Award-Winning Film about Mental Illness and Suicide, jumping off bridges, Now Available on DVD

The critically acclaimed 2006 movie jumping off bridges, which follows a group of teenagers as they deal with a loss due to suicide, is now available for purchase on DVD. The movie has been praised as realistic and relatable and has been screened in universities across the country.

The makers of the film also partnered with mental health and suicide prevention organizations, and there have been screenings at the National Institutes of Health and Mental Health in Washington, D.C. and The Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga.

To learn more about the movie visit its official Web site.

To buy or rent a copy of the film for screenings for professionals, schools, universities, agencies, community groups or libraries, go to http://www.newday.com/films/jumpingoffbridges.html. The DVD includes a discussion guide.

Public Access TV Show Looks at Mental Health Consumer Movement

Jay Mahler and Sally Zinman, two long-time activists in the mental health consumer movement, were interviewed in June 2008 on the show “Mental Health Matters,” which airs on public access TV in Alameda County, California. The interview is available here.

“Mental Health Matters” focuses on mental health issues, including specific diagnoses, stigma and discrimination, self-help, and peer support. It is hosted by the Rev. Barbara Meyers, produced by Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fremont in Alameda County, California, and recorded at the Comcast studio in Fremont. All the episodes are available online here.

Source: http://www.mpuuc.org/mentalhealth/mentalTVshow.html

National Council on Disability (NCD) Seeks Public Input on Emerging Trends Involving People with Disabilities

http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2008/public_consultation.html

DATE EXTENSION: Comments must be received by August 7, 2008

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is gathering public input for a study of emerging issues and trends affecting the lives of people with disabilities to use in NCD’s next annual progress report to the President and Congress, "National Disability Policy: A Progress Report" -- required by Section 401(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This input will help in achieving policies that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, and aid them in achieving economic self- sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

Access the URL above to learn more about how you can participate and submit comments.

Source: CMHS CONSUMER AFFAIRS E-NEWS JULY 29, 2008

To access archived CMHS E-News, click here:

https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0806&L=cmhs_adca_enews

Peer Partnership to Host Webinar

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Peer Partnership is hosting a Webinar on August 12, 2008, on “The Complementary Roles of Peer Specialists and Professional Staff.” The Webinar is part of DBSA’s peer specialist continuing education program. For more information, see the link below:

http://www.softconference.com/dbsa/sessionDetail.asp?SID=112069

Human Rights Groups Sponsor Vigil to Mourn Shocking Emergency Room Death

To demand an end to the appalling human rights violations that resulted in the death of Esmin Green, a coalition of human rights activists and community members is holding a demonstration on Friday, July 25, beginning at 5 p.m. (with a candlelight vigil at 8:30 p.m.) at Kings County Hospital Center, Psychiatric Emergency Room, Building G, 606 Winthrop Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. Green, who had been involuntarily committed, collapsed in Kings County Hospital Center’s psychiatric emergency room on June 19 after having waited for nearly 24 hours for a bed to become available. She lay sprawled on the floor for more than an hour before the medical staff took any notice of her – and that notice consisted of someone’s standing over her and prodding her body with a foot, according to The New York Times. By then, it was too late: Green had died. According to the Associated Press, Green, a mother of six, sat waiting for a bed to become available for nearly 24 hours before she collapsed onto the floor. Further, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union, facility staff possibly falsified documents, stating that Green was “up and about, went to the bathroom” and was “sitting quietly in the waiting room” although videotapes confirmed that she had not moved from her position on the waiting room floor.

Sources: http://www.theopalproject.org/vigil.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/12/nyregion/12about.html

Alternatives 2008 Seeks Workshop Proposals; Some Scholarships Are Available

Workshop and institute proposals for Alternatives 2008 – to be held at the Adams Mark Hotel in Buffalo, N.Y., October 29-November 2, 2008 – are due by May 15, 2008. The call for presentations and additional resources for the conference, whose theme is “Creating Community Through Active Citizenship,” are posted at www.power2u.org/alternatives-2008. The workshops selected will represent a variety of viewpoints and will mainly include workshops run by and for consumers. A limited number of scholarships are available; applications – also posted at www.power2u.org/alternatives-2008 – must be completed and sent by U.S. mail no later than May 28, 2008. “People who want to attend the conference are encouraged to look for local support as there is not enough federal funding for everyone to obtain assistance,” said a conference spokesperson. To be added to the mailing or e-mail list to receive additional information, please e-mail info4@power2u.org or call 800-POWER2U.

Source: http://www.power2u.org

NEWS RELEASE: "Forcing Psychiatric Drugs Can Increase Violence," Warns New Task Force on Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Activism

For immediate release: NEWS RELEASE 4 March 2008Media

contacts:Krista Erickson - 541-345-9106 Daniel Hazen - 315-528-3385

krista@mindfreedom.org
dan@psychrights.org

"Forcing Psychiatric Drugs Can Increase Violence," Warns New Task Force on Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Activism

Promising to fight what they call pervasive and harmful violations of mental healthclients who are involuntarily drugged and electroshocked in the United States, TheLaw Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights) and the MindFreedom Shield Campaignannounced today a joint Task Force on Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Activism. Thenew partnership of law and nonviolent direct action has an initial focus in thestates of California, Massachusetts and New York.

PsychRights' President Jim Gottstein declared, "People's rights in forced drugging proceedings are ignored as a matter of course, resulting in great harm to them anddecreased public safety." David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International (MFI),noted, "Violence by a few individuals labeled 'mentally ill' has led to a backlashcalling for a massive increase in forced psychiatric drugging."

Mr. Gottstein added, "Contrary to public perception, forcing people to takepsychiatric drugs can often increase violence, rather than decrease it. If peoplewere warned that both taking and withdrawing from these drugs can at timescontribute to committing terrible acts, they and their loved ones can be alert tothe possibility and tragedies averted."

Krista Erickson, MFI board member and Chair of the MFI Shield Campaign, said, "I'mexcited about MFI and PsychRights expanding our partnership and focusing thecombined power of legal advocacy and activism on specific cases." The MFI ShieldCampaign supports the wishes of a member to be free of involuntary mental healthintervention with an international "Solidarity Network" of advocates. The new TaskForce plans to use both the court of law and the court of public opinion.

Task Force organizers say the combination of PsychRights' expertise for strategiclitigation and the "people power" of MindFreedom activists around the country willbring a synergy and geographic reach to their demands for people’s legal and humanrights. Daniel Hazen, Northeast Coordinator with PsychRights, added, "In the UnitedStates the 'mental health' industry is a labeling system that often dismisses self-determination, legal capacity and alternatives. 'Treatment' can be forced throughthe court systems. People ought to 'have their day in court' but this is often farfrom what actually occurs."

MFI is an independent nonprofit coalition defending human rights and promotinghumane alternatives in mental health. The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is apublic interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing what they call the"horrors of unwarranted forced psychiatric drugging and other forced psychiatricprocedures." PsychRights office is in Anchorage, Alaska: http://www.psychrights.org/. TheMFI office is in Eugene, Oregon: http://www.mindfreedom.org/


http://psychrights.org/PR/080304PsychRights-MFI-Shield.pdf

James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq.
President/CEO
Law Project for Psychiatric Rights
406 G Street, Suite 206
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
USA
Phone: (907) 274-7686)
Fax: (907) 274-9493