12 April 1999 .. a web newsletter for psych. consumers in Australia

" I'm trying to find ideas for a Mental Health Week at Melbourne Uni-hopefully to coincide with World Mental Health Week. Any ideas? " E-mail Catherine .. catherineL25@hotmail.com (consumer and student)

" We write to introduce ourselves to you and also to our "Psychiatric Committee". We want you to know that we are deeply involved in Psychiatric injustices, coercion and issolation that goes on within the three Act's involved to make a person 'Recommended' involuntary. We also have great concerns at the psychotic drugs used (we call them band- aids) We have reservations as to what medicines/drugs these days and days prior are doing to be helpful to any of our Members. We most of the time believe it is emotional problems from circumstances. We are aware that from time to time there may be a need for some medication in a sedative form for a persons welbeing and emotional state.

All in all we are greatly against the Electric Shock Treatment we have seen too much of what all of the above does that is totally injurious to our Members welbeing. We include in the above Guardians from the GAB or an Advocate from the Office of the Public Advocate, these people do take a persons Rights away from them, and we believe that it is vital that the responsibility, accountability, and decision making be in our Members hands to have control of them all the time with a little help from their friends. "

from Judi-Ann Leggetts, Director ... Disability Support Pensioners Australia
P.O. Box 2092, Werribee Vic. ph/fax 03) 9742-5530 e~mail judiann@vicnet.net.au

Perth psychiatrist Hans Stampfer has invented a strap-on device that can diagnose illness such as depression and anxiety. The heart rate monitor can also monitor the effectiveness of medication. At the annual congress of RANZCP, he said "this discovery has the potential to influence practice of Aust. psychiatry".

The device is known as HeartLink; it is attracting international interest and was trialled on over 1000 consumers. Dr. Stampfer commented that "physical evidence can help a patient come to terms with a condition that still carries .. stigma".
from The Australian