The Psychiatry: An Industry of Death traveling exhibit at Orlando's Oviedo Mall has attracted Floridians seeking information about mental health practices including electroshock treatment, involuntary examinations, and psychiatric medication use in children. Hosted by the Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), the display aims to educate the public about human rights concerns within psychiatric care, drawing from content featured at CCHR's permanent museum in Los Angeles. Visitors have included human rights advocates, students, psychiatric facility employees, professionals, veterans, and teachers, with many committing to collaborate with CCHR to address mental health abuses in the state.
A retired psychiatric hospital employee reportedly became emotional after viewing the exhibit, recalling a doctor's warning that working in psychiatry might lead to becoming a patient oneself. A veteran visitor criticized psychiatry for allegedly diminishing patient rights and contributing to societal issues through pharmaceutical advertising. Speakers at associated events included youth advocate Issac Coach Boom Vasquez, who addressed concerns about over-medication of children and mental health rights, and congressional candidate Tuan Le, who emphasized advocacy for human rights and combating racism within mental health systems.
The Florida chapter maintains a permanent installation of the exhibit in Clearwater, unveiled in 2015, which presents psychiatry's history and contemporary practices through fourteen audiovisual displays. According to organizers, the Clearwater museum has hosted over 10,000 visitors, including nursing and technical college students who find the self-guided tours educational. CCHR combines museum tours with seminars on Florida's Baker Act, aiming to educate lawmakers, medical professionals, and citizens about mental health abuse and legal protections. The museum operates weekly with free admission and regularly hosts events to further public education on these topics.
