I believe that some of these regular readers would love to see you stop working.
By telling the truth you prevent them from creating the truth.

What does she mean by that?

I think there are more readers who agree with you. Most people don't spend that much time on blogs that they disagree with. (Although though if people would do such a thing the world might be a better place. We all need to learn how to listen respectfully and respond respectfully. Most of us have a difficult time doing that.)

Phillip, I have been thinking about you request for donations. So I haven't forgotten you. Last night as I was swimming laps, I was thinking about how much I donate to other causes and how much I pay for magazine subscriptions. Your request in a little new for me as I just began regularly reading your blog a couple weeks ago.

You are not a 501 c 3...but I don't think you would ever want to be as then you have to have a board of directors and you lose you autonomy. My husband and I love to read magazines. We read them as soon as they arrive. So I could figure your blog in the same as a magazine.

I wonder how many people reading your blog are on disability because of psychiatric reasons and how limited they are in finances.

Many of the alternative voices in the media have become a labor of love. Journalism has changed so much in the past few years.

Congratulations on the readership stats! that's awesome!

Attempting to make a living as a journalist online is a whole new world, and yes the only way now is readership funding!

Thanks for the articles here, so much to read lately I can barely keep up with it! Great work.

Why don't you get drug manufacturers to advertise on your site?

NaturalGal ,

What does she mean by that?
Did you ask me what I meant with my first comment?

All people who are fighting hard to understand what's going on with their mental health don't have time to search on psychiatrists blogs and check what they are doing.
But these people who are there making their "hypothesis" come true are everywhere collecting data so that they can have the right answer to respond those who have the nerve to say anything against them.
"Know your enemy" is one of their tactics.
We had an example of one of these people who try to undermine other people's work here on the blog.
They "create the truth" for instance:
- "depression is like diabetes and you need serotonine like a diabetic needs insulin".
They have repeated it everywhere: newspapers, magazines, TV, Wikipedia... it became common knowledge, it became the truth:

"Depression is a result of chemical imbalance in your brain."

"creating the truth" is easy for them and they use all the tactics.
"We tell people what to think and what to care." is the motto of politicians.
Journalism became a powerful tool for these strategies and I believe that's one of the reasons why Philip says that journalism has "changed" and he does not want to do this kind of job.

"In America the President reigns for four years, and Journalism governs forever and ever."
Oscar Wilde

Can you imagine if he was around now?

I didn't understand when you said:

"Most people don't spend that much time on blogs that they disagree with.(Although though if people would do such a thing the world might be a better place."

They have assessors to spend lots of time searching what people who disagree with them have to say.
Sometimes they even hack sites:

http://www.ssri-side-effects.com/

Or there are even death threats - Bob Fiddaman has received some - or other ways to put in disbelief whoever say anything against them such as claiming "-You're scientologist, anti-psychiatrist..."

"We all need to learn how to listen respectfully and respond respectfully. Most of us have a difficult time doing that."

I totally agree with you and have already said that here.
I believe that in the Web there's already a "hate culture" that create misunderstandings even when people agree.
When I've found this blog I avoided all arguments that could lead to this kind of meaningless disputes even if it was necessary to withdraw from a discussion on something that I believe but that would only create one of these fight for nothing.
There are things I would like to discuss but it's not here the place for that because it would create... blah, blah, blah...

I forgot to say that I go to some of these sites and blogs that I don't like.
Yesterday I revisited WHO.
If you want to laugh it's a good site.
They are deeply concerned with... health. LOL
Obesity and tobacco are their main concerns.
Since I was already there I've sent an e-mail with some mental health issues.
I also visited some of "these" blogs. Yesterday I left comments on two of them.
I believe that "virtual activism" :) is the least I can do.
With the amount of data that is already online it's a pity that we have so many sites that could unite and start to pressure.
Instead each institution is concerned with it's own agenda and have no interest, till the moment, to start speaking up.
Not virtually.

This is my two cents on the whole "journalism" aspect on this issue...

Here's the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics:

Seek Truth and Report It
Minimize Harm
Act Independently
Be Accountable

You can go to the site to read the specific details of each code but the fact of the matter is that "modern" journalism overall does not live up to this code of ethics. Philip's blog is part of a shrinking minority that "seeks the truth and reports it."

Also, I've always seen journalism (free press and all that) as a way to hold government accountable for its actions. A system of checks and balances against the government, if you will, to expose corruption. The older I get, the more I realize this is not the case. Journalism is a lazy circus now. Many journalists go out there, get the cover story, don't really scratch past the surface, and spit it out in 30-second soundbytes. Others misreport and misrepresent the news. Celebrity news is "news." ??? There was a time when Star Magazine and the National Enquirer were regarded as "trash tabloids." Their circulations have since gone up as celebrity news has become widely accepted. Give the public what they want, I guess.

On this blog, Philip has been holding pharma companies' feet to the fire. Most journalists can't do this because of "conflict of interest" (See "Act Independently"). Many publications are reliant upon the ads of drug companies because they can throw around the most money. Philip is one of the view voices speaking out against the corruption that goes on in the pharmaceutical industry - especially within the mental health realm. I support Philip because he represents journalism at its finest: keeping pharmaceutical companies accountable for what they do. I'm not sure if we'll ever reach a point where Philip can be supported by other journalists who choose to "act independently" and expose corruption, not just in the pharma industry, but in all aspects of life.

/end rant/

I have looked at a few other sites, and they tilt Pharmanews, Pharmalies. furious seasons doesn't do that. I often give out the site because of the Zyprexa documents parked prominently here, which I hope will be used by either the federal DOJ or a state (Conn) to send the Lilly boys to prison for murder. But the truth of the matter is that there are almost No blogs like this one. This one tells the truth, digs for the truth, questions the truth and the lies. Can't get any better than that.

Here's the deal: stand at the grocery check out line and see the split face photo of Max the Bipolar child on Newsweek. Open it.

You're not gonna find articles about Cymbalta being used for pain killers or how Traci Johnson, a 19 year old college student killed herself inside the Lilly trial lab--as a healthy girl earning money for college while trialing Cymbalta.

You just don't open a magazine or print paper and find this kind of news, anywhere. There would be a lot less injury and suffering from psych meds if the media covered stuff like Philip does here.

And he's an investigative journalist!
So this IS a newspaper, and a damn good one too.

Philip was (dare I say)one of the first ones to call Champix to the carpet, and warned this could be one nasty drug, and look what has happened!

So people can find their daily mental health news here, or pick up Newsweek,and have flashy nonsense articles be the core of their knowledge.

This is also a cutting edge blog in the media industry, because if Philip earns a living writing (which I hope he can)here, being supported by readers, and not pharma ads, he will have made history!

I have a feeling it will happen too.

Give up a cup of coffee for one day and send in a donation!

I am on a very strict budget right now and have a weekly "allowance" so I don't blow it. What that means in terms of the fundraiser is that I have to wait to see if I have any money left at the end of week of buying groceries, gas, etc. to donate. If so, I'll hit the Paypal button next Monday.