The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Nashville (CCHR Nashville) held a special event in May near the anniversary of the International Day Against Electroshock.
The Nashville Chapter of Citizens
Commission on Human Rights (CCHR Nashville) held a special event to brief
volunteers on Nashville news near the anniversary of the International Day of
Protest Against Electroshock.
CCHR is known as an advocate for human
rights, especially as relates to patients’ rights in the field of mental
health. Per the international CCHR website, cchr.org, “CCHR has long fought to
restore basic inalienable human rights to the field of mental health,
including, but not limited to, full informed consent regarding the medical legitimacy
of psychiatric diagnosis, the risks of psychiatric treatments, the right to all
available medical alternatives and the right to refuse any treatment considered
harmful.”
The International Day of Protest
Against Electroshock began in 2015 when ECT survivors and supporters around the
world staged coordinated protests against the practice of psychiatric
electroshock treatment, according to ectjustice.com. The protests were originated
by electroshock survivor and MindFreedom Ireland co-founder, Mary Maddock, who
said, “Electroshock is a barbaric assault on the individual. As a young mother after the birth of my
daughter, I was subjected to 16 sessions of it and suffered permanent memory
loss as a result. I have spoken to many others who have received it both in
Ireland and abroad and all have received permanent brain damage. MindFreedom Ireland is calling for the total
abolition of electroshock.”
CCHR Nashville regularly hosts events
and meetings with local leaders who give insight into patients’ rights,
parents’ rights and more.
CCHR is a non-profit, non-political,
non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses
committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer
protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health
and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or
damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments,
such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain
stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can
work with a person’s attorney to further investigate the case.
For more information on the open house
or to contact CCHR Nashville, visit cchrnashville.org.