Service user and carer issues

Harm Reduction Guide to coming off Psychiatric Drugs

The Icarus Project and Freedom Center, two peer run mental health support communities, are excited to announce the publication of a valuable wellness and recovery tool!

*Harm Reduction Guide To Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs*

This 40-page guide gathers the best information we've come across and the most valuable lessons we've learned about reducing and coming off psychiatric medication. Includes information on mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, risks, benefits, wellness tools, withdrawal, support for people staying on their medications, a detailed Resource section, and much more.

The guide was written by Freedom Center co-founder and Icarus Project staff Will Hall, with a 14-member health professional Advisory Board comprised of medical doctors, nurses, psychologists and acupuncturists providing research guidance. More than 20 other collaborators from the survivor movement were involved in developing and editing. The guide has photographs and art throughout, and a beautiful original cover painting by Ashley McNamara.

Based in "harm reduction" philosophy, the guide emphasizes personal choice and weighing risks and benefits for each individual. It offers non-judgmental support to people continuing to take medication or lowering their dosage, as well as people exploring coming off. The risks associated with psychiatric medication are discussed along with risks of emotional distress and mental health crisis. Years of advocacy at the Freedom Center and Icarus Project have proven the effectiveness of this approach, which is neither pro-medication nor anti-medication, but instead provides accurate information and offers choices and alternatives.

Download a copy here

SPN calls for a service user tsar

Following the appointment of Nicola Smith, learning disabled Tsar working with Rob Greig in learning disabilities, SPN has called for a Tsar with mental health experience working alongside the Mental Health Tsar Louis Appelby. Follow the debate here...

SPN's service user links

Submit your organisation here or check out other service user organisations and projects.

Work on user / carer perspectives

Acute In Patient Wards - Secrets of Success
HCC Slam Findings RG
Moving People Report
Personalisation Study Day Write Up
HCC Problems in Acute Wards
DineshBhugraJune08
In the Red
Personalisation
Stigma Revisited
OM Factor
Coming off medication initiative Rufus May
From the Heart - Leeds Carers
Media Watch
SPN's comments on CPA
Care Programme Approach
SPN calls for service user czar
Values and Methodologies
SUSTN
Shift updates
SHIFT seek speakers
Mental Health stigma challenged
User Controlled Research - Involve
Values and Methodologies For Social Research in Mental Health: A Position Paper
Open Up Toolkit
User involvement in risk assessment
Raza's diary
Service user art gallery

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Thu 23 May 2013