Abuse And Attacks In Florida’s Mental Hospitals
In June of 2014, twenty-seven year old Tuarus McNair, a mental patient at Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center, was punched repeatedly in the head by another patient during a fight. The hospital workers’ response to this brutal attack was unbelievable. Instead of...
The Baker Act and Your Rights as Parents
The Baker Act (Translation) John Eddy Sarmiento, Reporter: Since 1971 in the State of Florida there is a law that considers the possibility that any person could be mentally ill. Rosa Prieto, Spokesperson for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR): The...
Mental Institutions: Still Hellish in 2015
When 5 mental health institutions in California were investigated recently, a scathing 900 page report resulted. This voluminous release exposed sexual, physical, mental and emotional damage to patients. In short, not a lot has changed from the days when reporter...
Mental Institutions: – their Hellish History Part 2
During WWII volunteer service in state mental institutions was a requirement for some conscientious objectors. Warren Sawyer, who was a 23 year old pacifist, was appointed to Philadelphia State Hospital (also known as Byberry) to work as an attendant. He was one of...
Mental Institutions: Their Hellish History – Part One
Nellie Bly risked her life when she feigned insanity and had herself committed to a New York mental institution in 1887. She was a reporter, and her purpose was to expose the true conditions, including brutality and murder, that reigned in Blackwell’s Island Asylum....Psychiatric Drug Trials Suspended at University of Minnesota
Part 1 of a 2 Part Series On March 19th, 2015 psychiatric drug trials at the University of Minnesota were finally halted over a case that began in May of 2004 when Dan Makingson, participating in a test of a schizophrenia drug, committed suicide. The Minnesota State...Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Resurgence Despite Brain Damage
ECT seems to be enjoying a renaissance of use. Perhaps those in the “mental health” industry are hedging their bets for the future, when outraged adults (having been assaulted with psychiatric pharmaceuticals during childhood) choose to sue for damages. After all,...Florida School Sends Bullying Victim to Mental Hospital
Parents never quite know what might happen when they send their child off for a routine day of public schooling here in Florida. Alishia Montelongo went off to classes at Wolfson High School in the Duval County School District in Jacksonville, Fl. on Monday, March...
Baker Act Is Harmful Not Helpful
The Baker Act is the name of the mental health law in Florida and it covers all aspects of mental health including involuntary examination and commitment. This is the law that is initiated to send a person against their will for involuntary examination at a...Monitoring the Mental Health of the Elderly
It is very common to hear about someone getting on in years and developing dementia or going senile. Many say the mind is the first thing to go. It’s long been considered just to be a part of aging. Though this can be true in some cases, these days there are...Psychiatrists Admit Popular Sedatives are Dangerous for the Elderly
The Dec 17th issue of “The Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry” (JAMA Psychiatry) contained a paper describing the over prescribing of a class of sedatives or tranquilizers called benzodiazepines. “Benzos” are all related in chemical...What Might Florida Be Like if Medical Marijuana Wins?
As November approaches, sheriffs and medical doctors all over the state have been coming out strongly against Florida Constitutional Amendment 2 that would establish medical marijuana in Florida. Dr. Alan B. Pillersdorf, president of The Florida Medical Association...Robin Williams – Another Artist's Suicide
Robin Williams, a greatly beloved American comedian, actor and filmmaker, committed suicide at his home in Tiburon, Ca. on August 11th. How does something as unexpected as this occur? In late June, Williams had gone for “rehab” at the Hazelden Addiction...HOW DOES ADVOCACY HELP A TEACHER?
(Heather Lascano, CEO, Neuro Touch Inc.) The afternoon was rather warm, almost uncomfortably so. The parking lot was just starting to clear following the bus and parent carpool line activity. The office staff was already chatting about the evening plans and upcoming...Contact CCHR Florida
109 N. Fort Harrison Ave.
Clearwater, Florida 33755
Tel: 1-800-782-2878
