Phyllis Vine

Fighting for Recovery: An Activists' History of Mental Health Reform

We’ve heard the statement “Nothing about us without us!” but do you know the many activists’ stories behind it? Author Phyllis Vine will discuss the sweeping history of activist movements in grossly underserved and misunderstood mental health communities. Hear stories of former psychiatric patients, families, and courageous activists within government and psychiatry who rebelled against inhumane and outdated treatments and policies and created the path that we are on today. Since the middle of the last century, people with a lived experience have upended conventional beliefs that deterioration was inevitable. With an abiding pursuit of choice, they opposed the use of force and built a movement with innovative service options. They focused on person-centered needs, the development of skills with respect for strengths, and situated their work within broad-based fights for equity and social justice.

Phyllis Vine is a historian and journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Slate, Ms., Psychology Today, The Progressive and The Nation. Presently, she is the president of the board of directors of the Gould Farm, the nation’s oldest farm-based treatment program promoting recovery.

Learn more at Phyllisvine.com