How Columbia University is helping over-medicating teenagers - Teen Screen Truth site explains it all

 I've been reading the site Teenscreeen Truth it for one hour and they have so many important data that I don't know what to share first.  I'll share this part where they show how th Columbia University, responsible for the Teenscreen program... read it: 

The People Behind the TeenScreen ProgramThis page will provide background information on the various people behind Columbia University's TeenScreen program, whose goal is to screen every school-age child in the U.S. for mental health — which means hundreds of thousands of kids popping antidepressants and related drugs daily. For information on the creator of TeenScreen, TeenScreen's Directors, and the Chairman of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, see below. Click here for TeenScreen's Advisory Board Members and their connections to pharmaceutical companies.  David Shaffer is a Professor of Child Psychiatry and Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics. He is the Director ofColumbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Child Psychiatry, at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. His strong ties to the pharmaceutical industry and major drug companies span decades. David ShafferPsychiatrist, Creator of TeenScreen David Shaffer was the head and driving force behind the development of the computerized screening tool that TeenScreen employs, the "Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children" (also known as DISC). Following this he helped to devise a shorter computerized version that is easier to use in schools, the "Diagnostic Predictive Scales" (DPS), and a paper and pencil version of the screening tool, the "Columbia Health Screen" (CHS). For more information on the development of the screening tools and how they are used to label children with normal childhood reactions as "mentally ill" and funnel them into the psychiatric / pharmaceutical system, click here. Shaffer’s Ties to the Pharmaceutical IndustryShaffer has known connections to the pharmaceutical industry. He has been a consultant to Hoffman la Roche, Wyeth, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. Hisresume (see page 21 of this report) includes serving as an expert witness to several drug companies and as a paid consultant on psychotropic drugs. Shaffer is the past president of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and currently on their board of directors. AFSP is an organization with known pharmaceutical ties. For example, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer Inc., Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, all have members on AFSP’s board. Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. has provided at least$1,250,000 in the AFSP’s effort to build up a $5 million research fund and Pfizer Inc. has contributed funding for surveys. The following corporations have provided funding for different conferences held by Shaffer’s AFSP: Forest Laboratories, Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. Pfizer Inc. Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories Shaffer is also on the Executive Board of the “Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health at Columbia University” (CACMH). This organization has partnered with the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and has received funding from the following corporations: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Bristol-Myers Squibb Celltech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Eli Lilly and Company Forest Labs Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals Pfizer, Inc.

Keep reading....

Child advocate Gwen Olsen gave up being a Big Pharma rep tells her story

You have to watch it!

Union of Concerned Scientists pressuring FDA without success

The Union of Concerned Scientists was founded in 1969 and have 250.000 citizens and scientists as members. I'm very disappointed because I just found  it out and thought it was a new organization that would have an impact in the ethics and integrity of scientific research. I will not even join or be an activist because... the fact that this blog exists is a proof they are not making any difference. But they try thou they are focuses in environmental problems:

Help Bring Scientific Integrity Standards to Food SafetyUnsafe food can lead to illness and death, and disproportionately harms the most vulnerable members of our communities. Government agencies, like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are supposed to protect us from these kinds of dangerous food safety outbreaks.

Unfortunately, in a recent survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Iowa State University, hundreds of FDA and USDA employees described a system where corporate interests often stand in the way of government scientists and inspectors’ ability to protect our food supply.

This kind of political and corporate inference in federal science has to stop.

This fall, UCS activists helped convince the Department of the Interior (DOI) to issue a new policy that, if fully implemented, would help prevent just this kind of interference in federal government science. But DOI scientists aren’t the only ones who should be protected. It’s time for other agencies plagued by misuse of science to follow suit.

Write the FDA and USDA today and ask them to get serious about protecting our health and safety by issuing and implementing strong scientific integrity standards.

Remember, your letter will be most effective if you personalize it. We all have loved ones who have been sickened by unsafe food. Tell your story. Click here for talking points that can help you personalize your letter.

Follow up for more information on food safety issues.

Andrew Witty, CEO, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) speech to WHO about neglected diseases: words, not action

On March, 2009 I wrote this post about Doctors Without Borders' demanding action  to Mr. Andrew Witty, GlaxoSmithKline CEO, in promoting research for neglected disease.
If you are patient enough to watch the video, done in October 2010, can you please tell me if you have the same impressions?
He talks, talks and talks as if he was bored. Although the words comes from his mouth I don't see any passion about the subject or enthusiasm about promoting health. 
But nothing compares with what Margaret Chan Director General, WHO, said: she thanks Andrew Witty for his... generosity. GENEROSITY? Researching to find treatment to diseases is a generous act? Neglected diseases? Why neglected? No money no cure?
It is clear that health is not in the minds of these people.

Michael Moore talks about the role SSRI played at Columbine

A must-see.

Prozac to the People!!!

"Prozac to the people, right on"
About the post below: Forget it. Yes. I was insane when I wrote it. My friend D. Bunker made me come to my senses.

 

That's it folks! Keep tuned!
singing


"Prozac to the people
"Prozac to the people, right on"....

ACTION: We need to get out of the computer and go to the streets Facebook Generation

I have an account for each blog at Facebook and have some great friends. Yesterday I posted this:

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  •   2 people
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    Ana Luiza I wish I was in US! TIME TO GO TO THE STREETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You need to manifest! PLEASE ALL OF YOU IN US THAT ARE AWARE< PARENTS! ENOUGH!
    

    21 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Ana Luiza Sheryl! Yes, it is shocking! We don't expect that people can destroy children to make money. BUT ONCE AGAIN! TIME FOR ACTION!
    

    21 hours ago · 
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    Ana Luíza Lima 
    

    TIME FOR ACTION!
    I blog about psych medicines harms for 4 years. No awareness was raised. Only those who are already aware go to blogs.
    TIME FOR ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!
    Not at the computer. How long will it take for people realize that?
    ENOUGH.
    ...See More

    
    

    20 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Ana Luíza Lima 
    

    God intervention is out of question, it seems to me.
    There has been protests in US. Why did you stop?
    Blogging? Discussing with our friends here? We all know. Those who don't know are the ones we have to talk to.
    FOX? Maybe FOX will give a lit...See More

    
    

    20 hours ago ·  ·  1 person

I have already talked about action and for the first time people answered willing to manifest.
I will ask permission to copy what people wrote.
If they say we are the Facebook generation... why not try to see if we can really make a difference uniting at this social networking?

*Action needed* Friends of Alison Hymes: We demand that psychiatric malpractice be investigated and her human rights upheld

This post is written by a friend of Alison Hymes, Tina. Please sign the petition here.

"We need to get behind our sister psychiatric survivor, Alison Hymes of Charlottesville, VA. I just got off the the phone with Alison, and she authorized me to share her information to get support and assistance.

Alison is currently at Martha Jefferson Hospital. She had the independent psychiatric evaluation today, and they are definitely sending her to Western State Hospital. They didn’t have the commitment hearing yet…that’s Monday. But she says it’s just a formality. This is WSH, where they wish to send her for 6 monthsAlison had a kidney transplant in October 2008 for loss of kidney function due to psychiatric malpractice many years ago. She was sucked back into the psych system at UVA by commitment  in 2009 when she had a reaction to the steroids prescribed for the kidney transplant. It was also due to neglect by her psychiatrist that the issues were not addressed. Instead of addressing it as a steroid reaction, they decided it was a “bipolar episode” and gave her drugs that nearly caused the loss of her transplanted kidney and bladder. She was totally re-traumatized.

She has been highly anxious ever since, and her outpatient doctor raised the klonopin to a high dose since that time, but she also lost her therapist of 9 years over the summer and had little or no family/friend support. Before she took this recent downturn, she was highly anxious, but still driving, shopping, cooking and taking care of herself, including daily walks. When her psychiatrist saw her mid-January, Alison reported anxiety and sleeplessness and was prescribed a low dose of Seroquel, and within 2 days, the round of ER visits, crisis center stays and threats of commitment began. She was suddenly unable to drive, cook, bathe properly or take care of herself, and it was directly caused by the addition of Seroquel. The response was to raise the dose, hospitalize her and keep raising the dose. They currently have her loaded up on Seroquel and made her cold turkey off klonopin last night.  This would be a six month commitment. 

With her medical needs and her traumatic psych history, I fear Alison will not survive at Western State, especially not for six months. I have contacted her attorney, as well as a CCHR Representative, and I will request a Mindfreedom Shield Activation at her request, but we need all the support, assistance and suggestions of the survivor community right now.
Please sign the petition here."

Please, sign the petition. Thank you!

John Lennon's concerns with drugs

No! Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds has nothing to do with LSD. 
John asks "Why do people take drugs?"

Would you donate your brain for research?

The Netherlands Brain Bank has been collecting brains since 1985.

"In 1985, Dick Swaab, together with neuropathologist Professor Frans Stam (VUmc), officially established the Netherlands Brain Bank (NBB). By promoting the importance of brain tissue for scientific research to nursing home physicians and family members of demented residents, the number of registered brain donors with Alzheimer’s disease grew rapidly. In 1990 the NBB started the collection of brain tissue of other disorders as well, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease and psychiatric disorders. Apart from brain tissue with neurologic or psychiatric disorders the NBB also collects tissue of healthy persons, so-called ‘controls’. This control tissue is indispensible if researchers are to be able to make a comparison with the diseased tissue."

The researchers... yes, we all know who are the researchers.