The Independent on Sunday continues its campaign for the fourth week today,

with a front page lead story (below) and six other stories (title and links

below).  The lead story focuses on the the draft mental health bill and

includes the comment from

Alan Franey, former chief executive of Broadmoor, that the proposals are

"harmful".  The other stories are a good mix and I was particularly

interested in the piece by Jeremy Laurance who has researched INSIDE mental

hospitals up and down the country for his book 'Pure Madness: how fear

drives the mental health system' which will be published by Routledge in the

autumn.

(Full story Mental Health: The Fear Factory

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310448 )



A Channel 5 tv programme "Inside Broadmoor" is  to be screened by Channel 5

on 23 July, in which Alan Franey, former mental health boss, says the

hospital has reverted to its restrictive policies of the 1960s and 1970s.

This includes segregating men and women as well as denying patients home

visiting rights.

(Full story Mental health proposals 'very harmful'

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310563 )



The three previous weeks' stories from the Independent on Sunday can be

found on the website www.independent.co.uk by putting "Broadmoor" in the

"search this site" box.



The treatment of the mentally ill that shames us all

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310576

Today psychiatrists attack the draft Mental Health Bill as 'morally

indefensible and ethically corrupt'. For three weeks the IoS has campaigned

on mental health issues, and we share their revulsion at plans for detention

without trial and forcible injections. Britain's mentally ill have a right

to be heard. We will give them a voice



By Sophie Goodchild and Colin Brown Political Editor

30 June 2002

The treatment of the mentally ill that shames us all

The Government's Bill to lock up the mentally ill before they have committed

any offence is condemned today by the professional body which will have to

implement it as "ethically corrupt" and "morally indefensible".

The attack by the Royal College of Psychiatrists - one of the most extreme

by a professional body against government policy since Tony Blair came to

power - is reinforced by the Law Society, Labour MPs and opposition parties.

A powerful alliance of cross-party and professional opposition was last

night forming behind the campaign led by The Independent on Sunday for

justice for the mentally ill who are being denied their civil liberties in

some of Britain's most high-security mental institutions.

The draft Mental Health Bill published last week by Alan Milburn, Secretary

of State for Health, will close a loophole that let Michael Stone go free

before murdering Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan, even

though he had been diagnosed with a dangerous personality disorder.

It will require mentally disordered people to submit to compulsory

treatment, but critics believe it will force psychiatrists to act as police,

locking up people before they have committed crimes.

Controversy over the treatment of the dangerously mentally ill was fuelled

this weekend by the disclosure that a man who attacked 11 churchgoers with a

samurai sword had been released into the community from a high-security

mental hospital after just 21 months.

Under the new Bill, such patients could be forced to undergo treatment

against their wishes even when released into the community. Those with

dangerous personality disorder could be detain indefinitely, even though

they had committed no offence.

The Government faces a possible Labour rebellion unless it backs down over

the most contentious parts of the bill. David Hinchliffe, the Labour

chairman of the Commons select committee on health, told the IoS he could

not vote for the Bill unless it were amended.

Liam Fox, the Tory spokesman on health, said the Opposition would vote

against the Bill as currently drafted. "We are deeply concerned about the

powers over the rights of patients who have committed no offence."

Warning that it will shame our society, Dr Tony Zigmond, a spokesman for the

Royal College, said: "It was driven entirely by the Home Office. It came out

of the Michael Stone and Christopher Clunis cases. If you have an

argumentative son who drinks too much and gets stroppy, he could be detained

under these proposals. We think it is morally indefensible and ethically

corrupt."

He compares the measures to the discredited internment powers in Northern

Ireland in an article today in the IoS. And he warned that some

psychiatrists would not co-operate with the Government if the legislation

reaches the statute book in its present form. He said: "We do not believe

psychiatrists should be used as agents of social control."

Alan Franey, the former chief executive of Broadmoor, yesterday branded the

proposals "harmful" and a "breach of human rights". Professor John Gunn,

chairman of the faculty of forensic psychiatry, who runs a clinic at

Broadmoor, condemned them as "unworkable".



Churchgoers not told of release of 'samurai' attacker

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310566



Mental health proposals 'very harmful'

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310563



Mental Health: The Fear Factory

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310448



Mental Health: 'My doctor sent me to A&E. They offered me tea'

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310444



Mental Health: Have you any idea what kind of life someone detained in

hospital leads?

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310443



Mental Health: 'You could say I am a mad psychologist'

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=310434





posted by rosemary

Surrey UK

www.mentalmagazine.co.uk

"Campaigning for good health & social care...it's for everyone"

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"









[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Addition to message just posted in

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mentalmagazine/message/1399:



The Independent on Sunday Mental Health Campaign -



The IoS feature today also includes -



"Do you have personal experience of injustice in the mental health system?

Or do you have a story to tell?  If so,

write to

Mental Health, Independent on Sunday, Newsdesk, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14

9RS

or

email at mentalhealth@... "



posted by Rosemary

Surrey UK

www.mentalmagazine.co.uk

"Campaigning for good health & social care...it's for everyone"

The Independent on Sunday newspaper continues its campaign for the sixth

week running with two main stories (excerpt and links to full stories below)

and four letters which I've typed below the story links as they will not be

on the net (one letter is from Deborah Tallis - someone of that name is a

member of some of these discussion boards).  These letters indicate

dissatisfaction across the UK with our mental health services and raise

common problems.  My sister was admitted to our local unit in Chertsey,

Surrey, on Jubilee Sunday, 4 June, via the Accident & Emergency Department

and I completely agree with the comment in the first letter from Tom Tully

about the system being so heavy-handed and unwilling to listen that I (the

relative) feel the same paranoia experienced by the patient.  One of the key

requirements in the government's National Service Framework is "involving

users and carers" but this does not happen in practice.



The picture of Janet Cresswell published in the feature on her on 16 June is

used on the letters page today with the caption: "Detained for whose

benefit? Writer Janet Cresswell, above, who triggered 'The Independent on

Sunday' mental health campaign, has been in Broadmoor for 22 years and is

considered 'harmless' by many."  Janet's own letter that she submitted to

the paper - pointing out that she would NOT be released even if she did

accept a diagnosis of mental illness - has not been published, nor a

correction to the number of years Janet has been incarcerated, which is 26

not 22 as stated in the stories.  For information about Janet and to read

"The One Sided Wall" - an autobiographical play written when she had been in

Broadmoor for 12 years and performed in 1989, plus interview with her in the

London Evening Standard go to:

http://www.mentalmagazine.co.uk/#janet



The IoS is also asking for personal stories, with an email contact at

mentalhealth@... or mail address at Mental Health, Independent

on Sunday, Newsdesk, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS



For details of previous weeks' stories:

Sunday 30 June

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mentalmagazine/message/1360

Sunday 7 July

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mentalmagazine/message/1399



Sunday 14 July -



http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=314778  for full

story

Mental Health: Mentally ill tourists cost NHS millions

By Sophie Goodchild and Elizabeth Hollander

14 July 2002

The NHS is paying out millions of pounds a year on private treatment for

mentally ill tourists who are not eligible for free healthcare in Britain.



http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=314779  for full

story

Mental Health: 'As soon as Jack fled, they washed their hands of him'

By Jonathan Thompson

14 July 2002

An investigation has been launched at a controversial mental health hospital

after a patient was able to escape past guards - less than two weeks after a

woman was raped in the same psychiatric unit.



LETTERS PAGE Independent on Sunday 14 July 2002

Write to the Editor at The Independent on Sunday, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14

9RS, or fax to 020-7005 2628, or email to sundayletters@....

Letters should arrive by Thursday noon and include a postal address and

daytime telephone number.  They may be edited for length (250 words maximum)

and clarity.



Picture of Janet Cresswell with caption -

"Detained for whose benefit? Writer Janet Cresswell, above, who triggered

'The Independent on Sunday' mental health campaign, has been in Broadmoor

for 22 years and is considered 'harmless' by many.  (Making victims of the

mentally ill')"



Making Victims of the mentally ill

Four letters:



I was amazed and inspired by your coverage of the state of mental health

treatment in this country and the scary "big brother" type proposals by this

government.

After having to stand by my son as he suffered the consequences of a

drug-orientated, coercive system, your headline "The treatment of the

mentally ill shames us all" (30 June) is spot on.  Last summer my 23-year

old son was causing concern to some of the family.  He had made several

impulsive decisions which had resulted in an unsuccessful trip abroad, some

wasted money and a failed driving test - no more, no less.  He became

withdrawn, preferring not to answer questions on problems he might be having

and so was taken to see a doctor.

Six months, three clinical teams and four (badly prescribed and forcibly

administered) major tranquillisers later and he was reduced to an

incontinent, shuffling, chain-smoking shell of his former self.  A prisoner

without a prisoner's rights.  At one point he wasn't allowed to step outside

for a month.  The system was so heavy-handed and unwilling to listen that

even I felt the paranoia most patients experience when subjected to this

kind of treatment.

Thank you, on behalf of all the good people I have got to know; who are

suffering silently and have no voice.

TOM TULLY

Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne



I was detained under the Mental Health Act for a total of four years, with

14 months of that time in a secure unit.  I have never harmed anyone.  My

only "crime" was that I wanted to die.

If this draft Bill comes into place then a lot of people will end up staying

away from psychiatry and not seeking help at an early stage for fear of

being detained.  Although technically the Bill is aimed  at those labelled

as having "dangerous  severe personality disorder", it could be applied to

many others.  The 3-4 per cent of the population given a personality

disorder diagnosis have particular reason to be concerned.  If there were

appropriate services in place that people could approach at an early stage

then a Bill such as this would not be needed.

DEBORAH TALLIS

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire



Where will the new legislation on mental health leave people like myself who

have the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder because we self-harm

as a means of coping with severe distress?  It leaves the way open for

thousands of women to be treated in a way similar to violent individuals.

Three-quarters of people who self-harm have been subjected to child abuse

and so are already victims.  This Bill victimises us again and is unjust.

LYNN HARRISON

Coventry



This government has continued in the iniquities of its predecessor.  The

quality of care of the mentally ill  wins few votes and the massive

economies that have been made have caused those who are ill to deteriorate

by calculated and cynical neglect.

Virtually all the support services in the community have been reduced to a

Monday to Friday nine-to-five basis, instead of a 24-hour all-week basis.

In East Sussex over Christmas the "assertive outreach" (a kind of intensive

care for quite seriously ill patients) closed down for eight days, leaving

an answerphone.  This is just when it is most needed - and getting an

emergency admission is made very difficult.  In many areas it requires a

very long wait at the nearest A&E - something sure to put off the mentally

ill patient seeking help.

There is understandable  public concern about acts committed by persons

known to have mental health problems.  What the public is usually unaware of

is that in at least two-thirds of these cases the individual did seek help

before they deteriorated and were denied it.  If they do present themselves

later they have often deteriorated and their treatment is then frequently

compulsory, which does not bring about an attitude of trust.  The mentally

ill in the community, however disturbed, need access to asylums staffed by

professionals  24 hours a day; and the police, who have increasingly become

the frontline mental health service, need a place  to which they can hand on

such a client.

Rev HUGH BRIDGE

Hartley, Kent





posted by Rosemary

Surrey UK

www.mentalmagazine.co.uk

"Campaigning for good health & social care...it's for everyone"