A catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care, scientific research
Welcome to Mad in Canada!
Mad in Canada is one of a growing group of Mad in America’s Mad in the World Network.
We believe 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 in Canada.
Good-bye to Christy Huff, MD
Benzodiazepines in Canada: Is a Withdrawal Crisis Looming?
New Canadian Benzodiazepine Documentary – AIRS FEBRUARY 15th!
ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY (ECT) STUDY
Video Presentation – ‘The Science and Art of Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs’
PETITION – World Tapering Org
STAR*D UPDATES: Petition for Retraction of STAR*D Summary Article Submitted to AJP Editor Ned...
MAID and Mental Illness: An interview with Dr. Jeffrey Kirby
BLOGS
PETITION – World Tapering Org
STAR*D UPDATES: Petition for Retraction of STAR*D Summary Article Submitted to AJP Editor Ned Kalin, M.D.
MAID and Mental Illness: An interview with Dr. Jeffrey Kirby
PETITION TO RETRACT FRAUDULENT STAR*D REPORT
The STAR*D Scandal: Scientific Misconduct on a Grand Scale
A Disorder for Everyone – Online Festival 2023
SAVE THE DATE! IIPDW Conference
Richard Bilkszto: The man who finally wakes up employers to the dangers of workplace bullying?
Everyone’s Afraid of an Angry Woman: Honoring Sinéad O’Connor
A Disorder for Everyone! – The Online Festival 2023
BBC Panorama – The Antidepressant Story
IN THE GLOBE AND MAIL – Forced psychiatry is expanding – at society’s peril
Personal Narratives
News
Apparently in the UK, this rare disorder has increased sevenfold over the last five years. Read more here
Feb 25. Canada’s Assisted Death Program Under Scrutiny
A fresh delay in expanding the scope of who can access a medically assisted death has once again put a spotlight on the system […] The friction over medically assisted death comes against the backdrop of a healthcare system pushed to the brink and straining to offer adequate care to many Canadians. Read more here
Feb 22. UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Seeks Input
[The OHCHR] is organizing in 2024 an expert workshop to address the human rights of women, persons with disabilities, children and older persons as caregivers, as well as receivers of care and support, and for their self-care from a gender equality and human rights perspective, with the objective of evaluating experiences, good practices and main challenges regarding the effective recognition of the rights of caregivers and those receiving care and support. Read more here
Feb 22. Ingredient in Bipolar Medicine Found To Cause Birth Defects
She had wondered if her medication was to blame. “Everyone knows about thalidomide, but then I’d think: there’s no way. It can’t be. I’ve been told so many times – by midwives, by doctors, by consultants – over so many years that it was safe to keep taking.” By the time Murphy saw the news item, one of her children, Lauren, had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Read more here
Feb 22. It’s Being Framed As A Mental Health Crisis…
For such a wide-scale disaster like the current war, however, we cannot stop at mere medical treatments […] Treatment cannot help convince a child in Gaza that the bombs they hear will not kill them, because they might. It cannot offer comfort to a mother worried her children may starve, because they could. Read more here
Feb 21. Help Stand Against Proposition 1
A legislative measure known as Proposition 1 will soon be up for vote in California in the US on the state’s March 5th, 2024 ballot. We at MindFreedom International stand with Disability Rights California in opposing this proposition on the grounds that it facilitates coercive psychiatric treatment and fails to adequately address Californians’ needs for housing and humane, effective mental health care. Read more here
Feb 21. ADHD (Traits) May Have Been Adaptive
Traits associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder could have helped early humans when foraging for food. Read more here
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