Our #MentalHealth system uses force on at least half of all inpatients.
One ‘justification’ I’ve heard from psychs is this:
“If we didn’t use compulsory treatment we’d be neglecting people.”
Is that so?
Let me call out this dreadful argument on #neglect... (a thread)
1/7
One ‘justification’ I’ve heard from psychs is this:
“If we didn’t use compulsory treatment we’d be neglecting people.”
Is that so?
Let me call out this dreadful argument on #neglect... (a thread)
1/7
Check your #paternalism.
Thinking you know what’s best for others is paternalism. How can you possibly know? Many of us have healed without you.
Try trusting that your patients are the experts on their own lives.
That’s not neglect, it’s respect.
2/7
Thinking you know what’s best for others is paternalism. How can you possibly know? Many of us have healed without you.
Try trusting that your patients are the experts on their own lives.
That’s not neglect, it’s respect.
2/7
Check your #hypocrisy.
The mental health system is already a master of neglect.
You ignore trauma, abuse, homelessness, poverty & other social issues.
You don’t offer talking therapies, peer support or crisis respite. Just meds & shocks.
That’s actually neglect. Sheesh.
3/7
The mental health system is already a master of neglect.
You ignore trauma, abuse, homelessness, poverty & other social issues.
You don’t offer talking therapies, peer support or crisis respite. Just meds & shocks.
That’s actually neglect. Sheesh.
3/7
You won’t like this, but your argument lacks #evidence.
The ‘treatments’ you force on us don’t have great evidence anyway. Then there’s the survivor movement.
If force is so great, why does psychiatry have the largest movement of survivor activists of any health specialty?
4/7
The ‘treatments’ you force on us don’t have great evidence anyway. Then there’s the survivor movement.
If force is so great, why does psychiatry have the largest movement of survivor activists of any health specialty?
4/7
Oh, the argument is also #ridiculous.
Compulsory treatment is harmful. Violating human rights & dignities, using physical force & coercive power.
So don’t be saying that hurting us is a way to avoid neglecting us.
That is ridiculous.
C’mon, you can do better than that.
5/7
Compulsory treatment is harmful. Violating human rights & dignities, using physical force & coercive power.
So don’t be saying that hurting us is a way to avoid neglecting us.
That is ridiculous.
C’mon, you can do better than that.
5/7
Check your cognitive dissonance.
Seems to me that clinicians do know that force is harmful. But their identity is tied to being a ‘professional helper’. It creates painful dissonance.
So they have to make up stories like this to protect their egos.
Be honest now.
6/7
Seems to me that clinicians do know that force is harmful. But their identity is tied to being a ‘professional helper’. It creates painful dissonance.
So they have to make up stories like this to protect their egos.
Be honest now.
6/7
Instead of justifying force, why not try justifying social justice?
Equality? Respect? Choice? Diversity? Humility?
Or that good old one:
Do no harm.
You’ll sleep better. And so will we.
#EqualRights
#CRPD
@JamesMerlinoMP
@MHReformVic
@VicGovDH @SaferCareVic
@RANZCP
Equality? Respect? Choice? Diversity? Humility?
Or that good old one:
Do no harm.
You’ll sleep better. And so will we.
#EqualRights
#CRPD
@JamesMerlinoMP
@MHReformVic
@VicGovDH @SaferCareVic
@RANZCP
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
