The use of force and coercion in all its forms has no place -- and ought NOT to be tolerated or supported -- in health care treatment in any setting or for any reason.
In the words of Justin Dart:
-- Justin Dart, Jr. is a Disability Rights Movement Leader For more information about Justin Dart, visit:
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Self-determination and independence versus force and dependency
By Morgan Brown
For some time now, there has been much written about and even more talk concerning the "restructuring" supposedly happening in various mental health systems. So far, everything I have read or heard of, indicates to me that all this "restructuring" is nothing more than an attempt to find new ways to do much of the same old thing within these systems and within the societies which foster and embrace them. The use of force within these mental health systems needs to be completely done away with before these systems can truly become ones of "empowerment" for everyone involved. This would be real change, because it is what is needed and because it is also very long overdue. Whether on an inpatient, outpatient, or "community" basis, the use of force or coercion in mental health treatment is clearly wrong. Force and treatment do not go or work together. In fact, each works in opposition to the other. Force fosters dependency, victimization, anger, violence, helplessness, and irresponsibility. However, treatment which is free from the use of force or coercion embodies what is essential to what often becomes termed as "recovery": personhood, self-determination, hope, faith, responsibility, and independence, as well as interdependence. Force does not ensure safety or security; rather, it is the use of force that destroys them. Using force is easy. Choosing alternatives to force may be difficult, or seem so, but it need not be impossible. Many options are available which are not possible when force is the governing paradigm. If the force/coercion paradigm were no longer in place, the power imbalance that currently exists would cease, or at least its base would lose its authority. Resources which are currently being employed to bolster the force paradigm could be used instead, to meet the basic needs of individuals-needs now not met in a way of their choosing, or not met at all. These needs include: non-segregated, non-congregate housing, home ownership programs (designed by persons they are meant to assist and packaged to assist persons living on very low incomes), tenant-based rental assistance programs, income, food, support, training, employment, healthcare and transportation. Meals on Wheels, personal assistance services, and Part B-Independent Living Services can play meaningful and vital roles in supporting individuals labeled with psychiatric disabilities to live independently. However, it would take a major shift in resources to fund these much- needed programs. In Vermont, information regarding these programs and access to them, can be gained through the Vermont Center for Independent Living (V.C.I.L.). We must do several things, including these: End civil commitment and abolish the insanity defense for persons labeled with psychiatric (or emotional) disabilities. Hold people fully accountable for their actions if a crime is committed and then proven within the criminal justice and correctional systems, regardless of whether or not an individual is labeled with a psychiatric disability. Shift resources to fund a system that helps to meet the needs of individuals labeled with psychiatric disabilities in a way of their choosing and make mental health systems completely voluntary. Use vouchers to allow people real choices both in selecting care and/or service providers and the actual care and/or service that they may choose to receive. End the preferred-provider status, sponsored by state statutes, currently in place within community mental health systems across the United States. Often, there are concerns raised about what should be done if someone is "out of control" or "troubled" or "in need of treatment" when their state of mind and/or behavior is being questioned. While the issue appears to be complicated by several factors, including current constitutional law regarding an individual's rights in criminal proceedings, it is my belief that people can be held more accountable by changing how they are treated, by abolishing the insanity defense, and by ending civil commitment of individuals labeled with psychiatric disabilities. Being "out of control" or labeled with a psychiatric disability should not be an excuse and should not be tolerated if a person is proven to have committed a crime. If no crime is committed, but the person appears to be "out of control" or "troubled," they should be offered voluntary assistance only or otherwise be left alone. More tolerance in this manner is actually needed, not less of it. If an individual is not committing a crime, but her or his actions are annoying others, then they should not be detained or interfered with-just like anyone else. Being annoying, a jerk, or "out of control," or being labeled with a psychiatric disability in itself should not be grounds for imposing society's will. We shouldn't be able to hold people accountable for actions that we think that they might do. People should, however, be fully accountable for proven criminal violations of the law. I do believe that it is possible for us to finally rid ourselves of the terrible burden of force and coercion within mental health systems. One of my favorite quotes which I need to constantly remind myself of and which I use often in this charge of work is this one: "Some men see things as they are, and ask, Why? I dream of things that never were and ask, Why not?"-Robert F. Kennedy. These words help carry me through many tough times-both personal and political. I encourage everyone to dream and then to ask, "Why not?" This can be very liberating to one's mind, body and soul, especially when sharing with and supporting each other-as we journey into the unknown together.
There are some among those who are proponents of the use of force in psychiatry that seem to make a big deal about people who are opposed to the use of force, coercion and violence in the name of "mental health treatment" as being "nay sayers" or "no sayers" as if that implys something bad about them or their message. This, of course, is only a projection being put upon them as well as an attempt in negating them as people opposed to such use of force, and their message, in order to distract and reflect from what is the actual topic and points at the heart of the matter and being discussed by those opposed to the use of force under any guise. Since when did it become something bad to oppose and say "nay" or "no" to the use of force, coercion and violence in any form or under any guise? The fact is that this is really all about power. It is about those people who have to use force in order to gain power over someone else in order to then control and dominate that person or group. Of course, as such, they do not want that discussed, explored, exposed or taken seriously. They have to blame or find fault in someone for their use and support of violence. Since when did it become a bad thing to say "nay" to such oppression and tyranny no matter how supposedly well intentioned? I say "NO" to such dehumanization and cruelness. I say "NO" to the question posed by the TV cable network A&E: "Should schizophrenics be forced into mandatory treatment?" I say yes to that which is better in all of us if and when we choose to embrace it and act upon it so we may rise above that which should be left behind. In order to do that, first - yes - we must say "NO" and then act on it and move on. I am saying yes to all the possibilities that lay before us when we embrace life, hope, responsibility, mutual respect, peace and freedom toward a real state of holistic wellness. I am saying "NO" to those forces and people who would take those opportunities away from us: life, hope, responsibility, mutual respect, peace, freedom and holistic wellness. For that, I am proud to be yet another NON-compliant "nay sayer".
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Die gedanken sind frei, my thoughts freely flower, Die gedanken sind frei, my thoughts give me power No scholar can map them, no hunter can trap them No one can deny, die gedanken sind frei, No one can deny, die gedanken sind frei! I think as I please and this gives me pleasure My conscience decrees this right I must treasure My thoughts will not cater to duke or dictator No one can deny, die gedanken sind frei, No one can deny, die gedanken sind frei! And should tyrants take me and throw me in prison My thoughts will burst free like blossoms in season Foundations will crumble and structures will tumble And free people will cry "Die gedanken sind frei!" No one will deny die gedanken sind frei!
This German resistance song was made "popular" in the United States by Pete Seeger and is included on his album "Dangerous Songs." Originally sung by Prussian prisoners of war, it was banned by Hitler and became an underground anthem of prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates during World War II. Some people might recognize it from the sound track of a movie about a great escape from a German P.O.W. camp.
searching for flowers of hope within the snow and ice of a cold, indifferent and hostile world; growing impatient for life's endless winter to pass, since spring's warmth may not be enough to compel these expectant blossoms to rise and flower. like so many others mindlessly trampled, leaving the world barren; desolate of those whose faith, beauty, passion, strength and resolve would usually still be able to rise, had they not had that spirit carelessly plucked from them. by Morgan W. Brown ALL RIGHTS RESERVED March 6, 1999 White River Junction, VT USA
Dedicated to members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) whose Safe Park Vigils inspired this work. Please visit their Web site:
Morgan W. Brown is a struggling, but "serious and persistent" writer, poet and activist. His life experience includes that of psychiatric incarceration, shock treatment (ECT) and also being homeless many times. Morgan advocates NON-violent NON-cooperative active resistance in various activism concerns including and especially for human rights and social justice for people who are "seriously and persistently" psychiatrically labeled or who are either homeless or formerly homeless. He urges that people STOP supporting or otherwise cooperating with any person(s), organization(s) or service provider(s) who either engages in, supports or is otherwise indifferent to forced or coerced mental health and behavorial health treatment. In turn, he advocates for fully funded services and supports which are fully directed by those who use them and that are provided by psychiatric survivors, mental health consumers, clients, ex-patients and ex-inmates -- which are true voluntary alternatives to the traditional forced and coerced medical model system of mental health and behavorial health treatment. Morgan believes that the current traditional medical model system of mental health and behavorial health treatment system needs to become totally force and coercion FREE.
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no_force@looksmart.com
No Force Across America
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