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ERNI Declaration
In signing the ERNI declaration, you are joining with others who are opposed to the medicalisation of human distress.


(ERNI) Declaration: EMOTIONS aЯe NOT ILLNESSES

We support a history and context informed approach to distress that invites everyone to make connections between life events/situations and the various ways distress is expressed. Sense can (and should) be made of distress and we do not need scientifically unsupportable narratives of abnormality to provide explanation.

Implicit within this paradigm is a move from ‘Illness & Diagnosis’ to ‘Personal Narrative and Understanding.’ We ask ‘what has happened to you?’ rather than ‘what is wrong with you?’.

Redundant therefore are ideas that distress (even extreme distress or psychosis) are:

Disorders
Diseases
Dysfunctions
Dysregulations
Chemical Imbalances

We believe in the need for a move away from the concepts of treatment and cure to those involving helping people understand the impact of psychological injury and the role of many different types of adversity.

We believe people experience a range of emotional distress including misery, a sense of failure, despair for the future, self-loathing, worry, loneliness, heart-break (and so on). These things can and do result in great suffering, but they are not illnesses. This medicalisation of distress is largely responsible for the unacceptably ineffective mental health services we currently have.


“From Illness, Diagnosis, Treatment and Cure to Personal Narratives and Understanding.”


In support of the ERNI declaration, Dr Sami Timimi (Author and Consultant Psychiatrist) states,

 ‘To clear up this abominable mess we must first rid our trainings, services, and culture of the pseudo-science that has delivered the diabolical outcomes we have where services are better at creating long term patients, being slowly poisoned by neurotoxins erroneously labelled ‘medication’, than alleviating understandable distress.’
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Please Note.
Whilst, as ERNI minded users of services and professionals, we do not understand distress as illness, and drugs as 'treatment', we recognise that many individuals have been prescribed psychoactive medications that are unsafe to withdraw from without medical support. The declaration does not endorse the withdrawal from prescribed psychoactive drugs without professional guidance and support. We hope that the declaration will encourage robust dialogue across people's lives and the services they access.
I confirm that I wish to sign the ERNI declaration because it represents my own viewpoint (personal or professional). *
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I consent to my name being held on the register for as long as the register is in existence or until I request its removal. *
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I understand that I have the right to request the withdrawal of my name from the register in accordance with GDPR law. I understand that I can do this by contacting ernimovement@gmail.com *
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Please sign JUST ONE of the following two boxes:
I agree for my name to be added to the declaration register, to be shared publicly, and I sign it here:
I agree for my name to be added to the declaration register, but NOT to be shared publicly, and I sign it here:
I understand that in order to demonstrate the volume of ERNI like-minded individuals within a service area or organisation, it is important that data is collected about the number of individuals who have signed the declaration across contexts. I understand that I DO NOT have to provide information about my employer or service provider here, in order to sign the register. *
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OPTIONAL. Please tick the boxes that most apply to you. You can tick as many boxes as apply.
OPTIONAL. I live in the following County / State and Country
OPTIONAL. I wish to share that I work for the following Organisation (I understand that my name will not be shared with the organisation):
I would like to be added to the email mailing list where relevant events and information may be shared by those managing the ERNI register only. I understand that those managing the register will not share my email address with other organisations without my consent. *
Email address (if happy for relevant information to be sent to you)
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I understand that the data within the declaration is to be used as agreed and will be accessed by the administrators only to that end. I understand that they will maintain the data in a secure and encrypted manner. I understand that they may share general data about the volume of signatories and will share my name if I have consented.* * *
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The Objectives of the ERNI declaration are:
1. To connect and make the voices of ERNI-minded professionals more audible
2. To connect and make the voices of ERNI-minded users of services more audible.
3. To make the principles of ERNI more visible.
4. To influence the development of services.
I understand and agree with the objectives of the ERNI declaration. *
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As ERNI minded individuals, we recognise that hearing and telling the stories of using and working in the field of mental health can be incredibly helpful to others. If you would be interested in sharing your experiences, please email ernimovement@gmail.com for information about how this may be facilitated.
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