The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Traveling Exhibit held its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 23rd at the Mini Social event space in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. The event featured local businessman Jimmy Alauria as Master of Ceremonies, who introduced CCHR's mission to protect human rights in mental health. Special guest speaker Judy Renfro, a member of JustServe, a global volunteerism movement of the LDS Church, shared her experiences helping community members cope with addiction, recounting tragic stories of individuals who lost everything to drugs.
Ms. Renfro emphasized the profound responsibility that comes with society's trust in medical professionals. "When prescribing medications that can alter behavior, create dependency, impair judgment, or affect cognitive function, careful consideration must be given not only to the intended benefits but also to the long-term consequences for the individual, their family, and the broader community," she said.
The ribbon cutting opened the exhibit for tours of graphic panels and documentaries exposing what organizers describe as a long history of false science and abuses in the psychiatric industry. Guests expressed surprise at the history of psychiatry, with many finding the exhibit's revelations hard to believe until seeing documented evidence.
The exhibit remained open to the public during its Phoenix tour before moving to its next destination as part of a grand tour of major U.S. cities. According to CCHR, the traveling exhibit issues a warning to parents and community members that "psychiatric treatments can kill." There are 14 identical traveling exhibits in countries around the world.
For more information, visit the CCHR website, or watch documentaries on the work of CCHR volunteers in countries around the world and the film Psychiatry: An Industry of Death on the Scientology Network.
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights was co-founded in 1969 by professor of psychiatry Dr. Thomas Szasz and the Church of Scientology. CCHR Commissioners include physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, lawyers, legislators, government officials, educators, and civil rights representatives. CCHR is inspired by author, humanitarian, and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard's commitment to abolishing physically damaging practices in mental health.
This exhibit's arrival in Scottsdale underscores ongoing debates about mental health treatments and patient rights. By highlighting historical abuses, CCHR aims to inform the public about potential risks associated with psychiatric interventions, encouraging scrutiny of medical practices that can impact individuals and communities.
