The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida, a mental health watchdog organization, hosts weekly educational events to inform citizens about critical mental health issues and patient rights. These events provide Floridians with information ranging from legal rights under mental health law to the recognition that hundreds of physical conditions can mimic mental health symptoms. As part of its public service mission, CCHR has hosted over one thousand events since opening new offices in downtown Clearwater, featuring attorneys, doctors, and clinical pharmacists as guest speakers. These professionals educate attendees about Florida's mental health law, commonly known as the Baker Act, individual rights under this legislation, and how underlying physical conditions or nutritional deficiencies can lead to misdiagnosis of mental illness.
Attorney Carmen Miller, a former assistant public defender with experience representing Baker Act clients, regularly conducts seminars on mental health law. She has hosted Advanced Mental Health Directive workshops where participants learn about psychiatric living wills and how these documents can protect individuals from unwanted mental health treatments such as electroshock therapy. During the "Psychiatric Disorders & Their Underlying Physical Causes" seminar, alternative medicine professional Dr. Jared Roscoe explains how psychiatric drugs affect the body and why they may hinder actual healing processes. Clinical pharmacist Pamela Seefeld addresses the potentially devastating side effects of psychotropic medications on children and discusses natural treatment alternatives for mental health concerns.
The organization, which can be found at https://www.cchrflorida.org, offers complimentary seminars and workshops that vary monthly, providing ongoing education about mental health rights and alternatives to conventional psychiatric treatments. These events matter because they empower citizens with knowledge about legal protections against involuntary treatment and inform them about potential misdiagnoses when physical health issues present as psychiatric symptoms. The implications include increased public awareness of patient rights under Florida law, greater scrutiny of psychiatric drug prescriptions particularly for children, and growing interest in non-pharmaceutical approaches to mental health concerns. By educating the public about the Baker Act and alternatives to conventional treatments, CCHR's work could influence how mental health issues are addressed in Florida communities, potentially reducing unnecessary psychiatric interventions and promoting more holistic approaches to wellbeing.
