Mad Pride Week started yesterday and there are some fabulous events happening all over the country (and the world) to celebrate. The annual celebration seeks to reclaim the terms “mad,” “psycho,” “crazy,” etc. from the media, and through a series of campaigns and events re-educate the general public on issues like the causes of mental “illness”, the real victims of the mental health system, and the global suicide pandemic.
Toronto Psychiatric Survivors started holding a yearly event in Parkdale in 1993, and in 2000 it aligned with Global Mad Pride to create Mad Pride Toronto. From Inside Toronto:
“Mad Pride recognizes the strength and achievements of psychiatric survivors, consumer/survivors and mad people,” said Stackhouse, the director of Friendly Spike Theatre Band and a Mad Pride organizer. “It’s arts education and identity recognition and history.”
If you’re in Toronto, check out this web site for details on how you can participate - events continue until July 20th.
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