2. What is the Law Project of Psychiatric
Rights?
• The Law Project of Psychiatric Rights (Psych Rights) is
a non-profit public interest law firm exempted from
federal income tax, under section 501 (c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of the United States on the 6th
November 2002. The code recognizes the firm as a public
charity, rather than a private institution.
4. Mandate…
• The Law Project of Psychiatric
• This would present the courts of
Rights mandate is to oversee the
law with less restrictive
implementation of a strategic legal alternatives available which
campaign, denouncing forceful
would present these
administration of psychiatric drugs
psychological patients an
and electroshock in the United
opportunity to choose their
States.
mode of treatment.
• The campaign highlights the
• In the event that sufficient legal
importance of public education
concerning the truth, and providing pressure is mounted, Psych
alternative options to the drugs.
Rights believes that the courts
• The alternatives they suggest
will not be in a position to
should be non-coercive and non
enforce forced drugging.
drug based, with a reputation of
having led to recovery of many
individuals.
6. Role…
• The role of the Psych Rights organization is to ensure that
there is fairness when handling issues relating to
administration of legal matters in the psychological health
system.
• This is in light with the practices by the public mental
health systems, that are aggravating the situation by their
forceful administration of drugs, widely known to be
ineffective, harmful and with potential risks of addiction.
• Such decisions to force countless number of people to
take such drugs by the courts comes as a result of their
being misled by inadequate and untruthful evidence.
• Psych rights thus undertakes the necessary research on
such, and publishes them on their website.
8. Review of Psych Rights
Website, Resources and Writing
• ‘Home’ and ‘About Us’ page
explicitly underscored who
they are, what they do and
where there are based.
• Among the resources
available on their website
include articles on psychiatry,
scientific research, topics,
video and audio information,
and an archive of
documented files.
• Current social media
functionality is also
embedded with the
availability of a Facebook
and Twitter handle.
• A special sections dubbed
‘Everyday Horrors of the
Mental Health System’, gives
former patients a chance to
share their stories.
• Most of the resources
available on Psych Rights
website are endeared
towards the enlightenment on
issues pertaining to
psychological challenges.
• All the writing and resources
are accessible to all
members of the public.
10. Jim Gottstein
Mr. Gottstein was
contacted by telephone
on February 21, 2014,
and kindly provided his
time to explain some
significant issues
pertaining to his
organization, Psych
Rights. Note that the
following section relates
to this interview but are
not all his direct quotes.
Mr. Jim Gottstein [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
11. Discussion with Jim
Gottstein
In Alaska, Psych Rights
seems to collaborate with
various grassroots based
organizations (like
CHOICES, Soteria-Alaska)
that provide alternatives
for people diagnosed with
mental illness. How has
this collaboration made
Psych Rights' progress
more effective for
consumers and their
families? How has this
progressive perspective
and collaboration
garnered respect in other
states and has any state
shaped similar models (to
Alaska's)?
The collaboration of other Alaskan grass roots based programs have
been “wildly successful” however have continuing funding issues.
The funding that has been received is adequate enough to sustain
progression. Alaska has a special fund called “Mental Health Trust
Authority” fund that was acquired through land in Alaska, once seized
by the State, but repaid in money and land. Approximately $350
million in funds that is used towards mental health initiatives. It’s not
the dollar amount that is key, it’s the way the money and trust is
used:
1) Truly unique and beneficial because it spends the money without
legislative control
2) Improves the lives of the beneficiaries instead of concerning itself
with bureaucratic “spending”, which usually finds a way to save
money on these initiatives.
CHOICES and Soteria house Alaska were co-founded by Mr.
Gottstein. Mr. Gottstein highly touts the work and success of the
Soteria house. He receives many calls from around the world
inquiring about Soteria house. Other States have tried to mimic the
Psych Rights model in Alaska in other states, Vermont is one state
Mr. Gottstein recalls as being a state that is trying to move forward
with a program similar to one like Soteria house, but does not believe
they have gotten very far. There is currently a petition against the
opening of a Soteria type home in Vermont but he’s unsure what the
status is now.
Nb: The Peer Housing initiative, also co-founded by Mr. Gottstein, was terminated due
to a lack of funding and organization of volunteers. It was mostly run by volunteers
12. Discussion with Jim Gottstein
What do you know about the rest
of the States in terms of progress
with respect to alternative care?
Where (which state) do you see the
most forced drugging for mental
illnesses and the most challenges
against alternative solutions?
Despite the amount of progress
Psych Rights has made within Alaska,
Mr. Gottstein stated that he felt that
all states were still doing “terrible”
when it came to rights of mental
illnesses and to the drugging of
individuals, especially children. As
mentioned earlier, Vermont is in the
process of trying to open a Soteria
like program in Vermont but has been
delayed due to objections.
Psych Rights is mostly concerned
with judge ordered forced
medication. Does the order have to
have already taken place?
Psych Rights concerns itself with
strategic legislation and changing
public attitudes. Yes, they will deal
with cases whereby an order has
been made against an individual to
take medication against their will –
unconstitutional. There have been 4
major cases Mr. Gottstein and his
team have won in Alaska and one
recently lost. He is looking to have
this case go before the US Supreme
Court.
13. Discussion with Jim
Gottstein
I like the chart of
medications listed in
your power point
presentation (re:
drugging of children).
Can you please
explain what you
mean by medically
accepted indication
(white areas),
pediatric indication,
not supported by
Drugdex (orange),
and not FDA or
Drugdex supported
(red)?
Simply put, the list of drugs describes what the drugs are
intended for. If the drug is listed in the red column or not
listed at all, then it’s not part of the Medicaid program and
should not be used. However, sometimes drugs listed in
the white column are prescribed for uses that it was not
intended for. For example, Seroquel, a drug created to
relieve symptoms of manic phase of bipolar or
schizophrenia has been prescribed for insomnia.
Therefore, in this Seroquel example, it will not be covered
by Medicaid. But doctors use fraudulent behaviours in
prescribing various drugs for various reasons, not
necessarily what they are intended for.
14. Discussion with Jim Gottstein
There is considerable information on
drugging of children. What are your
thoughts about this?
Mr. Gottstein feels, with much conviction, that
children should not be given drugs that
damage their brain. There is no justifiable
reason to give a child brain damaging drugs
to children with psychotic episodes. Mr.
Gottstein talks about a psychiatrist in
California, Dr. Tony Stanton (see article
about The Seneca Project, article), who
worked with “the most troubled kids” and who
were previously given medication to control
their behaviours. The in-patient residential
program works towards a drug-free
rehabilitation and was very successful.
Mr. Gottstein concluded with again stating
that children should not be given medications
but adults can choose. All persons (namely,
adults) requiring intervention should be
properly informed of ALL their options, not
just medical options, so their decision is
educated.
What are your plans or hopes for the
future of Psych rights?
Gottstein: (Chuckling)…”that the necessity
of it will go away”. Mr. Gottstein seriously
acknowledged that there would not be a
time when Psych Rights services would
NOT be needed; however, he hopes that it
can raise more money for more resources
and more lawyers. In the immediate
future, Mr. Gottstein hopes to make it US
Supreme Court to fight [for due process
rights].
Interview with Jim Gottstein [Telephone interview].
(2014, February 21).
16. Contributions …
• Gives survivors a voice.
• Brings public awareness to the atrocities happening in hospital settings.
• Advocates not only to resolve conflicts for survivors in the past but also
aims to set precedence for an acceptable level of practice in the future.
• Legally represents the arguments surrounding forced pharmaceuticals
such as:
•
•
•
•
The detrimental effects
The drugging of children
The creation of an abundance of adverse side effects
The unwanted and unethical intervention of the court system
• Psych Rights is giving individuals who otherwise would be voiceless, the
chance to advocate for their rights.
• The actions taken by Psych Rights are empowering those who have
been beaten by the system to fight back.
• This is creating global awareness of the mad movement
• Clearly outlines that one cannot be treated as subhuman because of
their mental illness but rather they are human beings with free will.
• Ultimately promotes the choice every individual has to be the most
important part of the treatment decision and process.
18. Historical Importance …
• The Mad Movement is a movement of mental health
•
•
•
•
consumers, former users, and their allies who seek to raise
awareness and support for those affected by the mental health
system.
Its use of media campaigns and global media outlets have
been to take back terms which had been associated with.
This movement greatly opposes electroshock therapy, which
they term as 'torture' based on psychiatric pseudo science.
Mad Movement has been used to raise awareness and reeducate individuals about the truths of the mental health
system and the experience of those living with mental illnesses.
Jim Gottstein, President and activist for Psych Rights added to
Mad Movement's voice, by proclaiming defense to individuals
being subjected to the horrific ‘treatments’.
19. Historical Importance …
• Gottstein also assures the movement of Psych Rights
commitment to exposing this vice.
• Psych rights also committed themselves to ensuring that
attorneys assigned to represent state hospital mental
health consumers dispense their roles sufficiently in order
to ensure adequate and legal representation.
• Psych Rights has actively promoted events organized by
the Mad Movement and helps in its goal of awareness.
• Psych Rights and the Mad Movement have the same
views on many things like electric shock treatment,
however Psych Rights has worked at stopping involuntary
treatments on individuals through legal intervention.
21. Future …
• Psych Rights plans to expand their strategic campaigns
•
•
•
•
•
so as to cover more afflicted mental health consumers.
They also seek to introduce numerous alternatives to the
current mode of medication.
Future goal (as well as current) has focus on the effects
of drugging of children and elderly.
There are also efforts to increase public education
coverage on the issues facing the mentally ill.
This will increasingly empower the rights of the
psychologically challenged, as well as improve their
standing in the society.
De-stigmatization of mental diseases is their core goal at
the current moment.
24. References
Chamberlin, Judi (1978). On Our Own: Patient-Controlled Alternatives to the Mental Health
System. New York: Hawthorne
Gottstein, J. (2014, February 15). Law Alternative And Change [Web log post]. Retrieved from
https://www.madinamerica.com/author/jgottstein/
Gottstein, J. (2013, September 21). Role of Litigation in a Strategic Approach to Mental Health
System Change. Speech presented at Annual Rights Conference of the National
Association of Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA), Hartford,CT. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com
Gottstein, J. (2012, February 22). The Psychiatric Drugging of Children & Elderly. Lecture
Presented at Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK. Retrieved from
http:www.youtube.com
Law Project for Psychiatric Rights. (2014, February 8). Retrieved from
http://www.psychrights.org
Reaume, Geoffrey (2008). A History of Psychiatric Survivor Pride Day during the 1990s.
Resource Centre Bulletin.
