A catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care, scientific research
Welcome to Mad in Canada!
As the newest of several Mad in America global affiliates, Mad in Canada believes that the current paradigm of mental health care has failed our society and that scientific research, as well as the lived experience of those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, calls for profound change.
Mad in Canada is dedicated to providing a forum for progressive writing which reconsiders the public discourse on mental health distress in Canada.
On behalf of everyone at Mad in Canada, we’re pleased to welcome you to our webzine!
Marnie Wedlake & Lucy Costa, Co-editors
Mad in Canada stands in solidarity with First Nations.
Queer and Trans Madness: Struggles for Social Justice
Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction: Providing Ethical & Trauma-Informed Care
NEW VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome & its Management
“Open Season on Mental Patients”: A reading with Irit Shimrat
Evidence of change?
Review of the Conference on Withdrawal and Side Effects: IIPDW
What is “Psychosis”?
BLOGS
Personality disorders? Please, tell us what you really think.
Antipsychotics Often Prescribed Without Informed Consent
Voicing the Views of the Psychiatrized for 35 Years!
887 Deaths from Psychoactive Meds Reported to Health Canada in 2021
Research Reveals Mental Health Professionals’ Participation in Rape Culture
The Ethics of Psychiatry
Bell Let’s Talk: Are These “New Conversations” Helpful?
When Tapering Antidepressants, is Going Slow Always the Best Strategy?
How are we doing?
On “knowing,” activism and writing: Remembering Graeme Bacque
Is psychiatry such a fragile house of cards?
RIP: Ed White – Advocate, Researcher and Supporter
News
Mary Simon, Inuk leader from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, has been chosen as the 30th governor general of Canada.
Noel Milliea, a Mi’kmaw elder, has decades of experience helping people see their culture as a means of healing from trauma, addiction, and systemic racism.
751 unmarked graves have been found at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. The school, which opened in 1899, was active until 1997.
The remains of 215 children were found on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, BC. In the wake of the discovery, and to honour the children, David Monture has written a poem, The Mush Hole Rubric.
In the wake of the discovery of the 215, many are calling for accountability. Listen to an interview on The Current with Matt Galloway.
New on Mad in America
Is Mad in America Doing More Harm Than Good?
Ethical Concerns Over Telehealth Screenings for Psychiatric Hospitalizations
Getting Pharma Out of Medical Education: An Interview with Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman
‘Prescripticide’: Short Film by ISEPP
Discourse, Drug Use, and Psychiatry: An Interview with Critical Psychologist Ilana Mountian
Modern Psychiatry’s Allure: It Tells People What They Want to Hear
My Letter to an Advocate for Involuntary Treatment
Psychosis in US Inseparable from Racism and Structural Inequality, Researchers Argue
Mental Health Liberation and Spirituality: Ex-Psychiatric Inmates Share Their Thoughts
Can Performative Counter-Storytelling Facilitate Critical Social Change?
Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities
Mental Health Survival Kit, Chapter 4: Withdrawing from Psychiatric Drugs (Part 3)
Philosophical Approach to Loneliness Yields new Insight into Treatments
Mutual Support in an Age of Social Distancing
Jyl Ion: Awakening as a Medium
Other Resources
Mad in America – Mad in America’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care in the United States (and abroad).
The Council for Evidence-Based Psychiatry – CEP exists to communicate evidence of the potentially harmful effects of psychiatric drugs to the people and institutions in the UK that can make a difference.
A Disorder 4 Everyone – Exploring the culture of psychiatric diagnosis – creating change. Provides events, blogs and other resources.
Drop the Disorder (Facebook) – a group for anyone who is interested in challenging traditional approaches to emotional distress.
Intervoice – The International Hearing Voices Network and HVN Canada & Quebec – If you hear voices, HVN can help and is committed to helping people who hear voices. HVN offers information, support and understanding to people who hear voices and those who support them.
International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (UK) – ISPS UK is the United Kingdom network of the International organisation ISPS – International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis. ISPS works to promote greater knowledge of the different psychological approaches to psychosis and psychotic experiences – psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, arts-based, family and holistic approaches – and their better integration with each other and with pharmaceutical approaches.
The Inner Compass Initiative and Withdrawal Project – provides information, resources, tools, and connecting platforms to facilitate more informed choices regarding all things “mental health”.
International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal – Supports the process of reducing and withdrawing from psychiatric drugs through practice, research and training.
MindFreedom International – A not-for-profit human rights organization that unites sponsor and affiliate grassroots groups with individual members.
The Power Threat Meaning Framework – Towards the identification of patterns in emotional distress, unusual experiences and troubled or troubling behaviour, as an alternative to functional psychiatric diagnosis.
A free-to-use guide to the healing of psychological trauma is available. It comprises information, approaches to healing and resources together with links to selected clinicians, organisations, projects and support groups. Download the pdf here: Healing Psychological Trauma