Trending...
- "JACKIE the STRIPPER," Starring Charlotte Kirk and The PUSSYCAT DOLLS' Kimberly Wyatt, Now Streaming on PRIME
- Infinity Infusion Solutions Launches "Women Leading Infusion Care" Campaign for National Women in Business Month
- Pregis to Highlight EPR Expertise, Sustainable Packaging Solutions and Live Automation Demonstrations at Pack Expo International 2026
CCHR, a Mental Health Industry Watchdog Increases its Campaign to Educate Parents on Preventing Forced Mental Health Screening of Schoolchildren
LOS ANGELES - ncarol.com -- The Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), a mental health industry watchdog, has stepped up its nationwide campaign to increase parents' awareness of the risks associated with mental health screening in schools. CCHR warns that misdiagnoses of children's behavior can lead to potentially dangerous psychotropic drug prescriptions.
CCHR praised the courageous efforts of a group of mothers who shared their devastating experiences in CCHR's documentary Dead Wrong. These parents, some who lost children due to mislabeling and psychiatric drug prescriptions, have worked with CCHR to raise awareness about the dangers associated with parents being misinformed about their child's needs are a mental disorder, when other options may be available to them.
One of the featured parents, Celeste Steubing, speaks about her son Matthew, an 18-year-old who tragically took his own life shortly after being prescribed an antidepressant for dealing with a rough patch in his senior year of high school, which left him feeling down. "Matthew had been a vibrant kid, happy and full of life," Celeste said. After starting the drug, however, he became withdrawn and anxious, ultimately taking his life just nine weeks later.
Mathy Milling Downing, another grieving mother, lost her 12-year-old daughter, Candace, only four days after she was prescribed an antidepressant for exam anxiety.[1] Likewise, Vicki Dunkle recalled how her 10-year-old daughter, Shaina, died in her arms after suffering a toxic reaction to a medication prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)—despite it not being approved for children under 13.[2]
CCHR's campaign also highlights financial incentives driving ADHD diagnoses. At a 2002 congressional hearing, Colorado Representative Bob Schaffer reported that federal programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provided financial incentives to schools for each student diagnosed with ADHD—averaging between $400, while later reports say $1,000.[3]
More on ncarol.com
Dr. Allen Frances, Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University, and former chair of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) Task Force, has warned diagnostic changes fueled a "false epidemic" of ADHD and autism, drastically increasing the number of children labeled with the disorder and prescribed stimulants.[4] Misplaced diagnostic exuberance has turned age-appropriate immaturity into a psychiatric disease and treats it with a pill, rather than just letting the kid grow up," he stated.[5]
Exacerbating this concern is the widespread use of school-based mental health screenings. Professor Frances cautioned, "Accumulating evidence makes clear how ineffective and harmful are almost all the highly touted screening tests." Further, "Encouraging mental health screening for children is unsupported by scientific evidence and amounts to a reckless public health experiment on children."[6]
Sheila Matthews, Vice President of the parents' rights advocacy group AbleChild, has firsthand experience with coercive psychiatric labeling. Her seven-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD based on a simple checklist questionnaire at his school. Matthews was told that without medication, he would likely "self-medicate" and become a drug addict. Refusing to comply, Matthews exposed the misleading tactics used by school psychologists to pressure parents into medicating their children. She later worked with Connecticut State Representative Lenny Winkler to pass a groundbreaking law preventing schools from recommending psychiatric drugs for students.[7]
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, underscored the subjectivity in diagnosing ADHD, revealing a significant rate of false positives when using ADHD scales and screening measures for diagnosis.[8]
Patty Weathers, the founder of AbleChild, testified at an FDA advisory panel hearing about the lack of science behind psychiatric labels given to children, leading to their being drugged. "Parents are told that their child has a chemical imbalance or a neurobiological illness. We risked our child's life based on this fundamental lie," she testified. "The FDA is well aware that there are no x-rays, biopsies, blood tests or brain scans that verify these mental disorders as a disease or illness."
More on ncarol.com
Dr. David Stein, Ph.D., emphasized in Dead Wrong that parents are often misled. Addressing Celeste Steubing's experience, he reassured her, "You did not let your son down. You were an honest parent, honestly seeking help for your son who was having some trouble…. All you would get is 'chemical imbalance' or 'neurological disorder.'"
The parents and CCHR were instrumental in securing legislative protections against coerced psychiatric drugging of students, helping get passed the federal Prohibition of Mandatory Medication Amendment preventing schools from making psychotropic drug use a requirement for a child's education. However, CCHR warns that much broader protections are needed to safeguard children and adolescents from coercive psychiatric practices in schools.
CCHR, which was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, author of The Manufacture of Madness, is committed to empowering parents with information and legal protections to ensure their children's well-being, It urges parents to educate themselves about their rights. On its website, CCHR provides a Parents: Get the Facts—Know Your Rights resource page, which includes a Parent's Exemption Form to opt children out of mental health screenings in schools.
Sources:
[1] www.cchrint.org/2023/09/12/new-study-confirms-child-and-youth-suicide-risk-with-antidepressants/
[2] www.cchrint.org/2021/08/30/cchrs-psa-informs-parents-about-how-child-mental-health-industry-creates-risks/
[3] www.cchrint.org/2010/11/18/ablechild-unsung-hero-in-battle-against-psychopharmaceutical-industry/; beforeitsnews.com/health/2013/01/schools-gets-up-to-1000-or-more-for-every-student-diagnosed-as-addadhd-heres-why-2466482.html
[4] www.cchrint.org/2022/03/21/adhd-marketing-brands-children-to-hook-them-on-psychostimulants/; www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2320493/Does-child-really-behaviour-disorder-A-shocking-book-leading-therapist-reveals-millions–including-children–wrongly-labelled-psychiatric-problems.html
[5] www.cchrint.org/2014/10/16/adhd-awareness-month-a-pharmaceutical-marketing-campaign-to-get-more-kids-on-drugs/, citing: www.huffpost.com/entry/12-ways-parents-can-prote_b_5888392
[6] www.cchrint.org/2022/10/28/cchr-launches-investigation-into-educational-decline/; www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/saving-normal/201304/the-obama-plan-spending-mh-money-in-the-wrong-places
[7] www.cchrint.org/2010/11/18/ablechild-unsung-hero-in-battle-against-psychopharmaceutical-industry/
[8] "ADHD Tests Lead to Mass Overdiagnosis, Researchers Warn," MAD, 4 Dec. 2023, citing: journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/10870547231177470
CCHR praised the courageous efforts of a group of mothers who shared their devastating experiences in CCHR's documentary Dead Wrong. These parents, some who lost children due to mislabeling and psychiatric drug prescriptions, have worked with CCHR to raise awareness about the dangers associated with parents being misinformed about their child's needs are a mental disorder, when other options may be available to them.
One of the featured parents, Celeste Steubing, speaks about her son Matthew, an 18-year-old who tragically took his own life shortly after being prescribed an antidepressant for dealing with a rough patch in his senior year of high school, which left him feeling down. "Matthew had been a vibrant kid, happy and full of life," Celeste said. After starting the drug, however, he became withdrawn and anxious, ultimately taking his life just nine weeks later.
Mathy Milling Downing, another grieving mother, lost her 12-year-old daughter, Candace, only four days after she was prescribed an antidepressant for exam anxiety.[1] Likewise, Vicki Dunkle recalled how her 10-year-old daughter, Shaina, died in her arms after suffering a toxic reaction to a medication prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)—despite it not being approved for children under 13.[2]
CCHR's campaign also highlights financial incentives driving ADHD diagnoses. At a 2002 congressional hearing, Colorado Representative Bob Schaffer reported that federal programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provided financial incentives to schools for each student diagnosed with ADHD—averaging between $400, while later reports say $1,000.[3]
More on ncarol.com
- Freight Broker 911 CEO and President Milton Collier Is Rebuilding the Path Into Freight Brokerage
- Boston Industrial Solutions Launches New and Improved Siliart Website for Silicone Decorators
- Scoop Social Co. Brings Its Signature Mobile Dessert Experience to Phoenix
- Sky Quarry's Big Turning Point: CEO Marcus Laun Outlines the Next Phase for N A S D A Q: SKYQ
- ALIPAC Releases List of 170+ Illegal Noncitizen Voter Indicators
Dr. Allen Frances, Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University, and former chair of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) Task Force, has warned diagnostic changes fueled a "false epidemic" of ADHD and autism, drastically increasing the number of children labeled with the disorder and prescribed stimulants.[4] Misplaced diagnostic exuberance has turned age-appropriate immaturity into a psychiatric disease and treats it with a pill, rather than just letting the kid grow up," he stated.[5]
Exacerbating this concern is the widespread use of school-based mental health screenings. Professor Frances cautioned, "Accumulating evidence makes clear how ineffective and harmful are almost all the highly touted screening tests." Further, "Encouraging mental health screening for children is unsupported by scientific evidence and amounts to a reckless public health experiment on children."[6]
Sheila Matthews, Vice President of the parents' rights advocacy group AbleChild, has firsthand experience with coercive psychiatric labeling. Her seven-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD based on a simple checklist questionnaire at his school. Matthews was told that without medication, he would likely "self-medicate" and become a drug addict. Refusing to comply, Matthews exposed the misleading tactics used by school psychologists to pressure parents into medicating their children. She later worked with Connecticut State Representative Lenny Winkler to pass a groundbreaking law preventing schools from recommending psychiatric drugs for students.[7]
A 2023 study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, underscored the subjectivity in diagnosing ADHD, revealing a significant rate of false positives when using ADHD scales and screening measures for diagnosis.[8]
Patty Weathers, the founder of AbleChild, testified at an FDA advisory panel hearing about the lack of science behind psychiatric labels given to children, leading to their being drugged. "Parents are told that their child has a chemical imbalance or a neurobiological illness. We risked our child's life based on this fundamental lie," she testified. "The FDA is well aware that there are no x-rays, biopsies, blood tests or brain scans that verify these mental disorders as a disease or illness."
More on ncarol.com
- Hunter Is Releasing New Music For The Holidays!
- Tixpool.com - Naija Premier Event Reseller
- Work 365 Expands Distributor Integrations with Companial for Microsoft Partners
- Bruce Paulson Crowned The King of PBNs by the League of Lazy SEOs
- Remodelers Outstanding Construction Awards Announced
Dr. David Stein, Ph.D., emphasized in Dead Wrong that parents are often misled. Addressing Celeste Steubing's experience, he reassured her, "You did not let your son down. You were an honest parent, honestly seeking help for your son who was having some trouble…. All you would get is 'chemical imbalance' or 'neurological disorder.'"
The parents and CCHR were instrumental in securing legislative protections against coerced psychiatric drugging of students, helping get passed the federal Prohibition of Mandatory Medication Amendment preventing schools from making psychotropic drug use a requirement for a child's education. However, CCHR warns that much broader protections are needed to safeguard children and adolescents from coercive psychiatric practices in schools.
CCHR, which was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and professor of psychiatry, Dr. Thomas Szasz, author of The Manufacture of Madness, is committed to empowering parents with information and legal protections to ensure their children's well-being, It urges parents to educate themselves about their rights. On its website, CCHR provides a Parents: Get the Facts—Know Your Rights resource page, which includes a Parent's Exemption Form to opt children out of mental health screenings in schools.
Sources:
[1] www.cchrint.org/2023/09/12/new-study-confirms-child-and-youth-suicide-risk-with-antidepressants/
[2] www.cchrint.org/2021/08/30/cchrs-psa-informs-parents-about-how-child-mental-health-industry-creates-risks/
[3] www.cchrint.org/2010/11/18/ablechild-unsung-hero-in-battle-against-psychopharmaceutical-industry/; beforeitsnews.com/health/2013/01/schools-gets-up-to-1000-or-more-for-every-student-diagnosed-as-addadhd-heres-why-2466482.html
[4] www.cchrint.org/2022/03/21/adhd-marketing-brands-children-to-hook-them-on-psychostimulants/; www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2320493/Does-child-really-behaviour-disorder-A-shocking-book-leading-therapist-reveals-millions–including-children–wrongly-labelled-psychiatric-problems.html
[5] www.cchrint.org/2014/10/16/adhd-awareness-month-a-pharmaceutical-marketing-campaign-to-get-more-kids-on-drugs/, citing: www.huffpost.com/entry/12-ways-parents-can-prote_b_5888392
[6] www.cchrint.org/2022/10/28/cchr-launches-investigation-into-educational-decline/; www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/saving-normal/201304/the-obama-plan-spending-mh-money-in-the-wrong-places
[7] www.cchrint.org/2010/11/18/ablechild-unsung-hero-in-battle-against-psychopharmaceutical-industry/
[8] "ADHD Tests Lead to Mass Overdiagnosis, Researchers Warn," MAD, 4 Dec. 2023, citing: journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/10870547231177470
Source: Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Filed Under: Health
0 Comments
Latest on ncarol.com
- NYC Banners Delivers High-Stakes UN General Assembly Backdrop for the US Department of State Event
- OneVizion Appoints Energy Infrastructure Executive Walt Farrell to Board of Directors
- Tampa Bay Reporter Launches with a Mission to Deliver Local News with National Reach
- "JACKIE the STRIPPER," Starring Charlotte Kirk and The PUSSYCAT DOLLS' Kimberly Wyatt, Now Streaming on PRIME
- Migguel Anggelo Celebrates the Immigrant Experience, Latino Identity, and the Power of Iconic Latin Rhythms During Hispanic Heritage Month
- Indianapolis Criminal Defense Firm Rigney Law LLC Relaunches Criminal Law Podcast "Tales from the Brown Desk"
- 3ptechies Makes Its Articles Audio-Ready With Instaread Voice Technology
- Genuine Hospitality, LLC Selected to Operate Fairfield Inn & Suites Tampa Wesley Chapel
- Advantage Newspaper Consultants Celebrates 30 Years of Serving the Newspaper Industry
- Pregis to Highlight EPR Expertise, Sustainable Packaging Solutions and Live Automation Demonstrations at Pack Expo International 2026
- [New Book] "Historic Maps of Charlotte" Available Now!
- Infinity Infusion Solutions Launches "Women Leading Infusion Care" Campaign for National Women in Business Month
- HuskyTail Digital Puts AI to Work Behind the Scenes to Cut Client Turnaround Time
- AI, Real-World Data "RWD" and U.S. Expansion Put Predictive Healthcare in Focus for POMDOCTOR Ltd. (N A S D A Q: POM)
- $11.18 Million DARPA Award Ignites a Major New Catalyst as FDA, Robotic TMS and Commercialization Milestones Converge for NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc
- 2026 Triangle Parade of Homes Features Over 300 Homes
- "Next Friday" Star Mike Epps Hits Cherokee as KayeDinero Drops "Cherokee"
- P-Wave Classics to publish Thomas Holcroft's The Adventures of Hugh Trevor in three volumes, beginning 19 January
- Ad Leverage Sponsors ServiceTitan Pantheon 2026, Supporting Education and Growth in the Home Services Industry
- Travel Season Turns to the Smokies as KayeDinero Turns Cherokee Into a Song