Demonstration & Vigil to Ban Electroshock on Children Under 16 in New York State

Office of Mental Health Continues to Allow Electroshock on Children. On Bastille Day, a Historic Day of Fighting Psychiatric Oppression, Survivors of Electroshock and Allies Speak Out.

ALBANY, NY (07/14/2009)(readMedia)-- 24 HOUR DEMONSTRATION & VIGIL TO BAN THE USE OF ELECTROSHOCK (ELECTROCONVULSIVE 'TREATMENT', ECT) ON CHILDREN UNDER 16 in New York State.

WHEN: July 14- 15, 2009

WHERE: East Lawn of Capitol Building (State and Eagle Streets, Albany, NY)

TIME: 9 AM - 2 PM; 5 PM - 9 AM

WHO: Children and Families in New York State, Survivors of electroshock and allies respond to the Office of Mental Health's continued allowance of human rights violations of children and call for a ban on the use of electroshock on children under 16 years old in New York State.

WHY: The Office of Mental Health released an advisory (7/13/09) allowing the continued use of electroshock on children in New York State. This is a demonstration and vigil for a ban on the use of electroshock on children under 16 in New York State.

Human Rights forums throughout the day.

6 PM Book Forum and Signing with Linda Andre, Author of Doctors of Deception: What they don't want you to know about shock treatment"

12 AM: Midnight Madness: Psychiatric Survivor Movement Movies. Surprise guest speakers throughout the day.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

On Bastille Day, (a historic day for fighting psychiatric oppression), Tuesday, July 14, survivors of electroshock and their allies speak out on the East Lawn of the Capitol Building (at State and Eagle Streets) from 9 AM - 2 PM and 5 PM - 9 AM.

We find it unacceptable that the New York State Office of Mental Health is "unwilling to ban" electroshock on children under 16 years old. We call on NEW YORK STATE and the NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH to demand a ban the use of electroshock on children under 16 years old in New York State.

Electroshock, also known as electroconvulsive "treatment" (ECT) is an extremely controversial procedure. Electroshock courses electricity through the brain to cause a seizure and brain convulsion. Electroshock requires anesthesia, which carries an inherent risk of death. Electroshock is known to cause brain damage, memory loss, bodily injury, apathy, and as reported by survivors of forced - coerced - court ordered - and - without-informed-consent-shock, destruction of life. Electroshock is used in New York State on minors. Several states have banned shock on minors (including Texas, under 16 years of age). Electroshock is often court-ordered and administered over objection on adults in New York State.

"The use of ECT is increasing. More than 100,000 people in the United States are being electroshocked each year; half are 65 years of age and older, and two-thirds are women. Seventy percent of all ECT is insurance-covered. ECT specialists on average have incomes of more than $400,000 a year, twice that of other psychiatrists. The cost for inpatient ECT ranges from $50,000 to $75,000 per series (usually 8 to 12 individual sessions). Electroshock is a $5 billion a year industry. (All the above figures are approximate.)" -- Leonard Roy Frank, Editor, The Electroshock Quotationary (http://www.endofshock.com/102C_ECT.PDF).

Assemblyman Felix Ortiz's proposed legislation, A8779 is a bill that would among other restrictions on the use of electroshock, ban electroshock on children under 16 years old in New York State. We are helping to search for a Senator to sponsor this important and life-saving legislation - please contact us or Assemblyman Ortiz's office if you will help.

Join us on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 on the East Lawn of the New York State Capitol Building @ State Street and Eagle Street to BAN THE USE OF ELECTROSHOCK ON CHILDREN UNDER 16 YEARS OLD.

EVENTS

Human Rights Forums and activities are scheduled throughout the day (9 AM - 2 PM) and night (5 PM - 9 AM).

Book Forum and Signing with Linda Andre, author of "Doctors of Deception: What They Don't Want You to Know about Shock Treatment" at 6 PM.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS and Movement Movies at Midnight. Please see our website for more information. www.theopalproject.org/ectban.html

TO THE PUBLIC: IF YOU ARE - OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS - A SURVIVOR OF ELECTROSHOCK OR OTHER PSYCHIATRIC ATROCITIES AND WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED PLEASE CONTACT US!

NOTE: A media advisory about an action and press conference at the Office of Mental Health, 3 PM July 14, 2009 (44 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY) has also gone out and is part of this 24 hour event.