Keynote address

INTRODUCTION
In many countries of the world a heated and polarising debate periodically surfaces in mental health circles. This debate raises fundamental questions about human rights, duty of care, individual responsibility, the nature of mental illness and the purpose of mental health services. It has been particularly heated in the last 30 years since the rise of the user / survivor movement, and has created huge tensions between different stakeholder groups. This debate has also been responsible for a rift within the user / survivor movement in parts of the northern hemisphere. The issue at stake has even led a small number of survivors to consider the possibility of carrying out terrorist acts.
I’m of course referring to the issue of whether or not we can justify the legalised use of force by mental health services on some people diagnosed with a mental disorder who have not committed a crime.
The stakeholders who dominate this debate, such as mental health professionals, politicians and families tend to support and promote the legalised use of force. Their views are well known, well documented and well reflected in laws around the world that allow for compulsory intervention. But the views of users and survivors who want to see less or no force are relatively marginalised. As yet our views have not exerted any major influence on thinking, legislation or practice. This needs to change.
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This paper is an attempt to bring the perspectives of users and survivors to the centre of the debate on force. It’s possible that this paper doesn’t pick up the all the varieties of user and survivor views of force. I have done the best I can with a body of knowledge that is informal and not fully documented.