by CCHR Florida | Jan 5, 2021 | Psychiatric Drugs, Suicide
There is growing concern that psychiatric drugs, fueled by exorbitant mental health spending, are being over prescribed and are causing more harm than what is being publicized. [1] The pharmaceutical companies and the psychiatric community pocket some $62 billion on...
by CCHR Florida | Dec 30, 2020 | Suicide
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that the holiday suicide myth supports misinformation about suicide and might actually hinder prevention efforts. Suicide is a recognized problem in the United States and it does not seem to be improving despite the...
by CCHR Florida | Dec 23, 2020 | Baker Act, Parental Rights
The series explores the how outraged parents and advocates are fighting to stop the abusive use of this law on children. WUSF recently completed a five-part series regarding Florida’s mental health law also known as the Baker Act. Although this law was not written for...
by CCHR Florida | Dec 16, 2020 | Baker Act, Children and Teens, Parental Rights
Over 37,000 involuntary examinations, called a Baker Act, were initiated on children in Florida during 2018/2019. According to a report released this week by the Baker Act Reporting Center, there were over 210,000 involuntary psychiatric examinations initiated during...
by CCHR Florida | Dec 1, 2020 | Baker Act
Florida’s Baker Act in the News The Baker Acting of children in Florida is not “new” news. In fact, the abusive use of this law has been making headlines for years. Some of these stories go viral and reach national and international audiences. Below...
by CCHR Florida | Nov 17, 2020 | Mental Health Screening, Suicide
As International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day approaches, the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is questioning the reliance on suicide risk assessments. Observed on November 21st this year, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day...
by CCHR Florida | Nov 2, 2020 | Children and Teens, Mental Health Screening, Psychiatric Drugs
There are over 6.7 million US children being prescribed psychiatric drugs with more than 3.3 million of these children prescribed drugs for ADHD. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a non-profit mental health watchdog dedicated the protection of children,...
by CCHR Florida | Oct 7, 2020 | Mental Health Screening, Suicide
September is nationally recognized as Suicide Awareness Month and the stated intention of this campaign is to “inform and engage health professionals and the general public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide”. [1] Each year one solution offered up...
by CCHR Florida | Sep 9, 2020 | Baker Act, Children and Teens, Legislation, Parental Rights
As reported in multiple news stories, a recently released 85-page study found that “the Baker Act is increasingly being used on school children who make jokes, act out, exhibit normal manifestations of a known disability, or express ordinary sadness.” This same study...
by CCHR Florida | Sep 1, 2020 | Mental Health Screening, Psychiatric Drugs, Suicide
Each year September is recognized as Suicide Awareness Month with September 6th through the 12th observed as National Suicide Prevention Week. The stated intention of these campaigns is to “inform and engage health professionals and the general public about suicide...
by CCHR Florida | Aug 12, 2020 | Baker Act, Mental Health Screening, Parental Rights
In a campaign to remove the stigma attached to mental illness, advocates have created numerous observance days, weeks and months which is why August is known as “National Health Center Week”. This observance week focuses on treatment and education with the underlying...
by CCHR Florida | Jul 29, 2020 | Baker Act, Children and Teens, Parental Rights
The number of children taken into custody for an involuntary psychiatric examination has been steadily increasing in Florida for almost two decades and according to the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), this steady increase is...
by CCHR Florida | May 20, 2020 | Mental Health Screening, Parental Rights, Suicide
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...
by CCHR Florida | May 7, 2020 | Mental Illness, Psychiatric Drugs
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...
by CCHR Florida | Apr 12, 2020 | Baker Act, Children and Teens, Parental Rights
With all the media coverage and outrage over six-year-old Nadia Falk’s forced stay and alleged drugging in a Florida psychiatric facility this February, a deeper question is raised. What is the justification for the psychiatric drugging of children, and especially the...