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So we have all heard about Gay Pride. Black Pride. White Pride (ok, so that last one isn't so, uh, respectable but you know what I mean). We see bumper stickers saying Proud to be Irish (no DOUBT!) or proud to be... whatever you are.
Mad Pride is a growing movement of people with mental illness. They have had parades in several countries including England, Australia, the United States and Canada. They have organizational links in Africa.
The London celebrations are officially known as Bonkersfest. I cannot tell a lie, I kind of smiled when I read the name. Why? Because it's just so....British!
There are vastly different reasons for members of these groups to join Mad Pride. One large group called MindFreedom International is opposed to medical intervention. They advocate exercise, diet and peer counseling and claim 10,000 members. They have protested pharmaceutical companies, demanding proof that their medications can help mental illness. According to MindFreedom, "...Mad Pride celebrates the international movement for creative maladjustment!"
Others simply want to end the secrecy and stigmas attacked to mental illness.
The Mad Tea Party in Chicago, the Icarus Project based in New York and Asheville Radical Mental Health Collective, a mad pride group in North Carolina are some of the growing organizations. CallMeCrazy is a non-profit arts and social service organization, based in Illinois.
Some doctors and psychiatrists are not so keen on these groups. They worry about people with mental illness refusing medication and feel that many in these groups are reacting this way (radically) due to bad experiences with certain mental health professionals.
Tell Us-
What do you think about these Mad Pride groups? Does the term Mad Pride bother you? How about Bonkersfest? Or do you think 'about time!'? If you or a loved one is suffering from mental illness, would you join a group like these or are they too radical for your taste?
www.theicarusproject.net
www.callmecrazy.org
www.bonkersfest.com
www.mindfreedom.org
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Add a Comment1 Comments
Can't say that I'm offended at all. As long as the people who belong to the groups don't find it offensive, why should I? Frankly, I think some of these names demonstrate -- at the very least -- a sense of humor and may be they are demonstrating their creativity.
In my mind, it's about time that the stigma around mental illness dissolved. Don't think I would join a group like this, however, because that's not my tendency, but I think they should be available for those who are more inclined -- and under whatever name they choose.
May 12, 2008 - 1:39pmThis Comment