David Oaks

David William Oaks

David William Oaks, 2009
Born (1955-09-16) September 16, 1955
Chicago, Illinois
Nationality American
Alma mater Harvard University, St. Ignatius College Prep
Occupation human rights activism and directing MindFreedom International
Movement psychiatric survivors movement
For the American sprinter, see David Oaks (athlete).

David William Oaks (born September 16, 1955, Chicago, Illinois)[1] is a civil rights activist and founder and former executive director of Eugene, Oregon-based MindFreedom International.

Career

Mindfreedom International includes psychiatric survivors and psychiatrists who reject the biomedical model that defines contemporary psychiatry.[2] They believe that "mental illness is caused by severe emotional distress, often combined with lack of socialization", and they "decry the pervasive treatment with prescription drugs, sales of which have nearly doubled since 1998". Further, "they condemn the continued use of electro-convulsive therapy—or ECT, also known as electroshock—which they say violates patients' human rights."[3]

Oaks has stated that the psychiatric drugs that patients take are debilitating and have harmful side effects, and people can recover without them.[4] He has protested against drug companies and participated in hunger strikes to "demand proof that drugs can manage chemical imbalances in the brain".[5]

Oaks has called for "a nonviolent revolution throughout the mental health system".[6]

Oaks was institutionalized and forcibly medicated in the 1970s, while studying at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for what was diagnosed as schizophrenia. He has stated that he recovered by rejecting drugs and getting support from family and friends.[3] Oaks "maintains his mental health with exercise, diet, peer counseling and wilderness trips — strategies that are well outside the mainstream thinking of psychiatrists and many patients".[5] He is on the board of directors for the United States International Council on Disability.[7]

On December 2, 2012, Oaks fell from a ladder, suffered a broken neck and is now paralyzed. He stepped down as executive director of Mindfreedom in December 2012.[8]

Awards and honors

The United States International Council on Disability has listed some honors and awards received by Oaks:[7]

Selected articles

See also

References

  1. The moral imperative for dialogue with organizations of survivors of coerced psychiatric human rights violations, mindfreedom.org; accessed September 27, 2014.
  2. Oaks, David. "Let's Stop Saying "Mental Illness"". MI Watch. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  3. 1 2 David Davis (October 26, 2003). "Losing the Mind". LA Times.
  4. Randy Barrett and Neil Munro (April 28, 2007). "Paved With Good Intentions?". National Journal.
  5. 1 2 Gabrielle Glaser (May 11, 2008). "‘Mad Pride’ Fights a Stigma". New York Times.
  6. Jenny Westberg (January 23, 2010). "David W. Oaks: "We call for a nonviolent revolution in the mental health system."". Portland Mental Health Examiner.
  7. 1 2 3 United States International Council on Disability (April 21, 2010). "David Oaks and MindFreedom International".
  8. "Oaks paralyzed after fall", A Spirit UnBroken; accessed September 27, 2014.
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