Today, Sunday 7 July, the Independent on Sunday has two full pages (8 & 9) on
its mental health campaign and the new mental health bill that it calls
"draconian and inhuman". These stories can be found by going to -
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=312748

The feature today also includes letters - which will not be found on the net.
One letter is from Liz Main, and I am assuming this is the same Liz Main who
contributes to the uksurvivors board. A recent message from her on that (open)
board can be found by going to -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uksurvivors

This is the text of Liz Main's letter published in The Independent on Sunday
today:
"Last year I was detained under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act. Without
committing any crime, I was denied the right to leave a single locked ward with
no fresh air for 23 days, I had no right to refuse medication. I am lucky that
I have a psychiatrist who discusses and negotiates medication with me, and takes
into account the side-effects. Under the proposed Act, people who experience
psychosis will effectively be held hostage to their psychiatrist.
Liz Main
Herne Hill, London

For details of the previous weeks' stories go to message 1360 on the
mentalmagazine discussion board
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mentalmagazine/message/1360


Pippa W - who runs two Yahoo! discussion boards for voice hearers and voicer
hearer supporters has set up a petition opposing the proposed Bill, which she
will be sending to the National Director of Mental Health (the "Czar") Louis
Appleby.
To sign the petition go to -
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/629187504
"Sign now and make your voice heard. This petition will be sent directly to
Louis Appleby, the Mental Health Czar.
This bill proposes forced medication, and imprisonment without a crime having
been committed.
Please sign now to oppose this bill of social control and breaches of human
rights, and pass this on."

For information about Janet Cresswell who has been featured in the IoS campaign
go to
http://www.mentalmagazine.co.uk/#janet
which includes the full text of her autobiographical play "The One Sided Wall"
performed at the Bush Theatre in 1989 and an interview from the London Evening
Standard explaining how the play came to be written.

posted by rosemary
Surrey UK
www.mentalmagazine.co.uk
"Campaigning for good health & social care...it's for everyone"




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