Madness Radio

How did the New York underground of punk rock music, squatting, and homeless protest give rise to a thriving and innovative peer-run mental health community? Are there creative gifts to be found in the depths of madness? Does the future of Mad Pride lie in the joining of activism with spirituality? Icarus Project co-founder Sascha Altman DuBrul discusses his escape into apocalyptic visions and psychiatric hospitals, and how he was inspired to challenge the identity of bipolar disorder. scatter(at)theicarusproject(dot)net http://www.theicarusproject.netThe post Icarus Project: Sascha DuBrul first appeared on Madness Radio.

Is bipolar disorder a disease? Can medications like lithium correct chemical imbalances and stabilize mood? Do psychiatric drugs act completely differently on the brain than recreational drugs? UK psychiatrist Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, author of The Myth Of The Chemical Cure: A Critique of Psychiatric Drug Treatment, discusses how seeing psychiatric medications as treatments for disease misleads the public about how they actually work, and obscures their potential for abuse as tools of social control. http://www.critpsynet.freeuk.com http://www.academyanalyticarts.org/moncrieff.htm http://www.mentalhealth.freeuk.com/howwork.pdfThe post Bipolar Medication Myths: Dr Joanna Moncrieff first appeared on Madness Radio.

How did the definition of schizophrenia change during the civil rights and Black Power era of the 1960s? Why did a disease primarily affecting withdrawn white housewives suddenly become focused on angry and “paranoid” African American men instead? Psychiatrist and historian Jonathan Metzl, author of The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease, discusses racism and social control in psychiatric diagnosis, and how Black protest was turned into a mental disorder and psychosis was a political tool. jmetzl(at)umich(dot)edu http://bit.ly/byOeIwThe post Schizophrenia and Black Politics: Jonathan Metzl first appeared on Madness Radio.

Is a ‘psychotic’ crisis inside one person’s mind — or does it happen between people, in their relationship? Can therapy untangle the web of madness by addressing the family, providers, and entire social network? Smith College social worker and Fulbright scholar Mary Olson discusses the innovative work of Jaakko Seikkula and colleagues’ Open Dialogue Approach in Finland, which has achieved dramatic success helping people through extreme states labeled ‘psychosis’ and ‘schizophrenia’ — while relying much less on medication and hospitalization. http://www.dialogicpractice.net http://beyondmeds.com/2010/01/04/alternative-for-psychosis http://www.willhall.net/opendialogueThe post Open Dialogue Alternative: Mary Olson first appeared on Madness Radio.

People who hear voices are no more violent than anyone else — but what about the small number of voice hearers that do actually commit violent crimes? Are medications and locked wards the best way to help those who act on their aggressive “command hallucinations?” What is the relationship between trauma, violence, and voices? Dutch psychiatric social worker and Hearing Voices Movement member Erica van den Akker discusses her innovative counseling work with violent offenders in the Netherlands. alpouvar1(at)tomaatnet(dot)nlThe post Violent Voices: Erica van den Akker first appeared on Madness Radio.

The US incarcerates more people than any country in the world – and 70% are people of color. Do we need better mental health care inside prisons — or do prisons themselves cause trauma and madness? Psychiatrist and civil lawsuit expert witness Dr.Terry Kupers, author of Prison Madness: The Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars and What We Must Do About It, discusses overcrowding, racism, sensory deprivation, isolation, and sexual abuse in the disgraceful US prison system. http://www.afsc.org/stopmax http://www.criticalresistance.org http://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rightsThe post Prison Mental Health: Terry Kupers first appeared on Madness Radio.

Can a severe, chronic case of “schizophrenia” ever recover? Is psychotherapy an alternative to medications? What role does trauma play in madness? Hear the inspiring story of how Catherine Penney, RN, was catatonic and locked in a hospital back ward for years, and then emerged to create a new alternative healing community. http://www.dantescure.com http://www.desertgathering.com http://www.iraresoul.com/dvd.htmlThe post Schizophrenia Psychotherapy: Catherine Penney first appeared on Madness Radio.

Leah Harris was orphaned after both parents were diagnosed with schizophrenia and died from medication toxicity. Today she is a leading voice in survivor activism, and her powerful spoken word poetry, including “I Was A Teenage Mental Patient,” has been featured in publications including Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution, and DC Poets against the War: An Anthology. Leah is also the co-coordinator of the US Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry. Buy her new cd “Take Refuge” at the National Empowerment Center: http://bit.ly/7f5kyN http://www.myspace.com/dharmamamaleah http://www.usnusp.orgThe post Survivor Spoken Word: Leah Harris first appeared on Madness Radio.

Can recreational drugs be an opening to genuine spiritual awakening? Brian Hartnett’s passion for rave dance music — as well as alcohol and ecstasy — cost him his career. Doctors labeled his paranoia, telepathy, and voices symptoms of schizophrenia. But Brian went on to become one of the founders of Hearing Voices Ireland, and discover a new, heightened spirituality. http://www.voicesireland.comThe post Ireland Voices: Brian Hartnett first appeared on Madness Radio.

How can a chaotic and oppressive family life lead to trauma and extreme states? Do medications and diagnosis provide help, or can they make things worse? Psychiatric abuse survivor Lisa Darbyshire, Massachusetts organizer with the Freedom Center and the Recovery Learning Community, discusses her personal experiences of hospitalization and recovery, including the struggle with learned helplessness and dependence. http://www.freedom-center.org http://www.westernmassrlc.orgThe post Recovery and Diagnosis: Lisa Darbyshire first appeared on Madness Radio.