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 Global Affiliates. 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 distress in Canada.
Mad in Canada stands in solidarity with First Nations.
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...
Richard Bilkszto: The man who finally wakes up employers to the dangers of workplace...
Richard Bilkszto was a principal with the Toronto District School Board. He died by suicide on July 13th. He was just 60 years old.
According to many of the news stories published since his death,...
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 in Canada:
Karin Jervert, Arts Editor with Mad in America, nailed it with this post!
Karin's piece reads as a call...
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, conversations, poetry etc challenging the culture of diagnosis and disorder!
On 22nd September 2023 the festival returns for the 4th...
BBC Panorama – The Antidepressant Story
On June 19 2023, the BBC's Panorama aired a new documentary: The Antidepressant Story.
From the BBC website:
In the UK, around one in seven now take an antidepressant. Globally they have made the pharmaceutical industry...
BLOGS
Essays from a diverse selection of writers, which aim to change the professional and public discourse about emotional distress and unusual experiences.
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...
Responses to the ‘No Chemical Imbalance Study’: A Long-awaited Watershed Moment?
Initial reactions to the 20 July publication of the Moncrieff et al. study have included...
Loss, Grief, and Betrayal: Psychiatric Survivors Reflect on the Impact of New Serotonin Study
Loss, grief, and a sense of betrayal are felt deeply by many who have been...
No evidence of a chemical imbalance in depression
The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence.
Joanna Moncrieff and 5...
NEW VIDEO: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome & its Management
The International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal has released a new video: 'Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome...
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.
New on Mad in America
Psychiatry, Fraud, and the Case for a Class-Action Lawsuit
Trauma Survivors Speak Out Against Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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
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