By Jen

November 8, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this

At first I was appalled by such things occuring in the schools. It is completely unethical. After reading deeper and talking to various professionals it is just a screening process that has been taken out of context. It appears that it’s purpose is to be a screening tool to help identify students that may be suffering from symptoms of depression, suicidal ideations, etc. Following the screening the student that shows these symptoms is to be interviewed by a Ph.D. / MA trained mental health professional to determine the severity of these symptoms. The screening tool does appear to be a good preventitive approach to get those kids that may slip through the cracks. Go to Teen Screens website to find out more info.

By Louis J Addessi

November 7, 2005 9:36 AM | Link to this

If this letter is a true account of the school I find fault in that the student was told of her condition. A teenager or younger is too young on how to react & in most cases I would say to gulible. If a screen is done it first should have the parents approval & the results should be discussed with the parents & not disclosed to the student.

By Tim Bauman

November 7, 2005 9:23 AM | Link to this

With regard to the comments about taking the matter as one of parental prerogative and holding the school system personally and financially liable for these outrageous activities, it is greatly disturbing to read of the most recent ruling made by the 9th U.S. Circuit court of Appeals wherein those exact parental prerogatives were rejected as a basis for what children are and are not exposed to within the classroom. (Yes, the subject is slightly different, however the context of parental prerogative was at the heart of the argument.) Here’s the story from ABCNews: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1275781

By Bob Jones

November 5, 2005 9:36 PM | Link to this

You should see the film “Prescription: Suicide?” if you want to know what happens when kids and teenagers are put on antidepressants. It is a documentary that premiers on Nov 10th at the Ft Lauderdale International Film Festival. The film also has a website at www.prescriptionsuicide.com Bob

By Kathy Workman

November 5, 2005 5:32 PM | Link to this

I went to Medina school’s superintendent and to the school board to keep TeenScreen out of Medina. Our superintendent has to answer to the school board. Never heard from the board president but the superintendent sent me a hand written letter, which in part reads: “The Medina City School District does not currently utilize the TeenScreen program and we do not anticipate using this product in the future.” This is a start in Ohio. Believe me, I am going to frame this and also keep an eye to make sure he doesn’t let it happen here.

By NADIA Elias

November 5, 2005 8:48 AM | Link to this

what a joke!!!! this is utterly ridiculous, teenagers looking for help know no better than to beleive this crap that the psychs are feeding to them!! they need to know the truth, these things that they are being told they have (ocd, etc) dont even exist!!!!

By Tracy Eckels

November 5, 2005 12:55 AM | Link to this

Take responsibility. Write and send a letter to your childs principal and school board telling them that YOU prohibit any and all testing that is not directly related to their classroom education without your prior specific approval. Tell them that failure to comply with your requirements will result in their personal and financial liability in addition to any possible criminal charges. If this doesn’t make them treat your child with “Kid Gloves”, then they are fools.

By Tim McCain

November 4, 2005 6:26 PM | Link to this

I agree, for the most part, with everything said here. One point of contention is not to go off the handle and blame teachers, who most likely are as adverse to this as the parents, but are being told they must perform these acts as part of their job. The person who stated you should pressure the superintendent hit it on the head as they are the ones running the show. Unfortunately in this day and age when a child commits suicide the first place people want to go to is the school system as if they are suppose to magically be aware of every child’s secret emotional state; of course they aren’t but school systems have deep pockets when it comes to lawsuits. So you get a school system that is desperate to document their attempts to make sure no kid kills themselves on their watch. In come the private industries with the “magic bullet” of a testing product that will document those efforts so they won’t get sued. Of course the caveat to this is the company gets to run the tests which, as everyone is stating, is heavily weighted to predict mental illness. This of course, and how lucky for the poor, shamed parent for having a “broken” child, can be treated for a small (monetary) fee and some pills. The one poster had it right when she said kids haven’t changed. We love to romanticize the “good ole’ days” when no one committed suicide, or became depressed, or ran away, or drugs, teen pregnancy, etc. There were never Good Ole’ Days, life’s rough, and being a teenager is awkward. Life goes on…

By Carla Moxon

November 4, 2005 11:40 AM | Link to this

I would be outraged if this happened to my children in school. TeenScreen is just another way to get more and more children into the mental health system with fraudulent psychiatric diagnoses and then on psychiatric drugs. There needs to be legislation passed which mandates that parents are allowed full informed consent before their children can be subjected to such questionnaires.

By Sam Butler

November 4, 2005 11:05 AM | Link to this

This is literally disgusting, but comes as little of a surprise when we look at who is responsible. I am 17 and from the UK. We don’t have such widespread psych activity in our schools, but I pity those American school children who have to put up with the absurdity of this scheme, and others, and I truly feel sorry for those children who are put on drugs as a result. I have seen the truth behind psychiatry’s lies, and I hope others can too. Please visit Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights: www.cchr.org Sam

By Polly

November 4, 2005 10:33 AM | Link to this

This looks like the latest outrageous ploy by the psych/pharmaceutical industry to get us thinking that any normal feeling/reaction to the problems of life are a “mental illness”.Don’t buy it.As parents we have rights & we can fight back.Don’t let your child take part in any of these “screenings” & put pressure on the school to get rid of it until it does.

By Bill Houston

November 4, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this

This is not surprising to me. Remember the goal of the drug companies is to make more profits by selling more drugs. They are not in the business of helping or solving any problems. Remember the drug companies have as their goal, having 100% of the population taking as many drugs as possible for as long as possible, kids and the elderly are special targets (consumers). Enough is enough!

By Ken Burr

November 4, 2005 9:30 AM | Link to this

I would question the sanity of the person who would write such a program and those who took part in its implementation Perhaps they should all have the drugs that they are wishing on the kids. They wish to incapacitate the future generation when maybe its them who should be incapacitated.

By joe elias

November 3, 2005 5:12 PM | Link to this

this is really not good and is misleading children! and destroying society!! we have to put a stop to his rubbish!!

By Marijke Qureshi

November 3, 2005 2:23 PM | Link to this

Dear Editor, This is in response to Mr Scott Elliott’s article. I find it horrifying that kids should be subjected to these tests when they are so young and trying to learn about all kinds of things. Because of their curiosity, they could try these tests but the diagnosis is just insane> Where is the physical universe test and what determines that anybody suffers from these “diseases”? What is the cure? These “diseases” are voted into existence by the APA just to get money and for a school to fall for this is unconscionable. Thank you for your article to blow the whistle. Let’s use the money for real education and not for falling victim to the psychs who have created a school system where more and more kids come out illiterate. Sincerely, Marijke Qureshi

By Corinne Simon-Duneau

November 3, 2005 1:53 PM | Link to this

I find teen-screen not only disgusting but extremely alarming. How would YOU feel if you felt perfectly alright and suddenly someone told you there was something awfully wrong with you? Awful right? And then you’d start to believe what you were told. And get depressed and resort ot drugs that would take you into a dangerous dwindling spiral. NOT suicide prevention but a recipe for pushing you in to it. This is actually a deadly serious societal problem and we need to fight it with all our might before it’s too late. Otherwise Brave New World may come to seem mild compared to what is really happenng to our children and our future. Corinne Simon-Duneau

By Paul Fletcher

November 3, 2005 12:22 PM | Link to this

Yes! America has certainly gone mad! Yet another US$82 million being given to psychiatry to come up with yet another one of their nightmare ‘solutions’ to keep the scholl kids in check. When is the government ever going to realise that allowing psychs in to the schools is causing, not just harm, but putting lives at risk just like the previous shootings that have occurred. Psychiatry does not have solutions and the whole subject is just a psuedo-science that leaves a path of destruction in its wake wherever it is used.

By Helena

November 3, 2005 2:15 AM | Link to this

There is no question that TeenScreen is about money and nothing else. Unfortunately, it has the backing of some people like our president and the drug companies which pay for such political support in one way or another. It is crucial that people actively oppose this activity. It is a criminal attempt to turn our children into drug addicts — NOT for their own protection — but to destroy their lives so they will be long-term drug users and line the pockets of drug companies and those who dispense these dangerous chemicals.

By Pamela Soto

November 2, 2005 5:58 PM | Link to this

This school system should be ashamed of itself. It is either very naive or getting some incentive for implemting this system. Parents and children need to have open communication with each other so that they can protect each other from this sort of thing and parents can help their children when they actually do have problems. Drugs are not the answer. Food additives, artificial sweetners and coloring cause many behavior problems for children. A dietician can help you understand the effects of these. Stay away from aspartame for sure, as this has been found to cause convulsions in children.

By NANETTE JIMENEZ

November 2, 2005 3:07 PM | Link to this

It’s amazing how the Medical field is so interested in getting everyone on drugs. “Teenscreening” is just another despicable way of achieving this. If my kids were still in school where this was being done, I would start home schooling them.

By Martha Andrews

November 2, 2005 12:44 PM | Link to this

This is totally disgusting. A parents job is to protect their children. It’s not the job of schools to decide someones child has some made up disorder. Children should be taught how to handle their lives sanely and without being controlled by drugs. If this type of thing continues, we will live in a world full of robots.

By Serge Gil

November 2, 2005 12:32 PM | Link to this

I cant believe that we cant see past the stupidity of such a thing! For a school to be promoting this is beyond what I can believe. Someone is really trying hard to destroy the next generation of kids with drugs and I hope that parents look into this. We all know that computers make mistakes in ordinary daily life activities, no one can afford to have these computers make such diagnosis, which will be wrong 100% of the time.

By chuck popa

November 2, 2005 12:20 PM | Link to this

I’M SHOCKED THAT TEEN SCREEN IS ABLE TO DO WHAT IT IS DOING. IT IS A CRIME. MY CHILD WILL NEVER BE SUBJECTED TO TEEN SCREEN. NO MEDICAL EVIDENCE EXISTS TO PROVE A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE. NONE. CHUCK

By Ken Kramer

November 2, 2005 9:42 AM | Link to this

Is it no wonder that Ohio is in such big TeenScreen trouble? Michael Hogan, head of the New “Freedom” Commission and on the national advisory council for TeenScreen, runs the Ohio Department of Mental Health!

By Nicole Crellin

November 2, 2005 9:27 AM | Link to this

What next? Everyone on psychiatric drugs? What a world that would be. There is so much joy in being drug free but it surely does not financially benefit those that promote the drug push.

By Howard Glassman

November 2, 2005 1:53 AM | Link to this

This is not just preposterous and insane, it is downright evil. These totally normal children are being degraded and mentally abused by being told they’re mentally ill for absolutely NO REASON! The test is specifically designed to include every normal child and teen. The entire basis for the literally bizarre activities of the “mental health”/big pharma conglomerate is totally bogus and is nothing more than a well thought out campaign to make money over the lives of our children- which is to say the very future of our society! This is the result of the purchase of a profession by an industry. The pharmaceutical industry now owns and operates psychiatry solely for their own profit, to the detriment of us all. We MUST stop this evil destruction and undermining of our society, and the first step is to END TEEN SCREEN NOW!

By Keith Jarvis

November 1, 2005 8:59 PM | Link to this

Teen Screen is simultaneously ridiculous and dangerous, since the offered “solution” is overwhelmingly a drug solution. Drugs ARE THE PROBLEM, not the solution.

By Mary Collins

November 1, 2005 8:22 PM | Link to this

The High Priests of Psychiatry are are being exposed-their hopes that all of us will get labeled with one of the hundreds of behavior labels they have dreamed up to falsely indicate that we have mental disorders. The psychiatrists hope that then we will help their industry by taking drugs all of our lives so they can keep the billions coming in to their coffer. Looks like they are bing exposed. But maybe if the children who love to play with computers decide from what the ad says on the internet, that they are “mentally ill” and need drugs, then the number of children taking drugs will increase-therefore more money. This is the real purpose of the computer diagnosing. We need to work hard and let each parent know the real truth behnind the psyc FDA Being Lead by Criminals Dear Editor: The FDA’s job is to protect us from dangerous drugs, and ineffective ones. It is obvious that the FDA is not going to do its job. This is stated mildly. They are being criminal; they are ignoring the statistics of deaths, violence and suicides that have been proven to be results from using psychiatric drugs. Last December, ABC’s Prime Time revealed it had evidence of at least 100 children who have committed suicide while taking antidepressants. There are hundreds more of incidents of death caused by the use of these drugs. Recently, the FDA rejected a proposal to require drug makers to show certain mental health drugs are effective over the long term before they can be sold. The beginning crime began with psychiatrists who, without any evidence, or scientific data started labeling children and adults with made-up “disorders” or “diseases”. They simply made a list of behaviors that they wanted to use and voted on these as to whether they would be called diseases or disorders. This makes up the manual they use to label, and then drug children and adults. A great many children have been falsely diagnosed, and given death dealing drugs. These are the worst crimes of the century_ to kill our children in the name of “help”. Mary Collins 812 Alton Woods Drive Concord, NH 03301 Phone: 603-224-1796 hiatric industry. “MONEY” MARY COLLINS 812 Alton Woods Dr. Concord, NH 03301 Phone: 603-224-1796

By Chris Lake

November 1, 2005 8:19 PM | Link to this

This is a profoundly irresponsible use of a computer by the psychologist profession. To pretend to properly evaluate a human being via a piece of software while not even meeting the person is a base abuse of basic humanity

By Manny

November 1, 2005 4:04 PM | Link to this

I can not think of something that is more ludicrous and so far off base than the implied need for Teen Screening. Obviously the Major Drug interest think that we are all asleep and that is how they would like us to be so that they can continue to put out drugs that ruin peoples lives and make them chemically dependent. This however takes it to a whole new level of insanity and viciousness. It has been so well documented that these drugs have atrocious side effects creating hysteria, Suicide and violent behavior and even death. To propose and even push that we give these to our children is an all new low. This should never be allowed and those that are pushing to Screen and Drug our children should be incarcerated at best for attempted murder and genocide of the future race.

By Martie Fackler

November 1, 2005 3:34 PM | Link to this

If this happened at my child’s school, I think I would look for other parents interested in starting a class action lawsuit against the school district.

By Jaran

November 1, 2005 2:10 PM | Link to this

The “1984” idea is totally apt. This is another advancement into the cyber-slave era so cherished by those who have to hide behind the wall called Totalitarianism.

By Erica Wheeler

November 1, 2005 1:10 PM | Link to this

There is only one way to describe this. Evil. No other word would capture a program like this in quite the right way. My child will NEVER take a psychiatric drug as long as there is breath in my body. If all parents would wake up and realize that they are ruining their own children’s lives if they allow them to take these drugs then we would be able to rid the planet of the lowlife vermin who are drugging our children.

By Trish

November 1, 2005 12:46 PM | Link to this

I was shocked to hear of this web site diagnostic tool called “teenscreen” which apparently teels teenagers what mental disorders they supposedly have! It amazes me just how far psychs will go to push their wares and line their pockets and that of the drug companies!

By Russ Kobrin

November 1, 2005 12:20 PM | Link to this

I am tired of drugs being the first and only solution to keeping kids “under control”. WHY ARE WE TRYING TO KEEP KIDS UNDER CONTROL????How about parents and teachers start taking responsibility for their kids and actually educate them, rather than sedating them and destroying their minds with drugs?

By John Lake

November 1, 2005 12:09 PM | Link to this

Your story on the use of TeenScreen to “analyze” teen “mental disorders” is a distressing commentary on today’s society and on the influence of drug companies who have become little more that legalized drug pushers with psychiatrists as their front men. Drugs are not the answer. In no way should any rational person allow a computer to diagnose fictious illnesses for their children.

By JJ LaQua

November 1, 2005 11:58 AM | Link to this

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! We need to band together and with ONE voice expose these pharmas for what they really are:greedy,money hungry,life sucking worms,only interested in their bottom lines.

By Sheila

November 1, 2005 9:15 AM | Link to this

The only way to stop this program is to stand up to your school superintendents and demand they stop testing all children. They shouldn’t accept “blood moneyâ€? from the pharma companies…that is exactly what their compensation will become. Make sure they know about the lawsuits in other states against Teen Screen. They don’t need that kind of publicity.

By James

November 1, 2005 12:31 AM | Link to this

The most distressing thing about TeenScreen is that any adult would allow their child to be labeled by a computer. We need to wake up and take responsibility for being parents, not abandon our children to the psychiatric drugpushers.

By Steve Dockendorf

November 1, 2005 12:28 AM | Link to this

I think that if the schools would treat our children less like maze rats and more like scholars, our society would be much better off.

By Karen Diehl

October 31, 2005 11:35 PM | Link to this

Beware parents and teens! Shame on the greedy powers behind “Teen Screen”! Research the facts - they are there, although you may have to dig deep to find the truth. Don’t be fooled by the well-financed marketing campaigns. Steer clear of the drug & psychiatric solutions - they ruin lives. There are much better solutions available if you look.

By Suzi

October 31, 2005 11:12 PM | Link to this

The schools are there to teach not to decide if children are depressed! I remember being quite depressed on the days I didn’t study for a test. This is a very scarey time for us — what is the next screening? You don’t have blue eyes and blonde hair — you must be drugged! That would be a condition called Non-Barbieitis which could be just as easily voted on as a “social or behavioral” condition. What are you going to do about it? This is not the time to stand on the sidelines and think it will just go away.

By Maria Reyes

October 31, 2005 10:54 PM | Link to this

Why do not let the children be children? How can we keep them away from drugs later if we allow that the schools to drug them! This is treason. The children go to school to learn, no to be “diagnosed” or drugged. It is a learning area not a pathological situation.

By Barbara Perron

October 31, 2005 9:49 PM | Link to this

I think this is an insanely crazy way to diagnose a teenager—through the use of a COMPUTER!!! No Way! This is the craziest thing I’ve heard of yet. This has GOT to stop NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Barbara Perron

By Garrison Clarke

October 31, 2005 7:52 PM | Link to this

The psychiatrist looks at TeenScreen the same way a fisherman looks a fishing license authorizing the use of dynamite in a small pond. It’s a sure thing. These people have never show any evidence for their claims of “mental illness�. They sell drugs that kill kids. I say that makes the killers.

By Jim

October 31, 2005 7:50 PM | Link to this

Well, shoot the computer, kick out the drug pushers and get back to education, that is what school is for,has education. Also, it been proven that the kids on the “anti-depressants” have the highest occasion of suicide, some cure, eh.

By Allen Jones

October 31, 2005 4:58 PM | Link to this

To put this marketing scam in context, check out it’s origins here: http://psychrights.org/Drugs/AllenJonesTMAPJanuary20.pdf

By John B. Fleming

October 31, 2005 4:14 PM | Link to this

A computer cannot diagnose or prescribe anything. Onle a licensed Physcian can and it should remain so. Someone is trying hard to sell us a bill-of-goods. Who is it?

By Judy

October 31, 2005 4:01 PM | Link to this

My high school age son was aware of it and protested early on. I contacted the school to say don’t even bother to meddle with him that way, consider this student a permanent opt-out. A teacher called me at home and I told her, “we do NOT participate in psychiatric experiementation” and referred her to Citizens Commission on Human Rights. That ended it right there. Parents have a lot more power than they would like you to believe - please use your parental rights to protect your children. They will thank you for it.

By Corine Mah

October 31, 2005 3:47 PM | Link to this

Teachers should stick to teaching. I’m truly amazed the so-called educators in this day and age even considered this “Teenscreen” joke. Who-ever came up with this nonsense should be hiding their faces with shame for trying to put this out on the public school system.

By Andrew Workman

October 31, 2005 3:32 PM | Link to this

Before you post a comment here, for or against, you have to take this question into mind: would YOU like it if YOU were being screened? No, I think not. Currently, I’m working to get TeenScreen out of Ohio. I’m 14, and it’s a rather large job. I’m looking around the state for people against the program, which you all seem to be. If you’re as interested in getting it out of the state as I am, forward an email onto me (business.tws@gmail.com) and I’ll give you an assignment. TeenScreen has got to go. Its main purpose is to drug up the children of the future, which will, in essence, destroy OUR future! Destroy TeenScreen!

By Lloyd Achtymichuk

October 31, 2005 3:21 PM | Link to this

Ahhh…yes. It would be nice to not have to think about such things, or to reason out the why and wherefore of medical and business practices and to believe unquestioningly that the activities of our fellow human beings have our best interests at heart. Being good people all, it seems so hard to convince ourselves or even conceive that some people don’t have our best interests at heart or that crime and evil are inadvertent occurrences in life that are ameliorated by “moral relativity” or “good intentions” and are not really bad when viewed from a different perspective or understanding of the perpetrators; who are more than likely victims of society themselves. When evil rears its ugly head and appears before us we recognize it and quash it. Maybe that is why it doesn’t rear its ugly head? In order to not get quashed it must mask itself under things such as “good intentions” or “help”. Who could refuse those things? So…what do we do? Well, if you think about it we like to be able, as human beings to run our own affairs and to think that we are contributing members to the welfare of our families and communities. As individuals what would you think if I told you were incapable of running your affairs or controlling yourself or your emotions? I think convincing someone they are less of a person in any manner would be quite heartless but doing it to enrich myself would be more than heartless and perhaps something that I might call evil. Of course there are those that may think people need to be restrained, and don’t get me wrong, I believe there are some,but they are the ones who would enslave us all or belittle us or strive to make us less capable than we can be or label us as deficient in some manner instead of enabling us to achieve. Isn’t that the purpose of education? Does a label or a drug make us more ourselves or enable us? I would think though, that we are more than just what someone else tells us we are especially someone with a vested interest in labels and drugs.

By Ariella Kapelner

October 31, 2005 1:14 PM | Link to this

Please consider the following: A student majoring in psychology receives a Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation, not a Bachelor of Science. Why, then, are we treating psychology as a science when universities don’t? The psychiatrists’ own “bible,” the manual which instructs psychiatrists on how to “diagnose” “disorders,” the DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS (DSM IV-TR), serves yet another proof that psychiatrists are not practicing science: it doesn’t contain any definition of what NORMAL BEHAVIOR is. There is no definition, anywhere in this manual, of the term “normal.” There is no attempt to define this term. This leaves any person to interpret behavior, no matter how normal, as a “disorder.” Moreover, psychiatry has no definition of what a “MENTAL DISORDER” is. The DSM states (page XXX), under the heading of “Definition of Mental disorder”: “although this manual provides a classification of mental disorders… it must be admitted that no definition adequately specifies precise boundaries for the concept of “mental disorder”.” No medical science takes a vote of its participating doctors to decide which new diseases should be voted into existence. Psychiatry, on the other hand, votes “diseases” into existence by a show of hands (!) without any valid tests to prove they actually exist. Psychiatric “diagnoses” have no objective basis or biological support. Ariella

By Tony Miller

October 31, 2005 1:10 PM | Link to this

Maybe Teenscreen could hire the ex Enron executives when they get out of prison.They are experienced at perfecting a con. No positive results and making tons of money was their specialty. Thank goodness for sites like this to prevent scam artists from hurting kids.

By John F. Prior

October 31, 2005 12:54 PM | Link to this

There is no proof of chemical imbalance. Screening is not scientific. Your kid may get a label for life. Psychiatric drugs now come with black box warnings for children that suicide is a possibility. If you disagree with the recommended treatment, child welfare may take your child. Why wouldn’t you notify the school (PPRA) that you don’t want your child screened? Parenting is a tough job; accept the responsibilty.

By Kathy Workman

October 31, 2005 12:36 PM | Link to this

If it were not for Annie Armen, my family in Ohio would not have found out about this. Our children, and their minds on these drugs, is a terrible thing to waste. It is time for parents to step up and take BACK control of raising their children. Inform your schools that you want IMMEDIATE notification if this ever comes to your school. READ EVERYTHING that comes home with your child/children. That way, they cannot test your kid because of passive consent. MAKE TIME to LISTEN and be with your child/children and you will see what a difference you can make in their lives. Just be there for them. I have found more time for my boys and let me tell you, we get along better then ever….these are 2 teens, 14 and 13, and so far, they tell me everything. And, both say they will refuse to take this if it ever comes to our schools. My oldest is fighting against it. As are his father and I.

By Ron Meyerson

October 31, 2005 12:17 PM | Link to this

Welcome to the “Brave New World”. What gets me is that this issue is so blatantly obvious and so overtly Orwellian that the public, the politicians, and the media should be all over this thing. The fact that it has any credibility at all is a sad testament to just how far this country has sunk. We as Americans have a choice: personal and individual liberty, (the very SELF DETERMINISM upon which this country was founded), or an Orwellian state where the “Psyches” and “Big Pharmo” tells us what is “good” and “bad” behavior, and where an endless supply of “little blue pills” (our soma) controls the masses. There are no spectators in this game. EVERY AMERICAN MUST MAKE A CHOICE! AND THEN ACT!

By Peggy Cote

October 31, 2005 12:15 PM | Link to this

How would I react if this happened at my child’s school? First I would remove my child from that school; second, I would find out who in the school system was behind allowing such a screening to be use on our precious children, our future society; third, I would expose that person and get the truth out there to all the other parents. Labeling of our school children has been done ever since we allowed pschologists/psychiatrist s into our schools. Wake up America and get the psychs out of education!

By Oscar Wegner

October 31, 2005 12:10 PM | Link to this

America used to be an icon for FREEDOM. Today, it is an icon for SLAVERY, SLAVERY to psychiatric deception and drugs. The Federal government is in partnership with psychiatry and big pharma, with the Freedom Commission and the now national Texas algorythm, to drug every kid and every adult. Sounds crazy? Go to http://psychrights.org/Drugs/AllenJonesTMAPJanuary20.pdf to find out more about it in detail.

By Matt Patisso

October 31, 2005 10:23 AM | Link to this

Teenscreen is the last ditch effort on the part of a dying industry to get teenagers to “auto-diagnose” themselves using a via (computers) loaded with smoke and mirrors. The absolute fastest way to bring down the psych and drug industry is to make their Sales/Marketing arms accountable. Disseminate the truth to the advertising agencies and the salespeople as this is the lifeline that makes it possible to distribute. Then watch the empire crumble.

By Jann Magerowski

October 31, 2005 9:58 AM | Link to this

Who in the world agreed to use this service at that school? Are they on Pshych drugs themselves? Or do they just hate children?

By Ron Kule

October 31, 2005 8:40 AM | Link to this

I would go out and find the best class action lawyer I could find and SUE whoever is behind this un-Constitutional endeavor to diagnose my child without my consent!

By Keith

October 31, 2005 7:44 AM | Link to this

There is no biological or medical basis to any of these so called “Mental Illnesses”. It’s a crime to to label any child with any “disorder” when there is no factual evidence of its existence. This is the downfall of society and once this is reversed, we can really start living.

By Dmitry Slomov

October 31, 2005 2:43 AM | Link to this

These is a truly unscientific approach, aimed to a mere marketing of psychiatric drugs. This should be ousted from our schools. Schools are not a market place for drug companies - no matter how strongly they want it to be. Schools must teach students, not label them with contradictory “disorders”, which are, according to American Psychiatry Association’s President, not proved scientifically.

By Dennis Munsterman

October 31, 2005 1:33 AM | Link to this

This is definitely “George Orwell, 1984” - scary,scary! Makes one wonder how much of a grip Big Pharma really has on our government officials. Disgusting! I would definitely pull my kid out of any school that permitted such abuse and nonsense!

By John Baker

October 31, 2005 12:17 AM | Link to this

This is just another typical scam of the pseudo-science called psychiatry and their masters, the pharmaceutical industry, trying to sell drugs. Why do supposedly intelligent educators allow this sort of thing to happen? What’s in it for the school? Are they receiving payments for each child they have on drugs?

By Sally Garden

October 30, 2005 11:56 PM | Link to this

The mighty dollar really has taken away some professionals integrity and morals. What other explaination can there be!

By Kevin Candon

October 30, 2005 11:54 PM | Link to this

Teen Screen is a bad idea. A VERY bad idea. It should be stopped. Period!

By Al Apen

October 30, 2005 11:33 PM | Link to this

It’s about the bottom line and money. Follow the money. It’s at the expense of unknowing children. In the end drug companies profit from getting kids on drugs whether the kids need them or not.

By Alan G

October 30, 2005 11:14 PM | Link to this

If we allow normal human experience to be redefined as a “disorder” or “illness,” if we don’t recognize absurdities like “TeenScreen” as blatant falsehoods, then we will reap the consequences Orwell laid out in “Animal Farm” and “1984.” So, we mustn’t let it happen. If they’re using passive consent to perptrate this scam, let us not be passive, and let us not consent. My child will never be subjected to this sort of pseudo-science. Thank you for a fine article. I for one am looking forward to the follow up.

By Sue

October 30, 2005 9:36 PM | Link to this

Questions TeenScreen asks your child: Have you often felt very nervous or uncomfortable when you have been with a group of children or young people - say, like in the lunchroom at school or at a party? Have you often felt very nervous when you’ve had to do things in front of people? Have you often worried alot before you were going to play a sport or game or do some other activity? Has there been a time when you had less energy then you usually do? Has there been a time when you felt you couldn’t do anything well or that you weren’t as good-looking or as smart as other people? Has there been a time when nothing was fun for you and you just weren’t interested in anything? I showed my daughter these questions, without saying anything to her. Her response? “But doesn’t every kid feel that way sometimes?” I assured her it was quite normal. She responded, “But what about those kids that read that and now think there’s something wrong with them?” I had no answer for that. She did….”I feel bad for them.” As a parent, I ask you, “What are you going to do about it?”

By Ernest Ryan

October 30, 2005 8:34 PM | Link to this

When I saw teachers and counselors being used to diagnose school children with ADHD, depression and other phony mental illness labels,I took my kids out of public schools and sent them to a private school that doesn’t allow kids to be on psychiatric drugs or accept those who are. Once my kids were safe I made it a point to write letters to the editor attacking psychiatry and it’s drugs and supporters. I did not let my kids play with kids who were on psychiatric drugs either as they were too unpredictable. At Columbine and Red Lake let’s not forget that a lot of innocent kids and adults were killed or wounded by the shooters who were on antidepressants. That is the end result of TeenScreen: a kid on antidepressants. In Britain general practitioners were just told to quit prescribing antidepressants blamed for suicidal feelings in under 18s. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5295963-103690,00.html. How can TeenScreen supporters claim it prevents teen suicides when antidepressants actually cause it?Withdraw your support for any school with TeenScreen, pull your kids out, demonstrate, handbill the parents dropping off their kids, talk to the PTA and school board. Make a stink. It could be your kid that winds up wounded or dead from some other kid who went berzerk on the antidepressants prescribed as a result of doing the TeenScreen survey.

By David Agami

October 30, 2005 8:28 PM | Link to this

for heavens sakes!!! someone has to stop these “shrinks” and pharmaceutical corporations from grugging and confusing our children. FOR HEAVENS SAKES!!! SOMEONE HAS TO STOP THESE “SHRINKS” AND PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATIONS FROM DRUGGING AND CONFUSING OR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS. “TEENSCREEN” WILL EVENTUALLY HURT EVERY FAMILY IN THIS COUNTRY. IT’S TIME THAT EVERY PARENT (INCLUDING YOU), STARTS RAISING HIS VOICE AGAINST “TEENSCREEN” IN EVRY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY. OUR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH IS AT RISK IN THE HANDS OF THE SHRINKS.

By Tony Urbanek

October 30, 2005 6:04 PM | Link to this

Teen Screen is simply a poorly disguised plan for the psychiatrrists and drug companies to make money at the expense of families/the govenrment/schools/ insurance companies. Their “disorders” have no basis in science and are simply someones, (psychiatrists) subjective opinion.

By Lisa

October 30, 2005 5:21 PM | Link to this

Wow, I can’t believe this. My question would be for the school board and administrators who approved this scheme. Who are they working for? They must get paid for putting kids on drugs, why else would anyone do this? It is crazy!

By Dennis J. Paul

October 30, 2005 5:14 PM | Link to this

This is an abuse of human rights set up by people who have already been proven wrong. They don’t know what they are talking about and their actions are criminal. They must be stopped and penalized for their abuse of human rights and their covert intentions of harming people with drugs based on false diagnosis.

By Denise Munsterman

October 30, 2005 4:27 PM | Link to this

This is absolutely horrific!! Big Pharma in cahoots with psychiatry have gone way, way too far!! This is even despite the growing evidence that the psychotropic drugs that they are aiming to put these kids on are very dangerous!! It is high time to demand psychiatry go back to their clinics and get OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS!!

By Tom Beattie

October 30, 2005 4:21 PM | Link to this

You are absolutely right about how it is absurd that a computer can tell a child if he or she has a mental disorder. All parents, if attending a briefing on the actualities of this TeenScreen outfit would laugh them out of the school but it just goes to show you how slick and slimy they are when they “sell” their program to the school boards. They promise them that they will help prevent suicides with this questionaire when all they will really be accomplishing is setting the child onto the road to suicide with a stigma of a label and then an addictive psychotropic drug that the child will get hooked on and it will be down hill from there. Parents need to open their eyes and pay attention to their children and their child’s needs and wants and most importantly, their diet and their activity level. Listless kids on video games and TV are more prone to eating garbage which gives one a bad attitude. “We are what we eat” is as old as time but it is truer than true. A Wisconsin school took away all junk food vending machines and changed the menu to fresh whole foods and their school is violence free and Ritalin, Adderral, Concerta FREE. There is no more ADHD or ODD(opposition defiant disorder) as the foods are real and not processed and their bodies function normally. I can go on and on with this but you got the point. Oh yeah, one more thing, evercise, play, play, play. Best therapy for a sharp mind there is.

By Andrew Macdonald

October 30, 2005 4:15 PM | Link to this

We all need to see through this marketing. Their end result is damaged people and Parmacutical companies making money. www.CCHR.org http://ritalindeath.com/ http://members.aol.com/atracyphd/index.htm http://www.drugawareness.org/ http://www.psychassault.org/

By Charlie Parker

October 30, 2005 4:12 PM | Link to this

This is one of those things that is SO absurd that it’s almost impossible to believe. But it’s true - schools are giving kids a 10 minute test that has only a few multiple-choice questions. Then, based on the responses, the kids are routed to a “professional” who in most cases, just prescribes drugs. The drugs being prescribed are actually known to CAUSE violent behavior and suicide. Don’t believe it? Just check it out at www.teenscreenfacts.com.

By charlene

October 30, 2005 4:06 PM | Link to this

The new TeenScreen is something that must be stopped. It is a new way to label more people with some sort of “mental illness” so that they can become part of the mental health system. Everyone could be labeled as having a mental disorder if you look at the questions that are asked. When did our society decide that most people have a problem and are dangerous to self or others? It is time to take responsibility for ourselves and our fellows and stop placing pills as our new salvation. Our future cannot be pleasant when the majority of people are on medication, escpecially psychiatric medication. It is time to step up to the place and stop the legal drugging of America! Dr. Charlene Thorburn R.N., D.C.,D.A.B.C.O.

By Andrew Macdonald

October 30, 2005 4:04 PM | Link to this

We all need to see through this marketing. Their end result is damaged people and Pharmacutical companies making money. www.CCHR.org www.drugawareness.org http://ritalindeath.com/ http://members.aol.com/atracyphd/#sprung1

By Naomi Fox

October 30, 2005 4:03 PM | Link to this

Teen Screen is dangerous and devious. Offering incentives to kids to get them to participate in the screening process is wrong. Everyone experiences negative emotions at some point in their lives. This doesn’t mean they have a disorder or need a drug. Most probably they need a good ear and someone with sense enough to guide them. The psychs have convinced many parents that they (parents) don’t know how to successfully raise their own children. This undermines the basic structure of our society. Let’s get back to basics when families were united and people didn’t depend on diagnoses and drugs to solve life’s problems.

By Laura Borst

October 30, 2005 3:48 PM | Link to this

If I had a child that was labelled by a computer program as “mentally ill”, I would definitely remove him from the place that exposed him to such labelling. If any school proposed psychologically screening any child that I might have, I would withdraw him from the school. I wouldn’t want a human labelling any child I might have, let alone an unfeeling,preprogrammed computer.

By Carole Osgood

October 30, 2005 3:48 PM | Link to this

I’m a retired Daycare Provider of 30 years. I know kids. They have NOT changed over the years. The methods of ‘testing’ and evaluating and drugging them has. Disorders were INVENTED by the Psychiatric Industry. They must NOT be permitted to dull our children with false ‘labels’ and diagnosis & drugs … AND to do it by COMPUTER? This is the ultimate insult to anyone’s intelligence. Common Sense needs to be revived as a guide as it was used in earlier years. If it doesn’t make sense to YOU, do NOT accept it. Kids did not suddenly change into a strange breed of human with tons of mental illness over these last 30 years. Teach children to NEVER accept discouraging words about themselves. People who ENCOURAGE children by SHOWING THEM HOW TO SUCCEED are worth listening to.

By Larry Monroe

October 30, 2005 3:26 PM | Link to this

One more step towards lining up more customers for the giant Pharmaceutical Industry. If you really care for your children’s well-being, you should check to see if Teen-Sceen is at use in their school district. It has spread to many states of the union - and it’s underwritten by - you guessed it, the Pharmaceutical Giants. This is a page out of “Brave New World”. Ask questions and make noise - its the only way to stop the planned drugging & “zombie-fication” of millions of unsuspecting children.