News
Florida’s Emergency Psychiatric Hold is a Human Rights Violation
Once again Florida made headlines when Reason, the nation's leading libertarian magazine, published an investigative report on police in schools. While the story was mostly focused on School Resource Officers it also covered the abusive use of Florida’s short-term...
Mental Health Watchdog Calls for Ban on Electroshock Device in Florida
In light of the fact that the FDA admits electroshock (ECT) can cause brain damage and death the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is calling for a ban on the device being used in Florida. [1] According to federal records, over 20,000 Americans received...
Mental Health Watchdog Reaches More Than 180,000 Through Parental Rights Campaign
As part of a campaign to educate parents on their rights, the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a watchdog organization that exposes abuse in the mental health industry, launched a newly revised website earlier this year as part of a...
Baker Act Reform is Needed in Order to Protect Parental Rights
The number of children being taken into custody for an involuntary psychiatric examination, called a Baker Act, has been steadily climbing across Florida for the past 17 years. And in February of this year, the trauma suffered during a Baker Act and the resultant harm...
Mental Health Month: A Marketing Campaign to Fuel the Psychiatric Industry
Since 1949 the month of May has been touted as Mental Health Month for the stated purpose of educating people on mental health issues. However, the real motive behind this marketing comes into question when messages such as “the 7 biggest parenting mistakes that...
Reliance on Suicide Risk Assessments May Increase Suicide Deaths
Due to COVID-19, mental health advocates are predicting that “suicide is likely to become a more pressing concern as the pandemic spreads and has longer-term effects on the general population, the economy, and vulnerable groups”. One solution being offered up is...
What are the rules for the Baker Act in Florida?
For a person to be taken into custody under a Baker Act three criteria (rules) must be met: There is reason to believe that the person is mentally ill. Because of his or her mental illness the person has refused voluntary examination or is unable to determine whether...
What are Parental Rights in Florida?
The interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children is recognized as a fundamental liberty. A list of “Parental Rights” has been compiled using existing rights understood to be guaranteed to a parent so that all parents can easily know and...
Mental Health Watchdog Reaches Over 100,000 in Campaign to Protect Parental Rights
Last month the Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida (CCHR), launched a revised website and a campaign designed to help parents understand some of their rights. While parental rights have historically been viewed as fundamental, an erosion of these rights has...
Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week Sheds Light on Dangerous Psychiatric Drug Side Effects
In 2019 the Florida legislature adopted a resolution recognizing the first week in May every year as “Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week”. Tardive dyskinesia is marked by involuntary movement of the lips, tongue, jaw, fingers, toes and other body parts. Tardive...
Mental Health Month Marketing Feeds Lucrative Psychiatric Industry
With global sales reaching $76 billion a year, psychiatric treatment is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world and according to IMS Health, a company that provides information, services and technology for the healthcare industry, there are over 78 million...
Mental Health Watchdog Launches Website to Educate Parents on Their Rights
Earlier this month the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), an international mental health watchdog organization, launched a newly revised website designed to help parents understand some of the rights accorded to them under the law....
What do they do when they Baker Act you?
Usually a person who is Baker Acted is transported to a psychiatric facility by law enforcement for an initial examination by a psychiatrist. Once at the facility the person can be held involuntarily for up to 72 hours. For more information on the Baker Act click...
What happens after 72 hours of Baker Act?
A person may not be held for longer than 72 hours and when the 72 hours is up the person must be released unless charged with a crime, or the person must decide to stay on a voluntary basis or the facility must file a petition for involuntary commitment. For more...
Is Baker Act only in Florida?
Baker Act is the common term for involuntary psychiatric examination also known as short term emergency commitment. Every state in the country has their own version of the Baker Act and each law is unique to that state. For more information on the Baker Act click...
Contact CCHR Florida
109 N. Fort Harrison Ave.
Clearwater, Florida 33755
Tel: 1-800-782-2878
