We are a peer-run group of Oregonians currently living under the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) who will accept abuse, neglect, and discrimination no longer. Because of a mental health crisis, whether real or presumed, our lives have intersected with the law and a plea of guilty except for insanity brought us into this system.
We individually strive to accept responsibility for our own actions and believe those affected by our actions have a say in our treatment. It is imperative to remember, however, that mental illness is a disease which can affect behavior and the most effective way to help us while maximizing the safety of our communities is to fully engage in recovery-based treatments with community inclusion.
The PSRB, in both the letter of the law and leadership, has failed us and Oregon in this respect. Recent legislative changes, although important, do not go far enough and have been watered down from their original intent. Many of us are isolated in The Oregon State Hospital, are over medicated, are dealing with our own symptoms, or are otherwise limited in our ability to self-advocate. Yet, it seems that change to Oregon’s outdated system will have to be initiated by our efforts.
Therefore, we have two goals:
The immediate replacement of the Executive Director, Ms. Mary Claire Buckley. Ms. Buckley has been found guilty of patient abuse. We believe this fact reveals her underlying philosophy that those with a mental illness are inherently dangerous, an idea not borne out in fact. We believe her aggressive and anti-recovery management style sets a tone for Oregon’s entire system which, in turn, results in physical, psychological and sexual abuse in the darkest corners of The State Hospital and group homes. Many of us live in a constant state of fear which often produces symptoms and a relapse of our mental illnesses in and of itself. Ms. Buckley has provided Oregon with over twenty years of unelected service and it is now time for her to step down. We again ask for Governor Kitzhaber’s quick action to allow us leadership that understands the connection between our well-being and public safety.
To develop a new, world class system of psychiatric health care to completely replace the PSRB. We are committed to interacting with other states and countries to piece together a bill that will benefit all Oregonians. This new system will comply with the federal Olmstead Act, follow the new paradigm defining mental illness, push for community inclusion, and allow for a measure of self-determination. It will recognize that maximum sentencing is profound discrimination and will end the long-term warehousing of the disabled. Oregon will lead the nation.
This is our Arab Spring. As consumer/survivors of this system, we have become experts on it. Our experiences have shown us first hand how broken it is. Not only are these changes vital to our personal success and the success of our communities, they are Oregon’s moral imperative. We will no longer be vilified because of a mental disability. We will never again accept state sanctioned stereotypes and perpetuation of fear. We will have modern, effective mental health care- even if we have to create it ourselves.
Contact us: PSRBfairshake@gmail.com
