I recently found my name linked with this person and, regretting giving him any exposure, feel I must post this again; originally written in 2006
Mind Freedom Spreads their Word
I stumbled, well tripped, over an article written by a Mr. Keith Hoeller. Interestingly, despite the earlier date it is in reference to the same subjects of the earlier NAMI interview I wrote about in my previous post.
Mr. Hoeller is responding to what he titles his article
The Forced Psychiatry Industry
The Bankruptcy of Mental Health Insurance Parity
To give you just a taste he writes,
"Their argument goes like this: Since mental illnesses are real illnesses "just like any other," their treatment should be covered by health insurance just as much as other physical diseases.
But there are two significant ways in which mental illnesses are precisely NOT like other illnesses. The first is that mental illnesses are not illnesses at all. Mental health supporters have yet to produce a scintilla of scientific evidence that ANY mental illness is in fact biologically caused. Psychiatrists have not in fact conclusively proven that any mental illness is in fact a chemical imbalance of the brain (the latest in a long line of psychiatric theories)."
He also states
"We may end up with health insurance that will not pay for the chemotherapy that might cure your terminal cancer, but it will pay for the antidepressants which they claim will alleviate your depression at the thought that you are now going to die."
I decided to learn a little more about Mr. Hoeller's background to find that he is associated with
Mind Freedom International
When it comes to wellness I do like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt as I do feel that what works for one does not necessarily work for the next and it is important that you find what works for best for you.
I visited the Mind Freedom site to learn a little more. There are many claims from "psychiatric survivors" on the site with personal testimony.
I then went to see how one would find out more about receiving help.
This is what the site says
"For members only, on a limited basis, Mind Freedom can from time to time provide advocacy and referrals, to the extent resources are available."
With the all of the grandiose claims these folks make about getting of your meds, I find it highly irresponsible that they can do nothing but refer you to a support group. Even if you are a member, donating dollars, this sounds like their resources are practically null.
Thanks, but no thanks. I will stick to what has saved my life day after day year after year: doctors, hospitals, and medication. The combination of this treatment has saved millions of lives every year. Many people choose to forget these stats.
I have been in hospitals and known many who have been in other hospitals, spoken to hundreds who have been in even different hospitals. Of course these are not vacations at the Ritz, but they were not meant to be. No one that I have dealt with chooses to not be treated, or wishes that they were never hospitalized. They all would go back in a second if they needed to.
I took the time to check out another opinion, treatment option. I only wish that these Crucified folks would not makes such grand statements as "mental illness" does not exist. This only sends those who are teeter-tottering on the brink of a psychotic break over the top. First, the grandiosity of "I can do it all". Next, the crash of a horrible storm. Not to mention the biological dangers of abruptly stopping medication. This alone can cause extreme depression, suicidal behavior, or rage.
Yes Mind Freedom and Mr. Hoeller, you may quote all your stats about kids and adults doing horrible things on meds. I know plenty who are leading productive lifestyles on meds. Why don't you ever site those stats? Why don't you ever site the stats of those on the streets or destroying homes off their meds?
Why don't you talk to some of these parents some time? There are plenty of these testimonies available.
Shame on Mr. Hoeller for saying, writing, printing anything that does not support our government's reform of our health care system. His claim that we will take money away from cancer patients is simply blowing smoke in the air.
I was sceptic of the claims that Mr. Hoeller made. Later, I found another article printed in a Seattle newspaper where two psychiatrists, one from NAMI, write objection letters to his claims. The NAMI representative adding that NAMI will not enter any sort of argument nor discussion with this person.
I now see why and will not give this organization nor Mr. Hoeller another thought.
Mind Freedom Spreads their Word
I stumbled, well tripped, over an article written by a Mr. Keith Hoeller. Interestingly, despite the earlier date it is in reference to the same subjects of the earlier NAMI interview I wrote about in my previous post.
Mr. Hoeller is responding to what he titles his article
The Forced Psychiatry Industry
The Bankruptcy of Mental Health Insurance Parity
To give you just a taste he writes, "Their argument goes like this: Since mental illnesses are real illnesses "just like any other," their treatment should be covered by health insurance just as much as other physical diseases.
But there are two significant ways in which mental illnesses are precisely NOT like other illnesses. The first is that mental illnesses are not illnesses at all. Mental health supporters have yet to produce a scintilla of scientific evidence that ANY mental illness is in fact biologically caused. Psychiatrists have not in fact conclusively proven that any mental illness is in fact a chemical imbalance of the brain (the latest in a long line of psychiatric theories)."
He also states "We may end up with health insurance that will not pay for the chemotherapy that might cure your terminal cancer, but it will pay for the antidepressants which they claim will alleviate your depression at the thought that you are now going to die."
I decided to learn a little more about Mr. Hoeller's background to find that he is associated with Mind Freedom International
When it comes to wellness I do like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt as I do feel that what works for one does not necessarily work for the next and it is important that you find what works for best for you.
I visited the Mind Freedom site to learn a little more. There are many claims from "psychiatric survivors" on the site with personal testimony.
I then went to see how one would find out more about receiving help.
This is what the site says "For members only, on a limited basis, Mind Freedom can from time to time provide advocacy and referrals, to the extent resources are available."
With the all of the grandiose claims these folks make about getting of your meds, I find it highly irresponsible that they can do nothing but refer you to a support group. Even if you are a member, donating dollars, this sounds like their resources are practically null.
Thanks, but no thanks. I will stick to what has saved my life day after day year after year: doctors, hospitals, and medication. The combination of this treatment has saved millions of lives every year. Many people choose to forget these stats.
I have been in hospitals and known many who have been in other hospitals, spoken to hundreds who have been in even different hospitals. Of course these are not vacations at the Ritz, but they were not meant to be. No one that I have dealt with chooses to not be treated, or wishes that they were never hospitalized. They all would go back in a second if they needed to.
I took the time to check out another opinion, treatment option. I only wish that these Crucified folks would not makes such grand statements as "mental illness" does not exist. This only sends those who are teeter-tottering on the brink of a psychotic break over the top. First, the grandiosity of "I can do it all". Next, the crash of a horrible storm. Not to mention the biological dangers of abruptly stopping medication. This alone can cause extreme depression, suicidal behavior, or rage.
Yes Mind Freedom and Mr. Hoeller, you may quote all your stats about kids and adults doing horrible things on meds. I know plenty who are leading productive lifestyles on meds. Why don't you ever site those stats? Why don't you ever site the stats of those on the streets or destroying homes off their meds?
Why don't you talk to some of these parents some time? There are plenty of these testimonies available.
Shame on Mr. Hoeller for saying, writing, printing anything that does not support our government's reform of our health care system. His claim that we will take money away from cancer patients is simply blowing smoke in the air.
I was sceptic of the claims that Mr. Hoeller made. Later, I found another article printed in a Seattle newspaper where two psychiatrists, one from NAMI, write objection letters to his claims. The NAMI representative adding that NAMI will not enter any sort of argument nor discussion with this person.
I now see why and will not give this organization nor Mr. Hoeller another thought.