Vesper Moore - Collective Liberation: Navigating the Path to Mental Health Activism and Autonomy

This presentation was a session at the ISPS-US 2023 National Conference in Newark, DE. Thank you to our sponsors, Advocacy Unlimited (advocacyunlimited.org/) and CORAS Wellbeing and Behavioral Health (coraswellness.org/).
ISPS-US promotes psychological and social approaches to states of mind often called "psychosis" by providing education, training, advocacy, and opportunities for dialogue between service providers, people with lived experience, family members, activists, and researchers. Get involved by attending our educational events or joining us as a member to access our network of support, discussion and peer supervision groups, creative sharing spaces, our journal, and more.
Description:
In this thought-provoking keynote presentation, we will explore the journey towards collective liberation and building solidarity between social justice movements. By emphasizing the power of collective action and shared struggle, we aim to inspire attendees to navigate a path that leads to personal autonomy and contributes to broader social change. Drawing upon the conference theme of "Humanity in Solidarity: Sharing the Journey through Psychosis and Extreme States," we will delve into the significance of collective liberation in the context of mental health and disability. Through engaging narratives, critical insights, and real-life examples, we will navigate the complex intersections of identity, experience, and belief. Join us as we embark on a transformative exploration of collective liberation. Through an examination of the challenges and triumphs experienced by marginalized communities, we will highlight the importance of dismantling oppressive systems and working together towards a society that honors and upholds the autonomy of all individuals.
About the Presenter:
Vesper Moore is an Indigenous political activist, leader, organizer, public speaker, and educator in the psychiatric survivor and disability rights movements. Vesper concentrates on building social movements and public knowledge to facilitate and sustain systems change. They have supported the development of mental health peer-run organizations in different parts of the world. Vesper has brought the perspectives of mad, labeled mentally ill, neurodivergent, disabled people, and survivors to national and international spaces with their advocacy. They are the Chief Operating Officer of the Kiva Centers, Board Member at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, NARPA, and Vice President at MindFreedom International. Vesper works with both the United States government and the United Nations in shaping strategies around trauma, intersectionality, and disability rights. They have been at the forefront of legislative reform to shift the societal paradigm surrounding mental health.

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If someone is depressed or demoralized - then he should join happy clapping + stomping classes. Soon people are laughing, since happiness + physiology are being triggered together - which the subconscious mind takes literally. Then it's on to singing in Glee Clubs and other aesthetic Talent Training - which Howard Glasser, Peter Breggin and Madan Katara offer. Soon, he is developing a mental + emotional cathexis & making friends - which is what Mental Health is!