This cause hits close to home for me and many like me. Too many children, adolescents and their families have experienced the lasting, often catastrophic effects of child psychiatry and its related medications. The third-party harm and discrimination inflicted by the system render it nearly impossible for those hurt to later obtain gainful employment, condemning them to lifelong struggles.

Child psychiatrists, even when acting with the best intentions, often misdiagnose or over-diagnose disorders in children. According to a 2012 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the annual prevalence of child psychiatry office visits resulting in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder increased 40-fold from 1994 to 2003 in the United States (Blader and Carlson, JAMA, 2007). This shift towards diagnosing and medicating children, often with potent drugs meant for adults, can not only alter the course of their brain development but also expose them to severe scars, both physical and emotional, that may remain with them throughout their life.

Our fight to abolish child psychiatry isn't to deny the existence of mental health issues among children - it's about staunchly opposing a system that has become depressingly reliant on labels and prescriptions, frequently causing more harm than fixing. We need a complete systemic overhaul towards approaches that truly prioritize the wellbeing of our children - including the introduction of better diagnostic methods, a greater emphasis on therapy and counseling, and less invasive, more compassionate treatment.

It’s time we put the welfare of our children at the forefront. Sign the petition to eradicate the practices causing long-lasting harm to our young and to push for a better, fairer system that truly serves our children's best interests.

The diagnosis is never lifted, it remains on them for life. The names of the mental facilities remain on the school transcript making continued education unlikely as well as making obtaining employment nearly impossible.