Mental Health Advocacy Groups Claim "A Beautiful Mind" Distorts Truth about Nash
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. - Claiming that the film "A Beautiful Mind" distorts the life of John Nash, a coalition of 100 mental health advocacy groups issued a public statement on March 6 to Universal asking for an apology and retraction.
Support Coalition International cites a guest commentary in USA Today (3/4/02) by author Robert Whitaker. Whitaker claims Nash refused psychiatric drugs, and this may have aided his recovery.
The film has Nash saying he was taking "newer medications" at the time of his Nobel Prize. Nash says that's pure fiction.
Nash has also been quoted recently as wondering if the fact that one screenwriter's mother is a psychiatrist had anything to do with this distortion.
Whether or not people can recover following a diagnosis of "schizophrenia" without taking psychiatric drugs is a major controversy in the mental health field. Support Coalition International says that Universal (along with Imagine and DreamWorks) apparently caved to pressure, and distorted Nash's life so as not to overly disrespect psychiatric drugs.
Psychologist Barry Duncan, PhD author of the book "The Heroic Client," says the film can actually harm people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, and the public. Says Dr. Duncan, "By all accounts, Nash took no antipsychotic medication after 1970. The 'right message' crafted in the film and promulgated in reviews and echoed by 'experts' do those suffering and the public a great disservice."
Below is the Public Statement that Support Coalition International issued to Universal Studios.
ACTION: You can endorse the call for an apology and clarification by e-mailing a civil note to Universal publicity: julie.brantley@unistudios.com. Please bcc a copy to office@mindfreedom.org.
PUBLIC STATEMENT - March 6, 2002
From: Support Coalition International
To: Universal Studios, Imagine, and DreamWorks Pictures
The film "A Beautiful Mind" has an ugly distortion:
Author Robert Whitaker revealed in a USA Today commentary on March 4th that John Nash's recovery was linked to his refsual to take psychiatric drugs called "neuroleptics."
Apparently bowing to political correctness, the filmmakers instead had Nash claim he was taking "newer medications" at the time he received his Nobel Prize. John Nash and his biographer have confirmed this statement is fictitious. Nash was drug free.
This film is helping millions admire the resilience of psychiatric survivors. But this film also seriously misleads the public. The fact is, many people -- like Nash -- recover without taking psychiatric drugs. By caving in to pressure, the film has become an advertisement for the psychiatric drug industry. Nash himself wonders if the fact that one of the film's writers is related to a psychiatric professional played a role in this distortion.
This film says it was inspired by Nash's life. But it dishonors his hard won victory. On behalf of 100 grassroots groups advocating for the human rights of people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, we request that Universal, Imagine and DreamWorks Pictures issue a public statement of apology and clarification about this distortion.
Sincerely, David Oaks, Director Support Coalition International, http://www.MindFreedom.org
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