Children can experience emotional or behavioural problems, but the diagnoses of mental disorders are not the same as the diagnoses of verifiable diseases or medical conditions.
There are no genetic tests, brain scans, X-ray or any scientifically proven test to verify mental disorders. Parents are not given this information but are simply told their child is ‘mentally ill’ and more often than not, encouraged to agree to place their child on psychiatric drugs.
Children with emotional or behavioural problems are labelled with ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’ (ADHD).
Another label is Hyperkinetic Disorder, which is listed in the mental disorders section of the International Classification of Diseases published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Parents are advised to put their child on prescribed ADHD drugs, which include stimulant drugs like Ritalin and Concerta.
Parents should know there are no medical tests that can prove a child is ‘mentally ill.’ They should also know that any diagnosis of mental disorder is based on opinion, a simple checklist of behaviours. Therefore, if a psychiatrist or doctor says your child has a ‘mental disorder’ and needs to be on “medication” (drugs) do the following:
1.
Demand to see the laboratory test, brain scan, blood test or X-ray that proves your child has a mental disorder that would require drug ‘treatment.’
2.
If drugs are recommended for your child, print off the summaries of international drug warnings/studies on whatever type of drug is being recommended and provide this to the doctor/psychiatrist recommending the drugs. Ask if they are aware of the international studies and warnings on these drug risks.
3.
If the psychiatrist/doctor provides you with what they claim is evidence of a ‘mental disorder,’ forward this claim to the Citizens Commission on Human Rights UK here.
4.
There are non-harmful, non-drug medical alternatives to treating emotional and behavioural problems. Parents have the right to know what alternatives exist, and should ask their doctor about non-drug treatments. Parents also have the right to a second opinion.
Drug Warnings
For ADHD Drug Warnings and Studies click here
For Antidepressant Drug Warnings and Studies click here
For Antipsychotic Drug Warnings and Studies click here
For Antianxiety Drug Warnings and Studies click here
To find studies and warnings on specific brand name drugs such as Ritalin, Seroxat, Adderall, Concerta, Zoloft, Risperdal, simply type in name of the drug in CCHR’s Psychiatric Drug Side Effects Search Engine.