1,549 Deaths Reported for One Antipsychotic in Australia
New Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Exhibit in Sydney Reveals the Risks of Psychiatric Treatments
The number of deaths reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) linked to the antipsychotic clozapine has reached a staggering 1,549 as of the end of July 2024—a 257% increase since 2011, when there were 433 deaths[1]. Despite warnings from the TGA about clozapine’s side effects, which include irregular heartbeat, potentially fatal inflammation of the heart muscle, and death from gastrointestinal disorders like severe constipation, the drug continues to be prescribed at escalating rates.
In response to growing concerns about psychiatric treatments, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) has launched a new and updated, free-to-attend Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Exhibition which debuted in Sydney this week. The exhibit provides the public with facts about the potential dangers of psychiatric drugs, electric shock, and physical restraint—treatments that can place vulnerable adults and children at significant risk of harm, and even death.
The exhibition provides a deep dive into the history of psychiatry, including the disturbing legacy of eugenics—a pseudo-scientific movement advocating for the improvement of the human race through sterilisation and selective breeding. From this dark chapter of history, the exhibit shifts to modern-day psychiatry, shedding light on the use of electroshock, involuntary commitment, and the alarming rate of psychiatric drug prescriptions for children. The exhibit features visually striking displays, alongside both archival and contemporary footage.
This is a critical exhibit for anyone concerned about psychiatric practices in Australia. It highlights the need for fully informed consent when psychiatric treatments are proposed, ensuring that patients and their families are fully aware of the potential risks before agreeing to any intervention.
Consider These Startling Facts:
- One of the top 10 most prescribed drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2022/23 was the antidepressant sertraline (marketed as Zoloft and other brands). According to the TGA’s adverse event database, 118 deaths have been linked to this drug.[2]
- Two seven-year-old girls attempted suicide while taking the non-stimulant ADHD drug atomoxetine (Strattera and other brands- an antidepressant). Additionally, four 10-year-old boys experienced suicidal thoughts, and a nine-year-old boy tragically died by suicide while on the drug. The TGA has issued 2 warnings about the risk of suicidality in children and adolescents taking this drug.[3]
Despite these alarming statistics, psychiatry in Australia too often fails to fully inform parents and patients about potentially life-threatening side effects associated with these and other psychiatric drugs at time of prescribing.
The opening of the Psychiatry: An Industry of Death exhibition featured keynote speeches from notable figures. Lloyd Wyles, an Indigenous Australian and recently retired senior radio broadcaster and producer, discussed psychiatry’s role in the oppressive White Australia policy and South Africa’s apartheid regime. Stuart Richardson who has a ministry called the Restitution, Mind, Body, and Soul Ministries, also spoke. He recounted his own experiences of being involuntarily detained in a psychiatric ward and emphasised the importance of finding alternatives to potentially harmful psychiatric drugs, advocating for thorough medical assessments to uncover any underlying physical conditions and proper diet, sleep, and exercise.
The exhibition will be open to the public again on Friday, 23rd August, from 10 am to 8 pm at the Embassy Conference Centre, 826 George Street, Sydney. The footage shown is rated MA15+.
For more information, contact:
Shelley Wilkins, Executive Director, CCHR Australia
National Office: (02) 9964 9844 | Email: national@cchr.org.au
CCHR was co-founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and Professor of Psychiatry, the late Dr. Thomas Szasz, to investigate and expose psychiatric violations of human rights.
[1] Report generated on the “Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN)” Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, Therapeutic Goods Administration. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety/safety-monitoring-daen-database-adverse-event-notifications/database-adverse-event-notifications-daen
[2] Report generated on the “Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN)” Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, Therapeutic Goods Administration. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety/database-adverse-event-notifications-daen-medicines
[3] “Atomoxetine and suicidality in children and adolescents,” Medicines Safety Update, Volume 4, Number 5, October 2013, Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, Therapeutic Goods Administration. https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/msu-2013-05.pdf ; Case numbers: 309495, 205312, 328837, 223348, 242981, 259488, 308596, Reports generated on the “Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN)” Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, Therapeutic Goods Administration. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety/safety-monitoring-daen-database-adverse-event-notifications/database-adverse-event-notifications-daen
Key Facts:
1,549 deaths in Australia linked to the antipsychotic clozapine.
New Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Exhibition launched in Sydney.
Contact details:
Shelley Wilkins, Executive Director, CCHR Australian National Office: (02) 9964 9844. Email: national@cchr.org.au
