Mad in America, the Council for Evidence- based Psychiatry, the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal and A Disorder 4 Everyone are pleased to announce a series of live, online town hall discussions focussing on issues related to psychiatric drug withdrawal. Each town hall will feature a panel comprised of a mix of professionals and people with lived experience. Following the discussion, there will be an opportunity for viewer questions.

For our second discussion, we are asking what science and research can tell us about the experience of withdrawal. We will discuss research effort that has called into question long- held professional beliefs about the effects of psychotropic drugs on the brain and nervous system.

Join us on Friday, March 12, 2021 at 8 AM PT, 11 AM ET, 4 PM GMT, 5 PM CET for a panel discussion that will include questions and comments from the audience. Please note that a minimum donation of $1 applies to register. We will email you a Zoom link on the day. Registration for the live Zoom is limited; we will also live-stream on Mad in America’s Facebook page and post to YouTube afterwards.

Panelists

Giovanni Fava

Dr Giovanni Fava is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has authored more than 500 scientific papers and performed groundbreaking research in several fields. He is editor-in-chief of the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

Peter Groot

Dr Peter Groot is a researcher who started using antidepressants. His own experiences helped him to develop a practical solution proposed by many patients to help prevent withdrawal problems from antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs.

Mark Horowitz

Dr Mark Horowitz is a training psychiatrist and psychiatric academic at University College London who is currently coming off psychiatric drugs. His work and research focuses on how to safely stop psychiatric medication.

Joanna Moncrieff

Dr Joanna Moncrieff is a psychiatrist based in community mental health services in North East London. She also teaches and researches at University College London. Joanna is one of the founding members and the co-chairperson of the Critical Psychiatry Network.

Hosts

James Moore

James Moore has personal experience of psychiatric drug withdrawal and is a keen advocate for greater awareness and understanding of these issues. He hosts and produces the Lets Talk Withdrawal and Mad in America podcasts.

Lucy Fernandes - Chat Moderator

Lucy Fernandes is the Administrator for IIPDW. She was prescribed psychiatric drugs throughout her twenties and withdrew without support. She works towards a greater understanding of these issues for the public and prescribers.

Shira Collings - Technical Adviser

Shira Collings is a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Tampa, Florida. She is passionate about advocating for peer-run services, disability justice, and other alternatives to the medical model.