Florida Exhibit Exposes Psychiatric Abuses and Human Rights Violations

The Psychiatry: An Industry of Death traveling exhibit in Orlando's Oviedo Mall has drawn Floridians to learn about psychiatric abuses and human rights violations. Based on the permanent museum at CCHR's international headquarters in Los Angeles, California, the exhibit highlights practices such as electroshock treatment, involuntary examinations, and the drugging of children with dangerous psychiatric medications.

Hosted by the Florida chapter of CCHR, the exhibit attracted human rights advocates, students, psychiatric facility employees, professionals, veterans, and teachers. Many visitors reported witnessing similar abuses firsthand and pledged to collaborate with CCHR to prevent mental health abuses in Florida. A retired psychiatric hospital employee became emotional after the tour, recalling a doctor's warning that working in such environments could lead to becoming a psychiatric patient.

A veteran criticized psychiatry for degrading patients' rights and blamed TV ads promoting psychiatric drugs for societal degradation. Speakers included youth advocate Issac Coach Boom Vasquez, who discussed the over-drugging of children and the importance of knowing mental health rights, and congressional candidate Tuan Le, who emphasized advocating for human rights and combating racism and mistreatment in mental health.

The Florida chapter of CCHR maintains a permanent installation of this exhibit at their center in downtown Clearwater, unveiled in July 2015. This museum presents psychiatry's history and current state through 14 audiovisual displays, featuring interviews with over 160 doctors, attorneys, educators, and survivors to expose what they describe as a multi-billion dollar fraud. More than 10,000 people, including nursing and technical college students, have taken the two-hour self-guided tour, finding it informative and eye-opening.

CCHR combines museum tours with seminars and workshops on the Baker Act, educating lawmakers, doctors, and citizens about mental health abuse and legal rights. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM and weekends from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with free weekly and monthly events for the public.