About

 

The International Campaign by was founded by Sue Clark-Wittenberg and her husband Steven Wittenberg in 2007.  

ABOUT SUE CLARK-WITTENBERG AND STEVEN WITTENBERG

Sue and Steven

 

Sue and Steven met in 1984 in Ottawa at a psychiatric drop in on Main Street. Steven helped set up the drop-in making coffee etc.  Sue and Steven saw each other at the drop in every week. Sue was then married to John Clark.   Sue and Steven lost touch with each over for about l5 years. Then one day at an Ottawa Shopping mall they bumped into each other and became fast friends again. Sue was divorced and Steven was single.  Two years later in February of 2006, Sue and Steven got married.

Sue is the director of the ICBE.    Steven is the associate director of the ICBE.  Steven calls the radio shows.   Steven does lots of work at the ICBE office.  Sue speaks to the media about the ICBE too.

Steven helps Sue with all of the office work at the ICBE and there is plenty. Phone calls to make, videos to make about ECT, answering email and getting ready for Sue’s interviews. Sue maintains the websites. There is never a dull moment at the ICBE office for sure.

People who in live in Ottawa can volunteer at the ICBE office too. Just call Sue at 613-721-1833.  There is lots of work to keep everyone busy.

Sue and Steven are committed to helping end ECT all over the world – starting with Canada.

Sue and Steven work well together. They believe in what they are doing.

Steven sees everyday how ECT damaged Sue.  Sue forgets lots of stuff and has to make lots of lists so she will not forget anything, but  they many times when  Sue does forget things to do or place to go to.

As soon as Sue get an email, she answers it right away so she knows she answered her mail, she does the same with telephone messages as well.

Life at the ICBE  office is hectic, busy and fun.

There is no other life like it according to Sue and Steven.

People who in live in Ottawa can volunteers at the ICBE office too. Just call Sue at 613-721-1833 or email Sue:  2005.sueclark@gmail.com    The ICBE is looking for a student lawyer to volunteer to  help the ICBE with understanding mental health laws and acts and other legislation  in Canada and its provinces.  There is lots of work to keep everyone busy at the ICBE.

Left to Right: Shaindl Diamond, Sue Clark-Wittenberg holding her CAPA award, Dr. Bonnie Burstow, Don Weitz

Above is a photo of Sue Clark-Wittenberg holding her award from the Coalition Against Psychiatric Assault (CAPA)  Dr. Bonnie Burstow, the chair of CAPA presented Sue with CAPA’s first award for “Lifetime Antipsychiatry Activism” on September 27, 2008 in Toronto at OISE, part of the University of Toronto.  Dr. Bonnie Burstow teaches at OISE.

CAPA sponsored the trip for Sue and Steven to go up to Toronto by train and paid for the taxis the day Sue and Steven spent in Toronto.  

The award was one of the events for the Psychiatric Survivor Pride Event which was on September 27, and 28th in Toronto.

Don Weitz a long time friend,  antipsychiatry activist and author greeted Sue and Steven at the Toronto Union train station.

Sue met some people that she knew, Mel Starkman and Graeme Bacque.  Graeme took a video of Sue’s speech.  Sue and Steven met many members of CAPA.

Sue read a 12 page speech.  There was a crowd of 50 psychiatric survivors listening to Sue’s speech. There was art by psychiatric survivors that was fantastic and creative.  Two films were presented- one was on electroshock.

 

Sue and Steven enjoyed the event and then left to get their train back to Ottawa.  

CAPA organized a great event.   Sue and Steven want to go back to Toronto next year for the ECT protest on Mother’s Day, on May 10th, 2009   See more info about this event.  

See the CAPA website:

capa.oise.utoronto.ca   and see the Events section.

Sue accepted her CAPA award with gratitude and humility.  Her award hangs on her wall next to her office desk.