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.
Jo Watson interviews Cathy Wield author of ‘Unshackled Mind’
Jo: Hi Cathy thanks for joining me to talk about your new book ‘Unshackled Mind:...
False Information in the UK package inserts for antidepressants
First published on April 3rd 2025 by Mad in America
On 20 January 2025, I notified...
The Price of Breaking the Silence of Abuse: Dignity, Justice and Recovery
Originally published in Spanish on Mad in Puerto Rico
We live in a culture of silence,...
Interview with Mary Ann Kenny, author of ‘The Episode’
The transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Cat: Could you tell me about yourself and...
The Mental Health System in the UK Failed Us
This is co-pubished with Mad in America
It is impossible to make it on your own...
Apply now for Mad Camp Europe: My Journey from Ward Violence to Healing and Community
First published by Mad in America on March 13th 2025
Today I’m going to tell you...
The ‘Female Perspective’ on Boarding School
This was first published by Seen & Heard on 18th March 2025
When I talk about...
De-Meaning Psychotherapy: The New Psychiatric Critic.
Most of my life has been occupied with understanding the destruction inflicted on me and...
IS THERE TRANSFORMATIVE MEANING IN MADNESS?
First published by Mad in America in November 2024
No-way-out by J
Mental distress is a portal...
Disability, Work and Starmer’s Cruel Cuts
This blog is about the UK government’s proposed cuts to disability benefits such as PIP...
Barry’s story: a tenacious activist
I would like to tell you about Barry Haslam, who is a tenacious activist around...
Another perspective on the Randers case: psychiatry is in deep crisis
Editors' note: republished with permission from Peter C Gøtzsche Professor emeritus.
Introduction
The psychiatric system is so...
New research opportunity
Trainee Clinical Psychologist Rebecca Williams from the University of Manchester, working under the supervision of Professor Sara Tai is currently conducting an important research study aimed at informing ethical best practices and meaningful, person-centred informed consent processes in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
This research seeks to address critical gaps in the existing literature by engaging directly with people who have lived experience of mental health difficulties. We are asking participants to share their views on what information they would consider necessary and helpful when deciding whether to take part in psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Our aim is to produce a paper that authentically reflects the user voice, contributing to the development of guidance that can be used in clinical trials. This will help ensure that individuals are better supported in making fully informed decisions, while also enabling professionals to provide more ethically sound and effective care in this emerging field.
We are looking to recruit as broadly as possible to capture a wide range of perspectives. Are you, or do you know of anyone who might be interested in taking part in the study?
For more information or questions email Rebecca Williams
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OTHER RESOURCES
A helpful list of groups and resources. If you are aware of other resources that we should consider adding, please email: [email protected].
Mad in America – Mad in America’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care in the United States (and abroad).
A Disorder 4 Everyone – Exploring the culture of psychiatric diagnosis – creating change. Provides events, blogs and other resources including ‘An Audience with an Ally’
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 interested in challenging traditional approaches to emotional distress.
Healing Psychological Trauma – a free-to-use guide with links to resources and selected clinicians, organisations, projects and support groups.
Hearing Voices Network offer information, support and understanding to people who hear voices and those who support them.
The Inner Compass Initiative and Withdrawal Project – provides information, resources, tools, and connecting platforms to facilitate informed choices for all things “mental health”.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prescribed Drug Dependence aims to address the growing problem of prescribed drug dependence with a multi-pronged approach.
More resources are listed here.