Florida Exhibit Exposes Psychiatric Human Rights Violations, Draws Diverse Audience

The Psychiatry: An Industry of Death traveling exhibit at Orlando's Oviedo Mall has educated Floridians about documented mental health abuses, including electroshock treatment, involuntary examinations, and the drugging of children with psychiatric medications. 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 and is based on the permanent museum at CCHR's international headquarters in Los Angeles.

The exhibit attracted diverse visitors including human rights advocates, students, psychiatric facility employees, professionals, veterans, and teachers. Many visitors pledged to work with CCHR to prevent mental health abuses in Florida following their experience. 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. A veteran criticized psychiatry for degrading patient rights and contributing to societal degradation through drug advertisements.

Speakers at the event included youth advocate Issac Coach Boom Vasquez, who discussed the over-drugging of children and mental health rights, and congressional candidate Tuan Le, who emphasized advocating for human rights and fighting racism in mental health. 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.

The 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 affecting vulnerable populations.