The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) brought its traveling exhibit, “Psychiatry an Industry of Death,” to downtown St. Paul, drawing an excited crowd at the Nova Event Hall on St Peter St. The exhibit, which opened on August 19, 2026, features 14 graphic panels and 13 short documentaries that detail historical and current abuses within the mental health field.
At the opening ribbon-cutting event, speakers highlighted the dangers of civil commitment, where patients can be held against their will, drugged without informed consent, and subjected to other human rights violations. Dr. Patrice Nerad, the main speaker, called for the formation of a coalition to reform Minnesota's civil commitment laws, with the goal of protecting patients from harm in the name of help. The CCHR Minnesota chapter will assist Dr. Nerad in establishing and guiding this coalition.
CCHR, an international watchdog over the psychiatric industry since 1969, has a long history of working to change legislation that allows psychiatric practices to intrude into educational systems and society. The organization's most recent documentary argues that psychiatric drugs are a cause of violence in society, including mass shootings in schools and public events.
For those interested in learning more, CCHR provides additional information through its website, and viewers can watch documentaries on CCHR volunteers in countries around the world and the film Psychiatry: An Industry of Death on the Scientology Network.
Founded in 1969 by psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz and the Church of Scientology, CCHR is composed of commissioners including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, lawyers, legislators, government officials, educators, and civil rights representatives. The organization is inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, author and founder of Scientology, whose commitment to abolishing physically damaging practices in mental health guides CCHR's mission.
The exhibit's presence in the Twin Cities is significant for local leaders and community members, as it sheds light on mental health policies that may directly affect constituents. By advocating for changes to civil commitment laws, CCHR and Dr. Nerad aim to ensure that patients' rights are protected, potentially influencing mental health practices beyond Minnesota. This development is part of a broader conversation about the balance between public safety and individual rights in mental health care.
