EUGENE, OR — FALL 2014 — News Release

David W. Oaks, aka PsychoQuad

A recent blog entry by long-time activist David Oaks is receiving quite a lot of attention among fellow activists working for major change of the mental health industry. In the blog, David tells his friend Marcia’s story of mental health rights abuse and activism. He writes, “Marcia’s story riveted me because it involves activism, madness, psychiatric torture of her beloved daughter, Unitarianism, secret poisoned-pen letters, Scientology and global warming!”  The story is certainly intriguing, and has quickly gathered more than 30 lively comments.

It has been 40 years since David W. Oaks was locked up for the first of five times by the psychiatric system. For 25 years he served as director of MindFreedom International, one of the main independent human rights groups in mental health. Then he broke his neck, and for the last 18 months he has been in a powerchair with a new label of “quad.” He prefers PsychoQuad, and people can find his new website name www.psychoquad.com. David W. Oaks continues to speak out, and he is making waves.

Today, Oaks devotes himself to the intersection of the mental health system, disability and the environmental destruction of planet Earth resulting in global warming. Oaks calls this dangerous combination Normalgeddon.

My very good friend Marcia Meyers of Portland, Oregon is one of the most powerful leaders I have seen in my nearly 40 years of activism in the little-known movement for deep change in the mental health industry. She joined my amazing wife Debra, some friends and me for a backyard party at our Eugene home this summer and brought to my attention an issue that deserves a larger audience. Marcia’s story riveted me because it involves activism, madness, psychiatric torture of her beloved daughter, Unitarianism, secret poisoned-pen letters, Scientology and global warming!

So while I have been blogging for a few years, please understand that this post is the longest one yet. The major web site Mad in America, which is now like the Huffington Post of over-throwing psychiatry and inspired by the books of journalist Bob Whitaker, is picking up my blog for re-distribution. My primary concern here is with honoring the incredible work of Marcia and her group Rethinking Psychiatry. Marcia can teach our whole social change movement an important lesson about unity that can help all people as we struggle against environmental catastrophe, which I call “Normalgeddon.”

I include my top 11 ways that our Mad Movement can reunite, none of which involved any religion.

Thank you Marcia Meyers!

Marcia Meyers, mother of a psychiatric survivor and activist with the Unitarian Universalist church in Portland, Oregon.

Marcia is a 68-year-old, effusive retired teacher, who in her own words, “Identifies, in this order, as a grandmother, a teacher and an activist.” She dedicated 33 years to teaching in the public school system, during which she was active in the teacher’s union, both locally and nationally. Marcia describes this work as foundational to the activism that would follow. As she puts it, “From my many years of teaching and my years of union work I honed my skills as an organizer and activist.”

Marcia retired in 1999 and attended the World Trade Organization protest, the huge Battle in Seattle, later that year. This event was particularly transformative. She told me, “The new and privileged freedom of retirement along with this historic event catapulted me into local and national economic justice activist work.” It was in the wake of the Battle in Seattle that Marcia began her work with the Economic Justice Action Group of the First Unitarian Church of Portland. This branch of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) church is one of the largest congregations ever, and for five years, has provided a safe, supportive home and platform for Marcia to fight corporate personhood.

Debra with her husband David.

Would you like to work for a few hours a week for a social change activist? I need someone to support my activism and writing projects about two to six hours per week, more or less.

Below are my criteria. If you are possibly interested, just email me.

Necessary:

Writing skills: You are a good writer and proofreader.

Attitude: You are a self-starter, friendly with good communication skills, including the ability to hear someone with a disabled, soft voice.

Basic computer abilities: You are fairly comfortable on both PC and Mac’s.

Transport: You can visit me in my Churchill-area home, though some of your work can be done from your home.

Activist friendly: You support the principles of social change, such as stopping global warming.

This fundraising event for me went very well and we want to thank everybody who helped: The bands, poster-makers, donors, participants, and too many to mention here. Friendship gave me such a vision of joy that clearly this gift of community won that day!

Here is my original message:

Below, my friends have sent out this announcement about a benefit with two great bands, on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Please spread the word and if possible join me for the festivities! You may want to arrive early because the event is only two hours long.

By the way, there are musicians in both bands who have had decades at the Oregon Country Fair. Hopefully, both will play songs they have written with an OCF theme!

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Please HELP us promote this event by spreading the word, and by printing and posting the attached 8×11 flyer: oaks-201406-poster-8×11

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The Friends of David Oaks Fundraising Committee invite you to enjoy a very special evening of entertainment at Cozmic featuring STEEL WOOL and THE REFRESHMENTS on June 26, 2014 from 6 to 8 pm.

Debra and David here. As many of you know, David broke his neck in December 2012. It is now almost summer of 2014, so we are still somewhat new to this. we have many questions! It occurred to us that we should ask these questions of many people, because our networks want to help and we know there are many of you who can help answer these questions but we have not met you yet!

OK, here are some questions that we may add to later as more come to us:

Have you wanted a great job, with a decent pay rate and benefits, that helps people?

Home Care Workers are wanted now, both for substitute positions and permanent shifts.  For the past year I have been an employer of Home Care Workers, paid by the government. We have a great crew, but we have some gaps we need to fill.

If you are a caring person, with good communication skills, please apply simply by emailing me about your interest.  My email is davidwoaks@gmail.com

Below find lots more info.

Training is available free, for any of the task that may be new to you. You may apply for these positions with or without a Provider Number. If you do not have a Provider Number,  I can help you get one which may open a whole new career for you!

Thanks for your interest in supporting my independent living.  Please tell likely candidates in the Eugene-area about my help wanted.  Here are three tools, Click Here:

1.  My actual Help Wanted info. You will see I am immediately hiring both substitutes and permanent positions. 

2.  You will read here the Top 10 Reasons to Join Team Oaks.  Wow, as if it is not exciting enough already!

3.  You will find here a simple one-page PDF flyer that you may forward, download, print, give out.  You will see a nice color photo of me and my wonderful wife Debra! Click Here:  oakshelpwanted2014

Whatever you do, wherever you live, please consider leaving a comment here, or any of my entries on my Help Wanted, to help encourage this group effort. You may say why people might like Team Oaks! Or you may comment with your idea to assist this Help Wanted campaign. Or just comment with your “way to go” to encourage everyone!

While our crew is full, almost every other week we are including a fill-in sub, so while there is no guarantee, this is one way to get a permanent shift.