Receiving Information Before Consenting to Medication is Important

On May 1st, 2022 WCCO aired a story about metro students who organized a mental health benefit walk.

Funds went to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

My father died of suicide in 1981 and I first sought treatment for depression in 1992 (when I was 19 years old). As many people have learned since Covid began, depression and anxiety is not always caused by chemical imbalances. And indeed, the "chemical imbalance theory" was debunked years ago. In 2017, a press release from the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner stated:

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“I am calling on States to move away from traditional practices and thinking, and enable a long overdue shift to a rights-based approach. The status quo is simply unacceptable.”

He added: “Mental health policies and services are in crisis - not a crisis of chemical
imbalances, but of power imbalances. We need bold political commitments, urgent policy responses and immediate remedial action.”

Mr. Pūras said there was a “grossly unmet” need for rights-based care and support. Progress was being hindered by huge power imbalances in the systems currently used in policymaking, service provision, medical education and research. Other major obstacles included the dominance of the biomedical model, with its overdependence on medication, and the “biased” use of evidence, which was contaminating knowledge about mental health.

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A recently-released documentary called Medicating Normal features five people who claim to have had severe adverse events to psychiatric medication. The film promotes the idea that patient's deserve - and have the right - to receive more information before consenting to being prescribed medication. There are some links on the film's website to many resources which support the idea that the public has not received very complete information about risk/efficacy benefits. Some other people interviewed in the film are doctors, and a prolific journalist on the subject,
Robert Whitaker.

With an abundance of pharmaceutical company sponsored advertisements, and even disinformation published in medical journals, it can be extremely challenging for anyone, even doctors, to get accurate information. In my opinion, however, it's important when talking about mental health and suicide prevention that people are aware medicine is usually not the first and best option available.

Additional Resources:

• Shepherd of the Valley Luther Church group listing (for religious and nonreligious people)
• Diverse list of resources on if-me.org
  
• Benzodiazepine Information Coalition resource list
  
• Grief Beyond Belief (secular/nonreligious resources)
• Warfighter Advance changes the trajectory of the warfighter’s post-deployment life, so that rather than an existence characterized by an endless cycle of mental illness diagnoses, medications, medical appointments and disappointments, the warfighter has a life characterized by pride, productivity, healthy relationships, continued service, and advocacy for the same outcomes for their fellow service members.