Dr. Rick Birkel, Director of NAMI Engages in Dialogue with Fast for Freedom in Mental Health

Hunger Strikers & Panelists Reply to Dr. Birkel

A planned Fast for Freedom in Mental Health has received a response from one of the individuals named in the hunger strike statement, Dr. Rick Birkel, Executive Director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Fasters intend to begin a hunger strike on 16 August 2003 unless they receive a satisfactory response from NAMI, the American Psychiatric Association and Office of the US Surgeon General.

For background information on the Fast see:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/hungerstrike.shtml

On 29 July 2003, Dr. Birkel responded to the Fast for Freedom. The strikers and scientific panel reviewed Dr. Birkel's response, and today they sent him a reply that, "Our request still stands."

BELOW is the hunger striker's reply followed by Dr. Birkel's original response.

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4 August 2003

To: Rick C. Birkel, Ph.D., Executive Director National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Thank you for your reply to our Fast for Freedom in Mental Health Statement.

Like you, we deplore the conditions under which our sisters and brothers, labeled mentally ill, suffer on a daily basis.

However, unlike the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, we ask:

"How much of their ill treatment derives from viewing them as diseased organisms, with deficient genes and broken brains? How much of the stigma they endure results from seeing them as helpless creatures controlled by forces that only drugs can subdue?"

For this is precisely the message that NAMI and its allies have been pushing intently for the last 24 years. So far, all indications are that this message has not made things better for those whom you say you represent. On the contrary, it appears to have made things much worse.

The individuals involved in this Fast for Freedom have all suffered at the hands of those who would have taken away their humanity. Respectfully, they ask only for orthodox scientific evidence to back the claims that NAMI, the APA, and the Surgeon General's office have consistently made and promoted.

In response, representing NAMI, you claim the moral high ground and rebuke us for engaging in "ideological" pursuits.

For our sisters and brothers who are forcibly drugged with dangerous and brain damaging drugs... for our sisters and brothers who are experiencing electroshock, solitary confinement, restraints, institutionalization... for our sisters and brothers who desperately seek a choice of humane and empowering alternatives, this is not a question of ideology. This is a question of life or death.

Our request still stands.

We remain open to receiving scientific evidence for your claims at the following addresses and numbers:

Mail to:

Stuart Shipko, MD
97 W. Bellevue Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91105

Fax: (626) 795-3527

E-mail: Al Galves

[signed] Fast for Freedom Hunger Strikers & Scientific Panel

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29 July 2003

From: "Rick Birkel"
To: "Oaks - MindFreedom.org"
Cc: bobc@nami.org, oca@nami.org, darlene@nami.org
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 22:50:08 -0400
Subject: Re: FAST FOR FREEDOM Letter to Dr. Birkel

David,

Tonight, hundreds of thousands of people with serious mental illnesses are fighting for their lives across America. Many are NAMI members. Tens of thousands are imprisoned, homeless, strapped to gurneys in emergency rooms, and at grave risk of imminent harm. These conditions are deplorable and our energies are entirely dedicated to their correction. So, I hope you will understand that I have only a small amount of time to respond to your request ("Fast For Freedom Letter to Dr. Birkel").

I personally believe your proposed actions are ill considered. I believe the course of action you describe will accomplish nothing of value for people with serious mental illnesses either now or in the future. I speak only for NAMI and myself and cannot represent the views of Dr. Scully or Dr. Carmona, however, I offer you this counter- challenge: work with us to achieve better conditions for people with mental illnesses and better access to treatments and supports. If you wish to fast; fast so that people living with mental illnesses who are homeless, destitute, without hope, and in need of help receive better care. I will personally fast with you for that purpose. Remember that neither Ghandi nor Chavez ever fasted solely for ideological purposes, but only in search of justice for the oppressed.

Sincerely,

Rick Birkel
NAMI National Executive Director
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd. Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
703.524.7600