CAN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM BE REFORMED?

The mental health system today cannot truly be reformed. There are some working within it that seek to be ethical and compassionate, but the reality is that the current system will remain oppressive. We must establish a radical alternative for distressed persons where their voice is truly heard, that is non-hierarchical, based on free agreements, and takes into consideration the oppression that they have encountered. This is what I am seeking to accomplish presently, to offer this place of true sanctuary.


Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
Tunkhannock, PA, USA


www.humanepsychiatry.com

International Center for Humane Psychiatry

SYSTEM OF 'MADNESS'

Looking back at the time when I was in secondary school, I do not recall the level of distressed young people as exists now. I do not recall the existence of 'emotional support' classrooms. I do not remember any peers who were on multiple psychiatric drugs, except for one, and this was in 1992. I see a greater disillusionment and complacency in the present generation. I am theorizing that whereas there was dreadful things prior, that something dramatic occurred which has caused for this new generation of complacency and despair. I do recall the 90's being labeled the "Decade of the Brain", it was also during this decade we saw the expansion of special education to include various 'emotional disorders', and we saw the grip (and now chokehold) that Big Pharma began to exert with the rise of children being placed on psychiatric drugs. Within a shirt period in the nineties, the diagnosis of ADHD went from rare to over 6 million children in the US being given this diagnosis. We saw the beginning of school shootings in the 1990's. I can only surmise that in the 90's began a campaign to spread the lie of 'chemical imbalances', an era of falsehood, propaganda, and greed, which is now putting us into a desparate situation. I believe the economic collapse we have recently experienced and many of the social dilemmas take its roots during this period. We need to explore this further. Is it possible that we have created the tools to drive our children and others 'mad'?

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.com

International Center for Humane Psychiatry
Critical Psychology Coalition

AUTISM: 'HAVING' VERSUS 'BEING'

I believe it is necessary to distinguish between the terms 'having' autism and 'being' autistic. The former implies that the person has an entity that thus must be eradicated or altered or 'cured'. The later implies the way the person interacts with their world, who they are. If we see persons as 'having', then we can use force or coercion to get rid of that entity and make them something other than what they are. If we see the person as 'being', then our efforts are not to alter the person, but to support the person.


Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.

www.humanepsychiatry.com

International Center for Humane Psychiatry

Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Autism Acceptance Project
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania


Dr. Edmunds can be reached for consultation by e-mailing:
DoctorEdmunds@DrDanEdmunds.com

RELIGION'S ALLIANCE WITH BIO-PSYCHIATRY

It is unfortunate that we see religion developing alliances with bio-psychiatry. In the past children in Catholic schools were often tormented by the 'nun with the ruler'. Today, we find that the Catholic Church often operates youth 'treatment' facilities where the nun with the ruler is now replaced by the power of the psychiatrist with his drugs. These programs are not about helping young people find meaning, the objective is to be for the profit of the psychiatrists and the religious institution itself. I am personally aware of many abuses that occur in such facilities however the Church will often gloat about what a wonderful contribution they are making to helping the 'poor, troubled' children.


Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.com

ALTERNATIVE MAINSTREAM RADIO PROGRAM DETAILING DRUG FREE APPROACHES TO EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, PSYCHIATRIC FRAUD/ABUSE, AND THE WORK OF ICHP

The Alternative Mainstream radio program featuring Professor Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D., psychotherapist, child developmental specialist, social activist, and Founder of the International Center for Humane Psychiatry is now archived at http://hthradio.net
This program discusssed psychiatric abuse, drug free alternatives for persons labeled as ADHD, Bipolar, etc. and details some of the work of Dr. Dan L. Edmunds in returning compassion and dignity to the field of mental health.





International Center for Humane Psychiatry
www.humanepsychiatry.com