RAISING AWARENESS: THE REAL IMPACT OF MISINFORMATION ON MENTAL HEALTH

To Whom It May Concern at Psychology Today, Aeon Magazine, and Hunter College,

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against Justin Garson, who is associated with your institutions. His recent statements on social media, equating the effects of Adderall to the "fight or flight" response experienced by trauma survivors, are not only scientifically inaccurate but also dangerously trivializing to those who have endured severe trauma.

As a survivor of the 2004 tsunami and a PTSD patient who has undergone Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) at Maudsley NHS and Oxford Psychiatry, I can attest that Garson's remarks are profoundly insensitive. His comparison undermines the genuine, life-threatening experiences that trauma survivors face, and his dismissal of my valid criticism by retweeting Elliot Muir instead of reaching out demonstrates a lack of empathy and professionalism.

Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege of working with renowned professionals such as Dr. Jennifer Wild at Oxford Psychiatry. My story has been featured on the BBC World Service podcast, "The Why Factor," which included contributions from:

• Professor Simon Wessely, an expert in psychological medicine and advisor to the British Army
• Tom Berger, a Vietnam veteran advocate with extensive experience in mental health
• Ben Shephard, a historian specializing in the history of psychiatry and author of "A War of Nerves"
• Dr. Guerda Nicolas, a clinical psychologist from the University of Miami with a focus on community mental health

Their participation underscores the credibility and depth of the discussion on such complex issues.

Additionally, Professor Allen Frances of Duke University, one of the world's most prominent, respected, and influential psychiatrists, has shown genuine empathy towards me on countless occasions, providing messages of encouragement, especially during my most challenging times, such as a recent hospitalization for suicidal thoughts. His support is a clear example of the professional and empathetic response that Justin Garson failed to provide.

During the tsunami, I was involved in 24 hours of search and rescue on an island that could be walked across in 15 minutes. There were no roads, no hospitals, and no help for about 24 hours until the Thai military arrived. I was involved in three of the first four helicopter evacuations. With thousands of people on the island, I was part of a core group of about 50 to 100 individuals who assisted the most seriously injured, checking dead bodies for friends. Officially, it was in the region of 600 or 700 dead on the tiny island of Koh Phi Phi. The kind of severe trauma I experienced was re-triggered yesterday by Garson's dismissive tweets.

I have taken Adderall over the years and can definitively state that the comparison to the fight or flight mode is lunacy. Instead of reaching out and doing the right thing, Mr. Garson chose to retweet Elliot Muir dismissing my trauma for anyone to see in real time, as my responses were being liked & retweeted multiple times before Mr. Garson chose to retweet Eliot Muir. This was done while he would have been aware that a potential trauma survivor was being affected negatively by his unethical views. This lack of empathy and professionalism is even more concerning given that Garson is a philosopher, not a psychiatrist, raising questions about his qualifications to make such statements. The idea that someone so irresponsible is linked with your publication and educational institution is alarming and calls for a thorough review of your association with him.

Many of the replies to Garson’s tweet were also from people who suffer from mental health conditions and found his tweet belittling and inaccurate. Garson's dangerous views could have caused me significant distress, potentially leading to a downward spiral. It is ethically incumbent upon him to have reached out, acknowledged his error, and offered an apology. Other medical professionals have reached out in the past when they saw me in an emotional state on social media, demonstrating basic human decency and professionalism. I have never been triggered by such unethical views from any other employee or associate of such a widely read publication, and there have been many times that compassionate people have reached out when I have been in distress, especially whilst in hospital to deal with my post Cancer treatment complications. You don't need to be a psychiatrist to have a basic level of human empathy. At the time of writing this email, it has been over 20 hours and Justin Garson has still not sent out a message to apologize or address the situation. It is shocking that someone could read my messages, look at my bio, understand what I may have gone through and how I could be suffering, and then just ignore that. It's almost callous.

To illustrate the impact of trauma on survivors and highlight my credibility in countering Garson's irresponsible views, I would like to reference some of my relevant blog posts:

• Why I Found Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy So Effective: This post explains the profound transformative impact that TF-CBT had on my recovery and underscores the importance of professional therapy.
• Being Diagnosed with Cancer Raw Trauma Notes: This post provides insight into the profound impact of trauma on survivors.
• Flashbacks...Here Isn't Where I Wanna Be: A reflection on living with flashbacks and the role of trauma therapy.
• Surviving the Tsunami: My Struggle with PTSD An exploration of the factors that prolonged my PTSD and the importance of addressing them.
• Welcome to Post Traumatic Disordered Stress: An introduction to living with PTSD and the challenges it presents.
• Waking Up to the Asian Tsunami: A detailed account of my experience of the first 5 minutes of the Tsunami.
• I Am a Stigma Fighter: A discussion on fighting the stigma associated with mental health and trauma.

Within the last hour, Justin Garson has now blocked me on Twitter. This action is wildly inappropriate, especially given the gravity of the issues at hand. By blocking me, Garson has further demonstrated his lack of professionalism and empathy. Instead of engaging in a meaningful dialogue or offering an apology, he chose to silence a trauma survivor. This behavior reflects poorly on the major publications he is associated with and raises serious questions about the standards and values upheld by your organizations.

As an educator at Hunter College, Justin Garson should exemplify empathy and understanding towards all his students, regardless of their mental health vulnerabilities. It is essential for educators to be open to serious critiques, especially when their views can cause harm. The ability to listen and respond compassionately is crucial in teaching, particularly in subjects that intersect with mental health.

I urge Psychology Today, Aeon Magazine, and Hunter College to require that Mr. Garson undergo additional sensitivity and public relations training, as well as a refresher course on PTSD and trauma-informed care. I also request the opportunity to write an article for your publications to explain why Justin's remarks were so dangerous and to share my story of survival, as I believe my experience offers significant insights and credibility.

Trauma-focused CBT at Maudsley NHS and Oxford Psychiatry literally saved my life, and the "fight or flight" mode we discussed in great detail had no comparison to anything related to Adderall. My treatment involved 50 hours of trauma-focused CBT therapy over three to four months with Dr. Jennifer Wild, who is an international leading expert in PTSD care and research. My treatment was heavily documented and involved no medication, highlighting the importance of evidence-based medicine. I witnessed trauma most people can't imagine.

I believe it is essential for professionals associated with your publication to uphold high standards of empathy and accuracy, particularly when discussing sensitive mental health issues. Mr. Garson's conduct falls short of these standards, and I request that appropriate action be taken to address this matter.

Thank you for your attention to this serious issue. I look forward to your prompt response.

Kind Regards,

Sam