BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Demonstration against the Government’s draft Mental Health Bill

Thursday 27th November 2003 12.00 – 2.00pm

Outside Department of Health offices
(Richmond house, 79 Whitehall, London)

A call for respect, dignity and choice within the psychiatric system

This bill proposes to force psychiatric medication upon people living in the community BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. In no other area of health care are people forcibly medicated, and extending compulsion into the community will deter many people from seeking help and support when they need it.

This bill panders to inaccurate stereotypes – by aligning ‘mental disorder’ with ‘dangerous behaviour’. The government intends to use this bill to pre-emptively lock away some people BEHIND CLOSED DOORS who've been `assessed' as being dangerous, even though they've never committed a crime. There is no adequate risk assessment for dangerousness and dangerousness is not a symptom of mental illness. This is a social control bill, not a mental health bill

Many who've experienced contact with the psychiatric system soon discover numerous LOCKED DOORS that prevent access to a wider choice of respectful, non-compulsive support. These proposed changes will do nothing to improve this situation.

The drafting of the government's mental health legislation has largely been carried out BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, with the opinions of people who are subject to the psychiatric system either ignored or given the very scantest of attention. Ignoring this huge base of knowledge and wisdom will not help to improve the mental health services, nor create legislation that promotes greater respect, freedom and choice.

We enthusiastically welcome any fellow users, survivors or refusers to join our protest, along with anyone else who supports our campaign.

Map to Richmond House at: www.doh.gov.uk/about/richmondmap.htm

Nearest tube: Westminster (Jubilee, District, Circle lines)

For more information, or to let us know you're coming along, please contact:

Symon Price 07792064974

Email: bcdcampaign@hotmail.com

Website: www.outcryconference.co.uk

Note: The philosophy of `Behind Closed Doors' is to promote choice rather than force. This means a choice in treatment or coping strategy, a choice in lifestyle and a choice in belief. It means fighting against the prejudices that restrict these fundamental rights and help keep the `DOORS CLOSED'. It means resisting any government legislation that does not properly consult, and seems designed to exploit societal fear and misunderstanding.