Psychiatric violations - hunger strike

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Psychiatry has long been described as merely an enforcement arm for political control - a tool to "take people out of circulation" who are too unruly or too smart, and who threaten to expose important parts of the control culture that is part of our society. The treatments of psychiatry - not only the violent electroshock "therapy" which has been outlawed in many countries - cause brain damage by the drugs' actions on neural structure.

A fast has been proclaimed in Pasadena, Calif. on Sat., 16 August 2003 to force psychiatrists to put up or shut up. The proponents of the hunger strike are saying:

"We...will refuse all solid food for an indefinite period of time" until you provide, for inspection and analysis, reliable and valid evidence for specified claims you make to the public, the media, and those who are entrusted to your care, or you admit publicly that evidence which meets the standards of orthodox science is unavailable."

Their demand: That the mental health industry produce even one study proving the common industry claim that "mental illness is biologically-based." The hunger strikers charge that the pharmaceutical industry and psychiatry are medicalizing an ever-widening spectrum of human emotion and behavior for financial gain, and are willing to deceive the public while they too frequently humiliate and harm their clients.

"The government gives virtually total support to a quick-fix, pill-pushing model of mental health at the expense of alternative, less invasive ways of helping people in emotional distress," asserts David Oaks, hunger striker and Executive Director of MindFreedom Support Coalition International.

Here is the 19 August update on the hunger strike with links to more information and to the site where you can find more timely information on this action.

Update 18 April 2005:
Advocates Protest the Drug Industry's "Take Over of the Mental Health System."

Representatives of mental health and consumer advocacy groups from throughout the USA will hold a peaceful protest and press conference in front of the headquarters of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Researchers of America (PhRMA). Protesters allege that, "The drug industry has taken over the mental health system. And we want it back."
MindFreedom International is sponsoring the legal protest at 12 noon on Monday, May 2, 2005 at PhRMA; 1100 Fifteenth Street, NW; Washington, DC, USA.

NEWS: Your Mind & Human Rights - 19 August 2003

Day Four: CALL FOR COMMUNITY ACTION!

American Psychiatric Association Responds to Fast for Freedom in Mental Health

PASADENA, CALIF.: This is Day 4 of the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health. As well as six hunger strikers in the hunger strike headquarters, there are a growing number of solidarity hunger strikers internationally who have fasted or are continuing to fast in support.

For fast info -- including many new links, a busy message board, many photos, daily updates, and much more -- go to http://www.MindFreedom.org

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AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO FAST FOR FREEDOM

Today, the hunger strikers received a response from James H. Scully, Jr., M.D., Sc.D., Medical Director for the APA. Dr. Scully did not cite any specific evidence in his letter, here:

The Fast for Freedom Scientific Panel -- composed of 14 mental health professionals and scientists -- are working on a response at this time. Watch for that soon.

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CONTACT THE MEDIA

Today, hunger strikers called on *all* supporters to build community -- and turn to media -- both mainstream and alternative.

Mental health authorities are unlikely to hang up on the media. Ask the media to request specific evidence of the "biologically-based brain disease" theory that now dominates the mental health system.

Hunger strikers asked people to contact both mainstream and alternative media, and also write letters to the editor. Also create your own media using e-mail, web, print-outs, etc.

Yesterday's news conference was well attended by print, radio and tv journalists. For more info on that, see Day 3 update on the web site. Today the BBC ran a live interview with a panelist & striker. Don't forget independent media: INDY-LA is giving great coverage.

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SOLIDARITY STRIKERS GROWING -- YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN IN!

A number of individuals have done support fasts, or are fasting at this time, in solidarity, internationally.

If you would like to add your name to the list of public endorsers, e-mail to office@mindfreedom.org with your name, e-mail address, intended duration of your fast, and geographic location.

If you want to be anonymous, give a pseudonym.

Read a partial list of public solidarity fasters here:

Even if you intend to do a solidarity fast for just a day, please consider adding your name to the list of solidarity fasters at office@mindfreedom.org.

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PHONE FOR FREEDOM EVERY WEEKDAY!
GETTING AROUND NAMI'S HANG-UP OF 2003

Last week, the Fast for Freedom asked the public to phone NAMI during office hours to support the hunger strike, every weekday until the end of the strike.

NAMI responded by creating a special recording that points concerned people to their web site, then HANGS UP. All personnel are instructed to go the HANG UP message.

Hunger strikers encourage people *NOT* to take a "hang up" for an answer. Romi, a hunger striker, said, "It's easy to get around the hang-up... if you're creative."

Here are some examples of possible ways to get around the NAMI Hang-Up of 2003, and leave a civil but insistent message.

TOP FIVE TIPS SO FAR;

(1) During office hours, if you reach the operator, be honest but consider asking *first* about any number of other sincere concerns you have such as: advocacy, homelessness, restraints, poverty, funding, alternatives and more. And ask for a staff person such as Rick Birkel, director; Tom Lane, Consumer affairs; Elizabeth Adams, PR. Then include your message about the hunger strike.

(2) You can easily leave a message by phoning NAMI before or after office hours, which are 8:45 am to
5:30 pm eastern time.

(3) Before or after office hours, you can phone NAMI director Rick Birkel's voice mail by phoning (703) 524-7600 and at the prompt entering his voice mail box number 7977. You can also find other staff voice mail after hours, using the prompts.

(4) Before or after office yours, you can phone NAMI toll free at (888) 999-NAMI (6264) or 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), and hit the prompt to receive mailed information about "mental illness," then record your request, or wait to the end and leave a message... include support for the hunger strike.

(5) Consider phoning state or local NAMI chapters, who are often more open to dialogue, and ask them to
give feedback to the national headquarters:

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DON'T FORGET OTHER PLACES TO CONTACT, E-MAIL, FAX, MAIL AND PHONE.

For more info about e-mailing, faxing, mailing and phoning the APA, Surgeon General & NAMI, see this page:

PLEASE POLITELY ASK THIS OR USE YOUR OWN WORDS:

"I would like evidence of your claim about the 'biological basis of mental illness.' I support the Fast for Freedom in Mental Health."

Please Keep Phoning Every Weekday Until Hunger Strikers Announce That Their Requests Are Met!

Note: APA's Dr. Scully went on vacation as the hunger strike began. Ask to speak to the "appropriate deputy medical director."

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: FREE LECTURE SERIES, VOLUNTEER

Southern California residents, REMEMBER THE FREE LECTURE SERIES! Check out these amazing speakers from the Fast for Freedom Scientific Panel:

Thanks to visitors and volunteers who dropped by. You are welcome to drop by between 6 to 8 pm without calling. You can drop by other times, too, but best to call first then. Hunger strike headquarters phone is
626-795-5525.

VOLUNTEERS are needed for support, especially outreach to media. Please contact the Fast for Freedom to help. You can also help from where ever you are, via member-only e-mail lists. If you're a member, ask at office@mindfreedom.org. If you're not a member yet, it's about time! Join.

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WEB ENDORSERS -- SUCH AS GROUP FROM ALASKA

The web sites for the hunger strike list a growing number of organizations & individuals WEB SITES that have endorsed the hunger strike. If your web site lists an endorsement of the hunger strike and a link to it on its home page, please send your URL & web site name to: office@mindfreedom.org.

One of these endorsers is from Alaska.

The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights), has joined the growing list of organizations expressing solidarity with the hunger strikers by passing a formal resolution supporting us. The resolution is posted on the Internet as a PDF file.

Don Roberts, president of PsychRights, said "We hope this brave action by these courageous people will finally wake people up to the lack of validity to the horrific 'treatments' people diagnosed with mental illness are subjected to and the incredible harm it causes." Mr. Roberts went on to say that "the untruths about mental illness and its 'treatments' are uncritically accepted by the courts to force people to take these dangerous, generally unhelpful and life shortening drugs."

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RESPOND TO "WEST 47th STREET"

Tonight, Tuesday, PBS-TV's POV (Point of View) intends to air a program on psychiatric survivors and mental health consumers.