International hearing voices movement launches website

A new international website for hearing voices providing a gateway for
all things to do with people who hear voices (aka auditory
hallucinations) has been launched.

www.intervoiceonline.org is not only the most extensive resource for
people who hear voices that can be found on the web, but it also
presents a very different way of thinking about the meaning of hearing
voices.

Professor of Psychiatry, Marius Romme, the president of INTERVOICE,
the organisation hosting the website said:

"We think our site is very distinctive from the way mental health and
psychiatric sites usually provide information about hearing voices.
For a start we do not automatically assume that hearing voices is in
itself a problem. On this site we have not only provided information
about ways of overcoming the difficulties faced by the estimated 4% of
women, men and children who hear voices across the world, but have
also provided information about the more positive aspects of the
experience as well as the cultural, alternative and spiritual
perspectives, recognising the historical significance of this
important variation in human behaviour."

On the web site you can find:

Peoples stories, both those of voice hearers and people who work with
voice hearers as well as stories of hope and recovery.
A challenge to the medical model and ideas psychiatry has about voices
as well as information about a more empowering and helpful
alternative.
Information about the work and the contact details for all of the
hearing voices groups and networks working across the world.
Information about research and publications on this new ways of
thinking and working
A news service, an events calander and a links page to other helpful
organsiations and sites
Professor Romme added:

"Most importantly, because hearing voices is a much stigmatised
experience we wanted to create a safe place where people can find out
more about hearing voices and to create an interactive online
community where people can let us know about their point of view or
experience. This means that site visitors can comment on all of the
articles we have published and if they wish contribute their own
articles too. We hope you find you visit to this site stimulating and
positive - and most importantly - hope you will link to the site from
your own websites and let everybody know about it."



Information about INTERVOICE

INTERVOICE was formed in 1997 and is now is made up of 18 member
countries, to date these include Australia, Austria, Denmark, England,
Finland, Germay, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Palestine, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Wales
(with further initiatives being launched in India and Iceland this
year).

INTERVOICE Annual Meeting Every year, INTERVOICE holds a meeting of
supporters, where we discuss new research and practice issues related
to hearing voices. The meeting is also an opportunity for the national
networks to discuss their work and to provide mutual support to each
other. A very important and unusual feature of the INTERVOICE
supporters meeting is that all countires are represented by a voice
hearer and a worker, or as we call them an expert by experience and an
expert by profession. This years meeting is being held in Copenhagen,
next year we meet in Australia.

World Hearing Voices Day, 14th September, 2007 This will be the second
world event. Last year 14 countires participated. The idea for the day
was put forward by Louise Pembroke, a well known voice hearer and
psychiatric survivor from England, The World Hearing Voices Day is
a:
celebration of hearing of voices as part of the diversity of human
experience and increase awareness of the fact you can hear voices and
be healthy;
challenges negative attitudes towards people who hear voices or the
incorrect assumption that this is in itself a sign of an illness, an
assumption made about them that is not based on their own experiences,
is stigmatising, isolating and makes people ill;
raises awareness of the issues facing the estimated 4% of women, men
and children who hear voices across the world.
For more information or any other queries email
admin@intervoiceonline.org