The Psychiatry: An Industry of Death traveling exhibit at Orlando's Oviedo Mall has attracted Floridians seeking to learn about mental health abuses, focusing on practices such as electroshock treatment, involuntary examinations, and the administration of psychiatric medications to children. Hosted by the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), the exhibit aims to raise awareness of human rights violations in psychiatry, drawing from the permanent museum at CCHR's international headquarters in Los Angeles. Visitors included human rights advocates, students, psychiatric facility employees, professionals, veterans, and teachers, many of whom pledged to collaborate with CCHR to prevent mental health abuses in the state.
A retired psychiatric hospital employee became emotional after the tour, recalling a doctor's warning that working in psychiatry could lead to becoming a patient, highlighting personal concerns within the field. A veteran criticized psychiatry for degrading patient rights and contributing to societal issues through drug advertisements, reflecting broader skepticism. Speakers at the event, such as youth advocate Issac Coach Boom Vasquez, discussed the over-drugging of children and mental health rights, while congressional candidate Tuan Le emphasized advocating for human rights and combating racism in mental health care.
The Florida chapter also maintains a permanent installation of the exhibit in Clearwater, unveiled in 2015, which presents psychiatry's history and current state through 14 audiovisual displays. This Clearwater museum has hosted over 10,000 visitors, including nursing and technical college students who find the self-guided tours informative. CCHR combines museum tours with seminars on the Baker Act, educating lawmakers, doctors, and citizens about mental health abuse and legal rights. The museum is open weekly with free admission, and events are held regularly to further public education on these critical issues, as detailed on https://www.cchrflorida.org. The exhibit's impact underscores ongoing debates about psychiatric practices and human rights protections in mental health care.
