Friday, January 27, 2023
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Comments by Rosalee D

Showing 223 of 226 comments. Show all.

  • Hi Lori,
    People see psychiatrists in good faith, expecting to get ‘help’ or at least a tad bit of compassion, but instead get denigrated with labels and punished. So sorry you endured such a long nightmare at the hands of psychiatry.

    When my brother was referred to a psychiatrist for ‘help’ with sadness (re divorce, young sons moving away with ex) I thought surely psychiatrists must have special knowledge to help people with distress, sadness etc. It was perplexing when all he got was a 20 minute appt once a month, drugged and later given ECT. It became alarming when his physical health deteriorated, he lost cognitive abilities and had to quit his job as an electrical engineer. Then one night he died in bed at age 40. His autopsy states poor metabolism and excretion of two drugs led to a chronic accumulation in his liver. His psychiatrist hadn’t even noticed his decline and was actually surprised by his death. That was my first clue as to how negligent psychiatry is. I would later have my own nightmarish encounter with a psychiatrist I saw under the pretense it was for “help with sleep meds” after chemotherapy and steroids caused insomnia. I would further learn how deceitful and totally absurd psychiatry is.
    Thank you for your courage in sharing your story. My heart breaks for you. I hope there may be some way to improve your health and hold these pathetic psychiatrists accountable for all the harm they do.

  • Tammy, thank you for a well written and compelling blog that demonstrates just how destructive psychiatry is. Your first paragraph sure captures the never ending harm spurious psychiatric labels bring. Mainstream media avoids these issues so the average person does not realize what goes on in psychiatry until it affects them or a loved one. Very grateful to MIA for shining a light on these issues and for giving a voice to those who were exploited, oppressed and harmed by the tangled web of psychiatry. Sending you best of wishes and I hope you keep writing.

  • Hi Nancy,
    Yes strange why this vile attack on Robert Whitaker is on your blog. Mr. Whitaker is a well-respected investigative health reporter, a humanitarian and person of integrity. However it’s coming from a psychiatrist who is obviously desperate to protect his fragile ego, relevance and lucrative turf so it should not be a surprise.

    I appreciate much of what you have written and your good intentions but for this to be helpful it has to be available BEFORE a person tangles with psychiatry and is harmed by the spurious DSM labels and drugs.

    “that they know who to reach out to” – that’s the most critical component for someone to improve their state of mind and situation in life. Psychiatry is NOT the place to reach out to for ‘help’. There are some psychiatrists with good intentions, but psychiatry has proven to be a most detrimental place one could reach out to.

    My brother was an electrical engineer, athletic, talented musician and father of two little boys when he saw a psychiatrist for ‘help’ with divorce depression. I foolishly believed (at that time) he was getting knowledgeable/specialized ‘help’ to sort out his emotions and a path forward. Instead I was worried to see his physical health and cognition decline until he could no longer work. It was a shock to realize the only ‘help’ he got was drugs and also subjected to ECT. One night he died in his sleep at the age of 40 and his autopsy concludes his body was not properly metabolizing the drugs and a fatal level built up in his liver and caused his death. Yet the psychiatrist watched his health go downhill without questioning anything, just kept prescribing. So many have been harmed or killed yet the status quo remains.

  • Bravo Rob Wipond and Elizabeth Rich for all your dedication and initiatives to expose these inhumanities and grave injustices. So very sorry for the loss of your son Elizabeth. The inhumanity dealt to vulnerable people who psychiatry labels ‘mentally ill’ is utterly chilling. Sadly most people aren’t aware until it happens to them or a loved one. Your work is so important to make more awareness and push back in every way possible.

  • Thanks for a good article. These common sense protocols are certainly needed however it seems many mental health professionals are more interested in what their position does for them rather than what they can do for those who come for help. I also think the lack of emotional intelligence and emotional states of the ‘mental health’ professionals are a part of the problem too. Many don’t have the humanity, compassion or empathy required for the job.

  • The deception and harm perpetuated by psychiatry has carried on far too long as business as usual. This thorough, compelling presentation by Robert Whitaker is much needed.

    It’s clear after psychiatry labels someone “disordered” the person is no longer afforded any credibility or much respect. The dehumanization of the ‘labelled’ allows psychiatry to continue ignoring or dismissing the voice of the harmed. Those who died from adverse effects of psychiatric treatment as my brother did, are permanently silenced. Very thankful to Robert Whitaker and MIA for the dedicated, courageous and humanitarian work to try bring more awareness and justice.

  • Birdsong, you always write great comments, spot on.
    There is a mindset among all health care providers that whatever a psychiatrist says/writes or labels a person with, it’s akin to the word of God. If a psychiatrist says it is, then it is, there’s no questioning it by anyone, including other doctors or professionals. There are unethical doctors in other areas of the health care system but it’s clear there’s a major lack of ethics and values in psychiatry. Not every psychiatrist is self-serving, arrogant and unethical but too many are and they are causing much harm and destroying lives. The ones who actually care about patients are in the minority but often too afraid to speak up and remain complicit. Thank God for those who do speak out!

  • Terry.baranski you are spot on about ALL of western medicine simply treating symptoms. After given a cancer diagnosis in 2009 and told I had a very poor chance to survive I had an eye opening experience/nightmare as to the arrogance and corruption of western medicine and that they will push toxic cancer treatments on people when it turns out there was no cancer to treat. If you question or resist the treatments they can quickly slap psych labels on you to try take away your autonomy. Like psychiatry, it is another money making industry. That is why after so very many years western medicine has no real interest in, or money put towards prevention of cancer and no cure either. Too many $$$ to be made.

  • Robert, Thank you for such meticulous reporting on how psychiatry continues to exploit patients through dishonesty. Somehow psychiatry managed to be considered medicine so most people likely assume such blatant corruption could not be hidden. This industry operates under the guise of providing ‘help’ for the mental well-being of patients therefore making it absolutely repugnant they will unscrupulously harm and sacrifice patients in order to protect their own self-serving interests. Thomas Insel MOST definitely makes a case for psychiatry to be abolished. Many thanks and much respect for your esteemed journalism and extensive humanitarian efforts to expose the truth.

  • Thank you Irit. Back then I very mistakenly trusted a psychiatrist would provide ‘specialized’, or at least knowledgeable, ‘help’ to my brother to deal with grief. But all he got was a label of MDD and drugged. When the drugs made him dysfunctional he was given ECT. The psychiatrist was unconcerned my brother continued going downhill and became physically unwell from the ‘help’. The autopsy states all his medications were accounted for but his body was not properly metabolizing one of the drugs until a fatal level built up in his liver to cause his death at 40 yrs old.
    There may be a few in psychiatry with good intentions but overall it’s a cruel industry that ‘helps’ by repressing, oppressing, humiliating and silencing people who are in distress or suffering. How psychiatry is still allowed to operate is incomprehensible.

  • Irit, great blog and review of Tina’s book and work to have dangerous crisis responses outlawed. After my brother died taking psych drugs as prescribed by a psychiatrist I was reeling with many unanswered questions. I would learn later via my own encounter with a psychiatrist while in cancer treatment that psychiatry violates human rights with unquestionable power and control. (was referred to “someone” under the pretense I would get “help with sleep meds” after chemo/steroids caused sleep issues but hastily given 4 psych labels without my knowledge and stripped of the liberty to make further medical decisions)

    A system that claims to ‘care’ about ‘mental health’ and provide ‘help’ cannot be so vacuous as to think violating human rights and treating people with contempt and subjugation is ‘help’. It’s cruel and sadistic that people in distress who have done nothing wrong get treated far worse than criminals and somehow psychiatry gets away with this.

    The ethical and humane changes Tina has outlined are very much needed. Many thanks to Tina for all her important work.

  • Dear Dr. Hickey, I’m very sad to see you wind down your vital work exposing the fraud and harm perpetuated by psychiatry. Your voice has been such a powerful validation to all who have been harmed or lost their lives to psychiatry. Your blogs and response comments were always so appreciated. You will be tremendously missed. Thank you for all your exceptional work, Wishing you all the best, Take care, Rosalee

  • Rob, very admirable work and reporting on this important issue. It’s disturbing they have so little regard for the input of the Lived Experience Committee. The collection of personal data is a human rights issue. The quest for an extra invasion of privacy is very questionable. I hope the work and concerns you have put forth helps to get it revoked.

  • Dr. Hickey you once again dissected with utter brilliance!
    I appreciate Dr. Aftab’s honesty and courage in acknowledging there are “too many recipients of psychiatric care who have been left traumatized, disenchanted, even devastated by their experiences” (and many have died from their experiences with psychiatry, psych drugs prescribed to my brother for grief caused his death at 40 yrs old) I also wonder why Dr. Aftab does not switch specialties. If he has the integrity to acknowledge the arrogance and level of harm done by psychiatry it has to be unsettling to try play both sides of the fence so to speak.

    “It is also worth asking what exactly psychiatrists are doing that leaves “too many” of their customers traumatized, disenchanted, and devastated by their experiences?”

    Very good question and would love for Dr. Aftab to answer this.

    Thank you so much for your fantastic blogs Dr. Hickey. Wishing you a Happy New Year and sending best of wishes to stay healthy and keep the blogs coming!

  • Dear Lisa, It’s shocking to read of the many traumas and medical abuse you were subjected to. Heart breaking and appalling what happens to vulnerable children in foster care. That you completed a college degree, worked in challenging jobs while dealing with so much medical harm and raised two wonderful daughters is a testament to your intelligence and incredible strength of character.

    “I was coerced into agreeing that I was suicidal so insurance would pay, and then abused and tortured because I was “suicidal.”

    The general public are not aware such gross inhumanities are inflicted on those who suffer adversities in life and only hoped to receive a little ‘help’.

    “I want my final days to be about the autonomy of my own body and mind.”

    Amen to that, I feel the same.
    Thank you for bravely recounting your story for others. I hope you get the compassion you so deserve to live out your final chapter and can leave this world on your terms with dignity and autonomy. Warm regards to you and your family.

  • Hi Rachel, Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. In the past many people, including myself, mistakenly put doctors up on a pedestal and never questioned their advice/instructions. I am very happy to hear you are doing much better, writing, enjoying nature and other aspects of life that were not possible under the influence of psychiatry. Wishing you all the best in 2022.

  • Agree KateL, don’t let anyone silence you again. I know you are devastated by the harm the “DSM hogwash” and psychiatry has done to you and you must continue speaking your mind and feelings. The MIA site has been so helpful for the many who have been harmed. Those in favor of psych ‘diagnoses’ or who feel psych diagnoses helped them should find a pro-diagnosis website rather than cause more distress for those who are not in a good place and come to MIA for validation and to have a voice. Take good care and keep speaking your mind. ♄

  • Lisa, thank you for sharing Kathleen’s tragic story and being such a good friend to her. This world can be cruel but it was so painful to read how maligned Kathleen was by her family and the psychiatric system, and how much she suffered because of it. The cruelty and harm often inflicted on those who get ‘help’ must be exposed because the system is so rigged to silence the voices of those it harms. Psychiatry has no compassion. It seems to be a self-serving sham to exploit the suffering of those dealt adverse and difficult life circumstances.

    I am so very sorry you lost your friend. RIP Kathleen.

  • Thanks for a compelling blog Rose. I’m grateful you share your story as it validates how the system is so quick to label legitimate concerns, or temporary understandable thoughts and feelings as ‘disorders’ and thus inflicts more suffering, demoralization and loss.
    It really speaks to how pathetic ‘mental health’ treatment is when a person can get more help and understanding from a brief encounter with an Uber driver than from disinterested professionals.

  • Yes I totally agree Jack. When a psychiatrist comes from a life of privilege it’s unlikely they can understand or even relate to the adversities, hardships, abuse, poverty etc. of the ordinary person. But they sit up on their high horse and judge the suffering of those who are much less fortunate. It’s appalling how a child’s life can also be so negatively affected when a judgmental, totally subjective label gets placed on the parent. So often psychiatry and their bogus labels are used as weapons for agendas. I am glad your child’s aunt prevented further upheaval in your child’s life.

  • Sorry to hear of your situation Jack. The system is so messed up and it proceeds to mess up so many lives. It sounds like blackmail and using a child as a pawn. Glad your child is starting to see through the coercion and harmful nonsense.

  • An excellent piece Karen and much needed advocacy for children.
    “It’s at that point of asking for help from someone in authority, someone we should be able to trust, that many have their story stolen from them.”
    “This is theft of the most criminal kind. Today, at this very moment, despite all we know about the perils of the mental health system, someone will walk into a doctor’s office for help and support. They feel they‘re in danger of drowning, they reach out for a lifeline but instead are thrown an anchor.”

    Very well stated truths. Psychiatrists who hastily and judgmentally affix labels do not suffer any negative consequences. It’s only the person labelled (under the pretense of getting ‘help’) who pays the price for the harm that masquerades as ‘help’. When psychiatry redefines someone’s story, and thus their reality, it sets a trap and forces someone to live in a trauma that could have been healed and moved on from. Horrible this type of ‘help’ is inflicted on adults but should be considered abusive and criminal when inflicted on vulnerable children.

  • I am saddened to hear of Don Weitz’s passing. Thank you Irit for such a lovely tribute. I have his book Rise Up/Fight Back and was amazed at the strength and courage he had to survive the psychiatric harm he endured as a young man and then to become an incredible activist. My condolences to his family, friends and to you Irit on the loss of such a wonderful friend as Don. May he rest in peace. Let’s all continue to Rise Up/Fight Back against the harms of psychiatry in honor of his memory and work.

  • Dr. Gotzsche, thank you so much for your blogs and all you do to expose the grave harm psychiatry perpetuates on the unsuspecting. Psychiatry remains so defensive and displays so much animus towards anyone (professionals, harmed patients etc) who dare to speak of and expose the harm. It’s about ego, power and retaining financial wealth and status, while ethics, humanity and genuinely trying to ‘help’ anyone are severely lacking. Thanks again!

  • Chris, this is a profoundly insightful piece. Yes what any person feeling despair needs is connection and validation. It is great help to be validated that feelings regarding abnormal, challenging or difficult circumstances are in fact normal and expected, and how most others would feel dealing with the same circumstances. It would be interesting to know how psychiatrists who are quick to label would “feel” if dealt the same circumstances and if they would be happy to be labeled defective. But again with such gigantic egos and how they look down on, or actually hold contempt for anyone struggling, they probably view labels as “for thee but not for me”.

    It has been said, and it makes sense to me, that suicidal ideation can be a coping mechanism. That if one feels they have that option if the pain gets to be too much it allows a person to take one day at a time and to keep working on solutions and healing, a concept that is foreign to psychiatry.

  • I am shocked and saddened to hear Dr. Caplan has died. She was such an important, knowledgeable and insightful voice to educate the public and validate the harm and despair psychiatric labelling brings for so many. I applaud her exemplary courage and integrity to walk away from the DSM Task Force after realizing how warped the whole process was in the manufacture of DSM labels and to then expose the absurdity and harm, which she so thoroughly did in her book They Say You’re Crazy. As she states in her book: “When bad bias is allowed to drive the business of classifying and labelling human beings, it strangles our speech and constricts the space in which we can feel safe, free, and proud.”

    I echo what Frank says above, that at a time when we really need critical voices to speak of the damage psychiatry does it’s very sad to have lost another one.

    My sincere condolences to her family and friends. God bless you Dr. Caplan, You will be greatly missed, RIP

  • Maria, I’m very sorry to hear you lost both your father and brother to prescription psych drugs and had your own experience as well. The tentacles of harm are so pervasive. It’s long past due for the media to start reporting these dreadful issues. Hopefully Britney’s situation will be the catalyst. If you or anyone else hasn’t seen this letter to the media you may want to read and sign it:

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1X-22I-R5bJGOGmgCfUFF_J5MzUlCfCMgkBslVuHdS5s/viewform?edit_requested=true

  • Thanks Maria!
    Before my ordeal I had already felt traumatized by psychiatry after my brother died while dutifully taking drugs a psychiatrist prescribed him to deal with grief over divorce and kids moving. He went downhill and died one day. The autopsy showed his body had not been metabolizing the drugs properly and attributed his death to a toxic level that built up in his liver.

    So I was already leery of psychiatry when my ordeal took place. There were many twists and turns when I began to get my medical records and uncover the layers of collusion and lies that led to the shocking ambush. It would make for a title such as “Predatory Psychiatry; How A Cancer Over-Diagnosis Became a Saga of Abuse, Collusion, Defamatory Lies, Psych Labels and Assault”.

  • Thanks Miranda for reporting on the shocking abuses Britney Spears has been dealt. What was recently revealed in her case should be a huge wake-up call to the media and general public as to how easily psychiatric labelling leads to violations of human rights and grave harm.

    This saga resonates as after living my life very responsibly and independently I was shocked to be stripped of my autonomy after given what was proven a ‘cancer over-diagnosis’. An oncologist told me I had very little chance to survive the ‘cancer’ and that my only hope was a drug with ‘side effects’ of heart attack, stroke and blindness. He was enraged and abusive after I declined the drug. Cancer docs colluded with a psychiatrist and an estranged eldest sibling to put 4 psych labels on me and strip me of my autonomy to make my own medical decisions. I didn’t take his drug but because of the psych labels a brutal surgery was later forced on me without consent or any information on risks, long term effects etc. and without a chance to ask questions or get answers. The disabling surgery was proven unnecessary as there was no cancer. Hospital records and doctor’s records prove there was no informed consent but if psychiatry is involved there is no accountability. Hopefully Britney gets her life back sooner than later and her case brings more awareness to the damage and violations psychiatric labelling brings to so many.

  • I had missed seeing this wonderful blog until now Karin. Thank you, it’s beautifully written with so much wisdom and truth. I have seen quotes that ‘to seek help is a sign of strength’ but because psychiatry is so consumed with maintaining power, control, income and ego they of course view it very differently. Anyone seeking ‘help’ is labelled by psychiatry as weak, defective and disordered no matter what hardships, oppression, adversity etc. they are dealing with in life.

  • Great points Steve. I appreciate much of what Dr. Kelmenson writes on MIA but can’t ignore the exploitation factor of psychiatry and oppression factor when a person doesn’t want to take psych drugs, or the drugs don’t help and produce negative side effects, as psychiatry will always blame the patient for that. They will even mock a patient for experiencing negative effects. After my brother caved in and took the drugs for a temporary situation of grief, he could no longer think straight to keep working as an engineer or to function enough to make decisions to get himself out of the deep hole psychiatry pushed him into.

  • A brilliant piece! The profound wisdom in this article made my day! I am happy to add my name and grateful and hopeful to see this humane, much needed plan go forward. Psychiatry blindly and haphazardly puts labels on human suffering without any regard for cause or context. Labels are disempowering, demoralizing, stigmatizing and discriminatory and too many are harmed or die after psychiatry labels normal, often temporary, reactions to difficult life circumstances a permanent ‘disorder’ within the person.
    A big thank you to Dr. Blackburn and everyone else involved in this project!

  • Thanks Dr. Cornwall for this lovely tribute to Jay Mahler. The cruelty and torture psychiatry inflicted on him as a younger man is shocking. How very commendable he was able to give his pain a purpose through his activism and to make such remarkable contributions to help others who were suffering harm at the hands of psychiatry. He certainly was a wonderful man. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends. RIP Jay.

  • I commend you for your compassion and ethics. This is sorely lacking by many in psychiatry. My younger brother did not survive psychiatric ‘treatments’ doled out simply because he was grieving personal losses. I saw a young psychiatrist for “help with sleep meds” for insomnia due to chemo and steroids while in cancer treatment. She was arrogant and deceptive, labelling side effects of chemotherapy and psych drugs she prescribed (incl. anti-psychotics) as “Somatization Disorder”. Unbeknownst to me she put a total of 4 psych labels permanently onto my electronic records. When I later tried to resolve the ongoing harm these labels were causing I consulted a psychiatrist who was the Director at the same clinic. He called the medical care during my cancer treatment a “horror story” and said “if this happened to me I would be fighting it” and “she needs to issue a retraction (of the labels) but I can’t make her”. However he was leery to stick his neck out too much and get in trouble. He explained it would put him in an “adversarial” position.

    When the psychiatric system is so corrupted by ego, power and control that even the reasonable or good ones (even as Director of a psych clinic) are silenced it shows how doomed people are who see mainstream psychiatrists. Best of wishes and I hope you do go into private practice and can speak more freely against the untruths and damage of psychiatry.

    To anyone who is interested please sign this letter:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1X-22I-R5bJGOGmgCfUFF_J5MzUlCfCMgkBslVuHdS5s/viewform?edit_requested=true

  • My 40 yr old brother died undergoing psychiatric ‘care’ and no explanation ever provided. His death was totally unexpected and disturbing but I naively believed it must have been an ‘unusual’ occurrence. I didn’t realize how dangerous and corrupt psychiatry was until I was ambushed by a psychiatrist I saw for “help with sleep meds” for chemo-induced insomnia.

    “Psychiatry’s focus is on itself—a kind of eternal selfie it sends to the world all the time.”

    Yes, this is why the lies and damage continues – psychiatry only cares about itself. They keep labelling people with crafted, absurd labels in order to push toxic pills because it’s all they’ve got. Psychiatry has made it quite clear it’s not about helping people, it’s all about retaining careers, reputation, ego and big salaries.

    When you look behind the curtain you realize psychiatry is the epitome of harm. I really hope more people start suing and winning. Some justice is long overdue.
    Thank you Dr. Gotzsche for your outstanding efforts to expose the corruption and to enlighten and protect people.

  • “Psychiatrists dismiss research results that go against their interests.”

    As myself and many others have discovered, psychiatrists claim to be in a ‘caring’ profession but have no regard for the health and well-being of those who trust them for ‘help’. It’s all a perverse facade.

    Much gratitude for all the meticulous work you do Dr. Gotzsche exposing the depth of the fraud by drug companies and psychiatrists.

  • Yes Sam, you are right with that analysis. For the first few years after his death I was confused as nothing made any sense as to why he spiraled down AFTER he was supposedly getting ‘help’. Then came my own encounter with a psychiatrist during cancer treatment with psych labels and many psych drugs pushed on me while I was still battered by chemo and so dizzy I had fallen and suffered a head injury. I was shocked at how dishonest and toxic the psychiatrist was, just dismissing everything and mocking the side effects and I began to question more what happened to my brother. After finding MIA I realized my concerns and fears were well founded. I do grieve his death more knowing it didn’t have to be and that he was not ‘defective’ as psychiatry likes people to believe but instead was drugged into a stupor for having a normal reaction of grieving his losses.

  • So thankful there are warriors for the truth like yourself Dr. Gotzsche striving to protect patients. Thank you for your continued research in the face personal attacks for seeking truth and facts.

    “Finally, there were eight deaths from “natural causes.” It is not natural for a young person to die. I would have liked to know in detail what happened.”

    My brother died suddenly and without explanation while in psychiatric ‘care’. He had temporary sadness over his divorce and children moving with their mother. He was sent to a psychiatrist and put on psych drugs. He was a musician, engineer and physically fit but instead of improving he went downhill on the drugs. He became disoriented and experienced cognitive dysfunction and when he could no longer work he was given ECT. He died suddenly one night while trying to get out of bed. No cause of death was determined, it was simply ruled inconclusive. As you state, it is not “natural” for a healthy person at 40 years old to suddenly die – with no explanation. We were shocked his death didn’t warrant any investigation and strongly believe his early death was due to psychiatry.

  • Thank you for all your work Dr. Gotzsche and thank God for professionals such as yourself who have ethics, honesty and integrity.

    “They will fight tenaciously to save their jobs and their reputations”.

    That’s definitely at the core of why psychiatry resists/refuses to acknowledge all the harm they inflict on people’s live.

    “It doesn’t seem to matter whether a diagnosis is correct or wrong. It follows you for the rest of your life..”. “It sticks to you forever, as if you were a branded cow”.
    “She was left with a lifetime, yet erroneous, sentence. This wouldn’t have happened if she had been wrongly sentenced for a crime, but in psychiatry, this is perfectly “normal.”

    Yes criminals are treated better and have more rights than someone who was seen by a psychiatrist.

  • Oldhead, no nothing wrong with that logic but it’s doubtful that would ever happen. So the next best thing is the psychiatrists with a conscience speaking out about the harm. If they are against the labelling, drugging, ECT and forced treatment I assume they do not follow that harmful protocol. At least they are taking a step in the right direction when compared to some of the defensive, arrogant and hostile psychiatrists out there.

  • This is very sad news and a great loss for humanity. My deepest condolences to Jennifer’s family, colleagues and friends. Thank you Kevin Miller and Dr. Gilbert for this heartfelt tribute to Jennifer Kinzie and all the genuine caring and support she provided for so many.

  • As always Robert the investigations and reporting you do to educate the public and save lives is extraordinary. It is very concerning how mainstream media is even more narrow minded and biased these days. Psychiatry and their ties with big pharma have a stranglehold on the media making it a real uphill battle to find the truth and try to get truth out to the public.
    Thanks for all your meticulous work and efforts.

  • Very helpful information on Akathisia. Thanks for this interview Jill and James.
    It’s very scary akathisia occurred for you Jill even after the first dose of opioids. It proves any drug can trigger nasty effects and cause lasting harm.

    “So after 12 days of observation, the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me so they transferred me out to a psychiatric facility.”

    It’s pathetic to send someone with debilitating health issues to psychiatry to be gas lite and made worse. How terribly sad the intense suffering of akathisia and dismissiveness of family, friends and doctors drove some in the support groups to take their lives.

    It’s a great idea to empower people with patient cards and information sheets to give to their doctors. Thanks for all your advocacy Jill and great work to spread awareness.

  • This is very true Kindredspirit. During cancer Tx the chemo and steroids gave me insomnia so a cancer doc sent me to a shrink to “get help with sleep meds”. I saw the shrink 6 appts over a period of 6 weeks for med checks to try various drugs to help with sleep. I was unaware she (shrink) immediately put 4 labels onto my electronic records until a year or so later when I began to question/investigate why I was repeatedly denied consults with specialists and denied other imaging tests that my family doctor tried to get me in for. I was even dismissed from the ER with a bleeding retina (that was detaching) as they did not believe I saw streaks of blood in my vision and dismissed me saying “oh it’s probably just floaters”. When I could no longer see the next morning so I went back to the ER and was made to wait all day and almost sent home again without needed laser treatment. (at 4:30 pm. they finally called an eye doctor back in from the parking lot as he was leaving and then he admonished me for not coming in for treatment sooner and told me there was so much blood in my eye now he could not see what he was doing to do a proper laser repair) No matter what you do you will get blamed if you have psych labels on your records.
    It’s bizarre psychiatry gives people “diagnoses” but never bothers to inform the person of the “diagnoses.” If some other branch of ‘medicine’ practiced like this there would be an uproar.

  • Dr. Hickey, “whitewash” is a very fitting word for how Dr. Pies keeps trying to cover up his harmful tracks. Some psychiatrists are very adept at being ‘spin doctors’ and Dr. Pies is trying to be the best spin doctor out there. These whitewashing tactics would be laughable if they weren’t so devious and destructive to trusting and vulnerable patients.

    Thank you for your brilliant blogs that so clearly expose the ongoing whitewashing and self-serving deceptions.

  • Dr. Heath, I’m sure you mean well and have good intentions on trying to improve people’s access to “help” but from my perspective the resistance is to the type of “help”. If it follows standard psychiatric protocol to ignore all environmental factors, including all context and cause, and instead label the person “disordered” and needing drugs to render them accepting of harmful environments, it will not be an improvement on in-hospital psychiatric treatment.

    I live in Canada and it would be interesting to know whereabouts psychiatrists are allowed to provide psychotherapy (and have it billed to the public system) ? It seems pretty standard that the first appointment is 50-55 minutes (possibly a second one at 40 minutes) but after that “treatment” is mostly a 15 minute med-check once a month.

  • Thank you Mr. Anthony for this blog and for reporting this to the FDA to promote patient safety and awareness of the harm of these drugs. Now if only all medical professionals could have this level of integrity and candor to always speak out in the best interests of patients. Unfortunately there is a big “cloud of delusion and collusion” and cover-up when a patient is harmed.

  • Yes so right Sam, people need to be warned that anything they say can – and will – be used against them. If there happens to be nothing said that could be used against you, that’s no problem for them, they simply make up whatever they want to suit their agenda. And no one can ever dispute what a psychiatrist has written because they have a license to lie and defame with impunity.

  • Yes, ThereAreFourLights, and Canada is the only country that has an organization called the CMPA. The CMPA is funded with millions of taxpayer dollars each year to provide top notch lawyers to doctors to fight patients who are harmed or who simply make a legitimate complaint against a doctor. Because all other lawyers know there is no chance to ever go up against CMPA lawyers most patients cannot even find a lawyer who will agree to provide assistance in a medical matter. A former registered nurse who has heard too many patient horror stories has started a petition to try get the CMPA defunded and stop this perverse use of taxpayer dollars. If you know anyone in Canada who is interested to sign this petition please let them know. (It closes for signatures on Feb 5, 2021)

    https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2890

  • Dr. Cornwall, Thanks for a great blog. I think psychiatry does operate like a cult and somehow managed to brainwash the general public into believing they have superior knowledge in how to ‘help’ people in distress or who are experiencing difficult circumstances, when they do far more harm than anything else. They do conspire and engage in conspiracy theories in a variety of ways, i.e. this recent twitter exchange between a psychiatrist and another who says they are a neuropsychologist
.

    Psychiatrist -”Anti-psychiatrists really know how to do hate don’t they. It drips from them, even the more polite ones”

    Neuropsychologist – “Their beliefs appear to be driven by ideology, envy and resentment and not by a desire to improve patient care. IMHO. Bizarre.”

    Seems bizarre is to believe anyone would be envious of psychiatrists who have no conscience.
    I enjoy your blogs. I hope you keep writing.

  • wow, Sam you always make excellent points. This is so true about a person sharing personal information or feelings with a psychiatrist as most people assume the situation is similar to seeing a psychologist in that the information is kept private and confidential. The bit of info I shared with a young psychiatrist (during cancer Tx under the guise it was for “help with sleep medications”) she went ahead and published to widespread electronic records for thousands of health care staff to read. Now if she published what I had actually told her that would be one thing and would still seem like a breach of trust, but it was shocking to see she totally spun the facts to be her own version and actually put words in my mouth to publish lies. Then you learn that no matter how much evidence you have there is nothing you can do to get your records corrected. Patients have no protection. Doctors can lie and publish whatever mistruths they want about a patient and the lies can never be corrected. We learned that a psychiatrist is allowed to manufacture their own version of reality.

  • Dr. Hickey, you never cease to amaze with your straightforward analysis to debunk all the damaging psychiatric nonsense. Your knowledge and blogs are pure gold!

    “I welcome dialogue, and have never blocked any critic from my site or from my Twitter stream, which is more than can be said of a great many psychiatrists.”
    and
    “You can block us from your Twitter feeds, but you can’t silence the truths that we speak.”

    Yes it’s very telling how some psychiatrists block people who have legitimate concerns about psychiatry. They want to stay in their tightly controlled safe echo chamber because they don’t have any genuine answers. Even more disturbing is the nasty comments they post about those they label as ‘antipsychiatry’. No wonder patients end up being so harmed. It appears those who had their lives upended or lost their lives to psychiatric drugs as my brother did should never be allowed to have their story told or for those harmed to speak their truth. Thank you for giving voice to those who have been silenced.
    Also I am very happy to hear you have a new kidney that is functioning well! Stay well and best wishes for many more years to come.

  • Dr. Timimi, Another exceptional chapter. It resonates on many levels.
    “When bad things happen we feel bad”. Yes indeed.
    Reminds me of a tweet from Dr. Umesh Prabhu – “Any fool can make things complex and complicated. It takes a touch of genius to make things easy and effective”.

    Psychiatry must stop the insanity of labelling ordinary, understandable feelings as “disorders” that need drugging. My brother “felt bad” because his marriage ended and his ex-wife moved away with the children. He was referred to a psychiatrist for his temporary low mood, labelled, drugged, given ECT and died at 40.

    I relate to having issues with insomnia in cancer treatment due to chemo and steroids taken to mitigate gastrointestinal damage from chemo. I also coped with an abusive oncologist who refused to explain anything or answer any questions. I was then sent to a psychiatrist under the deception it was to get “help with sleep meds” for the insomnia but it was to have 4 labels put onto my electronic records and an array of psych drugs prescribed because I asked questions and wanted to make decisions that were right for me and my circumstances. The name of your book “Insane Medicine” is very fitting. Thank you for making it available on Mad in America. I hope many get to read it.

  • Very well written Lisa and thanks for sharing your unnerving story. Psychiatry pulls a great con job having people believe they have superior knowledge and are genuine about “helping” people who deal with difficult life circumstances. More people need to be aware if you step into the world of psychiatry it’s like going down the rabbit hole and getting sucked into a vortex of ever increasing harm.

    It’s chilling and telling to read how cold and distant these people are that when they ordered you out of the ER and you left telling them you were going to kill yourself they didn’t care and no one tried to stop you. It is exactly as you say, once they have labelled someone they are no longer considered a human being, instead they are simply a “label”. I’m so glad you had the strength and courage to stay the course being cold stopped off their toxic drugs and to free yourself from psychiatry. Also glad you have your adorable and entertaining cat Iris by your side for great companionship. Wishing you the best on your healing journey.

  • 1Wayfarer, you’re most welcome. Yes I found Dr. Ruby’s book very validating. I agree it’s most unfortunate people do not know the harm they will be dealt until it’s too late. Hopefully there will be more insiders with the courage and integrity to speak out and warn people.

  • Dr. Hickey, I’m grateful for all you have so brilliantly written to expose the deception and dangers of psychiatry. It’s been very helpful and validating when one is trying to recover from the gas-lighting, lies and harm psychiatry flippantly inflicts on anyone who dared to enter psychiatry’s snare. Maybe the widespread suffering this pandemic has caused will finally expose the abusive practices psychiatry has to immediately affix disempowering, harmful labels on people while completely ignoring/dismissing all context of their stressful life circumstances or suffering.

    Thanks for the list of other resources. I believe the movement will keep gaining traction as more become aware of lives lost and the egregious harm being done to so many.

    I would add this book I recently read to the list of great resources exposing the industry of psychiatry for what it is:

    Smoke and Mirrors, an Insider’s Warning to Consumers – by Dr. Chuck Ruby

  • Excellent blog Yulia.
    Yes, we hear of many other forms of discrimination and abuse covered by mainstream media but the powers that be maintain a code of silence around the harm involving psychiatry. The public does not know or realize that what goes in psychiatry is a public health and safety threat and leads to serious situations of health inequality, suffering and early death.

    I applaud you Yulia for speaking out and trying see what additional steps are possible to further expose the havoc wreaked by psychiatry. I will get in touch with you shortly by email.

  • Thank you Dr. Timimi, this is another compelling chapter.

    “It’s a bit like the relationship of the dieting industry to the food one—our consumer culture contributes to creating mental stress and, as it spreads, this distress now presents itself as a new and growing market for exploitation and profit.”

    Indeed, and how inhumane it is that people’s distress or worries are exploited and commodified.

  • Wow, thank you Peter this analytical article is brilliant! Everyone needs to read this!!

    The general public has this hugely false notion that psychiatry is privy to superior knowledge and science, and that psychiatry is about ‘helping’ people in difficult circumstances improve their emotional or mental well-being. When in truth psychiatry has NO Science, very little knowledge and only a few psychiatrists who appear to actually ‘care’ about people or want to ‘help’.
    The harshest realization for me has been that rather than ‘caring’ about the people they see many psychiatrists instead harbor feelings and attitudes of contempt and disdain for their patients.

  • Yes Steve very disturbing!
    There are a couple government organizations but they have no teeth and therefore are useless. One org took all my documentation, went through it, stated it was horrible etc, but informed me they have “no protocols in place with which they can help”. The other is the Ombudsman but again they have no power to do anything. They were not even able to obtain answers or reasonable explanations from the self-regulated Colleges of Physicians. You get some sympathy and a pat on the head, when meanwhile millions of taxpayer dollars go to the CMPA to provide doctors with top notch lawyers and unlimited funds to fight patients. The system is totally rigged against patients but most don’t know this until they are harmed. Kathleen Finlay is a self-funded Patient Advocate who has tried for a few years to get the CMPA dismantled and a former RN is also trying by presenting a petition to the House of Commons.

    https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/patients-who-suffer-from-medical-errors-face-rigged-system-critics-say-1.4507664

  • Thank you so much Irit! That’s great to hear! I too was not aware of the CMPA until I tried to complain about the psychiatrist. I think most Canadians are not aware their tax dollars are being used in this nefarious way.

    This lawyer (Taryn Burnett) is with the CMPA and provides the psychiatrist I saw during cancer treatment with free legal services to fight patients:

    https://gowlingsabuse.blogspot.com/2015/01/investigation-into-lawyer-taryn.html

    This video about the CMPA involves a woman dying from psych drugs:
    https://www.facebook.com/thomas.p.harding/videos/107101266065666/

    https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/kathleen-finlay/medical-error-deaths_b_8350324.html

    https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/kathleen-finlay/physician-malpractice-medical-lawsuits_b_7556334.html

  • Irit,
    In Canada we have the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) which provides legal protection for doctors to fight patients who were harmed. This organization is funded via taxpayer dollars (520+ Million per year) and now has a war chest of over 5 Billion to fight patients. The minute a patient makes a complaint against any doctor or psychiatrist the Dr. runs to the CMPA for free legal representation. The CMPA uses a scorched earth approach to every case. When I wrote a letter to the psychiatrist who harmed me she immediately had a pit-bull of a lawyer from the CMPA write her dismissive letter back to me. When I took the complaint to the College she of course had her lawyer handle it for her. This happens to every patient who has been harmed or to any family searching for answers if their loved one died from medical harm.
    This petition is filed by a former RN to try have the CMPA defunded. It needs enough signatures in order to get read in the House of Commons. If you or any Canadians are interested please sign the petition. (it closes February 5, 2021) Thanks!

    https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2890

  • Thank you for speaking out Angele!

    “Iatrogenic harm. This is routine in our current health system.”
    Yes! So very true!

    When the health ‘care’ system harms you and you try to speak up about it they will mercilessly beat you down further. In Canada they use taxpayer dollars to do this to harmed patients. This is a petition that hopes to change that perversity and needs more signatures before February 5, 2021 to get read in our House of Commons. Please advise any Canadians you know to think about signing this petition for better patient safety:

    https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2890

  • Thanks for sharing your horrible experiences with psychiatry Nick. I too found out how destructive psychiatry is. Somehow psychiatry managed to put themselves at the top of the pyramid of ‘medicine’ and all medical professionals kowtow to psychiatry’s damaging nonsense and harmful rituals.

    When they write and publish damaging falsehoods onto EMR’s (that are legally proven to be false) they fall back on the excuse it was their “opinion at the time” and when their opinion is proven faulty and without any merit or evidence then they fall back on the excuse “well it was my understanding at the time.” We also learned how legitimate complaints are whitewashed and covered-up. The powers that be take years to process a complaint and then claim they carried out an investigation but you are not privy to the information they collected or even to know who their so-called expert was that provided them with an ‘expert’ opinion. The system is totally rigged against patients and for any complaint to ever be acknowledged or dealt with appropriately. There can never be any improvements when no one is ever held accountable.
    Thanks for speaking out and I wish you and your family the best going forward.

  • HuffPost is international, don’t know how hard it is to get published there but might be possible.

    https://www.huffpost.com/static/how-to-pitch-huffpost

    Something is needed to counter this latest story because it reads like a Big Pharma plug. This young girl has been taking the psych drug Prozac for only 6 months. As often is the case, the drug may work ‘at first’ but she is totally unware of the rabbit hole she’ll fall into if she keeps taking it and then realizes it no longer works, is bringing about adverse effects but she cannot get off it without major W/D:

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/combat-depression-mental-health-prozac-work_n_5fc91395c5b613828e32e94a

  • Yulia,
    “how come I regularly read about controversies in all areas of medicine, except psychiatry; about systemic discrimination of all kinds of groups except those diagnosed with mental illness; about violations of human rights committed by all kinds of institutions, except the mental health system.”

    Yes that is what I have always been appalled by too. All types of discrimination/violation of rights etc gets covered by mainstream media but psychiatric abuses/discrimination/violations are a BIG DIRTY SECRET that they try keep hidden at all costs. If you want to connect to discuss a media letter I am open to that in the new year (but I am in Canada so not sure if that is of help?)

  • Yes, very good point Steve. Which gets me thinking not only should there be an informed consent form for people to sign to agree they have been fully informed of all the minor and major risks of taking psych drugs and are okay with it – but there also needs to be a consent form for people to sign that they agree to an “assessment”. When I saw a psychiatrist I was told it was simply to “get help with sleep meds” and had no clue an ‘assessment’ was done on me. A psychiatrist needs to be honest and upfront and inform a person “I am going to very briefly listen to your problems but will have to determine the problems are all ‘within you’ and then decide which disempowering DSM label I will put on you. This label will remain on your records for life and will be a barrier for you to be treated with any humanity or given any credibility in the future by all other health professionals.”

  • Thank you Dr. Hickey, as always you deliver a spot-on analysis to expose the hypocrisy.

    Dr. Pies: “to be clear: patients are not infallible recorders of what their doctors tell them.”
    Dr. Hickey: “In other words, Dr. Pies is stating categorically that “patients” can’t be trusted unless their assertions are confirmed by their psychiatrists”.

    Yes, a perfect example of the enormous hubris and egomania so entrenched in psychiatry, when ironically it’s most often the psychiatrist who cannot be trusted. I was gob-smacked when I finally got ahold of my records and saw any information I shared with the young psychiatrist was twisted into something entirely different to cast very negative aspersions and completely redefine my reality. I was bald from chemo so she writes “patient appeared with a scarf wrapped around her head” to imply it was strange behavior, with no mention of course I was bald from chemo or the “scarf” was in fact a hat sold to patients at the cancer hospital.

    No doubt, psychiatrists did write the book on “PREJUDICE”. And they most certainly are “DOGMATISTS”, as well as the biggest HYPOCRITES around.

    I always look forward to your blogs Dr. Hickey, a much needed voice of reason and wisdom speaking truth to power! Please keep writing!

  • I totally agree. It is almost impossible to process. I had described it as perverse to those who are unfamiliar with psychiatry but depravity describes it better.

  • A wonderful article Ekaterina to remind us we all belong to humankind and all have the right to be treated as such.
    It’s almost sadistic psychiatry claims to “help” people but instead quickly punishes them with denigrating labels or as how l_e_cox describes it as “accusing” someone of having one of the denigrating DSM labels.
    It appears it’s some psychiatrists who are deluded and unable to grasp reality largely due to their narrow minded, rigid thinking. Keep writing and best of wishes.

  • I hear you registeredforthissite and agree it is painful to read how psychiatry has dehumanized, harmed or killed so many but on the other hand the Mad in America site has been SO informative, validating and empowering it has been a life saver for me. I make a point to donate to causes that are about exposing injustices, inhumanities and speaking truth to power to protect vulnerable people and MIA is at the top of my list. My brother didn’t survive being drugged by psychiatry (for being sad his marriage ended and kids moved away with his ex) and I was snared by the corrupt practices of psychiatry because I developed chemo-induced insomnia during cancer Tx so when I found MIA it was validating to learn I was not alone trying to cope with the harm psychiatry does to so many unsuspecting people. There is strength in numbers so I am very grateful to anyone who shares their painful story even though it is heart breaking and difficult to read. However we each must do whatever is best for ourselves and our healing journey whenever processing difficult information. Take care and best wishes.

  • Thank you Rob for this timely and very important report. Of great concern is how there always seems to be such an aversion to honesty in the mental health services, especially in psychiatry. With the ever expanding goal of psychiatry to label all distress or suicidal feelings as a “mental disorder” requiring psychiatric “diagnoses” and toxic drugs, it poses grave concern for people to easily end up in the clutches of psychiatry simply because they phoned a “help” line and were deceived about confidentiality or call tracing. Honesty is the best policy as the added trauma for someone having their trust breached in this manner will not bode well for anyone who hoped to get “help”.

  • Well that is chilling to hear Marie. I just read the article and so many statements made by these professors of psychiatry are appalling, such as this by Dr. Barkley…. “People are outgrowing the D.S.M. criteria but not outgrowing their disorder for the most part”.
    So in keeping with the mind set of the hierarchy of psychiatry you don’t even need to have any symptoms to have the “disorder.” What a joke!
    I did post a comment on the NYT article and included a link to this blog so will see if it stays up.

  • Thank you Dr. Timimi for speaking truth to power. If this information does not make people recoil in disgust I don’t know what will. Sometimes the details of research, studies etc can be hard to understand but this blog explains it very clearly. These researchers who manipulate data to suit their biases and agenda with Big Pharma and do so even when it’s innocent children’s lives they are exploiting and damaging are incredibly corrupt and dangerous.

  • A great interview, thank you Amy and Adele. I highly commend you for a truly humanitarian undertaking Adele to provide people with such crucial information on withdrawing from AD’s. Medicine has the mindset of “doctor smart, patient stupid” but psychiatry takes that mindset to a whole new level. Thank you for all you have done to help so many.

    “Don’t show any emotion—because if you show emotion, the doctor will think that you’re mentally unbalanced”.

    Oh yes psychiatry thinks people should have no emotion whatsoever. (and their ‘treatment’ involves turning people into emotionless zombies with their drugs)

    “Once you have a psychiatric diagnosis, even if it’s been incorrectly applied, if a doctor sees that in your chart, a lot of what you say is likely to be discounted. Medicine itself disenfranchises people with those types of diagnoses. And that’s on medicine”.

    Yes, a psychiatric label on your records has an astounding impact on future health care interactions, even diagnoses of Anxiety Disorder or Depressive Disorder, takes away your voice and credibility. And psychiatry calls this “help”.

  • Thanks Sam, and that is exactly how it goes, your mind tries to believe there must have been something really “wrong” with the person for being sad as geez even an ‘expert’ couldn’t “help” them. It was not until my own encounter with a shallow, haughty ignorant young psychiatrist while in cancer treatment who pushed every imaginable psych drug at me and mocked me for the side effects (while I was already weakened and ill from chemo) that I realized what a travesty was done to my brother.

  • First I believe the opinions stated in this blog are not just that of the author Dr. Hickey but likely millions of patients worldwide. When my younger brother, an engineer, musician and physically fit mountain climber was sad after a sad event of his marriage breakup his family doctor referred him to a psychiatrist. After he started the toxic drugs he went downhill and died. That was how he got “helped” by psychiatry.

    Thank you and bless you Dr. Hickey for meticulously dissecting the deception, spin and absurdity of psychiatry. Dr. Pies obviously realizes the “hostile” critics DO understand the sham of psychiatry and he therefore desperately clings to some sense of righteousness.

    As for the “silent spectators” it’s well known ‘silence is complicity’. So then the blame game must be employed but it was deplorable that Dr. Pies so squarely placed blame on the victims of psychiatry. Could he go any lower?
    As for Dr. Pies being wise, hmmm yes but more in keeping with how a crafty fox is wise is how I see it. Then comes the garbage pertaining to context and how Dr. Pies calls it “the fallacy of misplaced empathy”’. Wow I guess he can go lower as this certainly takes the cake.
    I agree Dr. Hickey it is very alarming that Dr. Pies wants to see psychiatry go out into the community to carry out more deception and brain washing. This is clearly all about the “stakes of the profession” and certainly not in the patient’s interests.

  • Thanks for this important blog Dr. Timimi. It’s one every parent needs to read. It’s horrible adults have their lives destroyed by psychiatric labels and toxic drugs but it’s utterly tragic the same damaging and absurd psychiatric regime is also pushed on children.

    What happened to Dr. Peter Gotzsche exposes the power behind the corruption and the close ties to Big Pharma marketing and profits. Sadly Dr. Gotzsche paid dearly for his integrity and dedication to do what is right for humanity.

    Nothing about psychiatry has any reliability or “replicability”. Their clinical judgement is nothing more than moral judgements made against people who face adversities in life. The destructive scam of the DSM labels cannot be abolished soon enough.

  • Considering psychiatry is the biggest propagator of stigma and discrimination they are last people that should be involved in any ‘research’ on suicide. The most twisted of ironies is that interacting with mental health services increases the likelihood of death and death by suicide because the “help” consists only of putting denigrating, disempowering labels on people and drugging them to get them to shut up about their difficult circumstances.

    I agree with Kindredspirit and do not support restricting constitutional rights in the name of suicide prevention.
    We have a nightmare about to unfold in Canada regarding a snitch line:

    https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/gunter-heres-how-trudeaus-gun-ban-is-about-to-get-worse

    “They yanked her from her bed in her nightgown, coerced her into opening her gun safe and seized her legally owned and stored guns. (It will be very hard to get them back.)
    Then she was handcuffed to a gurney and transported by ambulance to a Toronto hospital for a compulsory psych evaluation”.

  • Oh wow Robin your story is very chilling. The police were certainly barbaric but to anyone who has not encountered psychiatry it would seem unbelievable that those in this supposed ‘caring’ profession are so cold and cruel they are actually sadistic. I too experienced the cruelty after I was sent to a psychiatrist for “help with sleep meds” because I developed insomnia during cancer treatment. The notion that people are “helped” by psychiatry is the biggest and most dangerous scam ever! My younger brother was feeling down after his marriage ended and his family doctor referred him to psychiatrist. Instead of getting better he went downhill on their drugs and died.
    It’s disgusting how many psychiatrists don’t have an ounce of compassion or empathy and instead become quickly irritated or hostile if they have to listen to someone’s troubles. I am very happy to hear the light is beginning to shine again for you.

    Stay strong and keep going. I wish you all the best.

  • Thanks for the update Maria, Glad you found a supportive MD and nurse’s aids to assist your brother and very happy he is improving after tapering from the psych drugs. How tragic people have to fight so hard to try survive the mayhem inflicted on them by psychiatry.
    I hope you get to see him soon. Sending best of wishes for his ongoing recovery.

  • Thanks for your kind offer Dr. Rose! I hope you will keep writing on this topic. I have been battling the corruption I was dealt in cancer treatment due to the psychiatrist but it’s been eye opening to realize how the system sticks together to cover-up and silence those who it has harmed.

    Also I see I made a typo and misquoted you, sorry about that, the quote should read “powdered specs of poison”….although I guess the specs are also ‘powered’ to do lots of damage. Take care, Best wishes, Rosalee

  • Dr. Rose, thank you so much for sharing your horrible experiences with psychiatry. I’m so sorry you paid such a price for simply having understandable emotions related to mounting stressors. Your story so accurately depicts how revolting and damaging psychiatry really is, especially when more than a dozen psychiatrists all dismissed the harm of their toxic drugs and spewed the same deceptive propaganda.

    Your description of “powered specks of poison” resonates for me and many others I’m sure. I too wish I could turn the clock back and had refused to set foot in the office of a young, arrogant psychiatrist I was sent to for “help with sleep meds” due to the insomnia I developed from toxic chemo drugs and the steroid Dexamethasone. I don’t understand how most psychiatrists sleep at night, they obviously have no conscience.

    A hardy congratulations to you on managing to complete college and obtain your doctoral degree and best of wishes on your final taper and ongoing healing.

  • Thanks for an authentic and inspiring piece Caroline. I am really glad you continued on your journey of hope to find a better place and through your experiences gained insights to offer others who are still searching. As you say not everyone wears their heart on their sleeve so it’s important to always be kind.

    It can be such a bizarre world to navigate at times but the realization of how the mental health industry treats people who are facing challenging life stressors is probably the most bizarre and cruel of all. Best wishes to you. Keep writing!

  • Oh that is horrible what they did to this 88 year old woman. The woman had just written very articulate letters and cards to family members and the nurses lied that she had progressed into late stage dementia. Then they claim they injected her with a heavy dose of antipsychotic because this tiny, 4 ft. 11 inch, 88 year old woman threw a nurse against a bookcase. Yeah, that sounds reasonable.
    How do these people who have no conscience and act so dark and sinister manage to work in health care.

  • Dr. Timimi, thanks for this blog. Great title, it is insane what this industry does to people and their lives under the false pretense of “help”. It’s a great travesty. It needs to be dismantled starting with the subjective moral judgements psychiatrists label people with from their big book of made-up “disorders”. Also incomprehensible that psychiatrists do not take into consideration someone’s life circumstances or life stressors that would easily explain expected and even appropriate reactions but instead slap psych labels on people to lay blame on the person instead of the circumstances. Psychiatry puts labels on people and drugs them with toxic drugs that cause harm or death in order to make people tolerate their bad circumstances and call that “help”. My brother lost his life to psychiatric “help” and I was harmed by labels that were put on me while I was in cancer treatment so I appreciate any psychiatrist who is willing to speak out and call out everything that is wrong. I look forward to reading your book.

  • “Yet mainstream psychiatry has ignored it and presses on with business as usual”.

    Given the current circumstances it’s more important than ever this information on psychiatric drugs keeps getting out there. Thank you Dr. Moncrieff for continuing to make people aware of the harm that awaits so many once they start these drugs and that the drugs don’t “treat” or “cure” anything, they simply numb your feelings, turn people into zombies and change the brain in ways that make them extremely difficult to ever quit taking. I wish I’d known this twenty years ago and may have been able to prevent my brother’s death.

    Kudos on putting out a second edition. I look forward to picking it up once it’s on Amazon.

  • Sam, I thought you might like this quote from this article:

    “OK,” I said to him. “I’ll let you in on the dirty, little, ill-kept secret of psychiatry.”

    He leaned in and I, looking shiftily left then right, confessed in a stage whisper, “Psychiatrists have an inferiority complex.”

    https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/is-it-time-to-do-away-with-psychiatry

  • Yes, I agree Steve S. It’s disturbing the state of journalism standards and ethics have gotten so low that Shayla Love and VICE publish what is in my opinion irresponsible, unvetted and biased propaganda.

    My deepest appreciation and respect goes to Robert Whitaker for his high standards, integrity and community service. Thank you Robert for your perseverance in forging ahead to uncover and speak the truth to try prevent harm and save lives. Please carry on, your exemplary work and journalism is greatly needed.

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” — George Orwell

  • A timely and excellent report Rob given “mental health” professionals penchant for using every possible excuse to pathologize normal emotions and to label people. Also much appreciation for the discussions involving the work of David Cohen, John McKnight, Ayako Nagano and David Oaks.

    As Ayako Nagano said “Social justice work at this juncture requires emotional intelligence”. Yes, and unfortunately that aspect is almost non-existent when it comes to the psychiatric industry.

  • Thanks for this powerful piece Briana. It boggles the mind the media chooses to describe DJ Jaffe as an “honorable advocate” and a “strong campaigner of forced treatment” – in the same sentence. As if there could ever be any honor or advocacy in stripping people of their rights, dignity and humanity. I am hopeful that everyone is held to account for their misdeeds, if not on this earth then in the next.

  • “It felt almost as if she was angry at me for my desperation. As if the clock was ticking on her tolerance of my suffering.”
    “In a way, the psychiatric system is the cause of the disease it diagnoses.”

    Yes, SO true Karin! It’s very evident there is little to no compassion or empathy in psychiatry. Psychiatrists do act annoyed, irritated and yes, even angry at people for experiencing difficult life circumstances. Most of us have this innate feeling of wanting to solve someone’s problems or suffering but it’s extremely harmful and further traumatizing when psychiatry invalidates, labels and punishes people for their trauma or problems.

    Thanks for sharing your story Karin. Best wishes on your journey of validation and healing.

  • Thanks Jon for this report and all the work you do. This step backwards is very disconcerting. I agree with Sam and Oldhead in that Professor Puras must be under pressure to conform. The saying “you attract more bees with honey” is sometimes applicable when working to implement important change but can never work with psychiatry. Psychiatry’s vested interests have proven NOT to be in a patient’s best interests, but rather what’s in psychiatry’s best interests, and that is the maintenance of a very profitable livelihood through labelling and drugging (or ECT) with a no-brainer ‘one size fits all’ mentality. That’s all they’ve got and it has done far more harm than good.

    “But it could also be argued that by refusing to call a spade a spade, by refusing to recognise that psychiatry is built on sand, the field’s lifespan will be needlessly prolonged.”

    Yes, the longer psychiatry is not called out for what it really is, the damage and destruction of lives is prolonged.

  • Dr. Hickey, as always an excellent piece, and wow the brutality of psychiatry in years past is hard to comprehend but even these days psychiatry still doesn’t value people’s lives much. People who come to them for “help” are like expendable commodities and an easy means to make a very profitable livelihood by simply labelling, drugging and/or pushing ECT with a ‘one size fits all’ mentality. It sure is not scientific and appears they willingly sacrifice people’s safety, well-being and lives to preserve their status, earnings and precious egos.

    Everyone living in the US should call their House and Senate representatives to request they support these bills. And yes, I also hope there are psychiatrists out there with the integrity to step up and do the same.

  • Ron, I just read through much of the link for Congressman Jamie Raskin and to describe what you endured as ‘staggering’ would be an understatement. I live in Canada but did forward a link to this Mad in America report onto Donald Trump, Washington Post and Fox News via Twitter. I hope all US citizens who read this MIA report contact their government representatives and US news outlets and insist they report on this and do something about this corruption.
    I am very sorry for what you and your family have endured in trying to protect others. God bless you.

  • Thank you Robert for MIA and another compelling report on rampant corruption in institutions the public are misled to believe are about patient safety. There has been harm from a variety of drugs that were pushed to the market but the harm and loss of life from psychiatric drugs is surely the most pervasive.

    Silence is complicity. Thank God there are still some people left in this world who are willing to step up and speak out. Much respect and gratitude to Ronald Kavanagh for his integrity to fight against this corruption. I really hope his last effort has some success.

  • Yes Dr. Deacon, it’s all very telling.

    How about when Dr. Aftab asks this question of Dr. Johnstone…. “How would you know if you are wrong? I think humans are very good at creative story-telling. We can come up with narratives where none may exist. So, what makes this process of sense-making scientific?”

    Considering psychiatry literally wrote the book of unscientific and creative story telling. Oy.

  • Yes, kudos to Dr. Johnstone! She has incredible insights that actually help rather than harm (as psychiatry so often does). Dr. Aftab was rather prickly but Dr. Johnstone held her own very well. I give Dr. Aftab some credit for engaging in critical psychiatry interviews and hopefully it’s possible for him to become more open-minded and accepting of methods that can actually help people.

  • Hi Audrey, Your piece is well written and could inspire others to reject psychiatry’s damaging narratives/labels and find a truthful, meaningful path to healing instead. I must agree with Dr. Caplan as noted in her comment above, the only part of your essay that is not so hopeful is to give any credence to any of the damaging faux DSM labels. Best wishes and thanks for your essay.

  • SomeoneElse, Yes I agree!! I don’t like to see the MIA community get so divided on a separate issue.
    I question a lot of what is out there re COVID. I saw a video of a guy putting a cigarette up to his mask and sucking in the smoke, then when he exhaled smoke came out the sides, top etc of his mask. Whatever the case is, if wearing a mask may protect someone else (even a bit) then I have no issue wearing a mask. We need to look out for each other these days more than ever.

  • Thanks Sam, yes it was a shock when my brother Joey died. I used to be brainwashed to put all doctors on a pedestal and blindly trust them. I was also under the impression psychiatrists were privy to some deep knowledge about the brain and why people became depressed or anxious. Even after my brother died while he was receiving psychiatric “help” I thought it must be an anomaly. I didn’t realize what a destructive, ludicrous racket psychiatry really is until my encounter with a psychiatrist for insomnia during cancer treatment.

  • Thanks for this piece Caroline. Yes, so true once you have a psychiatric label(s) how you are perceived by others (especially medical personnel and police) is very much colored/altered, as well as aspects of your rights, autonomy, etc. The same actions/behavior of someone without a label is viewed very differently when the same behavior involves a person with a label.

    In Alberta (Canada) last week a Sudanese man went into a medical clinic and while in the examining room with a doctor (a General Practitioner) he attacked the doctor with a hammer and machete. The doctor called out for help. He was rushed to the hospital in very rough shape but died. The police said they know the motive but will not be releasing it until later. People are already speculating it’s “mental illness” and the man told the judge at his first court appearance that “he is a sick man and needs a doctor”. It is these stories that feed that whole narrative. It may be that he was on psych drugs and/or in withdrawal but that will never be covered by mainstream media.

  • Dear Janebeth, Your comments are SO powerful and profoundly expose the very fraudulent and destructive nightmare so many endure if they are lured into or snared by psychiatry. My brother was also very athletic and physically fit until he saw a psychiatrist while in a temporary phase of depressed mood due to marriage breakup and kids moving away with his ex. I helplessly watched him go downhill, develop tics, etc (and wondering why the “help” wasn’t working) and due to the psych drugs he was dead a couple years later at age 40. I have my own sordid story of an encounter with a shrink when after chemo drugs & steroids (you must take to try mitigate all the damage being done by chemo) triggered insomnia. The psychiatrist immediately gave me 4 major psych labels (but never informed me of the labels she permanently put onto my widespread electronic health records) Although I had become very physically unwell from chemo, and was bald, emaciated, etc along with the labels she prescribed a string of drugs, including Seroquel, Ativan, clonazepam, Elavil etc and then mocked me for the side effects of the psych drugs.

    The older I get the more disgusted and horrified I am by the corruption and destruction being wreaked on people by psychiatry. Talk about kicking people when they are down. You express yourself so well and write very eloquently and I hope you keep speaking out and maybe write a blog here on MIA. The more people who expose psychiatry the better. Best wishes to you always and please know you are not alone in your experience, views and thoughts. Take care.

  • Bill, it is disgusting to realize many of the organizations that claim to “oversee” patient safety/rights are nothing of the sort and are just paper pushers who are as corrupt as the medical people that cause harm. And although advocacy agencies may have good intentions they have no power to hold anyone to account or provide any resolutions.
    The amount of embedded corruption and fraud in this world is scary.

  • “It was a struggle to do right by my clients – always my #1 priority – and deal with the politics (and eventually, threats of retaliation and losing my license and career) of working with psychiatrists whose dangerousness to their clients is matched only by their arrogance.”

    Dr. Deacon, wow, a profoundly true and powerful comment. Thank you for your ethics and integrity, and for speaking out on this! So happy to hear you will be writing not just another blog but a whole blog series. I very much look forward to that.

  • Kate, yes many people don’t realize once you are labelled you can refuse to identify with the labels and dispute the labels all you want, but it doesn’t help when you need healthcare services for physical issues as all medical people view you as the ‘labels’ and this very negatively affects all health services you receive. In Canada we have electronic records you can never escape from.
    There may be a few psychiatrists with compassion or who want to “help” but overall psychiatry is not about “helping”. It’s proven itself to be all about pointing fingers, laying blame and judging people. I used to think it was sheer stupidity that prevented psychiatrists from grasping that people have understandable or adaptive responses to adversities and traumas, and these responses are normal, even expected, and certainly NOT some “Disorder”. But now I realize no one can be that stupid.

  • Good point l_e_cox , Is there any life event, trigger etc a psychiatrist would ever consider an understandable reason for someone’s worry or insomnia.
    After a cancer diagnosis and told I had little chance to survive even with chemo, I took it in stride as my gut feeling told me it was fear-mongering to convince me to be in clinical trial to add a 4th drug. (it was and I declined as ‘side’ effects were heart attack, stroke, vision loss, trial halted later, too many fatalities) The 3 toxic chemo drugs had brutal effects too, including severe nosebleeds, vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness etc. I fell, hit my head on a tile floor, split my scalp open and laid unconscious and bleeding. The chemo and steroids caused insomnia so cancer doc sent me to a psychiatrist under the guise I would get “help with sleep meds”. Psychiatrist immediately gave me 4 psych labels and prescribed Seroquel, clonazepam, Elavil etc. I was bald, emaciated, had head trauma, but the only psych “symptom” I had and reported to her was the ‘chemo-induced’ insomnia. But of course nothing of my medical situation was of any interest or concern when she slapped on psych labels.

  • Lael, thanks for your blog. What happened to NG is truly sad but very indicative of how the “mental health” system breaks people down, crushes their spirit and destroys their life – all under the guise of “help”. Some people lose their life because of psychiatry. My younger brother was a liminal figure too, was only seeing a psychiatrist to deal with a depressive phase due to his marriage breakup and his children moving away with his ex but he didn’t survive psychiatry. Rather than “consumers” the people who are snared by the system should be aptly described as prey, pawns or scapegoats.

  • Thank you Dr. Hickey for an excellent dissection of the self-serving absurdity psychiatry keeps spewing. It is all “verbal gymnastics” and nonsensical word salads they keep whipping up in a desperate bid to save face, along with their power and earnings. They have no shame and we sure need you to keep calling them out so well!

  • Excellent point Sam!!
    As you know I am in going back in the ring for Round 20 or so and I am going to make that point.
    A psychologist cannot divulge anything to anyone a client discussed with them without the client’s written permission or a court order – so why would a psychiatrist be able to publish confidential information a person shared with them during a confidential ‘doctor’/patient appointment. That is a violation of doctor/patient trust and I believe should be illegal. Further when many finally get ahold of their records they realize the psychiatrists have twisted their words, blatantly lied and put words in their mouth they never said. Then you find out psychiatrists are allowed to lie and defame people with impunity and there’s no way to get their lies removed from your records. It’s totally obscene.

    Interesting that today some psychiatrists are labelling our provincial Health Minister by stating on social media that they think “he is nuts” because he is trying to reign in doctors high rates of billing. If psychiatrists are so unprofessional and brazen to do that to a Health Minister who disagrees with them it shows what they easily do to ‘patients’ who disagree with them or don’t want treatments forced on them.

  • Thank you for an excellent blog Sarah clearly exposing the harm and corruption involved in the barbaric brain assault called ECT.

    I highly commend you for your activism and diligence to try get ECT halted to protect others while struggling with the profoundly damaging effects yourself. A big thank you to Dr. John Read, Dr. Irving Kirsch and Dr. Laura McGrath for their report and ongoing work.

    “Isn’t it weird that after 80 years of use, longitudinal information from routinely tracking cognitive performance, psychiatric symptomatology and neurological outcomes of people with a history of ECT simply isn’t available?”

    Yes – and how can this be? It is indicative of corruption and cover-up.
    Best of wishes Sarah, you are a warrior and I hope you can keep up the excellent work. I am 95% sure I signed the Petition a few months ago (hope my memory serves me correctly)

  • Thanks Richard for an excellent comment.

    “Psychiatry’s fundamental theoretical and scientific basis is illegitimate, and it should be stripped of its ability to practice medicine in society.”

    Yes, and hopefully as each day passes more people begin to realize how fraudulent and dangerous psychiatry is.

  • Steve, I just checked out your book “Jerk Radar” on Amazon and it sure looks good and it’s got lots of rave reviews. As your analogies are usually spot-on I will definitely put this on my next order. I imagine it mostly applies to romantic jerks (I did have one of those in the past) but maybe the same knowledge can be useful when the jerk is a psychiatrist or a family member.

  • Thanks James for this compelling interview with Dr. Jim Wright in follow up to the World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day 2020 (W-BAD) and the informative, revealing Medicating Normal film. It is very heartening to see so many good people working to expose the harm and suffering caused by benzodiazepines and other damaging psych drugs. Thank you Angela Peacock, Nicole Lamberson and everyone involved in producing the film.

    Thanks to Dr. Jim Wright for his knowledge and expertise in speaking out on the harms and potential harms of drugs that somehow have managed to be ignored for so long while being so loosely prescribed to so many unsuspecting people.

    Thanks to Baylissa Frederick for bringing her knowledge, compassion and humanity in helping those who are dealing with the impact and horrible withdrawal of these drugs. My younger brother was one of the unfortunate ones who succumbed to a combination of benzos and SSRI’s and I hope the day comes when this never happens to another person.
    Also must thank Robert Whitaker for all his amazing work as well.

  • Thanks Paula for another very important blog.
    As you always say, it’s as soon as people are labelled for having normal human reactions to life’s struggles that things really go wrong. It’s scary to think many in ‘MH’ may be happily anticipating all the new ‘clients’ in the making regarding COVID. I discovered even if you don’t have the “reactions” they simply lie and twist facts to suit their agenda. Also learned there’s nothing you can do to change or scrub any lies and made-up labels from your records as this totally subjective, punitive “opinion” (defamation/judging/gossiping) of a psychiatrist is akin to the word of God. The whole labelling thing is a totally corrupt sham. Psychiatrists can defame people without any evidence and with complete impunity. It’s appalling how this scam is allowed to keep ruining so many lives.

  • Thanks James and Angela for this informative interview.

    I have bought my ticket and look forward to the screening of Medicating Normal. The ongoing harm and medical mayhem inflicted on so many needs to end. Thanks for all your work James and Angela to keep getting the information out there.

  • Thanks for sharing your insightful story Jill.

    “Psychiatry and most of clinical psychology focuses all problems on the individual. We are encouraged to endlessly reflect on ourselves.”

    Yes, and that is what makes psychiatry (and some psychologists) so revolting. I saw a psychiatrist while in cancer treatment because chemo drugs and steroids were causing insomnia. I was reluctant but cancer docs lied, telling me the visit was only to “get help with sleep meds”. So I agreed to head right over to the psychiatrist believing she had more advanced knowledge about sleep meds than my family doctor. It was the biggest mistake I ever made. She slapped 4 psych labels on me and prescribed Seroquel and clonazepam. She mocked me for having side effects to Seroquel and actually labelled the well known side effects of 3 toxic chemo drugs a “Somatization Disorder”. Then she posted a very damaging report of totally shocking lies onto the widespread electronic health record system. In my province (AB) the electronic records are accessed by every health type of healthcare professional and this has severely impacted my health care. I’ve got copies of my records and would enjoy burning them but unfortunately they live on eternally in the electronic files.

    Keep up the excellent writing Jill and I wish you all the best in the future.

  • Boans, I was wondering if you have ever contacted the Justice Action org in Australia to discuss your case? Until one experiences the blatant lies and brutal corruption in the system you don’t realize how bad it is.
    Don’t know if you saw this latest video of a recent “wellness check” that took place in B.C. Canada, but the girl is suing and I hope she wins.

    https://www.freshdaily.ca/news/2020/07/rcmp-respond-wellness-check/

  • Oh my gosh, glad I saw this too via Sera’s new comment. Great article and I don’t find anything offensive as you acknowledge how much more difficult these circumstances are when you are a POC. And because this applies to so many who are being crushed by different types of power and oppression.

    I love your closing thoughts and I’m sure Sam Plover will too! I have the same thoughts as to what is wrong with the people who so easily carry out or agree to conform to such vile abuses of others.

  • Thanks Justin for this interview with Dr. Aftab.

    “Reading “Anatomy of an Epidemic” ended up being a really jarring experience because I quickly realized that a lot of the arguments and a lot of the data presented in the book were not easily dismissed.”

    First I commend Dr. Aftab for the acknowledgement of Robert Whitaker’s outstanding book. It’s good to know many psychiatrists have at least read this book.

    Psychiatry starts harming someone the minute they depersonalize someone by turning them into a subjective “label” rather than a person struggling to navigate difficult circumstances in life. Conceptual competence and humility may be possible for some psychiatrists to adopt but I fear most have far too much arrogance and hubris to ever accept they could be wrong or could learn from a service user. The young psychiatrist I saw for insomnia while in cancer treatment certainly had no conceptual competence. Furthermore she had no humility and no competence – period. How do you ever learn humility if you never allow yourself to be corrected?

    I appreciate Dr. Aftab for trying to make positive changes but a real turning point would be if Dr. Aftab was to interview a service user for Psychiatric Times. If psychiatrists were able to hear, process and acknowledge the harm a service user has endured now that might led to some progress in conceptual competence and humility.

  • Bradford, your comment resonates for me as I too was falsely portrayed as being “suicidal” when I was NOT. And when I provided more information in order to emphasize the fact I was NOT the psychiatrist simply twisted my words to suit her agenda.

    Re “Harvard Guy”, I really took that as Sera showing disdain for the selfish motives that he (HG) displayed through his hypocritical stand on the matter of assessments.

  • Thank you Sera, you get two thumbs up from me for this piece.
    I learned first-hand the whole assessment thing is totally clueless, biased and harmful. As for “Harvard Guy” I viewed that comment as your usual witty cynicism towards those in positions of power who claim to “help” but whose actions – and hypocrisy – are in fact an existential threat to those in need of help.

    Yes there certainly should be more to life than simply existing or surviving an “assessment” only to spend years aimlessly walking the halls of a psychiatric hospital.

  • Caroline, thanks, your article is great and you make many good points.
    It seems the general view of the “MH” system (for now anyway) is those experiencing distress regarding Corona Virus may not immediately need psych labels slapped on them because the distress is understandable due to difficult circumstances (heck even psychiatrists are stressed about it) But this makes it quite glaring that those who had worry or distress due to difficult circumstances prior to Corona virus were quickly labelled and drugged and all context conveniently ignored.

  • Thank you Liam for this report and for representing Kerry O’Malley. Thank God for the Justice Action organization! This is despicable. Once again the ‘mental health system’ is exposed for their fraudulent violations of dignity, humanity and trust. How disgusting this ongoing torture is used on a harmless 74 year old woman whose only issues were getting stressed or having trouble to sleep.

    Thank you Kerry O’Malley for bravely speaking out and fighting for justice. Best wishes to you and Liam for success and to finally have long overdue freedom and peace.

  • Interesting article Miranda.

    Is psychiatry worried they are missing out on new clients as per this recent article in Psychiatric Times:

    https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/coronavirus-meets-racial-virus?eKey=cm9zYWxlZTEzQHNoYXcuY2E=

    “Given those comparisons and connections, it might be advisable not to bring in federal active-duty troops right now, but rather to bring in the psychiatrists. We very well might have a better understanding of how to deal with our inborn tendencies.”

    GAG.

  • An excellent essay Dr. Hunter with a crucial message.
    Let’s see…. would someone in distress rather be beaten up by the police or labelled, degraded and coerced by psychiatry? It’s like picking your poison, which is the lesser of the evils. The police should never be involved in any calls for people who are distressed, suicidal etc. but psychiatry is just as bad and in some ways worse. There already was an “epidemic” as Robert Whitaker wrote about, and now it is poised to get much worse by involving psychiatry instead of police and pushing anyone struggling with the economic fallout/stressors of COVID into the arms of psychiatry.

    DEFUND PSYCHIATRY. A totally different system is needed, one that actually cares about people and wants to ‘help’ rather than harm.

  • Thanks Snowyowl. 🙂 As for how I am doing these days, like so many who have been unjustly attacked by psychiatry it’s a work in progress to battle back. It’s has been eye opening to realize how much corruption there is in psychiatry and also in cancer treatment. It was a double whammy to say the least.

    I watched some of the video link and will try watch it all later tonight. It is heavy duty stuff, but nothing surprises me anymore. I hope you are doing okay and can get some peace in your life soon too!

  • Good to see this group of physicians come forward to speak out against the twisting of information and miscarriages of justice in the health system. I noticed that 7 of these physicians (that appear to have consciences) are psychiatrists. Now if only they would get involved and vocal in speaking out about the many injustices, harm and inhumane loss of lives that psychiatry causes.

  • Sam, you make some good points. It can get intimidating in the comments section and after my psych ordeal (cancer docs colluding with a psychiatrist to get 4 psych labels put onto my electronic records permanently so they could tyrannically force UNEEDED cancer treatments on me) my tolerance for stress/conflict is lower these days.

    There is so much to absorb about everything happening in the world these days at times it gets overwhelming. I saw this video today made by a Black girl of which she addressed “Dear White People” and it’s food for thought.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F8PeZ0d64I&feature=youtu.be

  • It’s been a robust discussion here in the comments section and I am only going to add my voice to also express appreciation for Robert Whitaker and MIA staff and writers. Robert saw the harm in regards to psychiatric practices but didn’t look away or stay silent, he delved into the mess to expose it. Psychiatry is hubris and power and will attack those who dare to scrutinize them so that alone is highly commendable in my books. This site has been very validating and helpful for me and I will always remain grateful for that.

  • Thanks for this blog and all your ongoing great work Irit. As for getting legislation in line with the CRPD, it’s high time Canada (and the U.S. and other countries) not just ‘talk the talk’ but ‘walk the walk’. There is much unrest and much at stake these days and giving lip service to human rights can no longer be acceptable.

    Also great statement you made (in the comment section) Irit bears repeating:

    “From what I see many people who get into politics do so to exert power over others, though I imagine most or all are lying to themselves about that, as shrinks and their minions (and a great many police officers, etc.) must surely be doing as well. Humanitarian concerns are only important when they don’t challenge the status quo.”

  • Anomie, Thanks for your reply. What I was trying to say was more in keeping with how Dr. Breggin is still a psychiatrist but is helping anti psychiatry/survivors by speaking out against psychiatry, even stating that going to a psychiatrist is one of the most dangerous things you can do. I was thinking if we had more dissident psychiatrists willing to speak out as Dr. Breggin does it can help anti psychiatry. I may be wrong but I thought Dr. Breggin still sees a few people/patients but does not slap DSM labels on people or prescribe psych drugs.

  • Thanks Oldhead, I am always open to friendly analysis. 🙂
    I agree with the two AP principles you noted above and realize people in distress end up worse off when subjected to psychiatry than if they have no where else to go.

    It just seems to me the odds of getting psychiatry abolished would be increased if the masses/general public are onboard and most people don’t know how psychiatry operates and trust them – until they are harmed or someone close to them is. For many the thought of a loved one, friend etc being in distress, suicidal etc and not having anywhere to turn or to take them is a huge concern. When my younger brother became distressed/depressed over his marriage breakup and kids moving away we unfortunately turned to psychiatry for ‘help’ because we were brainwashed – and there was no where else to turn. He ended up drugged, went downhill, could no longer work or function, and just died one day – with no explanation at all from psychiatry. Had he not been subjected to psychiatry I’m quite sure he would still be alive today. But I also know he still needed ‘help’ of some kind to get back on track.
    I realize wanting the hierarchy of psychiatry to reform is akin to asking the mafia to reform, so I agree it should be abolished but the question for me is ‘how’ to get that accomplished.

  • It gave me a bit of hope to see June 4, 2020 our Health Minister introduced Bill 17, which proposes amendments to the Mental Health Act to strength patients rights and ensure those right are respected. It’s a small step but better than the status quo.

    “To safeguard patients’ rights, proposed amendments include requiring hospitals to provide free and timely access to medical records and information about legal counsel and the mental health patient advocate. Facilities would also be required to review forms more promptly, so patients are fully informed about why they are detained. Patients staying in a hospital for more than 30 days would be provided with a treatment plan, including criteria for release, so they know what to expect.”

  • Oldhead,
    “There is nothing provided by psychiatry which could be considered even ostensibly helpful that cannot be provided by other means, sans the fraudulent trappings of medicine and science’.

    Yes, I totally agree.
    Psychiatry has nothing to offer but defamatory labels, toxic drugs and ECT, and should be dismantled. But people do wind up in distress and there needs to be something else in place to help. If only psychiatrists who are aware the protocols of psychiatry are harmful would lobby governments, M.P.’s, mental health organizations, community services, etc, to set up a new type of system similar to Soteria House that would provide compassion, understanding and various supports that would be a win-win. If something else was in place I think psychiatry would quickly become obsolete and easily abolished.

  • Dr. Marcello, Having been harmed by psychiatry I am very grateful to Robert Whitaker and MIA as finding the MIA website was very validating and therapeutic. I strongly support MIA, their work and overall message and am glad more countries joined the ‘Mad’ family/affiliates because it helps spread the message.

    It’s clear the tenets of the medical model of psychiatry are doing grave harm, certainly far more harm than good, and I hope that message gets stronger. Psychiatry should no longer be a ‘medical’ model but rather a ‘social’ model that acknowledges many varied psychosocial determinants are behind people’s suffering and/or distress. The problems/issues are most often social and environmental and not within the person, and as such there should not be the need for stigmatizing and defamatory labels or administering of toxic psych drugs.

    I appreciate any psychiatrist who is open minded and wanting to see change, and appreciate that you apparently are of that mind. As the saying goes there is strength in numbers so an international network sounds good to me. Thanks and best wishes in your endeavours.

  • Sera, thank you for addressing this with so much truth, logic and sensitivity. And you stated it well (in a reply to Fiachra)
. “loss of power and control is a major contributor to suicidal thoughts and feelings, and examining how the system that’s trying to stop someone from killing themselves nonetheless immediately resorts to things that take power and control away
 It makes zero sense, and yet it happens all the time.”
    Also this
 “You’re right that some providers are willing to twist and look for signs of whatever they want if they’ve got a particular agenda
”

    I was sent to a psychiatrist after I developed chemo-induced insomnia and only later learned of the “agenda.” An oncologist stated I had little chance to survive cancer – but my intuition correctly told me otherwise and I’d never had any thoughts of suicide. Like why would I – it’d be like standing in front of a firing squad and saying “No, wait, let me shoot myself instead”. However, out of the blue at a 4th appt the young psychiatrist (practicing 6 months) asked the ‘suicide’ question. Perplexed, I replied, “No, of course I’m not”. She gave a disbelieving look and quizzed me again. To try convince her I wasn’t ‘suicidal’ I said “I haven’t made a Will yet and would NEVER want to die without a Will”. So what does she document
.”the only thing stopping her from suicide is she doesn’t have a Will”. It would be laughable it wasn’t so intentionally twisted and dishonest. Obviously psychiatry uses the ‘suicide’ question in a very exploitive way – and whatever you answer will be held against you. With psychiatry this is always a loaded question – a trick question for which there is never an appropriate or acceptable answer.

    Oh yes, love the idea of a risk assessment for people to use on providers! Definitely much needed!

  • Thank you Leah for the great reporting. Wow! – Sera, Naomi Pinson, Kathy Flaherty/CT Legal Rights, MHLAC and everyone else involved – what incredible work you are all doing!
    Thank you all for your humanity and generosity of spirit to stand up for those who have been stripped of their power.

    “In addition to the letter, petition, and car caravan protest, Mass ACT is actively working with advocates at the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, the Disability Law Center, and other state and local groups to locate potential plaintiffs to launch a class-action lawsuit against the state for its poor management of conditions inside its facilities”.

    Yes, if potential plaintiffs are found and a class-action lawsuit launched that would certainly shake things up. Sending best wishes and good vibes for the caravan protest on May 31! (I would love to join you but I’m in Canada)

  • Sera, thanks for another great blog!

    I was not familiar with DJ Jaffe but just watched a bit of a Ted Talk video of him. If he has a brother labelled with SMI I wonder if he had his brother forcibly treated, and if so, how his brother felt about it. Too bad he doesn’t put his energy into researching and speaking out against the harm and adverse reactions that toxic psych drugs bring about.

    To anyone who says the lock down makes them feel oppressed, isolated and fearful, well those who have been subjected to the oppression and coercion of psychiatry certainly can say ‘Welcome to my world” as what goes on in psychiatry is the ultimate lock down.

    This is a petition regarding future medical care for those in the US who may be interested:
    https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=8778

  • Thank you Dr. Tasch, your blog exposes the truth the general public does not yet grasp – that psychiatry is not about “helping” people and someone’s suffering is more likely to invoke anger and disgust in a psychiatrist than anything else. There are many psychiatrists whose “treatment” or actions are more like revenge or retaliation for a person daring to try have a voice, to define their own reality or honor their own thoughts and feelings.

    “Mark was placed in a psychiatric unit for 10 days just because he angered his psychiatrist!”

    “In spite of the fact that Mark was not supposed to undergo a recommitment evaluation or hearing after 6 months, his psychiatrist attempted to keep the commitment going”.

    I commend you Dr. Tasch for stepping in and doing what you can to bring some relief for people enduring these abhorrent practices and for exposing what goes on. I hope your voice and that of like-minded professionals keeps getting louder.

  • Thanks for clarifying this Steve, so I guess I can describe a psychiatrist as “narcissistic” and that does not mean I am “diagnosing” her. I have no desire to “diagnose” anyone with any spurious DM label and since the dictionary describes “narcissistic” as:

    “egocentric; egoistic. Having an inflated idea of one’s own importance. Obsessed with one’s own self image and ego.”

    it does describe her (and other psychiatrists) quite accurately.

  • If Trump had a psych assessment and was labelled with a DSM label to remove him from office that would only serve to give credence to the spurious DSM labels. It would be extremely detrimental to those unfortunate enough to have been given one of these bogus and defamatory labels.

    A great piece Paula, as always and thanks for your ongoing work in speaking out against the spurious DSM labels.

  • madmother13, I think anyone would feel the same when the reality and essence of who they are has been totally redefined by a judgemental psychiatrist who knows very little about who they are nor their life circumstances (and of course doesn’t want to know) and instead resorts to writing lies to fit with their agenda. It amounts to a very unjust character defamation and I hope the day comes when psychiatrists can be sued for character defamation.

    Up until maybe 10-15 years ago the record/lies would have remained in the paper files of the psychiatrist’s office and/or maybe faxed to your GP’s office. But nowadays (at least in Canada) the damaging lies of psychiatrists are posted onto widespread electronic records. Wherever you go for any type of medical services these records are regularly pulled up and reviewed before you receive any treatment. It totally changes what services you will be given and the manner you will be treated. Rather than “help” psychiatry does break people down.

  • As so many have noted, this was truly a heart-breaking story to read. There are no words to convey my sadness and anger in knowing your kind, handsome, talented son’s death was brought about by psychiatry. There is much Abraham thought and voiced that resonates for me after my own encounter with psychiatry (for insomnia while in cancer treatment). You state it well in calling the psych labels “tantamount to a curse”. They definitely are a “curse” and even if a person chooses to disregard or ignore the label, all the healthcare personnel do not. The label is hung around your neck like an albatross, you are not allowed to forget it or disregard it. After a label is hung on you, a pervasive climate of blame follows and the person is blamed for every difficult circumstance in their life.

    “Seemingly quite “normal” behaviour or things he may have said were taken out of context and “pathologised” to fit the psychiatric diagnostic paradigm.”

    Yes, as most who obtain their psych records discover, they have ignored context, twist your words and write damaging, blatant lies, all in an effort to fit their labelling paradigm – and there is nothing you can do about it. People are led to believe they will get “help” or at least will be in a safe place, but instead what follows is institutional betrayal of the worst kind.

    Thank you for sharing Abraham’s painful and also very courageous story. Abraham’s story should be read by every practicing psychiatrist and every person out there who still has not yet realized how utterly destructive psychiatry is. Sending best wishes Malcolm, and I hope you take some comfort in knowing that in bravely sharing Abraham’s story you have helped others.

  • That is a good point Sam!
    Psychiatry wanting to warn people of the “dangerousness” of others when in fact everything about psychiatry is so dangerous itself.
    As Dr. Breggin put it so well – seeing a psychiatrist may be one of the most dangerous things you can do.
    Yes, talk about the pot calling the kettle black!! Pure hypocrisy.

  • Aerial Ballet, there is also a huge issue of informed consent regarding taking psych drugs. Some of these drugs may make people ‘feel better’ initially but they are not told the ‘better’ feeling doesn’t last long, or that these drugs will eventually damage their brain and body and attempting withdrawal is BRUTAL and sometimes not even possible.

    As well once they put their damaging DSM labels onto your electronic health records you will be viewed through the lens of these labels and face ongoing gaslighting and discrimination the rest of your life. Even though you may know/realize the labels are totally inappropriate and outright BS all health care professionals view them as the word of God. And in most cases you can never get your records amended or corrected in any way.

  • I agree Dr. Deacon and Steve! This is HUGE!

    “that character structure is not something that psychiatrists should ever even consider.”

    A derogatory DSM label – that is in fact ‘character’ defamation – and has caused immense discrimination and suffering for so many is deemed not valid by a high profile psychiatrist who was President of the APA. Wow! The arrogance, manipulation of information and hypocrisy of this morally bankrupt guild is astounding.

    This does need some major coverage! It would help show people how corrupt and self-serving psychiatry is and that if a label of “personality disorder” is not valid what does that say about the validity of all the other DSM labels.

  • Great comment Miranda. I am against censorship and the APA muzzling anyone (even a group from their own guild) is just more proof of the sickening power and control psychiatry wields. While it is desirable for people to understand that a president who acts bombastic, impulsively, etc, does pose a great deal of danger to the country, I can’t get onboard with the opinion of psychiatrists (who obviously believe in DSM labels for anyone they deem is exhibiting inappropriate behaviour) being given any credibility to put the message out.

  • Dr. Hickey, thank you for another compelling and very informative essay. Kudos for always dissecting and exposing the bull**** so very well!

    A couple of sentences (of many) that stand out:

    “Treating “real illnesses” with “real medicines” enabled them to believe that they were real doctors.”
    “Psychiatrists invent psychiatric “illnesses” and then “discover” that lots of people have them.”

    Yes, and how pathetic is that. Psychiatry is a most vile and corrupt institution and I thank you for continuing to write such important essays to expose the corruption. Best wishes, stay safe & healthy!

  • Thanks for this excellent blog Miranda and all the research, links etc. It is scary to think how psychiatry and their cohorts will use this pandemic for self-serving purposes (even without the media pushing out harmful narratives).

    I can’t help but wonder if psychiatrists have any ’emotions’ regarding the horrendous effects of the pandemic or are they just tripping through the tulips without a care in the world. In either case they may have a “disorder” and may deserve a label…
 Hopefully the pandemic could be psychiatry’s much needed wake-up call, but that’s probably too hopeful.

  • Robert, I commend you for acknowledging the dysfunction and harm perpetuated by psychiatry and their toxic drugs. I agree GP’s who take part in widespread prescribing are also part of the problem. I didn’t find your blog “disingenuous” at all (and found that description harsh) and I applaud all your efforts over the years to reform the system and try reduce the harm.

    After my brother died on psychiatric drugs (depressed after his marriage breakup) and I was harmed when sent to a psychiatrist for insomnia caused by chemo, it became clear psychiatry does not provide help, and instead does a great deal of harm. It was not until I found MIA and read the blogs, personal stories etc, that I realized the sheer magnitude of the harm. In my opinion psychiatry is VERY self-righteous and self-serving and therefore I would like to see it dismantled. I realize that would be a real David and Goliath battle but in the meantime I hope any psychiatrists out there who do acknowledge the harm and want reform will speak out and unite with yourself and the many others in various “MH” fields who are appalled at how damaging the psychiatric system really is.

  • Thanks Megan for a great blog, lots of truth speaking here. I used to try stay positive that ‘good will triumph over evil’, or ‘truth will set you free’ etc, but eventually it became too difficult to stay positive so I revised it to ‘staying hopeful’ instead. I agree we should NOT strive to go back to ‘normal’, we need to strive for something far better than the old normal.

  • If this is how “crisis counselling” will be approached then at least it does make sense. NO psychiatry and NO need for their absurd psych labels, damaging drugs or ECT, etc. :

    “1. It is strength-based, which means its foundation is rooted in the assumption that resilience and competence are innate human qualities.”

    “2. Crisis counseling also employs anonymity. Impacted individuals should NOT be diagnosed or labeled. As a result, there are no resulting medical records.”

    “3. The approach is outreach-oriented, in which counselors provide services out in the community rather than in traditional mental health settings.”

  • I won’t say every psychiatrist is arrogant and abuse their power but in my experience (and from what I have read of many others on this site) that was MOST definitely the case. And when I tried to get some resolution the “expert” psychiatrist who was consulted on the matter dismissed the evidence and whitewashed all the facts & truth. It was a total cover up and further abuse of power in order to maintain the psychiatric façade of utter righteousness and superiority.

    Further if they “had no idea what they were getting into” they most certainly have the choice to move in a different direction. You are either on the side of the oppressed or on the side of the oppressor – you can’t be neutral.

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