In general medicine the standard for informed consent includes communicating the nature of the diagnoses, the purpose of a proposed treatment or procedure, the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment, and informing the patient of alternative treatments so they can make an informed, educated choice.

Psychiatrists routinely do not inform patients of non-drug treatments, nor do they conduct thorough medical examinations to ensure that a person’s problem does not stem from an untreated medical condition that is manifesting as a “psychiatric symptom.” They do not accurately inform patients of the nature of the diagnoses, which would require informing the patient that psychiatric diagnoses are completely subjective (based on behaviours only) and have no scientific/medical validity (no X-rays, brain scans, chemical imbalance tests to prove anyone has a mental disorder).

All patients should have what is called a “differential diagnosis.” The doctor obtains a thorough history and conducts a complete physical exam, rules out all the possible problems that might cause a set of symptoms and explains any possible side effects of the recommended treatments.

There are numerous alternatives to psychiatric diagnoses and treatment, including standard medical care that does not require a stigmatising and subjective psychiatric label or a mind-altering drug. Governments should endorse and fund non-drug treatments as alternatives to potentially dangerous psychiatric drugs that have been proven no more effective than placebo.

This page was created as a resource for those looking for assistance with medical withdrawal from psychiatric drugs (no one should ever attempt to withdraw from psychiatric drugs without doctor supervision) or those looking for alternatives to psychiatric drugs.

Although CCHR does not condone or promote any specific practitioner, medical organisation, practice or group, we have found the below resources to be helpful for individuals looking for more information on alternatives, legal resources and more. The resources are for both Australian and international organisations.

In his June 2017 report on global mental health care, United Nations Health Rights Special Rapporteur Dr. Dainius Puras stated,

I am calling on states to move away from traditional practices and thinking and enable a long overdue shift to a rights-based approach. The status quo is simply unacceptable.

Mental health policies and services are in crisis – not a crisis of chemical imbalances, but of power imbalances. We need bold political commitments, urgent policy responses and immediate remedial action.

United Nations Health Rights Special Rapporteur Dr. Dainius Puras

Important Note: No one should stop taking any psychiatric drug without the assistance of a competent medical doctor. The information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is not and should not be considered medical advice. Competent medical advice should always be sought.

• Click here to download “Alternatives to Psychiatric Treatment”.

• Click here to download CCHR’s “Mental Health Care: What is the Alternative to Psychotropic Drugs”.

Information About Non Drug Approaches to Mental Health and/or Safely Getting off Psychiatric Drugs

• Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine: has a “Find a Practitioner” search to help locate a medical doctor. The profession of each practitioner is listed above their name. https://acnem.org
• Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA): is an independent not for profit organisation of individual medical practitioners seeking to provide whole person medical care by integrating evidence-based complementary medicine into mainstream practice. They have a “Find a Practitioner” on their website to help someone locate a medical doctor. Put your state (e.g. NSW) into the box which requests:  “Type Keyword.” http://aima.net.au
• Alternative to Meds Center: Residential psychiatric medication withdrawal with medical and naturopathic oversight in Sedona, Arizona. Combining Orthomolecular Medicine and Customized Heavy Metal Chelation Therapies to address Mental Health. http://www.alternativetomeds.com
• Green Mental Health: Holistically-centred mental health care system which reflects traditional environmental, humanitarian, and health conscious values. http://greenmentalhealthcare.com
• Soteria House: Alternative & Non-Drug Solutions for people diagnosed schizophrenic. http://www.moshersoteria.com
• Dr. Giorgio Antonucci: Abolishing Coercive Psychiatry and Achieving Humane Mental Health Care. https://cchr.org.au/abolishing-coercive-psychiatry-and-achieving-humane-mental-health-care

Alternatives to Psychotropic Drugs for Children

• The Block Center: Find and treat underlying health problems in children and information on how children can safely get off of psychiatric drugs. http://www.blockcenter.com
• DrugFreeChildren.org: Informational website on issues surrounding the use of “chemical restraints” on children. http://www.drugfreechildren.org
• The Doris J. Rapp Education Corporation: Vital information on environmental factors affecting health in children and adults. http://www.drrapp.com
• AbleChild: Parents for a label and drug free education. http://www.ablechild.org

Mental Health Patients Rights Groups

• MindFreedom International: is a nonprofit organization that works to win human rights and provide alternatives for people labeled with psychiatric disabilities. http://www.mindfreedom.org/about-us
• International Campaign to Ban Electroshock (ICBE): Founded in 2007 by ECT survivor Sue Clark-Wittenberg, ICBE deems ECT to be barbaric, unethical, inhumane, and torture. http://intcamp.wordpress.com

Complementary/alternative Health

• Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA): is an independent not for profit organisation of individual medical practitioners seeking to provide whole person medical care by integrating evidence-based complementary medicine into mainstream practice. http://aima.net.au
• Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine: has a “Find a Practitioner” search to help locate a medical doctor. The profession of each practitioner is listed above their name. https://acnem.org

Reporting Side Effects of Drugs

In Australia, side effects of psychiatric drugs can be reported by anyone to the drug regulatory agency, the Therapeutic Goods Administration

• Online  https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/reporting-problems/report-adverse-event-or-problem-consumers
• Phone the Adverse Medicines Events Line on 1300 134 237

Health Options & Information

• Naturalnews.com: Independent News on natural health, nutrition and more. http://www.naturalnews.com
• Natural Solutions: Natural remedies & healthy solutions. http://www.naturalsolutionsmag.com
• Natural Health Education: http://www.thepeopleschemist.com

Legal Resources

This link provides a list of legal organisations to make obtaining legal advice easier. It includes information on how to find a probono lawyer (services are free though sometimes they may charge for other expenses. It also covers how to locate a lawyer for all states of Australia).

Living Wills

A Living Will is a document which provides for people of sound mind to reject the imposition of psychiatric treatment should their rights be compromised at any time in their future. For further information on a Living Will, see this link.