Will Hall
Encyclopedia
Will Hall is a mental health advocate, writer, and counselor. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he is recognized internationally as a leading organizer with the psychiatric survivors movement
. In 2001 he co-founded the Freedom Center
and in 2005 became a co-coordinator of The Icarus Project. He has consulted with Mental Disability Rights International
, the Family Outreach and Response Program, and the Federal Office on Violence Against Women
. Hall hosts the FM radio program Madness Radio, syndicated on the Pacifica Network, and in 2009 co-founded Portland Hearing Voices. He lives in Portland Oregon, where he studies Process Oriented Psychology
and has a counseling practice.
's Environmental Project on Central America, and traveled to El Salvador and Nicaragua during the civil wars in those countries.
In 1990 Hall began to suffer a deterioration of his mental and emotional health, and was involuntarily committed to San Francisco General Hospital in 1992. He spent a year in the public mental health system, including restraints, solitary confinement, and more than 2 months in locked wards at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder schizophrenia.
After leaving the traditional mental health system in 1993 Hall stopped taking psychiatric medications and began to reestablish his wellbeing using holistic health, spiritual training, and social supports. In 1996 he worked in the planning department of the advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy
, and in 1997 became at student at the California Institute of Integral Studies
. After another crisis in 1999, he left school and spent six months at the alternative residential facility Burch House in New Hampshire. In 2000 Hall moved to Northampton, Massachusetts, where he worked for five years at Broadside Bookshop.
In 2001 he began speaking publicly about his mental health experiences, and with Oryx Cohen co-founded and did peer counseling at the Freedom Center
, a support, advocacy, and activism community run by people with psychiatric diagnoses. In 2004 he joined the co-coordinator collective of The Icarus Project and is author of the Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs. He is Director of Portland Hearing Voices in Portland Oregon, and has worked as a consultant for Mental Disability Rights International
and done talks and trainings in 7 countries. Will is also a therapist in private practice based on Process Oriented Psychology
.
In 2000 Hall wrote about the pirate radio movement for GovWorks.com, and in 2002 joined activist Ed Russell to initiate a volunteer run, low-power Pacifica affiliate FM community radio station in Florence, Massachusetts, Valley Free Radio. He is host of Madness Radio an interview format radio show begun on VFR and now syndicated on the Pacifica Network, including KBOO
in Oregon.
Psychiatric survivors movement
The psychiatric survivors movement is a diverse association of individuals who are either currently clients of mental health services , or who consider themselves survivors of interventions by psychiatry, or who identify themselves as ex-patients of mental health services...
. In 2001 he co-founded the Freedom Center
Freedom Center (mental health organization)
Founded by Oryx Cohen and Will Hall, the Freedom Center is a Northampton, Massachusetts-based support, activism, and human rights community run by and for people diagnosed with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive...
and in 2005 became a co-coordinator of The Icarus Project. He has consulted with Mental Disability Rights International
Mental Disability Rights International
Disability Rights International , is a Washington, DC based human rights advocacy organization that documents conditions, publishes reports, and promotes international oversight of the rights of mentally disabled people...
, the Family Outreach and Response Program, and the Federal Office on Violence Against Women
Office on Violence Against Women
The Office on Violence Against Women , a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides national leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act ....
. Hall hosts the FM radio program Madness Radio, syndicated on the Pacifica Network, and in 2009 co-founded Portland Hearing Voices. He lives in Portland Oregon, where he studies Process Oriented Psychology
Process Oriented Psychology
Process oriented psychology refers to a body of theory and practice that encompasses a broad range of psychotherapeutic, personal growth, and group process applications. It is more commonly called "process work" in the United States, the longer name being used in Europe and Asia...
and has a counseling practice.
Career
After graduating from the Community Studies program at the University of California Santa Cruz in 1986, Hall worked for the Santa Cruz Sun newspaper as a staff reporter and for the Resource Center for Nonviolence's Brazil program. In 1988 he became a Co-Director of the Earth Island InstituteEarth Island Institute
The Earth Island Institute was founded in 1982 by environmentalist David Brower. It organizes and encourages activism around environmental issues and provides public education. Funding comes from individual members and supporting organizations...
's Environmental Project on Central America, and traveled to El Salvador and Nicaragua during the civil wars in those countries.
In 1990 Hall began to suffer a deterioration of his mental and emotional health, and was involuntarily committed to San Francisco General Hospital in 1992. He spent a year in the public mental health system, including restraints, solitary confinement, and more than 2 months in locked wards at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder schizophrenia.
After leaving the traditional mental health system in 1993 Hall stopped taking psychiatric medications and began to reestablish his wellbeing using holistic health, spiritual training, and social supports. In 1996 he worked in the planning department of the advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy is an independently owned American advertising agency best known for its work for Nike...
, and in 1997 became at student at the California Institute of Integral Studies
California Institute of Integral Studies
California Institute of Integral Studies is a private institution of higher education founded in 1968 and based in San Francisco, California. It currently operates in three locations just south of the Civic Center district...
. After another crisis in 1999, he left school and spent six months at the alternative residential facility Burch House in New Hampshire. In 2000 Hall moved to Northampton, Massachusetts, where he worked for five years at Broadside Bookshop.
In 2001 he began speaking publicly about his mental health experiences, and with Oryx Cohen co-founded and did peer counseling at the Freedom Center
Freedom Center (mental health organization)
Founded by Oryx Cohen and Will Hall, the Freedom Center is a Northampton, Massachusetts-based support, activism, and human rights community run by and for people diagnosed with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive...
, a support, advocacy, and activism community run by people with psychiatric diagnoses. In 2004 he joined the co-coordinator collective of The Icarus Project and is author of the Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs. He is Director of Portland Hearing Voices in Portland Oregon, and has worked as a consultant for Mental Disability Rights International
Mental Disability Rights International
Disability Rights International , is a Washington, DC based human rights advocacy organization that documents conditions, publishes reports, and promotes international oversight of the rights of mentally disabled people...
and done talks and trainings in 7 countries. Will is also a therapist in private practice based on Process Oriented Psychology
Process Oriented Psychology
Process oriented psychology refers to a body of theory and practice that encompasses a broad range of psychotherapeutic, personal growth, and group process applications. It is more commonly called "process work" in the United States, the longer name being used in Europe and Asia...
.
In 2000 Hall wrote about the pirate radio movement for GovWorks.com, and in 2002 joined activist Ed Russell to initiate a volunteer run, low-power Pacifica affiliate FM community radio station in Florence, Massachusetts, Valley Free Radio. He is host of Madness Radio an interview format radio show begun on VFR and now syndicated on the Pacifica Network, including KBOO
KBOO
KBOO is a non-profit organization, listener-funded FM Community radio station broadcasting from Portland, Oregon. The station's mission is to serve groups in its listening area who are underrepresented on other local radio stations and to provide access to the airwaves for people who have...
in Oregon.