The Icarus Project

Welcome To Icarus

The Icarus Project is a radical mental health support network, online community, and alternative media project by and for people struggling with extreme emotional distress that often gets labeled as mental illness. We envision a new culture and language that resonates with our actual experiences rather than trying to fit our lives into a conventional framework. We believe these experiences are dangerous gifts needing cultivation and care, rather than diseases or disorders. By joining together as individuals and as a community, the intertwined threads of madness, creativity, and collaboration can inspire hope and transformation in an oppressive and damaged world. Participation in The Icarus Project helps us overcome alienation and tap into the true potential that lies between brilliance and madness.

Read Our Mission and Vision statements
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Icarus t-shirts

Icarus Joins Effort to Stop Forced Drugging in Wisconsin

Submitted by Icarus Project on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 10:34pm

Wisconsin Icarista Christin Light writes:

Last week, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court upheld a forced treatment order for a man named John Wood who is currently in Mendota Mental Health Institute. His lawyer was questioning the constitutionality of a statute because "it violates due process by allowing involuntary medication without finding if a person is a danger and fails to require a periodic review." 2 justices agreed with this but ultimately, it was a 5/2 vote in maintaining his forced medication and the statute.

Spring Newsletter

Submitted by Icarus Project on Mon, 03/22/2010 - 8:09pm

Spring is here and with it a bunch of announcements. A fundraising update, call for essays, member survey, recent local group events, and most importantly USSF organizing. Check out the full post and let us know what you think.

Icarus National Gathering at US Social Forum in Detroit This Summer

Submitted by Icarus Project on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 9:13pm

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Icaristas from near and far will be gathering at the US Social Forum in Detroit this summer, June 22-26. Join in the planning discussion on the forums! Also check out and join the monthly community call.

Mad Love in San Francisco on Valentine's Day!!

Submitted by frictitious on Tue, 02/16/2010 - 4:49pm

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Bay Area Icarus was revived last summer, and we are officially full of surging, irreverent life. We held our first event on Valentine's Day--Mad Love. We had an open mic, a skilled MC, a cabaret of musicians and poets, and the evening skyrocketed to a close with the Brass Liberation Orchestra.

If you were there, you know. If not, read on! Almost as good. :)

Icarus at Reelabilities Film Festival in NY

Submitted by Icarus Project on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 9:47pm

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Reelabilities forum The second annual Reelabilities film festival was held this past weekend in the NY metropolitan area. The festival’s mission statement cites “dedication to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.” In addition to award-winning films the weekend’s events included discussions and other special programs intended to “bring together the community to explore, discuss and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.”

Icarus on Twitter

Submitted by Icarus Project on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 4:50pm

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If you Twitter, follow Icarus at www.twitter.com/madgifts.

Our Twitter feed gets updated with all the new Icarus Organizational blog posts, the Links of Interest, latest Madness Radio shows, plus additional bits and pieces of data from the Icaristasphere.

How To Get Involved

Submitted by admin on Sun, 01/10/2010 - 11:20am

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The Icarus Project is a wild collaborative adventure bringing together an unruly band of co-conspirators from near and far -- and you're invited! Here are some ways to volunteer and get involved...