American Psychiatric Association Responds to Tom Cruise's Today Show rant

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=49450

ARLINGTON, Va., June 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the following statement in response to Tom Cruise's anti-psychiatry remarks:

While the APA respects the right of individuals to express their own points of view, science has proven that mental illnesses are real medical conditions that affect millions of Americans.

"It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need," said APA President Dr. Steven S. Sharfstein.

Over the past five years, the nation has more than doubled its investment in the study of the human brain and behavior, leading to a vastly expanded understanding of postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Much of this research has been conducted by the National Institutes of Health and the nation's leading academic institutions.

Safe and effective treatments are available and may include talk therapy, medication or a combination of the two. Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment works.

Medications can be an important and even life-saving part of a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan. As in other areas of medicine, medications are a safe and effective way to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans who have mental health concerns.

Mental health is a critical ingredient of overall health. It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy.

The diagnosis of a mental illness no longer carries the fear or shame it once did, according to a recent APA consumer survey. Nearly 90 percent of Americans surveyed correctly believe that people with mental illness can live healthy lives and an overwhelming majority (80 percent) feels confident that mental health treatment works. Study findings also show that nearly 70 percent of people surveyed view going to a psychiatrist as a sign of strength.

"We know that treatment works," said APA Medical Director James H. Scully Jr., M.D. "And since safe, effective treatments are available, Americans can have what everyone wants – healthy minds and healthy lives."

[barb162]

1. Good, I am glad they responded

[trumad]

2. Is Hubbard analyzing fruit in that picture?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

3. He was scientifically proving that tomatoes feel pain

REALLY. That's what he was doing.

:silly:

[Taverner]

4. Yes - he is using his E meter on a tomato

Why? No idea - but the pic is a good example of how utterly insane the man was....

[wtmusic]

5. He's making a lemon-acid battery for a science project

He was going to do "Do plants grow better with rock n' roll or classical music" but it was already taken

[no name no slogan]

7. Yes the dreaded "tomato thetans"

I believe he covered those in Dianetics, Chapter VIII.

[ET Awful]

13. Yup, so all you who thought OT was "Operating Thetan" I've got news

It's "Original Tomato" (kind of like OG - original gansta, but supported by your local IRS office).

[no name no slogan]

26. Yo, word the the cucumba. (nt)

[grace0418]

6. While I agree with those that say people these days are

overly medicated, I am also glad the APA responded. If Tom would face his own shame at being so closeted and come out, he might not feel the need to stick his big nose into other people's personal medical decisions. He could not look any less interested in Nicole in that picture.

[sniffa]

8. the APA is a joke

they haven't had the training and research that tom cruise has had when it comes to mentaL iLLness, and medicines used to treat them.
does the APA know that riddLin is now a street drug?
how can they be so ignorant?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

10. They're GLIB! Are you listening, APA? APA...APA...APA...you're GLIB!

:evilgrin:

[sniffa]

11. gay Lesbian indecisive bisexuaL?

:shrug:

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. LMAO...with Tom, you never know if it's English, "Scieno-speak," or...

...something else altogether.

:evilgrin:

:toast:

[Shell Beau]

9. I think he is in denial b/c HE needs some psychiatric care!

[gmoney]

14. Princess Cruise strikes again...

[no name no slogan]

17. Y'know, he looks really gay in that picture

Or maybe he's just flamboyant :shrug:

[Debi]

15. But, have they actually studied the history of psychiatry?

I mean, Tom has. :crazy:

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

16. I have to ask this: (almost completely off topic)

What the hell is up with that photo of Cruise and Kidman?
is it: "Hah hah hah! Lookit me! Look what I got!" ?
Is that it? The look Criuse is giving the camera freaks me out.

[slutticus]

18. As someone who's life has been literally saved by psychiatry

and related meds...

Fuck YOU Tom Cruise.... Really. FUCK YOU. Period.


Asshole.

[Debi]

19. Look, there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance...

What a jackass! :hug:to you!

[Droopy]

21. Same here, man

I've been taking 3 meds for a couple of years now and I feel immeasurably better than I did in the ten years previous when I was suffering from my symptoms without treatment. I have schizoaffective disorder.

[NMMNG]

27. Hear, hear

Tom and his whackjob cult can go screw themselves.

[crispini]

20. LOL!

That article... that graphic.... :rofl:

[henslee]

22. Tom Cruise is spun, guarded and arrogant and quite ready to crack.

Yeah, he is occasionally a decent actor but that's it. He is so out of line regarding his psychiatry remarks and his Brook Shields remarks.

[hyphenate]

23. Well, I have to say this

There are many actors in Hollywood who have been rumored to be gay (or at least bi-sexual) that have quietly gone through their careers without a lot of hoopla, without being "pegged" as a closet queen, and whose memory has been left untarnished because they didn't fight and never were controversial. The gay community in Hollywood kept their secret because the person was not a troublemaker, and never hated themselves to the point where they were threatened with exposure. People like Dick Sargent and Robert Reed, for example, were quietly gay, and there were plenty of others who managed to live their lives without fanfare.

It is only when someone comes out being a complete hypocrite, denying what is often flagrantly obvious, that they end up being the target of speculation. Tom Cruise is one of those people and therefore makes himself a target of derision because he's basically "asking for it."

I can never see some actors being "outed" because they never tried to put themselves above the rumors. Whether someone is or is not gay really isn't relevant, it's their attitude toward the gay community itself which puts them in a position where their preferences are challenged. It is only then, when they choose to attack the lifestyles of others, that they show their homophobia, and perhaps deny their own gender bias. I personally think that when someone does come out fighting and protests too much, that they are indeed covering for their own choices or emotions along the way.

[Kipepeo]

28. Like Kevin Spacey

He never says shit about the rumors and doesn't go on publicity-benders with new beards every 2 years.

[Neshanic]

24. Shrinks closed door response. "Is shithouse rat hyphenated?"

[Divameow77]

25. That's a hot picture of Nicole though

:9

[ironflange]

29. Yeah, nice pic of her

But did she have to bring her douchebag along?