CCHR Florida is Hosting a Mental Health Law and Human Rights Seminar
Nov 8, 2023
Key Takeaways
- The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is hosting a virtual seminar to educate professionals about the potential abuses of the Baker Act, a mental health law that covers involuntary examination and commitment.
- In 2018, the Baker Act was used against Floridians 210,992 times, highlighting the prevalence of coercive psychiatry.
- Despite some restrictions, there were still 34,234 Baker Acts involving children in 2022, indicating the ongoing issue of human rights abuse.
- The seminar aims to provide greater insight into the Baker Act, including understanding its legal context, describing laws related to involuntary examinations, identifying human rights impacted by the Act, and obtaining action steps to protect individuals affected by it.
- The complimentary webinar will take place on November 15th via Zoom, and interested participants can register through the provided Eventbrite link or contact the CCHR for more information.
The mental health law, referred to as the Baker Act in Florida, covers the use of involuntary examination and commitment also known as coercive psychiatry.
Clearwater, United States - November 8, 2023 /PressCable/ —
A complimentary virtual seminar to better educate professionals on the law and potential abuses of the Baker Act is being hosted this month by the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR).
CCHR is an award-winning watchdog organization dedicated to the reformation of the mental health industry.
The mental health law, commonly referred to as the Baker Act in Florida, covers the use of involuntary examination and commitment. At the peak, this form of coercive psychiatry was used against Floridians 210,992 times in 2018.
The controversial use of involuntary mental health “treatment” has come under fire in recent years with international organizations calling for an end to coercive psychiatry.
While there are restrictions on the use of the Baker Act and parents now must be called before it is invoked on a child, there were 34,234 Baker Acts involving children in 2022, thus giving them the opportunity to help, this human rights abuse still exists.
It is vital for those entrusted with the power to initiate an involuntary psychiatric examination to understand the intentions behind the law and possible consequences when this law is used. Whether a person works as a school counselor, teacher, social worker, law enforcement or in another field, this seminar will help provide greater insight.
Geared to provide attendees with a better understanding of the Baker Act, specific learning objectives for the event include:
1. Understanding the legal context and intentions of the Baker Act.
2. Being able to describe the laws regarding involuntary examinations.
3. Being able to identify the basic human rights impacted by the Baker Act and the Act’s unintended consequences.
4. Obtaining action steps to help protect yourself, children and those impacted by the Baker Act.
This webinar will be held on Wednesday, November 15th from 6:00pm-7:00pm via Zoom. Click Here to register or call 800-782-2878 for more information.
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. The Florida chapter of CCHR is an award-winning nonprofit in the area of mental health human rights and government relations. L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, first brought psychiatric imprisonment to wide public notice: “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,’” he wrote in March 1969.
SOURCES:
usf.edu/cbcs/baker-act/documents/usf_barc_ar_2021_2022.pdf
iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/373126/9789240080737-eng.pdf?sequence=1
Contact Info:
Name: Diane Stein
Email: Send Email
Organization: Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida
Address: 109 North Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater, Florida 33755, United States
Phone: +1-727-442-8820
Website: http://www.cchrflorida.org/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89112771
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