2009 Ron Paul 62:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I certainly support
efforts aimed at removing the stigma associated
with mental health, increasing public
awareness of the need to support those with
mental health problems and their families, and
the other goals of Mental Health Month. However,
I am concerned that certain language in
H. Res. 437 appears to endorse all of the recommendations
of the New Freedom Commission
on Mental Health, even though certain of
the commission’s recommendations threaten
individual liberty and the wellbeing of American
children.
2009 Ron Paul 62:2
In particular, the commission recommended
that the federal and state governments work
toward the implementation of a comprehensive
system of mental-health screening for all
Americans. The commission recommends that
universal or mandatory mental-health screening
first be implemented in public schools as
a prelude to expanding it to the general public.
However, neither the commission’s report nor
any related mental-health screening proposal
requires parental consent before a child is
subjected to mental-health screening. Federally-
funded universal or mandatory mental-
health screening in schools without parental
consent could lead to labeling more children
as “ADD” or “hyperactive” and thus force
more children to take psychotropic drugs, such
as Ritalin, against their parents’ wishes.
2009 Ron Paul 62:3
Already, too many children are suffering
from being prescribed psychotropic drugs for
nothing more than children’s typical rambunctious
behavior. According to Medco Health Solutions,
more than 2.2 million children are receiving
more than one psychotropic drug at
one time. In fact, according to Medico Trends,
in 2003, total spending on psychiatric drugs
for children exceeded spending on antibiotics
or asthma medication.
2009 Ron Paul 62:4
Many children have suffered harmful side
effects from using psychotropic drugs. Some
of the possible side effects include mania, violence,
dependence, and weight gain. Yet, parents
are already being threatened with child
abuse charges if they resist efforts to drug
their children. Imagine how much easier it will
be to drug children against their parents’ wishes
if a federally-funded mental-health screener
makes the recommendation.
2009 Ron Paul 62:5
Universal or mandatory mental-health
screening could also provide a justification for
stigmatizing children from families that support
traditional values. Even the authors of mental-
health diagnosis manuals admit that mental-
health diagnoses are subjective and based on
social constructions. Therefore, it is all too
easy for a psychiatrist to label a person’s disagreement
with the psychiatrist’s political beliefs
a mental disorder. For example, a federally-
funded school violence prevention program
lists “intolerance” as a mental problem
that may lead to school violence. Because “intolerance”
is often a code word for believing in
traditional values, children who share their
parents’ values could be labeled as having
mental problems and a risk of causing violence.
If the mandatory mental-health screening
program applies to adults, everyone who
believes in traditional values could have his or
her beliefs stigmatized as a sign of a mental
disorder. Taxpayer dollars should not support
programs that may label those who adhere to
traditional values as having a “mental disorder.”
2009 Ron Paul 62:6
In order to protect America’s children from
being subject to “universal mental screening”
I have introduce the Parental Consent Act
(H.R. 2218). This bill forbids federal funds
from being used for any universal or mandatory
mental-health screening of students without
the express, written, voluntary, informed
consent of their parents or legal guardians.
H.R. 2218 protects the fundamental right of
parents to direct and control the upbringing
and education of their children.
