Local protest against mental health profiling Monday 1/21/12 in Northampton, MA

In the days since the Newtown school shooting, the media and politicians of all stripes have used those diagnosed with mental illness as a scapegoat. On the federal level, the White House has released a plan "to reduce gun violence" that includes $55 million in funding for teachers and schools, working with law enforcement, to "detect and respond to mental illness in children and young adults"--i.e. to diagnose them with stigmatizing, and potentially criminalizing, mental illness labels, despite the fact that statistical research shows there is no significant link between mental illness and violence. In New York State, a law has been passed (the "NY SAFE Act") which expands forced outpatient drugging via court order of people diagnosed with mental illness, allows for the revocation of gun licenses for people diagnosed with mental illness, and which requires mental health professionals to report to law enforcement if they believe a patient may harm themselves or others--destroying any possibility of trust between therapists and their patients.

We cannot remain silent in the face of this rush to demonize us and profile us as potential killers. Occupy Psychiatry has called for a National Day of Action to Stop Mental Health Profiling on Martin Luther King Day. This Monday, I invite everyone who can to come to a protest outside Edwards Church (297 Main St, Northampton MA) (on the corner of Main St and State St), at 12pm this Monday, 1/21/2013, Martin Luther King Day. It is being held as part of the National Day of Action to Stop Mental Health Profiling 1/21/13 MLK Day. I will be there with flyers and posters, and posterboard for you to create your own. - Sarah Harper for Freedom Center