A Fragile Revolution: Consumers and Psychiatric Survivors Confront the Power of the Mental Health System

Robert B. MacIntyre, a former professor of psychology at the Ontario
Institute for Studies in Education, is head of the Centre for
Relationship Therapy and Education in Orangeville, Ontario.

Everett’s study examines the recent “revolution” involving
psychiatric survivors and consumers of mental-health services in the
management of mental-health systems, primarily in Ontario. The fragility
of this revolution is clearly documented by recent changes in
legislation and by the stories of those who have been disadvantaged by a
system not willing to share power with its clients.

The historical prospective Everett provides supports her conclusion
that nothing much has changed in the power relationships between
mental-health providers and those using mental-health services. Worse
still, a number of present-day individual treatment facilities have been
shown to be as physically and emotionally abusive as some in the early
1800s, before the start of modern mental-health reform.

The major sources of information for Everett’s study were consumers
and psychiatric survivors and those involved in providing services to
this group. In-depth interviews yielded striking stories of pain and
heroism as people sought help from a system with limited help to give.
The theme of helplessness extended to staff in mental institutions who
also felt powerless to do what they wanted in the face of staff and
budget cuts and legislative changes.

Everett has worked as a mental-health worker and a staff member in a
mental institution. Her book, a powerful examination of the
mental-health system from the inside, presents a strong case for
continued reform in the system.