supposedly the program EAST is a new paradigm with a "shared explanatory model." Meanwhile, on the EAST web site it clearly says under "cause of psychosis" that: "Psychosis is basically an imbalance in the brain?s neurochemistry." This is the same dominant paradigm that has been large and in charge for decades, and is hardly a "shared explanation."

I encourage people to check out our website http://www.mindfreedom.org. In the 'internal search engine' in upper right hand corner, put in OCSC to find information about the state-wide coalition.

But clearly a bigger issue is mainstream media bias. For my more than three decades of this work, I've seen mainstream media constantly promote the current, dominant, corporate paradigm of the mental health system... and the result is massive drugging, even of two year olds. Please understand that I and our nonprofit MindFreedom are pro-choice about personal health care decisions, including people's decision to take psychiatric drugs.

But Oregonians in the mental health system, and taxpayers who are fronting the bill for the massively expensive psychiatric drugs (especially 'atypical neuroleptics') are at risk from providing more, more, more of the same. It is outrageous that young people are increasingly being put at risk of more and more and more powerful psychiatric drugs.

Well, I've been on hold for 37 minutes....

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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I have posted elsewhere on OPB forum about this, so I'll just be brief.

I am very concerned that yesterday's show had zero voice from the mental health consumer and psychiatric survivor communities. Can you see this happening on an OPB show on immigrants, labor, people of color, women, gays? Could you see OPB doing a show on any other marginalized group and OMITTING -- for a whole hour -- either from guest or callers, any voice from those communities?

And then we wonder why the mental health client community can get so disempowered!

It's time to move far beyond reform in the mental health field. I encourage folks to check out our web site below, and get active in the Oregon NONVIOLENT REVOLUTION in mental health care!

Thanks,

David



David W. Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom International
454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284
Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

web: http://www.mindfreedom.org
email: oaks@mindfreedom.org
office phone: (541) 345-9106
fax: (541) 345-3737
member services toll free in USA: 1-877-MAD-PRID[e] or 1-877-623-7743

United Independent Activism for Human Rights in Mental Health!

MindFreedom International is a non-profit coalition with a vision of a non-violent revolution in mental health. Accredited by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with Consultative Roster Status.

Join now! http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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