The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) recently hosted its annual Purple Heart Day banquet at the Historic Fort Harrison in Clearwater, drawing nearly 500 attendees. The event, which has been a tradition since 2017, honors military personnel who have received the Purple Heart, a decoration awarded to those wounded or killed in service. A highlight of the evening was the Tampa area U.S. Marine Color Guard's presentation, followed by a stirring rendition of the national anthem.
Diane Stein, President of CCHR in Florida, spoke about the organization's commitment to finding effective, non-drug-based solutions for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition affecting many veterans. Stein criticized the current reliance on antidepressants for treating PTSD, citing statistics from the VA website that list antidepressants as the primary medication for the condition. She argued that this approach does a disservice to veterans, suggesting that the term 'treatment-resistant depression' misleadingly shifts blame to the patient rather than acknowledging the limitations of the treatments offered.
The banquet also featured speeches from three Purple Heart recipients, who shared their experiences and the challenges they face. Stein emphasized CCHR's dedication to working with veterans' organizations to protect and improve lives by addressing abuses in the mental health industry. The event underscored the need for alternative treatments for PTSD, beyond the current drug-based paradigms, to better serve those who have sacrificed for their country.
For more information on the Citizens Commission on Human Rights and their work, visit https://www.cchr.org.
