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Wednesday, 29, November, 2023

A catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care, scientific research
and social justice across Canada. 

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.

Video Presentation – ‘The Science and Art of Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs’

Inner Compass Initiative is pleased to share a video recording of a recent live event.  ‘The Science and Art of Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs’. This video encapsulates what ICI is all about. In their presentations, Danish...

PETITION – World Tapering Org

World Tapering Org (www.worldtaperingday.org) is launching a global petition to make stopping antidepressants and other psych meds/drugs safer.  WTO is calling for: - better guidelines for tapering antidepressants and other psych meds/drugs, - providing physicians with practical...

STAR*D UPDATES: Petition for Retraction of STAR*D Summary Article Submitted to AJP Editor Ned...

On September 9, 2023 (updated September 20, 2023) Mad in America published Robert Whitaker's MIA Report on the STAR*D fraudulent data scandal. Since then there have been a few updates: September 9, 2023: a...

MAID and Mental Illness: An interview with Dr. Jeffrey Kirby

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) became legal in Canada in June 2016. In October 2020, Bill C-7: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) was introduced in Parliament after it was...

PETITION TO RETRACT FRAUDULENT STAR*D REPORT

Mad in America has set up a petition on change.org that calls for retraction of the STAR*D article published in the American Journal of Psychiatry that fraudulently reported a cumulative remission rate of 67%...

The STAR*D Scandal: Scientific Misconduct on a Grand Scale

The American Journal of Psychiatry Needs to Retract Study That Reported Fraudulent Results By Robert Whitaker, published by Mad in America on September 9, 2023

A Disorder for Everyone – Online Festival 2023

A Disorder for Everyone! - The Online Festival 2023 Friday September 22nd, 9am-8pm GMT https://youtu.be/2Mlw_GTN17o?si=pDrPmpcwORIU_8Xc   This is a donation only event to ensure that it is as accesible as possible to all so please pay what you...

SAVE THE DATE! IIPDW Conference

Save the Date! On Friday October 20th and Saturday October 21st, the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal will hold its 3rd conference on withdrawal from psychiatric drugs. Featured speakers will present from a variety of...

BLOGS

Essays from a diverse selection of writers, which aim to change the professional and public discourse about emotional distress and unusual experiences.

The STAR*D Scandal: Scientific Misconduct on a Grand Scale

The American Journal of Psychiatry Needs to Retract Study That Reported Fraudulent...

A Disorder for Everyone – Online Festival 2023

A Disorder for Everyone! - The Online Festival 2023 Friday September 22nd, 9am-8pm GMT https://youtu.be/2Mlw_GTN17o?si=pDrPmpcwORIU_8Xc   This is a...

SAVE THE DATE! IIPDW Conference

Save the Date! On Friday October 20th and Saturday October 21st, the International Institute for Psychiatric...

Richard Bilkszto: The man who finally wakes up employers to the dangers of workplace bullying?

Richard Bilkszto was a principal with the Toronto District School Board. He died by suicide...

Everyone’s Afraid of an Angry Woman: Honoring Sinéad O’Connor

This article was originally published On August 1, 2023 by Mad in America. Comment from Mad...

A Disorder for Everyone! – The Online Festival 2023

Part of the Workshops that offer non-pathologising approaches collection. A whole day of change-making talks, presentations,...

BBC Panorama – The Antidepressant Story

On June 19 2023, the BBC's Panorama aired a new documentary: The Antidepressant Story. From the...

IN THE GLOBE AND MAIL – Forced psychiatry is expanding – at society’s peril

On June 19, 2023, The Globe and Mail published, his opinion piece, 'Forced psychiatry is...

Fernando de Freitas: A “Dear Friend” Who Was a Warrior for Radical Change

Written by Robert Whitaker and posted to Mad in America on February 3, 2023 Over the...

Announcing Oral History Collection on Mental Health Activists in Manitoba

Stories are us.  Finding ourselves in history, we figure out who we are and where...

Freedom To Be – Herstory Writing Workshop

Freedom To Be A 15-week Herstory Writing Workshop for those harmed by being labelled BPD, hosted...

Rethinking Psychiatry …. Robert Whitaker Speaks in Montreal

Robert Whitaker, founder and president of Mad in America, gave a public lecture at Concordia...

Personal Narratives

News

Call for inputs: Draft guidance on Mental Health, Human Rights, and Legislation published jointly by WHO and OHCHR   https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/calls-input/draft-guidance-mental-health-human-rights-legislation-who-ohchr

The Supreme Court rules that the Council of Canadians with Disabilities can challenge British Columbia’s mental health laws.   https://www.scc-csc.ca/case-dossier/cb/2022/39430-eng.aspx

Canada is getting a mental health and addictions ministry. 

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.

Other Resources

A list of groups and resources that you may find helpful. Let us know of other resources that we should consider adding. Contact us by email: info@madincanada.org. Thanks!

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