BIG BROTHER WATCH:MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL CONTROL

Because of the Virginia Tech shootings by a student with mental health problems, there have been calls for more mental health screenings for youth.The National Institute of Mental Health has declared that 1 in 10 children suffers from a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment.Even before the shootings, a growing number of schools in the U.S. were screening students for psychological problems, and in some areas, all children of any age in foster care are to be screened.According to American Health Line, June 19, 2006, "one psychological evaluation system, TeenScreen, has been administered to more than 150,000 children in 42 states and the District of Columbia, and New York State plans to begin screening about 400,000 children a year." In previous Parts of this series, I have detailed the rather serious problems with TeenScreen.One of the fundamental problems with mental health screenings is the question of one's religious beliefs. For example, in the DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS, IV (DSM) is "oppositional defiant disorder," which can include simply acting angry or refusing to obey. Then there is a section titled "Additional Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention," under which is "Noncompliance With Treatment." It states that "the reasons for noncompliance may include...decisons based on personal value judgments or religious or cultural beliefs." So if you have been labeled as having "oppositional defiant disorder" and refuse treatment because of your religious beliefs, the DSM indicates you may need "clinical attention."...
(By Dennis L. Cuddy, Ph.D.May 28, 2007 NewsWithViews.com)
To read more go to:
http://newswithviews.com/Cuddy/dennis102.htm
As in the days of Noah...