Fundamentally re-thinking UK mental health practice
BLOGS
Essays from a diverse selection of writers, which aim to change the professional and public discourse about emotional distress and unusual experiences.
LETTER: Antidepressant Withdrawal: why has it been ignored for so long?
A letter regarding the PJ PODCAST, 26 August 2021: Antidepressant withdrawal: why has it been ignored for so long? - The PJ Pod | Podcast on Spotify — By Marion Brown, James Moore, Peter Gordon, Ed White, Alyne Duthie
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: Have you taken a benzodiazepine (such as Diazepam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam) and been off it for a year or more? Would you...
Have you taken a benzodiazepine (such as Diazepam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam) and been
off it for a...
NEW BOOK: Mental Hospitals, Care Homes and Other Stories
This vibrant and challenging book is more than a collection of stories, as it tells a story itself of what went on (and still goes on) out of the public gaze.
When Treatment Makes You Sick: The Eating Disorder Clinic
Of course I wish I had never endured the years of brainwashing and lies in that clinic. But I had the good fortune to get out. I don’t know how to help others being told their ‘eating disorder’ is a lifelong sentence that requires constant management. I have my voice, and I will use it
The Emperor’s New Clothes
I cannot prop up or carry a sham of integrity of us being an Ideal Service. I cannot cover up where we fall short, or pretend that we haven’t done anything that needs to be acknowledged or accounted and apologised for.
Two poems: ‘Skin’ & ‘Darkness.’
SACRED SKIN
As she danced gracefully by me
I saw her sacred satin skin
it was beautifully translucent
but...
Crisis in Serviceland
My experience of childhood abuse put the power in others and removed my control. My later experiences with Mental Health Services did the same. Now I have the PHB, I have the control to do what feels right for me.
In Memoriam: Paula Joan Caplan
Paula Caplan, known for her fierce criticism of psychiatry and its diagnostic manual, died Wednesday at age 74.
Britney: In the Name of Health
It beggars belief that any of her unhappiness was considered a disorder, rather than an expression of the utterly extraordinary experience she had lived up to that point. But it is harrowingly sad, because it is what so many millions of young women have been condemned to in the name of ‘health’.
Click here for info & tickets
A Disorder for Everyone - The Online Festival
Visit the A Disorder For Everyone YouTube channel to view recordings of the speakers and artists that took part.
‘Broken Systems Impact Lives‘ review of the event here
ECT REVIEW - WRITE TO YOUR MP
Note: All the campaign materials, blogs and updates can be found here.
A group of 40 professionals, researchers, ECT recipients and carers has written to Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, asking for an independent review into ECT along the lines of the recent Cumberlege report into pelvic meshes. We have also written to our own MPs and have so far had a positive response from 8 of them who have pledged to write to Mr Hancock in support, and table parliamentary questions.
You can join us by writing to your MP, find out how here.
MITUK on Facebook
Visit our new Facebook page.
COVID-19 Resources
Non-medical, non-pathologising resources to help us all survive the COVID-19 crisis – updated regularly
New on Mad in America
OTHER RESOURCES
A list of groups and resources that you may find helpful. If you are aware of other resources that we should consider adding, please let us know by email: [email protected]. Thanks.
Mad in America – Mad in America’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care in the United States (and abroad).
The Power Threat Meaning Framework – Towards the identification of patterns in emotional distress, unusual experiences and troubled or troubling behaviour, as an alternative to functional psychiatric diagnosis.
Drop the Disorder (Facebook) – a group for anyone who is interested in challenging traditional approaches to emotional distress.
A Disorder 4 Everyone – Exploring the culture of psychiatric diagnosis – creating change. Provides events, blogs and other resources.
A free-to-use guide to the healing of psychological trauma is available. It comprises information, approaches to healing and resources together with links to selected clinicians, organisations, projects and support groups. Download the pdf here: Healing Psychological Trauma
Hearing Voices Network – If you hear voices, HVN can help – we are committed to helping people who hear voices. We offer information, support and understanding to people who hear voices and those who support them.
International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (UK) – ISPS UK is the United Kingdom network of the International organisation ISPS – International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis. ISPS works to promote greater knowledge of the different psychological approaches to psychosis and psychotic experiences – psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, arts-based, family and holistic approaches – and their better integration with each other and with pharmaceutical approaches.
The Council for Evidence-Based Psychiatry – CEP exists to communicate evidence of the potentially harmful effects of psychiatric drugs to the people and institutions in the UK that can make a difference.
The Inner Compass Initiative and Withdrawal Project – provides information, resources, tools, and connecting platforms to facilitate more informed choices regarding all things “mental health”.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prescribed Drug Dependence will address the growing problem of prescribed drug dependence by demanding appropriate services for those affected, proper training for medical professionals, reduced prescribing through adherence to new and existing guidelines, better data regarding the prevalence of PDD and more research into long-term harms associated with PDD.
More resources are listed here.