¨Not Much Happening in Mental Health¨ well not if you are on the outside.

Over the last years there has been the odd leak of Bullying within Mental Health and that is talking about between staff members. Usually it is some poorly qualified person who ´s aim it is to improve the outcomes of Metal Health. In fact what they are doing is making the system so hostile that clients become unwilling to engage. Ultimately this reflects in figures that show a ¨Cure¨, when in fact it is no such thing. Many poorly qualified people work in mental health and in administrative positions. These people are in positions of authority over people who have top ranking qualifications. These administrators are there for the power. They get the job because they can make poor results look like good results. People who question this are vilified and driven out of the system. What is more the old employers are often so vindictive that they warn any prospective employer in advance of these peoples poor work standards.

My point is if this is going on to staff what are they doing to the clients. One client I know was refused service for yelling at the manager, by that manager. Yet that very same manager yelled at her staff all the time. I always thought that it was part of what one could expect when a person with a mental illness was upset and that in some cases it is a healthy sign. This manager´s only qualifications was to be a default manager (because there was no-one else) in a town of 2,000 people.

Just though you may like to know that there is always something going on that no-one ever sees. Imagine these people reporting back to a psychiatrist. Bullying is a real problem and Metal health attracts them because of the perceived powerlessness of the clients.

Just thought I would help fill in some empty spaces. Please keep up the good work.

Belated congratulations, Philip! Thanks for all that you do to expose pharma and psychiatric wrong doings.

Philip,

It is wonderful news that you are on your second anniversary of being "off meds".

Thanks for all your helpful posts.

Philip,

Here is an inspiring story of the actress Margot Kidder who was diagnosed, first, as schizophrenic and then as bipolar. She has been in a long time recovery without meds.

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http://www.namiscc.org/newsletters/August01/MargotKidder.htm

Margot Kidder Award
History will occur in Los Angeles on Sept. 20, 2001. We want you to be there.

In 1996 actress Margot Kidder of Superman fame made world headlines when the media placed a spotlight on her very public episode of ill health in Los Angeles.

Rejecting offers of more medications for her problems, Ms. Kidder researched the causes behind her troubles and found she had hidden nutritional imbalances that no doctor had ever looked for. After treating these nutritional issues, she started on her road to wellness. Today Ms. Kidder has not only recovered without drugs and restored her career, but she has become the nation's most vocal advocate for alternative mental health treatments as well as the international spokesperson for Safe Harbor.

On September 20, 2001, Margot Kidder, the Woman of Steel, makes a triumphant -- and healthy -- return to Los Angeles at the Hollywood Room of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel at 404 So. Figueroa.

That evening, in recognition of her remarkable work, Safe Harbor will establish the Annual Margot Kidder Award. The Margot Kidder Award honors courageous men and women of goodwill who have advanced the use of safe, sensible, and effective alternative mental health treatments that heal the causes and symptoms of suffering, but do no harm. The first recipient will be Ms. Kidder herself.

This brilliant woman does what no other celebrity will do: She speaks with wit, eloquence and a disarming frankness about her views on the drawbacks of conventional treatment and the bright future of alternative approaches.

Other speakers will include:
bullet Dan Stradford, President and Founder of Safe Harbor, speaking on the achievements of Safe Harbor and the rapid growth of alternative mental health.
bullet Dr. Hyla Cass, assistant professor of psychiatry at UCLA and one of the nation's leading authors of books on nutritional and herbal treatment of mental disorders.
bullet Jessica Martinez, from the L. A. County Dept of Mental Heath, telling her own story of how she now lives drug-free after 15 years of psychiatric medication.
Awards will also be presented to Safe Harbor's top contributors.

University of WA news:

http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=50985

"Screening for childhood depressive symptoms could start in second grade"

Congratulations, Philip! It is quite an achievement and can provide hope to many. Not every person needs medication.

About 8 years ago I was able to live med-free for about a year. Sadly it didn't last. Right now I'm working with a therapist on changing thoughts and behaviors with the intent to not only improve my functioning but also either reduce the need or eliminate medication for bipolar. Combined with excercise and nutritional changes I'm hoping for a significant impact over time.