Letters to the Editor

>Good stuff

It is absolutely amazing that a college newspaper and staff do real investigation and report the awful truth about something as bad as TeenScreen in Thursday's "Marketing depression and turning a profit" when every paid reporter around the country writes fluff pieces promoting this "tool" of the drug companies. It makes me wonder, who is paying the "real" reporters?

I don't know what they are teaching in the journalism classes in Minnesota, but it is obviously the right stuff, and sadly it seems, that the journalists already out in the real world don't seem to know it.

A teenager can be extremely happy one minute (after passing a hard test), and then feel like the whole world is against them the next (when their boyfriend breaks up with them.) To be medicated through this life experience would mean that we would miss out on what makes us uniquely human! Let's ban TeenScreen and psychiatric drugging of our children!

John Carey

Houston

Clarification

It has come to my attention that during a debate at the University on Thursday my name was used to defend the practice of confining egg-laying hens in battery cages. Please know that I find battery production to be one of the most inhumane practices in factory farming and have argued strongly for reform in the egg industry, both as an animal science professor and humane advocate, for many years.

Battery cages present inherent animal welfare problems, most notably by their small size and barren conditions. Hens are unable to engage in many of their natural behaviors and endure high levels of stress and frustration.

Cage-free egg production, while not perfect, does not entail such inherent animal welfare disadvantages and is a very good step in the right direction for the egg industry. The University should do the right thing and give its business to a cage-free egg supplier.

Michael Appleby

World Society for the Protection of Animals

London

Family values, not drugs

I write in response to Brian Hokanson's informative Jan. 25 guest column on psychiatric screening, "Depression screenings faulty."

Since there is no scientific proof (facts or data) as stated by the American Psychiatric Association itself that "mental illness" exists, TeenScreen then becomes one more "guessing game" played on innocent families and children. In these modern times of stress I think almost everyone would be able to answer some of the questions on the survey in a "negative" way once in a while. We all have ups and downs in life from time to time and that does not mean we are "crazy."

It is time someone in the media is courageous enough to finally confront this "scam" for what it is and expose the "truth" behind it. Big pharmaceutical companies, psychiatrist, psychologists, etc. tend to lose their paychecks and year-end dividends if the scam were to be found out and stopped. Once again it's all about the "bottom line" and not about the people.

What about going back to good old-fashioned family values, church for those who seek higher truth, more quality time among families, etc?  Or testing for and treating hidden physiological causes and nutritional deficiencies (vitamins, amino acids, etc.), testing for and treating allergies and toxins including heavy metals, etc., or diet changes (limiting if not stopping the intake of sugar, junk food, food additives, pesticides, cheap carbs and processed food). Also, a change of environment may be necessary (remove from hostile environment).

A huge "bottom line" profit could be made for anyone who could market and sell a new concept called "Family America" rather than "Corporate America" or "Drugged America."

Shelley Abate

concerned mother and American

Clearwater, Fla.

False treatment

Thanks for the Thursday editorial "Marketing depression and turning a profit." It's great.

In our world of false data and lies regarding psychiatric treatment, it is refreshing to find those who can see clearly, who can see beyond the fraud and who have the courage to speak up.

TeenScreen claims it does not diagnose, yet the answers to the ridiculous questions asked are what is used to set up a visit to a clinician who psychological counselor who gives a label to the person. Next, the labeled person is sent for "treatment" which means nine out of 10 times told they must take a psychiatric drug.

False diagnoses, false treatment " if it is understood that "treatment" means help.

Who could think psychiatric drugs, which have been the cause of so many deaths, could be help?

 Mary Collins

Concord, N.H.