WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 10, 2025 — In observance of World Mental Health Day, the Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. hosted an Open House featuring the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), an international watchdog organization dedicated to exposing and eradicating abuses in the field of mental health.

The event, led by Master of Ceremonies Chas Smith, brought together guests from across the community to examine human rights violations committed under the guise of mental health treatment — both locally and globally — and to highlight CCHR’s ongoing efforts to bring reform, transparency, and accountability to the mental health system.

“Every 40 seconds somebody is committed to a psychiatric institution,” Smith noted, citing that more than 183 million people worldwide are on psychotropic drugs — including over 20 million children. “And all while the psychopharmaceutical industry represents an annual market value of more than 300 billion dollars.”

The event emphasized that World Mental Health Day should not only promote awareness and access to care, but also demand that such care be humane, lawful, and respectful of fundamental human rights — including the right to be informed, the right to consent, and the right to refuse harmful or coercive treatment.

Local and Global Abuses Exposed

The Open House spotlighted recent cases of psychiatric abuse in the nation’s capital, including reports of unlawful detainment and falsified medical records at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, and the continued use of violent restraints and electroshock therapy at St. Elizabeths Hospital.

Smith referenced a 2025 class-action lawsuit revealing the alleged routine misuse of involuntary commitment laws in the District of Columbia — practices that echo broader systemic problems across the United States and beyond.

A Movement for Accountability

CCHR, co-founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz, works alongside attorneys, medical professionals, scientists, and human rights advocates to investigate and expose psychiatric violations. Operating in over 34 countries, CCHR’s network has been instrumental in promoting legislation to protect patients from involuntary treatment, forced drugging, and electroshock therapy without consent.

A central feature of the event was the “Psychiatry: An Industry of Death” exhibit, a multimedia display tracing the history of psychiatric abuse and its impact on individuals and society. Guests also viewed excerpts from a couple of CCHR’s award-winning documentaries, including Diagnostic & Statistical Manual: Psychiatry’s Deadliest Scam. Smith made the point that there is a documentary addressing the psychiatric industry’s influence on the military, education, and healthcare and each exposes a disturbing reality present in our society today.

“These documentaries are not only designed to inform but to empower action,” Smith explained, holding up CCHR’s information kits and educator guides, which are distributed freely to help teachers, professionals, and advocates raise awareness in their own communities.

Upholding Human Rights on World Mental Health Day

This year’s World Mental Health Day theme — “Mental health is a universal human right” — resonated strongly throughout the event. Smith underscored that safeguarding mental health also means protecting individuals from coercive or abusive practices misrepresented as treatment.

“For CCHR, true mental health cannot exist without human rights,” Smith said. “As people everywhere call for compassion and care, we remind the world that care must also include dignity, freedom, and informed consent.”

The Open House concluded with an invitation for guests to become involved in CCHR’s mission. Attendees were encouraged to speak with volunteers, tour the public information center, and participate in surveys to help strengthen future outreach efforts.

“World Mental Health Day reminds us not only to care about mental well-being,” Smith concluded, “but to stand up for the rights and dignity of every person caught in an abusive system. Together, we can redefine what real mental health looks like — one rooted in truth, compassion, and freedom.”

More information on CCHR can be found at cchr.org.

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