Against Mental Health Screening and Stigmatization of Children

To:  U.S. Dept of Education, State Dept of Education and Board of Education

Information: In 2003, a report on "mental health care" presented to the federal government recommended that all 52 million American schoolchildren be screened for "mental illness," claiming—without scientific evidence—that "early detection, assessment, and links with treatment" could "prevent mental health problems from worsening." On the contrary, mental health questionnaires and tests are and have been conducted in schools for years, including the TeenScreen™ program. Yet, rather than decreasing rates of child and adolescent "mental disorders," there has been a dramatic increase in children being placed on psychiatric drugs. Medical studies show that these drugs can cause violence, suicide, behavioral and serious physical problems and even death. Behavioral screening and mind-altering drugs are used instead of reinforcing educational basics.

• There is an 84% chance that a student will be incorrectly identified as at risk or suicidal by the TeenScreen ("depression" screening) program. The subjective questions used in this and other mental health screening questionnaires are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which medical experts say is an unscientific and unreliable document.



• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention, "found no evidence that screening for suicide risk reduces suicide attempts or mortality."



• A Journal of the American Medical Association study shows, "Despite a dramatic increase in treatment, no significant decrease occurred in suicidal thoughts, plans, gestures or attempts in the United States during the 1990s."



• Parents consenting to mental health screening are unaware that the DSM is not based on physical science; i.e., psychiatrists admit they do not know the cause of or cure for any mental disorder and have no x-ray, blood or any physical test to diagnose or determine one. All screening is based on subjective opinion, using personal and invasive questions that could lead to any child being prescribed mind-altering drugs.



• The number of children prescribed antidepressants has increased more than 10 fold since 1987. Studies show the drugs may double the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions and a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "black box" label warns that antidepressants may cause suicide in those under 24.



• Antipsychotic drug prescriptions to children increased five-fold between 1993 and 2002, during which time 45 children died from the drugs. The drugs can also cause life-threatening diabetes.



• So-called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stimulant prescriptions increased 700% in the 1990s with the FDA now warning the drugs cause psychosis, mania, strokes, heart attacks and death. Between 1999 and 2003, 19 children died while taking stimulants. Today, 2.3 million American teens abuse the stimulants Ritalin and Adderall.



• Psychiatric drugs are prescribed for mental disorders that were developed by psychiatrists with financial ties to pharmaceutical companies that have accrued $27 billion in annual sales in the U.S. alone.



• While there have been reports of over 150 child deaths from antidepressants, stimulants and antipsychotics in recent years, only 1% to 10% of adverse drug reactions are reported to the FDA, which means the death toll could be as high as 15,000.



• One in six teachers reports being the victim of violence in or around school, which corresponds with psychiatric drug use in students.



• Eight out of 13 school shooters in recent years had been taking prescribed psychiatric drugs (antidepressants and/or stimulants) at the time of going on their violent shooting spree. [Drug use in the remaining incidents has not been publicly released.]

Therefore, we, The Undersigned, urge the U.S. Department of Education, which approves budgets for federal education programs, the State Department of Education that determines education budgets, and the State Board of Education that can approve or disapprove mental health screening, to channel funding away from and refuse implementation of psychiatric, psychological or mental health screening of students. We urge funding to be directed towards workable educational methods, additional teachers and/or music/art education where the latter has been cut because of financial concerns.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Against Mental Health Screening and Stigmatization of Children Petition to U.S. Dept of Education, State Dept of Education and Board of Education was created by and written by Jan Eastgate (humanrights@cchr.org).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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