The Forum holds a regular public meeting each month. Each meeting starts with a round-up of news about relevant conferences, meetings and other developments. This is followed by a talk given by an invited speaker, which leads to a lively discussion. Recent topics have included drug company funding, the Disability Rights Commission, welfare benefits, the Human Rights Act, link worker schemes, employment and mental health, involvement of pharmaceutical companies in training mental health staff, crisis houses and drug-free mental health care.

In addition the Forum has been involved in a number of demonstrations. Together with Mad Pride and the Critical Psychiatry Network it organised a lobby of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries in July 2001 about the dangers of drug company sponsorship of psychiatric research and the dangers of psychiatric drugs. The Forum organised a demonstration outside the Department of Health in August 2002 about the Mental Health Bill. Forum members also participated in the No Force rally against the Bill in September 2002.

Meetings have a (rotating) chair and secretary, and are often lively and always friendly! There is an emphasis on listening to the views of attenders, and discussing sensitive issues in a way which shows respect for others. People choose what to disclose about their own interest in mental health. The Forum has no funding so a collection is made for the cost of the room – people contribute what they can afford.

Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month from 6.30pm until 8.30pm at The Vestry, St George’s Bloomsbury, 7 Little Russell Street, London WC1. Forthcoming speakers are:

20 April 2004 – Eva Buber, nurse in Women’s Crisis Service

18 May 2004 – Judy Foster, co-chair of Social Perspectives Network

• Notes of previous meetings and details of forthcoming meetings can be found on the Critical Psychiatry Network: http://www.critpsynet.freeuk.com/criticalmentalhealth.htm
• If you want to go on an email list to receive details of each meeting (as well as lots of information about other ‘critical’ activities and events) please contact Dave Harper at d.harper@uel.ac.uk or read the emails at http://www.psychminded.co.uk/criticalmentalhealth.htm
• If you would like to come along then please contact a planning group member to confirm the meeting date and venue:

Chris Freudenberg (c.d.freudenberg@which.net)

Dave Harper (d.harper@uel.ac.uk)

Des Gaynor (des@dgaynor.freeserve.co.uk)

Janet (janetcmhf@yahoo.co.uk)

Louisa Mackrell (Louisa.Mackrell@slam.nhs.uk, 07909 693031)

Mike Slade (m.slade@iop.kcl.ac.uk)