Rethinking Psychiatry Film Festival Opens with Mind Zone

Posted on January 23, 2013 by | 1 comment

Opening night  Thursday, Feb 21, 2013

Mind Zone: Therapists Behind the Front LinesWe are proud and excited to kick off this year’s Rethinking Psychiatry’s film festival with the first public showing of the newly completed documentary, Mind Zone: Therapists Behind the Front Lines.

Mind Zone explores the controversies and challenges of keeping people in unhealthy places, of therapists as both healers and warriors. While public consciousness grows of the post-traumatic stress disorder and the alarming suicide rates among soldiers and veterans, the struggle of those attempting to diagnose and treat them has never been told. Mind Zone is their story.  

While making Mind Zone, director Dr. Jan Haaken, Portland State professor, clinical psychologist and documentary filmmaker was embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan. For the first time in history, the U.S. Army granted access to a team of filmmakers to document the challenges of maintaining mental and emotional healing on the front lines.

Dr. Haaken will introduce the film and answer questions afterwards.

Co-sponsored by

1 Comment

Posted in Lecture Series, Psychotropic drugs, Veterans

National Day of Action to Stop Mental Health Profiling – MLK Day January 21st

Posted on January 18, 2013 by | Comments Off on National Day of Action to Stop Mental Health Profiling – MLK Day January 21st

Stop Psychiatric ProfilingThe reaction to recent events involving gun violence has been an alarming rush to enact laws promoting “Psychiatric Profiling”.  These laws would restrict the rights of people diagnosed with mental illness and force them to endure harmful, counterproductive, psychiatric interventions.

National Day of Action to Stop Mental Health Profiling

On Martin Luther King Day, January 21, 2013, people everywhere are invited to hold demonstrations, vigils, and any other nonviolent acts of expression and protest.  The purpose is to inform the public about the dangers of psychiatric profiling and to gather solidarity.

More info…

Comments Off on National Day of Action to Stop Mental Health Profiling – MLK Day January 21st

Posted in Events

December 10th, Day for David

Posted on December 10, 2012 by | Comments Off on December 10th, Day for David
David Oaks

David Oaks

David Oaks, director of MindFreedom International, suffered a serious accident on December 1st.  He is currently in intensive care, and has a long road ahead toward recovery.

David and his family need our support

MindFreedom International has declared December 10th a Day for David.  Friends of David are asked to take time out to meditate on a good outcome for David and his family, in whatever way feels comfortable to them.
Click here for ways you can help

David Oaks has been a community organizer for human rights in mental health since 1976. He’s a psychiatric survivor and, since 1986, has been director of MindFreedom International.

Comments Off on December 10th, Day for David

Posted in Events

Recovery-Oriented Research Funded by Mental Healthcare Foundation

Posted on November 21, 2012 by | Comments Off on Recovery-Oriented Research Funded by Mental Healthcare Foundation

Inspired by Robert Whitaker’s ‘Anatomy of an Epidemic,’ the grants will aid investigation of care models that have helped patients overseas

The Wilsonville-based Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care – started last year to support a new model for mental health research – has awarded a $100,000 grant to research whether the Finnish “open dialogue” model can be implemented in the United States, and is both offering and seeking funds for other related grant projects.

Read complete article..

Comments Off on Recovery-Oriented Research Funded by Mental Healthcare Foundation

Posted in Alternatives

November Meeting – Nov 14, 2012

Posted on October 25, 2012 by | Comments Off on November Meeting – Nov 14, 2012

Rethinking Psychiatry lecture seriesOur October guest speaker will be Dr. Neil Falk of Multnomah County’s Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA).  EASA is an outreach and treatment program for young people from age 15 to 25 experiencing the first symptoms of psychosis. The goal of the program is to prevent more significant problems by using early intervention.

7:00 pm at Portland’s Unitarian Church

More information…

Comments Off on November Meeting – Nov 14, 2012

Posted in Events, Lecture Series

Will Hall: Understanding Psychiatric Medications: a Harm Reduction Approach – Oct 21

Posted on October 17, 2012 by | Comments Off on Will Hall: Understanding Psychiatric Medications: a Harm Reduction Approach – Oct 21

Will Hall - Portland Hearing Voices How can anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and other drugs be used wisely?  What are the risks and benefits?  How can we collaborate effectively with prescribers, and what about reducing and discontinuing medications?  Come learn a pragmatic harm reduction approach that is neither pro- nor anti- medication, but instead based in mental diversity. Everyone is welcome: professionals, survivors, students, family, and anyone taking or not taking medications.

Event details…

Comments Off on Will Hall: Understanding Psychiatric Medications: a Harm Reduction Approach – Oct 21

Posted in Events, Psychotropic drugs

Call for Papers: The Experiences of Mental Health Consumers/Survivors

Posted on October 15, 2012 by | Comments Off on Call for Papers: The Experiences of Mental Health Consumers/Survivors

The Journal of Progressive Human Services: Radical Thought & Praxis is preparing a special section about the experience of mental health consumers/survivors. We are encouraging contributions by consumers, providers and allies on a range of issues including the politics of mental illness, relevant social movements, and radical mental health practice.

More info…

Comments Off on Call for Papers: The Experiences of Mental Health Consumers/Survivors

Posted in Uncategorized

October Meeting – Weds, Oct 17, 7pm

Posted on October 4, 2012 by | Comments Off on October Meeting – Weds, Oct 17, 7pm

Cinder Fisher, founder of MOMSJoin us for our October monthly meeting!  Our special guest speaker will be Cindi Fisher, founder of the MOMS movement.

Meeting details & map

Comments Off on October Meeting – Weds, Oct 17, 7pm

Posted in Children, Events

MOMS Fundraiser – Sept 21

Posted on September 13, 2012 by | Comments Off on MOMS Fundraiser – Sept 21

Community Building Dinner & Fun Fundraiser!

MOMS logoPlease join MOMS in their vision of transforming mental health care through re-inventing communities where hearts heal.

Fundraising dinner: Sept 21, 2012  Proceeds to send two volunteers to Michael Meade’s Mentorship Training. Event details…

Come and learn why MOMS:

  • Fasted 100 days in 2010
  • Walked 85 miles in 2011
  • Walked 100 miles in 2012
  • Shared their concerns at Oregon State Hospital in Portland, Washington State Governor’s Office, and Western State Hospital’s CEO office.

Can’t make it?  Please make a $10 Paypal donation
More information about MOMS

Comments Off on MOMS Fundraiser – Sept 21

Posted in Children, Events

Seminar: When Treatment Might Cause Harm

Posted on September 4, 2012 by | Comments Off on Seminar: When Treatment Might Cause Harm

Ron Unger LCSWPam Birrell PhD and Ron Unger LCSW present “When Treatment Might Cause Harm: Exploring Ethical Dilemmas related to Diagnosis, Drugs, and other Possibly Iatrogenic Aspects of Mental Health Care”

  • Eugene on 9/7/12
  • Portland on 9/14/12.

6 NASW CEU’s in ethics available.  Register early for the 3 week in advance “early bird” discount, or the scholarship offered to c/s/x!  See http://recoveryfromschizophrenia.org/home/

Comments Off on Seminar: When Treatment Might Cause Harm

Posted in DSM, Events, Psychotropic drugs