New Study Shows Suicides After Electroshock

In another psychiatric treatment failure, a new study shows electroshock fails to prevent suicide, with over 800 deaths within a year in those receiving it. As with patients prescribed antidepressants, those receiving electroshock have been misled that electroshock corrects imbalanced brain chemicals. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reinforces that electroshock treatment … Read more

CCHR Praised for 47 Years of Exposing Psychiatric Abuses in New Zealand

CCHR NZ spoke before a government inquiry about exposing decades of abuse where patients were electroshocked and drugged in the mental health system; psychiatric experimental treatment, and a litany of deaths. The Royal Commission heard of “children being raped, patients being over-medicated and a level of dehumanization akin to concentration camps.” Citizens Commission on Human … Read more

MECTA Electroshock Device Manufacturer Files for Bankruptcy as its Shock Box Loses Liability Insurance

Company dismisses ECT dangers and, instead, blames ECT critics and lawsuits for its financial demise; CCHR accuses MECTA of ignoring damaging adverse effects of shock treatment. MECTA Corp., one of the USA’s two manufacturers of electroshock machines, filed for bankruptcy following lawsuits related to the company’s SpECTrum device. MECTA (Monitored Electro-Convulsive Therapy Apparatus) cited lawsuits, … Read more

New Study Tells Consumers the Truth of Potential Lethal Electroshock and Antidepressant Risks

Over 14,800 ECT patients were 16 times more likely to try to commit suicide than a control group of 58,369; antidepressants can also induce suicidal feelings and frightening long-term withdrawal effects. A new study published in Psychological Medicine questions the two principle physical treatments recommended for depression: antidepressants and electroshock therapy (ECT) and raises the … Read more

CCHR Notifies Electroshock Hospitals on the Failure to Inform Patients of Risks

Watchdog says electroshock must be banned, but until this occurs, hospitals are being notified that omitting patient information of how electroshock treatment causes brain-damage and memory loss may constitute consumer fraud.  CCHR is responding to consumers reporting severe and permanent memory loss from undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). CCHR is writing to the more than 400 … Read more

CCHR Urges Greater Govt. Oversight of Elderly Chemically Restrained and Shocked

In light of a recent media investigation and Medicare statistics, a mental health watchdog says increased government oversight of antipsychotic use and electroshocking of nursing home residents is imperative to protect and save lives. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights International, a mental health industry watchdog, said Medicare statistics reveal thousands of the country’s elderly … Read more

CCHR Wants Ban on Electroshock “Conversion Therapy” Extended to All ECT

Watchdog says, “conversion therapy,” which uses electroshock, is torture, recognized by the United Nations. Whether used for behavior modification, internet addiction or any psychiatric condition, electroshock is not conducive to achieving mental health. All shock devices require banning. While electroshock use as part of “conversion therapy” is being banned—most recently by Minnesota Governor James Walz—the … Read more

CCHR’s Work Acknowledged in NZ Inquiry into Lake Alice Psychiatric Child Torture as “An Extraordinary Effort,” Supporting Survivors for 45 Years

After weeks of testimony from former Lake Alice patients being electroshocked without an aesthetic as punishment, knocked unconscious with the violence of the shock, then being raped, some “solace” from being heard has been be found, CCHR says, “but not yet justice.” A two-week New Zealand government Royal Commission public inquiry into the psychiatric electroshock … Read more

Psychiatrist Selwyn Leeks Not Only Tortured Children, He’s Also Accused of Rape, Lake Alice NZ Inquiry Hears

*Warning: This story contains details that may disturb some people* A 14-year-old girl was drugged, electroshocked and allegedly raped by “sadistic” psychiatrist in NZ; staff and authorities ignored her pleas; police didn’t investigate the complaint. Never prosecuted, Leeks moved to Australia, where he continued to practice and sexually assault patients, without accountability. A Royal Commission … Read more

CCHR Supports WHO Recommendations for Psychiatric Living Wills to Prevent Abuse

Mental Health Watchdog provides sample psychiatric advanced directive that individuals can sign as a prevention against enforced electroshock and other coercive practices such as those at Lake Alice hospital—in response to international report condemning mental health abuse. In its recently released guidelines to protect against coercive psychiatric practices and forced treatment that have harmed patients, … Read more