Psychiatric Survivors Movement
Psychiatric Survivors Movement
The psychiatric survivors movement is a grassroots effort by people who have experienced psychiatric treatment (often involuntarily) to advocate for rights, dignity, and alternatives to mainstream mental health care. It is closely linked to neurodiversity and mad pride.
Why it matters
This movement highlights the importance of consent, autonomy, and lived experience in mental health. It encourages writers to question dominant narratives about "treatment" and "recovery".
Writing Tips
- Portray characters who resist or critique psychiatric authority.
- Show the diversity of survivor experiences, from trauma to empowerment.
Example
Example "He kept a journal of every pill, every doctor, every time he said no—and every time they listened." Why it works: Focuses on agency and resistance.
Common Pitfalls
- Glorifying suffering or trauma.
- Ignoring the role of community and activism.