We challenge the status quo
ISPS-US’s mission is to promote psychological and social approaches to states of mind often called “psychosis,” which often means challenging the biological-reductionistic status quo of mental health care as normal. ISPS-US aims to effect systemic change, within arenas such as the mental health system, education system, media, and systems influencing public policy. Our Advocacy Committee works in partnership with our Executive Committee to advance ISPS-US’s advocacy efforts and engage our passionate membership in collective action.
Learn more about ISPS-US Values and Principles.
Advocacy News
ISPS-US recently submitted a letter to Oregon’s Joint Ways and Means Committee urging legislators to reject HB 2467, a bill that would dangerously expand the use of involuntary psychiatric commitment.
At ISPS-US, we believe that all people deserve access to comprehensive, compassionate, and rights-aligned mental health care. We are deeply alarmed by recent federal developments that threaten this basic principle, namely, the pause on enforcement of the 2024 Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Rule and the proposed cuts to Medicaid outlined in the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s budget reconciliation plan.
ISPS-US supports the goals of the Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery (PEER) Support Act, a bipartisan bill that uplifts and strengthens the critical role of peer support specialists.
ISPS-US has written a letter to New York legislators to reject proposed expansions of involuntary commitment in the state budget. Research shows forced treatment leads to poor outcomes, including increased mortality and crisis-driven care. Instead, we’re calling for investment in voluntary, community-based supports like Housing First, peer support, therapy, and mental health first responder teams — evidence-based approaches that promote dignity and long-term recovery.
The recent New York Times article, Leading a Movement Away From Psychiatric Medication, highlights Laura Delano’s journey in stepping away from psychiatric treatment and advocating for greater autonomy in mental health care. While the article sheds light on important conversations about the harms of over-reliance and over-use of medication, it also includes a troubling and misleading claim: “for people with the most disabling mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, medication remains the only evidence-based treatment.”
This statement is egregiously false.
Interested in taking part in our advocacy efforts? If you’re not already a member, join ISPS-US.
