(no subject)
So I stole this from Storm without asking but I'm sure she won't mind...
"this is an extract of a book called Mad Pride and other essays, written by Vancouverite, Ron Carten that raises some damn good questions.
'a host of recently published authors (mental health) consumers and survivors have questioned the very concept of mental illness. is it's origin genetic, situational, developmental, abuse-related, the result of forms of alienation? does it exist at all? can the behaviour and experience of a significant portion of humanity that has experienced mental health crises be catalogued? is anyone expert enough to heal someone else called mentally ill?
the economy of mental health is question too. who profits from the application of drug therapy? what are the motives of the companies that produce and market psychiatric medications? what is their stake in current mental health leglislation? what is their stake, for example, in the recent proposal in the united states for mandatory psychiatric testing? who polices the pharmacuetical giants when stories of adverse drug trial results appear in the media?
legal questions concern (mental health) consumers and survivors too. why does the state sanction the forced detention and treatment of people diagnosed with mental illness? if, despite media sensationalism, the mentally ill are less dangerous than say, drunk drivers, why are they deprived of their civil rights while drunk drivers are not?
social as well as legal discrimination is also a central concern. what do you do if an employer requires you to take psychiatric medication? what do you do if you have been laid off because you have been hospitalised and diagnosed with a mental illness? what if you are not permitted to travel to another country because of a psychiatric diagnosis?
the scope of issues that matter and matter deeply to people diagnosed with a mental illness is intimidating.'"
"this is an extract of a book called Mad Pride and other essays, written by Vancouverite, Ron Carten that raises some damn good questions.
'a host of recently published authors (mental health) consumers and survivors have questioned the very concept of mental illness. is it's origin genetic, situational, developmental, abuse-related, the result of forms of alienation? does it exist at all? can the behaviour and experience of a significant portion of humanity that has experienced mental health crises be catalogued? is anyone expert enough to heal someone else called mentally ill?
the economy of mental health is question too. who profits from the application of drug therapy? what are the motives of the companies that produce and market psychiatric medications? what is their stake in current mental health leglislation? what is their stake, for example, in the recent proposal in the united states for mandatory psychiatric testing? who polices the pharmacuetical giants when stories of adverse drug trial results appear in the media?
legal questions concern (mental health) consumers and survivors too. why does the state sanction the forced detention and treatment of people diagnosed with mental illness? if, despite media sensationalism, the mentally ill are less dangerous than say, drunk drivers, why are they deprived of their civil rights while drunk drivers are not?
social as well as legal discrimination is also a central concern. what do you do if an employer requires you to take psychiatric medication? what do you do if you have been laid off because you have been hospitalised and diagnosed with a mental illness? what if you are not permitted to travel to another country because of a psychiatric diagnosis?
the scope of issues that matter and matter deeply to people diagnosed with a mental illness is intimidating.'"