I just got back from San Francisco Monday. I went up to join in a protest of the Scientology rally against the American Psychiatric Association convention at Moscone Center. Along with a march down Market Street, the Scientology front group, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, was hosting a traveling roadshow entitled, "Psychiatry, Industry of Death."

Approximately 400 Scientologists from all over the country showed up for this march, waving pre-fab signs and chanting pre-fab slogans provided them by the mother ship.

The 'Industry of Death' exhibit has a permanent museum in Hollywood, and this road show travels around the country spreading lies and misinformation about the psychiatric profession.

Did you know psychiatrists were behind the Holocaust?

(they weren't)

Did you know that Saddam Hussein was under the influence of a pychiatrist?

(he wasn't)

They blame the mental health industry for society's woes, and claim that mental illness is a mere fabrication crafted to sell drugs.

If Christianity has Satan and demons, Scientology's evil entities are psychiatrists, psychologists, and Big Pharma.

Now, if a few consenting adults want to eschew treatment, that is their business and, if harmless, their right. But Scientology wants to impose its beliefs on contemporary society, in order to advance their goal of creating a perfect Scientology planet.

The APA has tried to ignore Scientology's attacks, but this year, in a stunning turn of events, the President of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Nada Stotland, addressed this issue from the podium.

Dr. Stotland says, "There is no other medical specialty I know of that has its own particular, dedicated hate group." Yes, that's right, hate group. CCHR's own website is full of vile accusations against psychiatry and psychiatrists. Their videos have graphic images of "psychs" being machine-gunned, and offices being blown up with hand grenades.

When I returned to San Diego, it was to hear that Fat Actress Kirstie Alley has begun a Twitter campaign against a bill written to help mothers understand and deal with Post-Partum Depression. Of course, Alley is merely a celebrity puppet being used by the Scientology organization to further its goal of denying citizens any access to mental health help.

The MOTHERS Act was introduced by Senators Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) in 2006.

The Mom’s Opportunity To Access Help, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression (MOTHERS) Act seeks to improve education, access to treatment, and research into PPD.

This bill has been passed by the House of Representatives, and the Scientologists are working furiously to derail it; using misleading information, fear-mongering and flat-out lies to influence the public.

Senator Menendez' website explains the bill further,

"Specifically, the MOTHERS Act will help new moms by:

Providing important education and screening on postpartum depression (PPD) that can lead to early identification and treatment. A major part of prevention is informing new mothers about the symptoms and providing them with the services that are available in their community. Thus, this legislation includes two grants to help health care providers educate, identify and treat PPD. Awards grants to States so that local health care providers (physicians, nurse midwives, and other licensed health care professionals) can educate women who have recently given birth and their families about PPD before the mothers leave the birthing center and offer the opportunity for new mothers to be screened for postpartum depression symptoms during the first year of postnatal check-up visits. Awards grants to States and local governments, public or non-profit hospitals and community based organizations for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression and psychosis and their families, including enhanced outpatient and home-based health care, inpatient care and support services."

Nowhere does this bill suggest that women or their children will be forcibly drugged, but this is one of the fearmongering "factual statements" put forth by Scientology, CCHR, and its celebrity mouthpieces like Kirstie Alley.

Look at some of the absurd statements in Kirstie Alley's Twitter feed:

"I have to get you all info on THE MOTHER’S ACT. this is this lousy BILL that would give BIG BROTHER the right to force you to drug ur kids AND MANDATE that when you are pregnant, YOU MUST take drugs if a Dr. tells you to. THIS is BIG BROTHER at his finest. More on this soon moms I am organizing a MILLION MOM MARCH to protest this BILL. It just keeps rearing it’s head. BACKED 100% by BIG PHARMA. MOMS UNITE!! BABIES HAVING PROZAC squirted in there eyes at birth to prevent depression later on. HELLO 1984.. I will keep you informed. It is brutal! @scarrieann I am serious. PROZAC in babies eyes! And this is not a FUTURE scene, it is done right now every day."

Well, no, it isn't "done right now every day." In fact, outside of Kirstie's source of "information," nobody has ever heard of this practise. Furthermore, the MOTHERS Act has nothing to do with "drugging babies." It is solely an attempt to establish a better system of education, access to treatment, and research of PPD.

This legislation incorporates a House bill, the Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act. Melanie Stokes was a new mother who looked forward to being a mom. Her story is a tragic example of why this legislation is so desperately needed. Caught up in a cycle of post-partum psychosis, she failed to respond to treatment and, after a few weeks of mental and physical decline, she ended her life.

It is absolutely irresponsible and reprehensible for Scientology, its front groups and celebrity mouthpieces to spew this fearmongering load of pure falsehoods to the public. Scientology's history is littered with shattered minds fallen victim to L. Ron Hubbard's ignorant garbage. Anyone who depends on a college dropout pulp fiction hack for medical advice is doomed to a life of insanity, as Hubbard's own mental deficiencies are imposed upon Scientologists in hours of mind-numbing hypnotic drills. People's personalities change. They are taught to rely solely on Scientology teachings rather than research things for themselves. They trust Scientology to provide them with correct information. In a blatant betrayal of this trust, the Scientology organization has no problem lying to them, assured that they will not seek a second opinion.

Be assured that Scientologists nation-wide are flooding their elected representatives' email inboxes, mailboxes and voicemails with their opposition to the MOTHERS Act. Don't let them win! Write your representative now if you support this bill! Make your voices heard!

Remember, the only way stupidity can prevail is if good people do nothing.