Business Details
26 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Advocating for Human Rights in Mental Health Care
MindFreedom International is a global coalition dedicated to advancing human rights in mental health care through advocacy, education, and mutual support. Founded on principles of dignity and autonomy, we challenge coercive practices, promote alternatives to forced treatment, and amplify the voices of psychiatric survivors worldwide. Our work spans international campaigns, legal advocacy, and grassroots organizing to dismantle systemic oppression in mental health systems. We provide free resources, including directories of alternative care providers, legal guidance, and educational webinars to empower individuals and communities. Through initiatives like the MindFreedom Shield Program, we mobilize public support to protect individuals facing involuntary psychiatric interventions.Our team includes survivors, activists, and experts committed to ending human rights violations such as forced drugging, electroshock, and institutionalization. We collaborate with international bodies like the United Nations to advocate for policy reforms and systemic change. Our volunteer-driven model ensures accessibility to all, regardless of financial means. With decades of collective experience, we prioritize transparency, ethical practices, and survivor-led solutions. Our mission is to create a world where mental health care respects individual choice, human rights, and the inherent worth of every person.
Services
Human Rights Advocacy
Legal Support
Educational Resources
International Campaigns
Survivor Support
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- We lead international campaigns against coercive mental health practices.
- Our team includes psychiatric survivors and human rights experts.
- We provide free resources and legal advocacy for survivors.
- We prioritize survivor-led, ethical mental health alternatives.
- We collaborate with the United Nations and global allies for systemic reform.
What people say
Empowering survivor voices
Effective global campaigns
Invaluable legal resources
Ethical alternatives promoted
Strong UN collaboration
Services
Human Rights Advocacy
We advocate for systemic reform in mental health care by challenging human rights violations globally. Our initiatives include lobbying for policy changes, supporting survivors of forced treatment, and collaborating with international bodies like the United Nations. This service empowers individuals to resist coercive practices and promotes dignity in mental health care.
Legal Support
We provide resources and guidance to individuals facing unjust mental health interventions. Our legal support includes directories of advocacy agencies, toolkits for challenging forced treatment, and assistance navigating psychiatric advance directives. This service ensures survivors understand their rights and access legal protections against institutional abuse.
Educational Resources
We offer free educational materials, webinars, and directories to promote informed decision-making in mental health care. Resources include guides on coming off psychiatric drugs, harm reduction strategies, and alternatives to institutionalization. This service equips individuals with knowledge to advocate for voluntary, ethical care options.
International Campaigns
We organize global campaigns to resist coercive mental health policies and practices. Recent efforts include opposing executive orders expanding involuntary commitment and supporting survivors targeted for advocacy. This service mobilizes international solidarity to protect human rights and challenge systemic oppression.
Survivor Support
We foster community through mutual support networks like the MindFreedom Shield Program, connecting survivors of psychiatric abuse. This service offers emotional support, public advocacy, and resources to individuals facing forced treatment, ensuring they are not isolated in their struggles for autonomy.
People
Celia Brown
Former President
Celia Brown was a psychiatric survivor and leader in the human rights movement. She served on MFI's board, led its United Nations team, and advocated for survivor-led reforms until her passing in 2022.
Jay Mahler
Survivor Advocate
Jay Mahler survived forced electroshock and spent a decade in the mental health system. He founded California's Mental Health Consumer Concerns and is a respected advocate for survivor rights and alternatives to institutionalization.
Vesper Moore
Board Member
Vesper Moore is an international psychiatric survivor and disability rights activist. They serve on MFI's board and consult for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, fighting institutional violence globally.
Jim Gottstein
Attorney and Founder
Jim Gottstein is a Harvard-trained attorney and psychiatric survivor who founded PsychRights. He advocates for legal protections against forced treatment and serves as president of NARPA, a founding MFI sponsor.
Lauren Tenney
Survivor Activist
Lauren Tenney survived involuntary institutionalization and now coordinates The Opal Project. She campaigns against forced electroshock, drugging, and restraints, focusing on human rights and participatory research.
Questions
What is MindFreedom International's mission?
We advocate for human rights in mental health care, challenging coercive practices like forced drugging and institutionalization through global campaigns and survivor support.
How does MFI support psychiatric survivors?
We offer free resources, legal advocacy, mutual support networks like the Shield Program, and educational materials to empower survivors of mental health system abuse.
Can I access MFI's resources online?
Yes. Our website provides free directories, webinars, harm reduction guides, and toolkits on alternatives to psychiatric coercion and legal self-defense.
How can I get involved with MFI?
Join as a member, volunteer, donor, or start a local affiliate. We also welcome interns and professionals to collaborate on survivor-led advocacy initiatives.
Does MFI work internationally?
Yes. We collaborate with the United Nations, operate global campaigns, and have affiliates in Ghana, Ireland, Bangladesh, and other regions to challenge mental health human rights violations.
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