Open the thought with the word fear.

Under the pretense of helping the mentally ill, NAMI represents in my opinion, (this is generalized, and I am sure people will disagree with me)the so-called "victims" of society, the family members of those with mental illness.

That being said, of course TAC and NAMI will forge an even stronger alliance, whenever there are crimes committed by someone with mental illness, it fans their fire with pure oxygen.

It brings into the discussion who is a survivor, who are the victims, who has the fear of people with mental illness.

NAMI and TAC preach the need to educate the public, but in fact what truly is happening, is the fear the general public have regarding people with mental illness is fueled.

It becomes generalized, broadly swept into a large category, that people with "simple" depression could fall into as well. Mental illness is a broad spectrum, and if any Law is passed to force medication it will effect more people that the public doesn't understand.

Once the forest is cut down, and the trees are missing, we can see clearly. Then we ask, what happened to the forest and the trees?

Meaning, don't be shocked in the future, when the Government tells consumers they need to take medication due to admitting or being diagnosed with a mental illness.

Members of NAMI may think TAC makes sense. This is what Torrey is good at doing.

That "Welcome Mat" has been there pre-convention. They timed it for the Convention. I noticed it after I saw Torrey at his Cat and Haldol Show in Seattle in June.

Concerned Consumers:

Though most people do not like to be called a consumer, that is what you/we are. It is true, we are patients, but we do pay a lot of money, and become savvy consumers regarding choosing psychiatrists, therapists and medications, so get on with it and take charge. Bring your consumerism to the next level, and protect your Rights.

(I hope you have all written at least one letter to someone regarding mental health stigma and /or forced medication thoughts!)

Don't forget the American Civil Liberties Union
When drafting your letters.

http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/gen/10831res20051128.html

http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/index.html

Seattle, Washington area readers:

*Here is a free discussion, that addresses civil liberties.
If the forced medication issue is not part of the discussion, then raise your hand and speak up, and raise awareness. Some one has to stand up and speak out, or don't complain when you lose your choice to take psychiatric medications. Rights come to us in many forms. I am not sure most people think about psychiatric medication and force.
The Right to Choose. I have heard that phrase before, and it is time to use it now, regarding mental health and medication.

Defending Democracy, Strengthening Communities for Justice

August 16, 2006

6:15 p.m., St. Luke's Community Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham

Join other community leaders and organizations in a gathering and discussion on the threats to human rights and civil liberties in a post-Sept. 11 world. This event is free to the public.

Sponsored by the ACLU-WA. AILA WA, CASA Latina, Community to Community, the Church Council of Greater Seattle, HFZ, LPPO, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, the Rights Working Group and others.

...."In the absence of extraordinary circumstances, governmental action forcing or coercing a person to use a pharmacotherapy drug would violate a number of constitutional guarantees and other legal rights protecting people from forced medical treatment.

Among the rights implicated by compulsory use of pharmacotherapy drugs are the right to informed consent, the right to bodily integrity and privacy, the protection against cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to freedom of thought."

Find this article, from 2004 here:

Threats to Cognitive Liberty

Pharmacotherapy and the Future of the Drug War

http://www.iliberty.org/Research/pubid.638/research_detail.asp