a better model of care

Mad in America is a non- profit that promotes rethinking psychiatric care in the United States (and abroad). It is their belief that the current drug-based paradigm of care has failed our society, and that scientific research, as well as the lived experience of those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, calls for profound change in science, psychiatry and social justice.

Cognitive Dissonance on display

There are MIA sites around the world whose commonality is a belief that the disease model of care has failed, and we need a new paradigm of care to take its place. A dire need in the current world we live in and one we hope to cast more attention on here at wonder | wander | world.

Their Rehumanize group swelled from 70 members in April 2022 to 260 members by September 2022.  Unfortunately, the group was so large that it became impossible for one volunteer to organize the group. 

In addition, the psychic grief of the group was a lot to bear without paid peer support workers to facilitate deeply disturbing conversations about coercion, medical violence, disabling polypharmacy, and institutional abuse, without re-traumatizing group members in the process.

In the future, we will look back at the mental health system of 2022 as having been such a barbaric time. In the meantime, look into organizations like Project LETS, the Inner Compass Initiative, and Trans Lifeline to meet other survivors.

Look on reddit, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtags #psychiatricsurvivor, #psychiatrysurvivor, #antipsychiatry, #psychiatricabolition, #madpride, #madlove, #peersupport, and more. (When searching using these hashtags, please heed content warnings around medical violence and forced “treatment”) 

Don’t be shy about reaching out to other survivors— most of us are aching for connection. This group started with a few friendly Instagram messages on #FreeBritney threads.