activism & advocacy

Starting Hearing Voices Groups Training at RLC

Submitted by admin on Sat, 10/09/2010 - 21:20

Recovery Learning Community is sponsoring a "Starting Hearing Voices Groups" training with Oryx Cohen, Gail Hornstein, Ron Coleman (UK Hearing Voices Network) and Paul Baker (UK Hearing Voices Network). This is a great opportunity to learn about how to create a hearing voices group in your area and become a hearing voices group facilitator.

Dates for the training are November 12th & 19th and December 3rd & 10th. Download the training application here. For more info, contact

 

Oryx Cohen

Recovery Learning Community

187 High St., Suite 303

Holyoke, MA 01040

Fax: 413-536-5466 (attn: Oryx)

Email: oryx@westernmassrlc.org

Victory!!! Poverty Is Not A Crime Campaign Succeeds!

Submitted by admin on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 01:16

PINAC protest downtown NorthamptonThe solicitation ordinance, which if passed would have de facto criminalized panhandling in most of downtown Northampton, has been withdrawn by the mayor's office & the police department from the Northampton city council'sconsideration and is "tabled indefinitely".

They cited "polarization around the issue" (that is, increased opposition to it!) making the discussion "no

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Major UK Study Shows No Evidence For Forced Drugging

Submitted by admin on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 09:48

A major new study in latest Journal of Advanced Nursing says there is no clincal evidence in research that forced drugging helps people. Instead, the practice is "taken for granted." According to the BBC, "Very few rigorous investigations of the use of coerced medication have been done despite it being widespread, the Journal of Advanced Nursing reported.

The dearth of evidence is "unacceptable" and more should be done to find alternatives, the team said"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7764512.stm

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Gazette Covers Panhandling Campaign

Submitted by admin on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 13:30

The Hampshire Daily Gazette just did a 10-17-08 story on the proposed panhandling law in Northampton that Freedom Center opposes, and quotes Caty Simon from Freedom Center speaking at a recent protest and City Council meeting:

"It's clear that this legislation does, de facto, criminalize panhandling, if not in the letter of the law, then in the spirit," said Catherine Simon, reading from a prepared statement at a recent council meeting....

Simon, meanwhile, said the homeless and the poor are already the victims of economic violence.

Poverty Is Not A Crime - Local Campaign

Submitted by admin on Fri, 10/03/2008 - 16:15

Caty Simon of Freedom Center is coordinating Freedom Center's involvement with the Poverty Is Not A Crime campaign, to stop the city from adopting anti-panhandling laws.

Get latest info at the Povery Is Not A Crime Blog here.

Listen to the recent WXOJ Madness Radio show on the campaign.

Freedom Center, Arise for Social Justice, Out Now Oppose PostPartum Depression Screening Program

Submitted by lee on Sat, 01/23/2010 - 22:19

Dear MotherWoman,
We are writing to address our concern about your legislation on postpartum depression screenings. We propose that Motherwoman drop this legislation because we believe in the long-run it will do more harm than good.

Under the George Bush Jr administration there was an initiative called
“The New Freedom Initiative” which proposed mandatory mental health

Freedom Center, Arise for Social Justice, OutNow Question PostPartum Screening Program

Submitted by lee on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 20:28

Dear MotherWoman,
We are writing to address our concern about your legislation on postpartum depression screenings. We propose that Motherwoman drop this legislation because we believe in the long-run it will do more harm than good.

Freedom Center and USNUSP collaborate on "Human Rights for ALL" Tour

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/18/2009 - 17:13

I'm Leah Harris, co-coordinator of the U.S. Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (USNUSP), a newly-formed network seeking to use the language, framework, and principles of international human rights to end violations against users and survivors of psychiatry and to promote voluntary and compassionate alternatives to the traditional mental health system.

Join The Community Power Kickoff - DATE CHANGE March 28th

Submitted by admin on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 10:34

Freedom Center organizer Caty Simon is attending the Community Activation Network's Community Power Kickoff to represent us and would like other Freedom Center members & people interested in the mad movement to join her. The event is on DATE CHANGE March 28th at Hampshire College. 12-6PM--you'll be
directed by signs as soon as you get there showing you specifically where to go.

Here's a quick summary of the event.

Get Involved With Our Spring Speakout w/ Leah Harris!

Submitted by caty on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 11:38

Freedom Center is organizing a spring Speak Out and we want your help! Join slam poet and mental health activist Leah Harris from DC, Caty Simon, Lee Hurter and others. We need speakers and volunteers for this upcoming event -- get in touch with caty(at)freedom-center(dot)org.

The Shocking Facts - Why Opponents Call for A Ban on ECT

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/19/2007 - 16:56

by Marian B. Goldstein


Leonard Roy Frank is a survivor and activist. One of the most prominent personalities in the movement against ECT. He has been exposed to ECT-treatment himself, he has written a book on the history of electroshock and witnessed at hearings.


Boston Forum on PCA Issues June 26

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/26/2007 - 14:01

Please come advocate for mental health personal care attendants:

 

Emergency Room Abuse Testimony for Legislation

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 19:13

from Cathy Levin of MPOWER:

 

Buddhist Magazine Publishes on Retreat Discrimination

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/20/2007 - 12:03

Download scanned version here.

 

Freedom To Sit: Welcoming People Labeled with Psychiatric Disabilities at Buddhist Retreats
by Will Hall


Turning Wheel: A Journal of Socially Engaged Buddhism, Publication of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Summer 2007

(download pdf scanned version)

Congressional Bill to End Funding for Mental Health Screenings

Submitted by admin on Tue, 05/22/2007 - 07:11

Below is important info about HR 2387 - which would end federal funding for mental health screenings.

 

FC Joins SHaRC to Oppose Prison Mental Health Units

Submitted by admin on Thu, 05/10/2007 - 17:35

Freedom Center is a member of SHaRC, the Statewide Harm Reduction
Coalition, and we join in opposing the proposed creation of new mental
health treatment units in MA prisons. Read the testimony before the legislature that SHaRC recently presented.

Virgina Tech Tragedy Info + Resources

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/02/2007 - 06:51

Info on the Virgina Tech mass killing and implications for mental health policy can be found on the Mindfreedom website Info Center page.

Campaign To End Mental Health Screenings In MA

Submitted by admin on Mon, 02/26/2007 - 22:09

The Freedom Center has initiated a campaign to end mental health screenings in MA to contribute to the nation-wide movement of opposition to screening programs.

Campaign Overview

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