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.
Welcome to Mad in the UK!
In this topsy-turvy turmoil, as one paradigm collapses and new ones emerge, MITUK is committed to telling the truth as we see it, regardless of controversy. We are at a historic moment in the history of psychiatry, with a unique opportunity to help shape a better future. We welcome your interest, comments and contributions.
Why Language Matters To Me
We need to encourage everyone to address mental distress as a normal reaction to complex trauma, a shift which will lead to people being seen as individuals who deserve care and compassion rather than ill and having disordered personalities.
My 33-year Personal Journey to Disillusionment With Western Psychiatry
Despite my experiences, I remain hopeful. The array of dissenting voices against traditional psychiatry has never been more compelling. The next five to ten years offers an exceptional opportunity to transform the way we, as a society, respond to mental health problems.
An Industry of Illness
For many decades the ‘mental patient’ has been ruled and corralled which has inflicted deep fear and inferiority in us, distancing us further from society. We are petrified of the entire mental health system, and society, in turn, fears us. Removing someone’s basic liberty, when they have committed no crime, is cruelty and enslavement.
MAUDSLEY DEBATE: ECT
The 57th Maudsley Debate from Kings College will be streamed live on Wednesday 19th September at 18:30, watch here.
“This house believes that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has no place in modern medicine.”
Professor John Read and Dr Sue Cunliffe speak for the motion, Professor Declan McLoughlin and Dr Sameer Jauhar speak against.
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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.
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.