Mad Pride Ireland Launch National Campaign ‘Decriminalising Human Emotions’ – National radio and online campaign calls for an end to ‘Force’ in Irish mental health

Monday September 5th: Mad Pride Ireland is set to launch its first national campaign calling for an end to ‘Force’ in Irish mental health.  The campaign entitled ‘Decriminalising Human Emotions’ will be launched on Wednesday September 7th at 4pm in the Vertigo Lounge, Cork County Hall.

The campaign comprises three ads that will run on local and national radio across the country, the first tells the story of Josie who after being raped at 17 was locked up by her family because they could not deal with her behaviour, she is now in her 70’s and still locked away.  The second deals with the story of John Hunt who at 30 has spent six years locked away from his partner and son, his family are concerned that he is being over medicated to ill health.  And the third is a call from John Mc Carthy of Mad Pride Ireland to help end ‘Force’ in Irish mental health.  These ads will be backed up by an online campaign and petition run from http://www.madprideireland.ie as well as through Facebook and Twitter.

John Mc Carthy, founder of Mad Pride Ireland said, “Under the 2001 Mental Health Act, the mad community can be forced incarcerated and force treated against our will.  The capacity Legislation is under review. The simple fact of the matter is the UNCRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities) guarantees equal rights to all people with disabilities. Art.14 of the UNCRPD clearly state you cannot lock somebody up because of any disability. It is time for new thinking and new leadership in mental health. Force as treatment is defunct.  Behind the Walls aired on RTE 1 shows this, Mad Pride Ireland are not only featured in this documentary it helped put it together.  You will be horrified by what this will show and what our national campaign will show. It is time for action that will dismantle this current abusive system that relies on force to cure.  Too many are now speaking out. They will not be silenced again.”

David Mc Carthy of Mad Pride Ireland said, “Mad Pride Ireland is hoping to influence the review of the Mental Health Act through a submission to Junior Minister Kathleen Lynch as well as with the help of the wider community by signing our petition calling for the end of ‘Force’ in Irish Mental Health.  Mental health is now at the fore of discussion in the media, in politics, in our daily lives.  We have worked hard over a long period to get to this point, the stories we are putting on the airwaves are just the tip of a massive iceberg, the stories we tell in our campaign are just a snap shot into the darkness, we hope to help shine a light into this darkness and help move society toward more understanding and a more inclusive approach to madness.”

The focus of Mad Pride Ireland is to engage the community through fun and laughter and thereby break down stigma and increase awareness and understanding of the normality of madness.  Mad Pride Ireland also lobby’s for equal human rights for the mad community.  To learn more about Mad Pride Ireland and Mad Pride Family Fun Days and to hear the new ‘Decriminalising Human Emotions’ ads log on to http://www.madprideireland.ie

ENDS:

Contacts for further information:
For Mad Pride Ireland:
David McCarthy
Mc Carthy Consulting