CCHR Florida Files Thousands of Complaints Documenting Psychiatric Abuse

CLEARWATER, Fla., Nov. 02, 2017 -- The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a non-profit mental health watchdog, which was established by the Church of Scientology in 1969 to expose human rights violations and is dedicated to the protection of children, has filed almost 5,000 complaints documenting psychiatric human rights violations.  CCHR Florida say they receive daily complaints from Floridians who have been sent for involuntary psychiatric examination under the mental health law, known as the Baker Act, leading CCHR to file thousands of complaints to applicable agencies and legislators on behalf of the victims.

According to the Annual Baker Act report, 194,354 people were sent for involuntary psychiatric examinations during fiscal year 2015/2016 and 32,475 of them were children. This figure has more than doubled since 2001 and recent media reports are confirming the fact that specifically the number of children being Baker Acted is on the rise. ^{i ii}

 “In 2017, steps were taken by lawmakers to address the abusive use of the Baker Act when dealing with children but the problem is not solved and we are determined to ensure that Florida’s children are protected,” said Diane Stein, President CCHR Florida.

Since launching a campaign to end the Baker Acting of children without parental knowledge, CCHR Florida has educated 160,000 families on their rights.

To find out more about how families can be protected from abuse of the Baker Act, call CCHR at 800-782-2878, visit www.cchrflorida.org, or come into the CCHR Florida center at 109 N. Fort Harrison which is open seven days a week.  The assistance provided by CCHR is free of charge. 

About CCHR:
Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHR’s mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world.  In March 1969, he said, “Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the ‘free world’ tortured, castrated, killed.  All in the name of ‘mental health.’”

ⁱ The Baker Act Annual Report
http://www.usf.edu/cbcs/baker-act/documents/annual_report.pdf

ⁱⁱ Baker Act in children on the rise
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20171015/baker-act-in-children-on-rise

Media Contact:
Diane Stein
President, CCHR Florida
727-442-8820
[email protected]
www.cchrflorida.org