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Tuesday, 19, March, 2024

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.

Good-bye to Christy Huff, MD

On March 5th the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition announced the death of Dr. Christy Huff, MD.  Christy was a cardiologist and the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition's Medical Director. She was also a person who had lived experience...

Benzodiazepines in Canada: Is a Withdrawal Crisis Looming?

On February 15th, Radio-Canada’s Enquête aired ‘Cauchemar sur ordonnance’ (translation: Nightmare on prescription), a documentary about the dangers of benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics. Enquête’s description: Des pilules pour se calmer ou pour dormir, on en retrouve dans...

New Canadian Benzodiazepine Documentary – AIRS FEBRUARY 15th!

Radio-Canada's Enquête presents "Cauchemar Sur Ordonnance" (Season 17: Episode 17) The episode's title translates to 'prescription nightmare' in French, and it will focus on the problem of benzodiazepine overprescription and harm. Nicole Lamberson, Medicating Normal's Head...

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY (ECT) STUDY

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR INTERNATIONAL ONLINE SURVEY If you are at least 18 years old and have had ECT, other than the last 4 weeks, you are invited to take part in an anonymous online...

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...

BLOGS

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

PETITION – World Tapering Org

World Tapering Org (www.worldtaperingday.org) is launching a global petition to make stopping antidepressants and other...

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

On September 9, 2023 (updated September 20, 2023) Mad in America published Robert Whitaker's MIA...

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...

PETITION TO RETRACT FRAUDULENT STAR*D REPORT

Mad in America has set up a petition on change.org that calls for...

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...

Personal Narratives

News

Feb 26. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
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

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