Born in 1950 in Calw (Black Forest), Germany. Education as social-pedagogist. Living as independent publisher and author in Berlin. In 1986, foundation of Peter Lehmann Publishing and Mail-Order Bookstore (Germany), in 2003, founding of a branch in UK, 2004 in USA.

In 1980, co-founder of a self-help group of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry and advising in psychiatric drugs and withdrawal until 1989. In 1989, co-founder of the Organisation for the Protection from Psychiatric Violence (running the Runaway-house Berlin). Since 1990, board member of PSYCHEX (Switzerland) and co-editor of the Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (United Kingdom). In 1991, co-founder of the European Network of (ex-) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP). From 1994 to 2000, board member of the German organisation of (ex-) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (BPE), now webmaster.

From January 1997 to February 1999, Chair of ENUSP; since 2004 board member for the region of North-East Europe (Austria, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia) and Secretary of the ENUSP Board. Since 2002, member of MindFreedom International and its designated representative to the United Nations.

Publications include

• Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry [in English] and
  Statt Psychiatrie 2 [in German], both edited 2007 together with Peter Stastny

•   Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and Tranquilizers [in English], edited 2004
    Psychopharmaka absetzen: Erfolgreiches Absetzen von Neuroleptika, Antidepressiva, Phasenprophylaktika, Ritalin und Tranquilizern [in German], edited 1998; 2nd, revised edition 2002; 3rd, actualized and extended edition 2008
    Βγαίνοντας από τα ψυχοφάρμακa: Εμπειρίες επιτυχημένης διακοπής νευροληπτικών, αντικαταθλιπτικών, λιθίου, καρβαμαζεπίνης και αγχολυτικών [in Greek], edited 2008 together with Anna Emmanouelidou)

• Soteria und Empowerment: Über die Interessen Psychiatriebetroffener (Soteria and Empowerment: About the Interests of (ex-) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry), published in 1997 [in German], re-published 2001

• Schöne neue Psychiatrie (Brave New Psychiatry), Vol. 1: Wie Chemie und Strom auf Geist und Psyche wirken (How Chemistry and Electricity Work on Mind and Psyche) · Vol. 2: Wie Psychopharmaka den Körper verändern (How Psychiatric Drugs Change the Body), published in 1996 [in German]

• Statt Psychiatrie (Instead of Psychiatry), edited 1993 [in German] together with Kerstin Kempker

• Der chemische Knebel: Warum Psychiater Neuroleptika verabreichen (The Chemical Gag: Why Psychiatrists Administer Neuroleptics), published in 1986 [in German]; 2. edition 1990, 3. edition 1993, reprint 2000, 2005 reprint of the original edition)

Contributions in anthologies and other books, between others in: Vom schönen Schein der Integration – Menschen mit Behinderung am Rand der Leistungsgesellschaft, 2008 · Mosher / Burti: Seelische Gesundheit: Community Mental Health. Ein Leitfaden für die Praxis, 2004 · Trialog praktisch, 2004 · 25 Jahre Psychiatrie-Enquete, 2001 · Sozialpsychiatrie: Entwicklungen—Kontroversen—Perspektiven, 2001 · This is Madness Too: Critical Perspectives on Mental Health Services, 2001 · Proceedings of the European Conference on Promotion of Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 2001 · Manage or Perish? The Challenges of Managed Mental Health Care in Europe, 2000 · Emergency Psychiatry in a Changing World, 1999 · Flucht in die Wirklichkeit: Das Berliner Weglaufhaus (Escape into Reality: The Berlin Runaway House), 1998 · Deprived of Our Humanity: The Case against Neuroleptic Drugs, 1998 · Behandlungsvereinbarungen, 1998 · Der aufgestörte Blick: Multiple Persönlichkeiten, Frauenbewegung und Gewalt, 1997 · Abschied von Babylon, 1995 · Det mindst onde, 1993 · Von Langzeitpatienten für Akutpsychiatrie lernen, 1990 · Vormundschaftsgerichtstag, 1989 · Hjernemedicin: En bog om den giftige psykiatri, 1988 · Gekte zonder grenzen: Hoe de gekkenbeweging de psychiatrie overbodig maakt, 1985 · Selbstbestimmung in der Offensive: Frauenbewegung Selbsthilfe Patientenrechte, 1981

Since 1980 many contributions in specialists' magazines, between others in: Aaina—A mental health advocacy newsletter (INDIA) · Amalie (DK) · Brückenschlag (FRG) · Changes: International Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy (GB) · Clinical Psychology Forum (GB) · Co`med: Zeitschrift für Komplementärmedizin (FRG) · Courage: Berliner Frauenzeitung (FRG) · Current Opinion of Psychiatry · Deviant (NL) · ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ & ψυχική ΥΓΕΙΑ (GR) · Dr. med. Mabuse (FRG) · Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale (I) · Eppendorfer (FRG) · Excerpta Medica (NL) · FAPI-Nachrichten (FRG) · Intra (CH) · Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy (UK) · Irrturm (FRG) · Kerbe (FRG) · Leuchtfeuer (FRG) · Matrix 3000 (FRG) · Mental Health Observer · Phoenix Rising (CDN) · Pro mente sana aktuell (CH) · Psychiatrische Pflege heute (FRG) · Psychologie & Gesellschaftskritik (FRG) · Psychosoziale Umschau (FRG) · Society and Intervention (GR) · Soziale Psychiatrie (FRG) · Störfaktor (A) · Τετράδια Ψυχιατρικής (GR) · Themes from Finland (FIN) · Tipex (FRG) · Trauma (CH) · Türspalt (FRG) · Umbruch (FRG) · Unser kleines Stimmenhörerjournal (FRG) · Widerspruch (CH) · Zeitschrift für systemische Therapie (FRG).