In memory of Esmin Green—take action

We The People

In remembrance of Esmin Green who was murdered-by-neglect at the Kings County Hospital CenterPsychiatric Emergency Room, June 19, 2008. (video of the incident here—this happened again not long afterward in NC to a man who sat in the emergency room for 24 hours before dying in front of staff playing cards)

Mission Statement

We resolve to work from a human rights platform to end involuntary psychiatric treatment and all other forms of abuse and torture in psychiatric systems.

We Are

A group of individuals who identify as having experienced psychiatric atrocities, people who have psychiatric histories, and our supporters.

Objectives

To address existing harmful structures and dynamics of the public mental health system, including:

• Situations in which people’s socioeconomic struggles are mislabeled as “mental illnesses” and then are subjected to psychiatric diagnoses and treatments;

• Failures to provide non-psychiatric alternatives to traditional mental health and community services;

• Violations of international human rights and civil rights; and

• The lack of protection of the lives and dignity of people in emotional distress or crisis.

Strategies

Actions will be collectively identified, researched, and considered through working groups and consensus.  Group members will provide testimonies and demand accountability.  Activism in the areas of advocacy, legislation, media, networking, human rights, and the abolition of forced psychiatric practices will be developed through group deliberation.

For more information:

Go to the Opal Project

Or MindFreedom

Contacts:

Daniel Hazen (315) 528-3385
340 Hudson Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
dan@psychrights.org

Lauren Tenney (516) 319-4295
21 Graham Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10305
laurentenney@aol.com

Les Cook (646) 596-7269
114 West 116th Street, Suite 16
New York, NY 10026
les@dreamweaverspeersupport.org