I really must get off this list - would the owners please unsub me?

It is very dispiriting, alarming and enraging to wake up every morning to
all the medical-model stuff you folks are promoting.

I agree with Mary Pat, in the context in which she responded, and believe
that what Sanjay is promoting can be felt or viewed, by some, as blame the
victim.  I'm not however, convinced that this is what he meant to do and
believe Mary Pat might have misunderstood where he was going with this
"wellness" model.

What I hear Sanjay saying is that there are alternatives to the medical
model and that we would do well to explore them. I am in support of this.

Mary Pat mentions "schizophrenia" in the same context as aids, implying
that it is a *medical* problem.  Scratch the surface of the majority of
individuals with this label and you'll find a history of abuse.  To
pathologize and medicalize individuals labelled thus is, in my view, more
blame the victim and not an ethical approach to treatment for those who've
endured abuse.  Of course, it's an easy "fix" and very lucrative for
psychiatrists and drug companies and if we continue down this road,
governments will - as in the case in the US - pay only for treatment if it
includes drugs.  Do we want to go *there*?

Sasha McInnes
p.s.  if anyone on the list is involved with mental health issues and has a
networking vehicle for events, policy issues and related stuff, please keep
me on your distribution list - with my thanks.


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