We are the 'Critical Voices Network' of Ireland (CVNI), a growing force for change in Ireland's mental health system.
CVNI began in November 2010, in part, as an honourary tribute to the work and life of the late Dr. Michael Corry, (RIP). CVNI also recognise the work and life of Dr. Corry's partner and colleague, Dr. Áine Tubridy, (RIP). Together Michael and Áine devoted their lives to the cause for the rights of people experiencing emotional distress, and to reform mental health policy in Ireland. CVNI shares the vision of Dr. Michael Corry and Dr. Áine Tubridy.
CVNI is comprised of individuals who have experienced mental health services in Ireland, as well as members from various community groups such as sociologists, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, carers, professors, academics and students. Equally important are the family members (wives, husbands, sons, daughters, siblings, etc) of loved one who have been affected by mental health services. Every member of CVNI shares the ethos that the current mental health policy of Ireland requires immediate reform.
CVNI is a network that works together, practitioner as well as service user, towards one common universal goal of protecting human rights and mental health reform for Ireland. In this context, we all learn from one another as we listen to one another with respect.
Our mission statement includes:
CVNI has already achieved a huge swing in the debate with goodwill from our members. Our focus is on change of attitude and policy, not physical structures. Not a bad goal in today's climate. As an organisation, we have a lot of work to do; but even bigger than our workload is our commitment to change.
In this site, a range of topics are discussed such as, issues of power in discourse, pharmaceutical research, shared personal stories, and drug free approaches that work for many. The pages within this site are full of information that may induce profound thinking about the world of 'mental illness'. And if you are ready, it may also change your world as you know it.
CVNI expresses that none of these pages is intended as advice. If you are taking psychiatric prescription drugs, you may risk serious and irreversible harm should you decide to stop taking these potent drugs 'cold turkey', and/or without the supervision of a licensed, skilled, caring professional. Never stop taking these drugs without understanding the serious adverse effects of incorrectly doing so. For more information on this please visit the Icarius project. Each body is unique and responds differently. This is why we recommend a skilled professional to monitor your blood levels and other homeostatic processes should you decide to withdraw from psychiatric drugs; and to introduce you to social support networks to assist you through this major process of change.
CVNI began in November 2010, in part, as an honourary tribute to the work and life of the late Dr. Michael Corry, (RIP). CVNI also recognise the work and life of Dr. Corry's partner and colleague, Dr. Áine Tubridy, (RIP). Together Michael and Áine devoted their lives to the cause for the rights of people experiencing emotional distress, and to reform mental health policy in Ireland. CVNI shares the vision of Dr. Michael Corry and Dr. Áine Tubridy.
CVNI is comprised of individuals who have experienced mental health services in Ireland, as well as members from various community groups such as sociologists, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, carers, professors, academics and students. Equally important are the family members (wives, husbands, sons, daughters, siblings, etc) of loved one who have been affected by mental health services. Every member of CVNI shares the ethos that the current mental health policy of Ireland requires immediate reform.
CVNI is a network that works together, practitioner as well as service user, towards one common universal goal of protecting human rights and mental health reform for Ireland. In this context, we all learn from one another as we listen to one another with respect.
Our mission statement includes:
- to restore autonomy and respect through promoting humanistic virtues for those in emotional distress.
- to educate the public, including practitioners and government legislators, by disseminating relevant research.
- to lobby our government for change.
- to introduce personal experience as empirical evidence that the biomedical model of psychiatry requires a major overhaul right now, today.
- to identify social based approaches which have proven long term positive results towards recovery.
- to identify the gap in psychosocial services, and how we aim to bridge this.
CVNI has already achieved a huge swing in the debate with goodwill from our members. Our focus is on change of attitude and policy, not physical structures. Not a bad goal in today's climate. As an organisation, we have a lot of work to do; but even bigger than our workload is our commitment to change.
In this site, a range of topics are discussed such as, issues of power in discourse, pharmaceutical research, shared personal stories, and drug free approaches that work for many. The pages within this site are full of information that may induce profound thinking about the world of 'mental illness'. And if you are ready, it may also change your world as you know it.
CVNI expresses that none of these pages is intended as advice. If you are taking psychiatric prescription drugs, you may risk serious and irreversible harm should you decide to stop taking these potent drugs 'cold turkey', and/or without the supervision of a licensed, skilled, caring professional. Never stop taking these drugs without understanding the serious adverse effects of incorrectly doing so. For more information on this please visit the Icarius project. Each body is unique and responds differently. This is why we recommend a skilled professional to monitor your blood levels and other homeostatic processes should you decide to withdraw from psychiatric drugs; and to introduce you to social support networks to assist you through this major process of change.
