Bizarre mendatory mental health screening program to make Illinois act like Big Brother

Larry Trainor, a parent of four children, and a contact for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, states that the evaluation of mental conditions is subjective and since psychiatric involvement has started, SAT scores have gone down. All parents and citizens who are outraged at this new program should attend the forums.

Laura Dawn Lewis gives a commentary on her objections to the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. She believes that the subjective nature of the law will result in a caste system, based upon the mental health results, which will be divided up into mentally healthy and different degrees of mentally unhealthy. The law is compulsory and the results will be placed in state records, which may later affect screening for employment, college admissions, the ability to receive a driver's license and health care benefits. The law violates one's privacy. It is also unconstitutional under the Bill of Rights. It violates the right to be secure in our thoughts.

• HICAGO -- Monday, July 19, 2004 This week, a series of public forums on a program requiring all pregnant women and children through age 18 years to be tested for mental health needs is being held this week in five different locations statewide.
• One group of parents learned about the state's plans to proceed with this program and on Monday issued an alarm asking for parents and citizens concerned about the new program to voice their opinions at the forums.
• Prospect parent of four children and a contact for Citizens Commission on Human Rights, based in Los Angeles, said today.
• Signed into law, the bill passed the Illinois General Assembly last spring, sponsored in the House by State Representatives Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) and Patricia Bellock (R-Westmont).
• State Senator Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) and Susan Garrett (D-Highwood) shepherded the legislation through the Senate.
• The mental health program will develop a mental health system for "all children ages 0-18 years," provide for screening to "ensure appropriate and culturally relevant assessment of young children's social and emotional development with the use of standardized tools."
• For example: A close friend of mine was thrown into an alcohol treatment program ten years ago after a 20-minute diagnosis.
• She did not have a problem with alcohol, but was not allowed to leave the treatment center until she confessed her alcoholism.
• She lived abroad at this time and women didn't have the same rights as they do in the United States so she was told it was her fault and silenced, thus allowing the abuse to continue unchecked.