About Mad Pride   |   Aims   |   That Mad Pride Name Again   |   Consultation with Survivors

At the 1999 MIND Conference in Blackpool there was quite an extensive debate about the use of the word Mad, and we realised that there was still a significant proportion of user/survivors in the UK who were uncomfortable with the word.  Dr Rachel Perkins - a clinical director of rehab at Pathways Mental Health Trust (SW London) said famously while chairing a Plenary of perhaps 900 people "I am proud to be Mad.  I am a Mad Dyke!"  But people have written to Mad Pride, saying that they are not proud of mental distress "I am not proud of having been mentally ill," writes one.  Now that is not what we mean at all.   The word "mad" is basically a term of abuse.   Remember so once was the word "black".   But people reclaimed the word and used it as a proud badge to be worn along the long march to freedom.   There was Black Power.   There is Black Pride.  So the committee at their October 99 meeting has agreed to model the word more closely along the lines of the Black struggle and to encourage the use of the word "mad" but to capitalise it!!!!!!   It therefore is always to be written Mad to distinguish it as a deadly serious political word - a constant reminder of how we were treated by others, how we are treated by others, but sending out a message that the day has now arrived when we are not going to be treated like this any more.  Another criticism is that because we often deal with pop music and popular culture we are being lightweight and frivolous.   We need to campaign and campaign hard!!!    Well we do not agree that pop music and culture is frivolous.   The UK is very good at this line of activity and what's more there are many user/survivors working in the field.  One of our aims is to leave the psychiatric ghetto and begin to get a bit mainstream.   In a sense what Mad Pride does rather than what it says is the campaign.  Our first priority is to get Mad Pride 2000 on the road.   Then we can get Mad Pride itself to become a democratic organisation - but that takes time.   Meanwhile we will observe and report what other campaign groups are saying.