We are not Anti-Psychiatry, We are Anti-Bad Psychiatry
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Mental illness can be debilitating and in extreme cases psychiatric interventions can save lives. However, psychiatric practice is highly variable with no guarantee that 'experts' will agree on the diagnosis and treatment of any given patient. This is understandable as the boundaries between mental illness and normality are fuzzy, and the safety and efficacy of many common treatments are far from certain. However when you combine this uncertainty with the often desperate desire of patients and their families to 'get better' you have a dangerous recipe for over-hyped but profitable promises of 'revolutionary treatments' and 'breakthrough diagnostic techniques'. (See Diagnosing Bad Psychiatry)
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Our task at PsychWatch Australia is to publish the truth about mental health in Australia, and expose dodgy psychiatric practice and thereby protect patients from avoidable harm. Sadly, dodgy psychiatric practice is so common and our resources are very limited, so it is likely that we will barely scratch the surface. Nonetheless, we do the best we can with what we have got. Beginning in April 2023 at least once a month we will publish a detailed, referenced blog, examining an important aspect of mental health policy and psychiatric practice in Australia.
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Disclaimers - PsychWatch Australia and its publisher Dr Martin Whitely have no connection with any commercial interests, or religion, or any other relevant conflict of interest. Dr Whitely has no medical training and Psychwatch Australia does not offer treatment advice.
Contact - To contact PsychWatch Australia email psychwatchaustralia@gmail.com Media and research enquiries, story leads, and offers to contribute articles are welcome.
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Who are We - PsychWatch Australia is an informal collaboration of psychiatrists, psychologists, epidemiologists, policy researchers and mental health service consumers with lived experience. At least once a month we will publish a detailed referenced blog examining an important aspect of mental health policy and psychiatric practice in Australia. Hopefully eventually we will provide a professional and comprehensive mental health related news service. Irrespective we will do our best to keep you informed.
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Disclaimers - PsychWatch Australia and its publisher and editor Dr Martin Whitely have no connection with any business, religion or any other relevant conflict of interest. Dr Whitely has no medical training and Psychwatch Australia does not offer treatment advice. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors of any item published on this site. Any advertising that appears on this site is not controlled or endorsed by the publisher.
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Right of Reply - We believe in open debate. Any person or organisation referred to in any blog will be able to publish a response (as long as it is civil and not libelous).