Direct Mental Health - Reclaim the Mind - De-program...We are the Mad'icals!

Stanislaus County Radical Mental Health is a grassroots/direct action group of (anti) political antagonists who see an urgent need for addressing emotional and mental crises in the radical community (and abroad). "Mad'icals" are particularly vulnerable to trauma in general life & at the hands of the state, which too frequently leads to individual burn-out and fragmentation of the community. We are committed to helping empower people to negotiate the sustainability of their Madicalism, and encouraging mutual and community-based support grounded in compassionate solidarity, rather than paternalistic intervention. Our goal is to open discussion about alternatives to the current “mental health” system, to provide resources, and to inspire dialogue about unconventional states of consciousness and psychological well being. Many of us have been or are “clients” of the “mental health” system (5150's), some more willingly than others, and in that context some of us have been “diagnosed” with psychiatric labels. We hold different opinions about the validity of those diagnoses, and about the diversity of our states of minds, but we are firmly united in the belief that the system that claims to care for people labeled “mentally ill” is in need of revolutionary change.

We are interested in the autonomous transformation through self-managing our own lives without the support of the State (or little with) or any other authoritative & coercive institutions. We're interested in meeting others that think the same way we do (and of course, others who don't).
We believe it's more empowering to rise above conditions set upon us, ourselves.

Rough draft of our Principles:

* to end all force and coercion, including involuntary treatment and forced drugging;

* to ensure access to resources such as housing is without strings and not conditional on treatment "compliance;"

* to defend human rights and ensure protective laws and regulations are enforced;

* to ensure all treatment decisions are based on true informed consent and accurate information about risks;

* to change drugging as the medical standard of care for psychosis;

* to end all psych drugging of children and offer alternatives instead;

* to support effective alternatives such as nutrition, exercise, holistic health care, nature and animals;

* to provide voluntary, non-paternalistic social supports such as peer-run programs, housing, income, and individual and family therapy;

* to create Soteria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soteria) House-style options;

* to expose psychiatric and pharmaceutical industry myths, propaganda, and corruption;

* to end wasteful bureaucracies and expensive professional elites;

* to break the silence around trauma and abuse;

* to end fear and misunderstanding of "madness" and extreme states of consciousness;

* and to make common cause with movements for social justice and ecological balance.

Stolen from http://www.freedom-center.org/about-us

The purpose of alternatives for substance abuse is quite clear.
The 12-step program has a horrible track record & recovery rate. They claim they have a high recovery rate, & they are the best model for recovery yet the masses speak for themselves when you hear constant criticism of forced doctrine, dogmatic teachings that don’t include social economic disparity, cognitive means & psychology are not even applied. Statistical poles have proven that most people recover without any kind of recovery system, simply consciously. The 12 steps hold the monopoly on recovery. Over 90% of recovery institutions & general practice in the U.S. is 12 step orientated.

We recognize addictions and what it's like to struggle with substance abuse issues. Some of us have spent years in 12 step programs. Some of us don't mind the religiosity & dogmatic practice. Some of us do find it counterproductive & have been rejected by the 12 Steps for criticizing it’s model. 12 step programs thrive on the fact that one is "powerless". We simply deny this & are for empowerment. We view addiction as a behavioral problem with social economic & possible biological ties, rather then preach the "addictive personality" or “disease” concept of 12 step'ism..

The goal is to start dialog around these issues with little to no support or coercion of the State or 12 Step influence. This is a place for self-reliance and do-it-yourself behavior change. Whether your a current user or not or moderate, we don’t necessarily believe that you have to be 100% abstinent. Some of us feel alienated by complete abstinence and enjoy the autonomous decision to use substances, by taking necessary caution in doing so. Some of us do need to be abstinent because we don’t see any other way (for whatever reason be). We are all for a supportive system and mutual aid. Sometimes the best advice is given to us by our friends and loved ones. Sometimes people/friend’s talk shit about us because they don't understand. Either way, we embrace addiction, in all its ugly and beautiful formations.

Solidarity with others and their continual struggle to live and reclaim their lives as there own. Getting active makes shit happen, turn your Rejection into a Weapon!