Furious Seasons

December 01, 2008

Winter Fundraiser Begins

As I do every three months, today I'm beginning this site's winter fundraiser. The goal is to raise $3,000 over the next two weeks. The fall fundraiser was a big success and ended early, and I hope that's the case this time. I know full well how badly the economy stinks right now--I can assure you that the market for freelance writing of any kind is a disaster right now. I have a thing or two in the works right now, but I won't be paid for them until February.

Meanwhile, several issues that I've pounded on on this site have come full circle in recent weeks. Fred Goodwin, host of "The Infinite Mind" radio show, was exposed for taking over $1 million in pharma payouts and for not revealing those conflicts and his show was cancelled. Some of you know that back in April I was the first to report on how during one episode of the show Goodwin and several of his guests openly lied about suicidality and anti-depressants, an issue in some ways more important than unreported financial conflicts. What's more, Harvard child psychiatrist Joseph Biederman was recently outed for his ties to J&J and for basically working the company for tons of money to start a "research" center to advance J&J's commercial goals. If there's one bad apple in psychiatry whom I've focused on on this site, it's Biederman, the prime architect of the bipolar child business and a huge pusher of ADHD diagnoses on kids. I've been writing about Biederman for two years. I've also been the one alerting the public to the deceptive Abilify for depression ads on TV and how the FDA refuses to comment on whether it has or ever will review them.

In addition, I'll have more news soon on one antipsychotic used in kids.

For me to continue to go after these issues, I need your support. Unlike John McManamy, I won't accept ads for Seroquel and other psych meds on my website. I'm sure he's making a pretty penny for those ads, but for myself I prefer to have clean hands in that regard.

Anyway, as always, the PayPal button is on the right. If you prefer using snail mail, drop me an email and I'll shoot you a mailing address.

Thanks for your support.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at December 1, 2008 12:05 AM

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Comments

I'm heading over to the PayPal button right now. I can think of no better way to start my week than to help to fund your work on this site. Keep up the great work! Even though it is sometimes depressing and infuriating to see what the field of psychiatry is up to, I'd rather know than not. And it has been very comforting to know that I am not alone in my experiences. Until I found your site, I was pretty much convinced that I was alone in my rage and shame. Thank you for your work and thank you for the safe place to find others who share my horror stories and experiences. Out of knowledge and out of pain, perhaps a truly healing mental health profession can emerge.

Joanie

Posted by: InTheWild at December 1, 2008 03:34 AM

Are my contributions tax deductible?

Posted by: A Believer at December 1, 2008 04:32 AM

Dear Philip,
As always I feel very sorry not being able to support your work.
I can only tell you that I can see the wonderful person you are post after post.
It's a shame to live in a world where integrity and dignity have so little meaning and is so underestimate that people can mock of those who have.
You are an amazing person and a great journalist.
No words to express my admiration.

Posted by: Ana at December 1, 2008 11:14 AM

As a reader of this site for nearly 3 years, I want to encourage new readers to support the site.

It is authored by an award winning investigative journalist, and supported by readership funds only. No kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies.

Philip's journalistic integrity surpasses many, and for that reason alone you can trust what is written here to expose the truth behind the psychiatric and pharmaceutical industry.

You won't find these stories in one place with such diversity of topic on a daily basis anywhere else on the internet.

Posted by: Stephany at December 1, 2008 12:25 PM

Phillip,

My SSDI check comes in on the third of the month. Which would be Wednesday. Surprisingly, the account is over-drawn. So it may take a bit longer to clear, but when it does, I'd be happy to contribute.

It won't be much, in terms of your amazing, fierce and relentless work, but I hope that it helps.

Posted by: Dano MacNamarrah at December 1, 2008 07:18 PM