Open Paradigm

The Open Paradigm Project (external link) is partnering with Mad In America to bring vivid testimonials and event footage to the site. These testimonials and other exclusive footage are archived below.

Healing Voices to Premier at the Boston Independent Film Festival in April

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Full scene released exclusively on Mad in America from the upcoming feature-length documentary HEALING VOICES. It will premiere Saturday, April 16 at the Boston...

“Healing Voices” Documentary Announces Grass Roots Non-Theatrical Release

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The producers of “Healing Voices” – a new social action documentary about mental health – have announced an innovative plan to release the film via community screening partners in a coordinated one-night global event. Written and Directed by PJ Moynihan of Digital Eyes Film, “Healing Voices” explores the experience commonly labeled as ‘psychosis’ through the stories of real-life individuals, and asks the question: What are we talking about when we talk about ‘mental illness’? The film follows three subjects – Oryx, Jen, Dan – over nearly five years, and features interviews with notable international experts including: Robert Whitaker, Dr. Bruce Levine, Celia Brown, Will Hall, Dr. Marius Romme, and others, on the history of psychiatry and the rise of the ‘medical model’ of mental illness.

International Psychologists To Host Public Webinar on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

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The Society for International Psychology, Division 52 of the American Psychological Association, will host a webinar entitled “The Humanistic, Vigorous and Universal Approach of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.”

Psychologists To Livestream Summit on Global Interdisciplinary Health Care

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The American Psychological Association is hosting a two and half day interdisciplinary summit on November 3rd through 5th entitled Global Approaches to Integrated Care: Translating Science And Best Practices Into Patient-Centered Health Care Delivery. The summit features presentations and discussions on social determinants of health, demographics, culture and health disparities, and patients’ perspectives, among others. It can be livestreamed here.

Mental Health Professionals Critique the Biomedical Model of Psychological Problems

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While a great deal of the excitement about advances in psychological treatments comes from the potential for research in neuroscience to unlock the secrets of the brain, many mental health experts would like to temper this enthusiasm. A special issue of the Behavior Therapist released this month calls into question the predominant conception of mental illnesses as brain disorders.

Videos from the 2014 “Transforming Mad Science and Re-Imagining Mental Health Care” ISEPP/UCLA Conference

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The joint ISEPP/UCLA conference was held in Los Angeles on November 14-16, 2014. Today, ISEPP and the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs are delighted to bring you videos of 13 of the 15 invited plenary talks. Each video is accompanied by a crisply written interview with the speaker, focusing on the goals of their work, challenges facing their profession, and how they evaluate any salient changes in mental health practice and research. These smartly produced and edited videos range from 20 to 30 minutes in length and are freely available on www.TransformingMadScience.com

Transforming Mad Science and Re-Imagining Mental Health Care Videos Released

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This morning, TransformingMadScience.com released thirteen 20-30 minute video presentations from the 2014 International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry (ISEPP) conference at UCLA. The videos include presentations by Bonnie Burstow, Laura Delano, Allen Frances , David Healy, Peter GÞtzsche, Pascal-Henri Keller, John Read, Tomi Gomory, Shannon Hughes, Jeffrey Lacasse, David Cohen, François Gonon, Jonathan Leo, Peter Whitehouse, Robert Whitaker, and Keith Hoeller.

Navigating the Mental Health Wilderness: Steven Morgan’s Journey

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Steven Morgan discusses his transformative journey from chronic "patient" to leading mental health advocate. Steven has been working in peer support and helping to create alternatives to traditional mental health services for the past decade...

Daniel Mackler:Motivators for Growth

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Therapist and folk artist Daniel Mackler discusses the major barriers to creating a more effective and compassionate psychiatric system, as well as the practice of Open Dialogue in Finland, and recognizing pain as a motivator for growth.

On Pharma, Corruption, and Psychiatric Drugs

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"My studies in this area lead me to a very uncomfortable conclusion: Our citizens would be far better off if we removed all the psychotropic drugs from the market, as doctors are unable to handle them. It is inescapable that their availability creates more harm than good." - Peter GĂžtzsche, MD; Co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration

Sera Davidow: “Non-compliance Saved My Life”

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Sera Davidow, MIA Blogger and Director of The Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community (RLC), discusses her lived experience within the psychiatric system.

Jenna Fogle: “I Was Just a Sad Teenager”

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Jenna Fogle discusses her experience struggling with depression as a teenager, and the consequent harm done by psychiatric drug treatment.

Michael Wilusz: Coming of Age on Psych Drugs

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Michael Wilusz discusses his experience struggling with emotional distress, the ensuing regimen of psychiatric drug treatment, and his process tapering off of the drugs.

Leah Harris: A Legacy of Psychiatric Diagnosis

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MIA blogger and mental health advocate Leah Harris discusses growing up with parents diagnosed with schizophrenia, her personal experience with the psychiatric system, and psychiatric drugs.

Celia Brown: Surviving Psychiatry

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Peer support pioneer and MindFreedom board president Celia Brown discusses what it means to be a 'survivor of psychiatry' and the importance of human connection, and human rights in mental healthcare.

Matt Samet: Climbing Out of Benzo Madness

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Rock climber, author, and MIA Blogger Matt Samet discusses his experience becoming addicted to, and subsequently coming off of, benzodiazepines.

Carina HĂ„kansson: Family Care Foundation

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Carina HĂ„kansson, co-founder of the Family Care Foundation in Sweden, discusses her work with family care homes, psychotherapy and family therapy absent from psychiatric diagnoses and manuals.

Recovery by Taking Psychiatric Drugs versus Recovery by Coming Off of Psychiatric Drugs

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German author and activist Peter Lehmann presents "Recovery by Taking Psychiatric Drugs versus Recovery by Coming Off of Psychiatric Drugs" at the 2012 International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry (ISEPP) Conference in Philadelphia, PA.

Psychiatric Survivors Speak Up: Harm From Psychiatric Diagnosis, and a Start on Solutions

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Clinical and research psychologist Paula Caplan presents a keynote address entitled "Psychiatric Survivors Speak Up: Harm From Psychiatric Diagnosis, and a Start on Solutions" at the 2012 National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Case for Selective Use of Antipsychotics

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Robert Whitaker's keynote presentation in Brighton, England explores the problems of the evidence base at the heart of the medical model, particularly for ‘psychosis’, and discusses the Open Dialogue approach from Finland.

Faith Rhyne – Long Bio

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DRAWING NEW LINES Faith Rhyne is a parent, educator, and a radical mental health activist. She became interested in psychology and psychiatry at age 13,...

Bruce Levine – Long Bio

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COMMONSENSE REBELLION Bruce E. Levine, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. His latest book is Get Up, Stand Up: Uniting Populists,...

Olga Runciman – Long Bio

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DENMARK: VOICES FROM THE INSIDE OUT Olga Runciman is an international trainer and speaker as well as writer, campaigner and artist. She sees the hearing...

Jack Carney – Long Bio

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UP THE RIVER Jack Carney has been a practicing social worker for over forty years. His recent retirement from FEGS, a large New York social...