OUTCRY Conference: An Overview

OUTCRY Conference: An Overview

This website was initially created to publicise the conference, in addition to raising awareness to the issues surrounding the Draft Mental Health Bill. Now that the conference is over, this section is here to give you a brief overview of what happened there. If you want to read a more detailed account (including transcripts of some of the speeches & discussions) then see the conference report section (will be available soon).

What was OUTCRY?

A conference organised and run by psychiatric users & survivors (from PAB) intended to get people together to discuss the implications of the Draft Mental Health Bill. All of the speakers, and the vast majority of delegates, were people with direct experience of being diagnosed with a mental health problem or personality disorder.

When, and where, was it held?

The conference took place on Saturday 20th September 2003, in the centre of London.

Why was it needed?

The Draft Mental Health Bill served to highlight the lack of notice payed to the voices and opinions of psychiatric users & survivors. With the Bill looming, despite wide-ranging opposition, it felt like the right time to join together in raising our voices against legislation based on fear and unfounded hysteria. It was also hoped that plans for a user/survivor/refuser alliance would begin to take shape

What happened?

In my own humble opinion, OUTCRY was a resounding success. I felt enthused and inspired by the messages of the speakers, aswell as the voices of the delegates. My own knowledge of the issues surrounding 'The Bill' doubled during the day, and so did my resolve to stop it being made law. Hearing other people's views and stories made me very proud to be a part of it, and i left feeling that maybe ... just maybe ... we could stop the damn thing from being made law.

There were about 80 delagates, and highlights of the day included:

Mad Pride
Simon Barnett & Michelle spoke about the development of Mad Pride, and on their campaign for better support for mental health service users at risk of suicide

Chris Wright
‘The need for a user and survivor alliance’

Aidan Shingler
Beyond Reason (slide presentation) – Artist Aidan Shingler explored the creative and spiritual potential of schizophrenia and urges us to view schizophrenia as a natural, integral and vital part of humanity’s evolution.

Lynn Harrison
A survivor from Coventry, member of PAB and NoForce, gave a personal account of the service-user/survivor campaign against the ‘daft’ Bill over the past year. Also, explained why the Bill could have devastating consequences for people given ‘personality disorder’ labels, particularly those whose distress leads them to self injure and have ‘borderline personality disorder’ diagnoses.

Dave Tombs
What the bill means to the people who will be affected by it. ‘A personal view’ by someone suffering from severe mental illness, who stands to be the first in line to come under the compulsory powers of the Act because of their diagnosis.

Kiss it!XX
Aiden Shingler launches the Kiss it!XX campaign, a poignant humorous and direct protest against forced drugging and aggressive psychiatric practices.

Speakers Corner
The delagates got the opportunity to voice their opinions regarding various issues, and to share their experiences and ideas with everyone.

User and Survivor Alliance
A workshop/discussion about the forming of a national user and survivor alliance.