SAFE Voices is a growing collection of articles, reports, poetry, podcasts, and videos by and about survivors and families.
Moving Beyond Psychiatric Labels
In 2013, Celia Brown, then Board President of MindFreedom International, shared her experiences with the mental health system. This is her testimonial for the Open Paradigm Project’s campaign, “Moving Beyond Psychiatric Labels.” Ms. Brown was a psychiatry survivor and human rights activist. Her recovery began after joining the survivor movement. She was inspired by alternative approaches to mental health championed by people like Judi Chamberlain and Howie the Harp. In her testimonial, she emphasizes the importance of connection and communication. True healing arises from being heard and having our experiences validated. We must be identified not by a diagnosis or a psychiatric label but by our humanity. We …
Confessions of a Noncompliant Patient
by Judi Chamberlin This article was first published in the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing in 1998. A famous comedian once said, “I’ve been rich, and I’ve been poor, and believe me, rich is better.” Well, I’ve been a good patient, and I’ve been a bad patient, and believe me, being a good patient helps to get you out of the hospital, but being a bad patient helps to get you back to real life. Being a patient was the most devastating experience of my life. At a time when I was already fragile, already vulnerable, being labeled and treated only confirmed to me that I was worthless. It …
To Be a Mental Patient
Rae Unzicker, the first person to be appointed to the NCD Board with a psychiatric disability, was instrumental in arranging for the NCD Board to listen to testimony and having a written report of the findings. Unfortunately, many of the same problems cited, continue to exist today. Rae Unzicker’s iconic prose poem, written decades ago, still resonates today. To Be A Mental Patient by Rae Unzicker’s To be a mental patient is to be stigmatized, ostracized, socialized, patronized, psychiatrized. To be a mental patient is to have everyone controlling your life but you. You’re watched by your shrink, your social worker, your friends, your family. And then you’re …
Never Give Up
This article by Ronald Bassman offers a personal perspective on the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. Summary Four decades after being diagnosed and treated for schizophrenia, the author shares what he feels can be helpful. His transformative journey from being locked in seclusion and being treated with insulin comas and massive amounts of drugs to becoming a licensed psychologist, activist and teacher is described as a means of inspiring hope and perseverance. An invitation is made to think critically about our current state of knowledge and to look at why and how we keep making variations of the same old mistakes. The author speculates on the benefits that …
Soulchosis and Madness
In March of 2024, Dr. Ron Bassman sat with podcaster, Michael Brant DeMaria, to talk about his book, A Fight to Be: A Psychologist’s Experience From Both Sides of the Locked Door. Dr. Bassman talks about his past experiences as a survivor, the role of empathy and feelings in our present culture, his visit to a Zen Ashram, and his work with families (the SAFE project) …
The Invisible Prison
I believe that those of us who have had the good fortune, whether through some combination of talent, opportunity or blessing to move out of our mental patient roles, have an obligation to use what we have learned to help others. I am honored that so many have come to hear me speak. I always know a few of the faces. Some of them have seen and heard me before. I remember their stories, I wish I could recall their names. I want them to know how valuable they are. How do I dare tell my story and say I am a survivor of psychiatric abuse like them? …
From Privileges to Rights: People Labeled with Psychiatric Disabilities Speak for Themselves
In 2000 the National Association of Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) convened a meeting in Albany NY during their annual conference to hear first person testimony about the Psychiatric treatments they received as patients. The testimony was given before the National Council of Disability (NCD) and was submitted to the President of the United States. You can download the report here. Below is the full Executive Summary. From Privileges to Rights: People Labeled with Psychiatric Disabilities Speak for ThemselvesNational Council on DisabilityJanuary 20, 2000View PDF Executive Summary The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal agency mandated to make recommendations to the President and Congress on …