The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health has recommended that the federal and state governments work toward the implementation of a comprehensive system of mental-health screening for all Americans. The commission recommends that universal or mandatory mental-health screening first be implemented in public schools as a prelude to expanding it to the general public. However, neither the commission's report nor any related mental-health screening proposal requires parental consent before a child is subjected to mental-health screening. Federally-funded universal or mandatory mental-health screening in schools without parental consent could lead to labeling more children as "ADD" or "hyperactive" and thus force more children to take psychotropic drugs, such as Ritalin, against their parents' wishes.
Already, too many children are suffering from being prescribed psychotropic drugs for nothing more than children's typical rambunctious behavior. According to Medco Health Solutions, more than 2.2 million children are receiving more than one psychotropic drug at one time. In fact, according to Medico Trends, in 2003, total spending on psychiatric drugs for children exceeded spending on antibiotics or asthma medication.
Many children have suffered harmful side effects from using psychotropic drugs. Some of the possible side effects include mania, violence, dependence, and weight gain. Yet, parents are already being threatened with child abuse charges if they resist efforts to drug their children. Imagine how much easier it will be to drug children against their parents' wishes if a federally-funded mental-health screener makes the recommendation.
Universal or mandatory mental-health screening could also provide a justification for stigmatizing children from families that support traditional values. Even the authors of mental-health diagnosis manuals admit that mental-health diagnoses are subjective and based on social constructions. Therefore, it is all too easy for a psychiatrist to label a person's disagreement with the psychiatrist's political beliefs a mental disorder. For example, a federally-funded school violence prevention program lists "intolerance" as a mental problem that may lead to school violence. Because "intolerance" is often a code word for believing in traditional values, children who share their parents' values could be labeled as having mental problems and a risk of causing violence. If the mandatory mental-health screening program applies to adults, everyone who believes in traditional values could have his or her beliefs stigmatized as a sign of a mental disorder. Taxpayer dollars should not support programs that may label those who adhere to traditional values as having a "mental disorder."
Answer by Wouldn't you like to know
The children belong to the parents. Not the government. It should be the parents choice. I agree way to many kids are on drugs that they do not need. It is just laziness as far as I am concerned on the parents side.
Answer by dlk
I completely agree with Ron Paul. The child is the responsibility of the parent, NOT THE GOVERNMENT. You start having Government INTERFERING with the family and parents, then we are NO LONGER A FREE COUNTRY. Period.
Answer by A Republicrat
He talks about this in his book. The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health sent out pilot programs in schools across the country in relation to it, although it hasn't been established on a federal level yet. The pharmaceutical industry is the main beneficiary of such a program. Let's just say they won't be very strict in diagnosing children with diseases and pumping their systems with prescribed drugs. 2.5 million children are already on these drugs, an increase of 300 percent 1991-1995. Imagine what it will be if kids are forced to have screenings mandated by the federal government. Most obviously, mental health is an issue for children, parents, and doctors. Not the government. He is probably trying to get this bill passed before mandatory screening on the federal level is enacted. A sign of things to come?
Answer by RIP Lux Interior
"The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health has recommended that the federal and state governments work toward the implementation of a comprehensive system of mental-health screening for all Americans"
If that doesn't scare the sh!! out of Americans... nothing will.
WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!
Yes... as with most things about Ron Paul.. he is on spot with this one.
This is MY child... I gave birth to him... Not the federal government.
ETA---
2 years ago my sons school said that he was ADD and needed... .you guessed it... DRUGS to help him.
Well low and behold 2 years later after work and DISCIPLINE, he is excelling in school... without their drugs.
Answer by Lev8mysoul
I hope Ron Paul can get this one through.
Sadly, it would be pre-empted, not by the federal government requiring mental health testing in school, but instead by Obama's treaty to join the UN Human Rights Counsel, which will cause many issues for this country, not the least of which is the relinquishing of US citizens' parental rights to international bodies.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=96706
Hi,I did the following:
Orignal From: What do you think of Ron Paul's Parental Consent Act - so parents have to consent to mental screening of kids?
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