CCHR Florida Exposes Racist Roots in Mental Health Practices During Black History Month Open House

The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) will host a month-long open house examining the persistent impact of racism in mental health practices. The event, themed "Is Racism Alive Today?", will explore how minority children, particularly African-American and Hispanic students, are disproportionately labeled as "learning disabled" and subsequently prescribed mind-altering medications.

Historical evidence reveals deeply disturbing racist foundations within psychiatric disciplines. Pioneering figures like Benjamin Rush, considered the "father of American psychiatry", propagated pseudoscientific theories claiming Black skin was a disease requiring "cure". Psychiatric professionals historically labeled enslaved individuals seeking freedom as mentally ill, recommending violent "treatments" like whipping.

Eugenics-driven ideologies from prominent psychologists like Francis Galton and Lewis Terman explicitly promoted racial superiority, suggesting certain racial groups were mentally inferior and should be prevented from reproducing. These harmful perspectives influenced significant societal discrimination, affecting populations from South Africa to the United States.

Despite historical progress, CCHR argues that racist mental health practices persist, with contemporary mental health organizations still struggling to address systemic biases. The open house seeks to raise awareness about these ongoing challenges and promote understanding of how racist ideologies continue to impact minority communities.

By exposing these historical and contemporary racist practices, CCHR aims to challenge discriminatory mental health approaches and advocate for equitable, unbiased healthcare practices that recognize the inherent dignity of all individuals, regardless of racial background.