Fiona French, freedom is bliss

My first impression of psychiatrists in the 1970s was they they were ignorant and dangerous, now in 2021, After 40 years as a service user, and 7 years as a patient campaigner, my view is that they are arrogant, corrupt, ignorant and dangerous.

For years, the adverse effects of antidepressants have been sidelined. Enduring sexual dysfunction, movement disorders, cognitive impairment, and effects on bone and oral health, impact quality of life. Patients live with the consequences. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11…

"The mum guilt was insane" - I know the feeling. thesun.co.uk/health/3857121… Beth had no idea that her AD had safety risks. @AdamUrato1 'Beth says her doctor told her the risk in coming off the drug throughout her pregnancy was "far greater" than any risk Sertraline would pose.'

@ompsychiatrist @Health_Affairs Why is it assumed they are used carefully?

@ompsychiatrist @Health_Affairs What about the children who have lost their lives to suicide because of SSRIs? Was that careful use?

SSRIs in children are used carefully, not casually. For moderate to severe depression, OCD and some anxiety disorders, they can genuinely help, especially alongside therapy. Clinically, we keep it simple: start low, go slow, and monitor closely in the first few weeks. Fluoxetine (8+) and escitalopram (12+) have the strongest evidence. Family involvement and regular follow-up matter. In practice, used judiciously, SSRIs help children sleep, function, return to school, and reconnect. Avoiding treatment out of fear isn’t safer, untreated illness carries real risk too.

"Get a cat, they keep to themselves" Don’t think my cat got the memo 😭

Mourning on Schedule: How Grieving Became a ‘Mental Illness’ By Steve McRae madintheuk.com/2026/03/mourni… #Grief #ProlongedGriefDisorder #Bereavement #MentalHealth #GriefAwareness #DSM #Grieving #LossAndLove #EndGriefStigma

Our eldest Chinook campaigner John Dockerty has died. He was 96 and a wonderful character. He spent more than 30 years seeking justice for his son Chris, who died in the 1994 crash. Our thoughts are with his family. Read more in the @Telegraph uk.news.yahoo.com/chinook-crash-…

John's death causes our remaining families great sadness. He kept up with the campaign every week even recording videos of support last year. He was disgusted that the MoD had allowed the case to fester for as long. How many more of the families have to die before justice.

A study with no measures of adverse effects declares ECT “safe” for adolescents; another bizarre episode in the weird and wacky history of ECT “research” Full article: Electroconvulsive therapy as a treatment modality in adolescent psychiatric patients tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

Before lobotomies were societally accepted as inhumane, they were also vehemently defended as necessary for saving lives. Remember this when you are being attacked for spreading awareness of prescribed harm.

After working in pharma and the FDA, a deep dive into drug research revealed shockingly thin evidence for psychiatric medications. Long-term effects remain unknown, leading to a focus on non-drug approaches and safe medication tapering for sustainable mental health.

The good chum... 🤔

Ed Miliband lecturing us on the climate while burning £800k on private jets and luxury suites in Brazil. Champagne for the eco-elites, poverty for the British taxpayer. The sheer, hypocrisy of the Net Zero cult on full display. It not saving the planet it’s just about control.

@PatMcGorry That is an outrageous claim. Where do you get "90% FEP need meds"? 90% of patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform dx do not even qualify for antipsychotic drug trials, so I'd argue your claim is impossible to make, and totally unproven. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC26….

Many women harmed by mesh feel that who they are now is not who they were. Mesh was not only life changing, it was life destroying. Recovery is rare. Misery 4Life.

This is atrocious. Even in hospital we aren't safe from sexual predators.

Yall took an oath to PROTECT PATIETS! Not your ego. Not other healthcare workers. PATIENTS. Some of yall need to reflect on why you feel the need to blame patients when it is in fact your duty to make patient care accessible & safe

I’m so tired of this so called unspoken rule that we are supposed to side with our fellow healthcare workers…I’ll come to your aid if you rightfully need it but when it comes to patients, I am going to side with the patient unless I have CLEAR evidence they were wrong

“It’s not all medical professional tho” Yes, IT IS ALL! Why is that? Because if you are not actively calling out bad behavior you are choosing to remain silent while harm comes to patients. Unless you are willing to do the hard thing, then you are one of those bc silence kills

I’m so tired of this “but medical professionals would never do that…” & medical professionals choosing to throw patients under the bus instead of calling their colleagues out for the BS If yall would listen to what people are telling you, yes…they would & DO this shit to pts