Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry

Peter Stastny was born in Vienna, Austria, where he graduated from medical school in 1976. Since 1978 he has been working and residing in New York City. He is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx and has conducted several publically funded research projects in the area of vocational rehabilitation, social support and self-help, in collaboration with individuals who had survived personal crises and psychiatric interventions. Currently, Dr. Stastny is working on the development of alternative services that obviate psychiatric intervention and offer autonomous paths towards recovery and full integration. These activities have engendered a close collaboration with the user-survivor movement, as manifested by joint research projects, publications, service demonstrations, and community work. He is a founding member of the International Network Toward Alternatives and Recovery - INTAR. +++ Peter Lehmann: Born in Calw, Black Forest (Germany). Education as a social-pedagogist. Living in Berlin. Founder and editor, Peter Lehmann Publishing. From 1994 to 2000, board-member of the German organization of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry. From 1997 to 2000, member of the Executive Committee of Mental Health Europe, the European section of the World Federation for Mental Health. From 1997 to 1999, Chair of the European Network of (ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP), since 2002 - 2004 Interim secretary of ENUSP, since 2004, ENUSP board member. Book publications include, Der chemische Knebel - Warum Psychiater Neuroleptika verabreichen (reprint 2005; The Chemical Gag - Why Psychiatrists Administer Neuroleptics); Schöne neue Psychiatrie (1996; Brave New Psychiatry), Vol. 1: Wie Chemie und Strom auf Geist und Psyche wirken (The Effects of Chemistry and Electricity on the Human Mind and Psyche), Vol. 2: Wie Psychopharmaka den Körper verändern (How Psychiatric Drugs Change the Body); Psychopharmaka absetzen. Erfolgreiches Absetzen von Neuroleptika, Antidepressiva, Lithium, Carbamazepin und Tranquilizern (2rd ed. 2006; English ed. Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and Tranquilizers [2004]; Italian edit. Liberarsi dagli psicofarmaci. Riuscire con pieno successo a liberarsi da neurolettici, antidepressivi, stabilizzante dell'umore, Ritalin e tranquillanti [in preparation for summer 2007].