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Making Healthy Children Sick: What the Mental Health Industry Is Not Telling You
It shouldn't hurt to be a child. More than nine million children and youth are on behavior and mind-altering drugs in North America. In this thorough, timely, shocking and important book, Jo Ann Cook explores the real reasons why schools, government and non-profit groups so willingly adopted a treatment model promoted by drug companies to expand the number of children being diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses and increase the market share for psychiatric drugs. Making Healthy Children Sick is a wake-up call for all of us who deeply care about the well-being of our most vulnerable children and believe that our medical clinics and schools should protect, not harm children in their care.
- GenresNonfiction
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2017
5 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 5, 2018
Making Healthy Children Sick: What The Mental Health Industry Is Not Telling You, is worth the read. Author Jo Ann Nolan Cook provides sound research and reliable data and is motivated by a genuine concern that society may be getting hoodwinked to the detriment of some children. Is overdiagnosing a problem? This is debatable and a good part of the book is devoted to this very topic. The author does a fine job of providing data, research and historical facts to back up her belief. At the crux of the issue though, is this: is there harm being done to children when they are labeled and prescribed pharmaceuticals, many with black box warnings, with deleterious side effects and questionable efficacy? If you find yourself wondering about this very question, this book is undoubtedly for you. You will walk away with a much greater scope and understanding of the issue, even if you disagree with the author on some points.
February 27, 2018
Please, for the love of children everywhere, do NOT waste any of your valuable time on this book. DNF
For starters, the writing is simply bad. Reading this is akin to being stuck in an elevator with a blatherskite. But exponentially worse than the writing is the actual content.
Cook, quite literally, pulled this "book" out of her rear end. It's like she got a brief idea, convinced herself that it was revolutionary, and due to some delusions of grandeur, felt that it was worth publishing. Now, I'm sure Cook is convinced that what she is doing is for the "greater good," but she doesn't seem to be aware of the immense irony of her...skills..as an author. Profit. It's all profit.
Her mere ideas are entirely unsubstantiated. As a science & ed major (specifically regarding neuroscience) who tutors children with ADHD/special needs, I should have caught myself saying "Oh, wow, she's SO right! I've literally never thought of this like that before. Thanks, Cook, for enlightening me."
But I didn't. And why? Because teachers and medical professionals aren't as unaware as she literally just made them out to be. Standards for educators have changed since she first started complaining about these issues. Not a single point she makes is new to me; I've heard them all before and I've heard all her arguments before.
She's confusing the disagreement of /informed/ individuals with her for sheer ignorance because she is convinced of her own infallibility.
Her argument and basis for creating this book could have just as easily been: "Huh...I wonder if the Earth is flat. Yeah, that sounds about right." *asks geologists, teachers, parents if the Earth is flat and majority don't think so* "Oh, it's not? That can't be true! I think it is, so you obviously disagree with me just because you've been brainwashed by Big Globalist! I should write a book about this...I would be a hero!"
Quite frankly, if you take this book for anything more than it really is (a huge logical fallacy meant to prey on the fear of care-givers and exploit them for money/publicity), then you are no better than a parent who immediately permits their child to be babysat by some random man they met at a gas station just because he once said he was good with kids.
Because that's all that Cook is. A woman who has no credibility other than saying what some people already may want to hear. Sure, she works with children. Unfortunately for her, in a world where evidence matters, that isn't enough. As the saying goes, "Just because a child crawled out of you doesn't mean a PhD did." Although in this case it would be "Just because you have experience in caring for children with special needs doesn't mean you have all the information or ability to comprehend and analyze the information necessary to make your attempted argument."
Also, don't forget to boycott the workforce in general. Why stop at Big Pharma? What if guys, what if...gasoline actually puts out fires and Big Firefighter was just taking advantage of us this whole time?! And don't get me started on Big Mechanic- all a broken down car needs is some new wiper fluid.
Seriously, stop with the asinine fear mongering, Cook, and maybe you'll be worth a read.
That said, there absolutely is an argument to be made concerning the relatively high levels of misdiagnosis in children and the tendency for doctors to often unnecessarily prescribe drugs (ex: opiate crisis), but that argument certainly won't resemble Cook's.
For starters, the writing is simply bad. Reading this is akin to being stuck in an elevator with a blatherskite. But exponentially worse than the writing is the actual content.
Cook, quite literally, pulled this "book" out of her rear end. It's like she got a brief idea, convinced herself that it was revolutionary, and due to some delusions of grandeur, felt that it was worth publishing. Now, I'm sure Cook is convinced that what she is doing is for the "greater good," but she doesn't seem to be aware of the immense irony of her...skills..as an author. Profit. It's all profit.
Her mere ideas are entirely unsubstantiated. As a science & ed major (specifically regarding neuroscience) who tutors children with ADHD/special needs, I should have caught myself saying "Oh, wow, she's SO right! I've literally never thought of this like that before. Thanks, Cook, for enlightening me."
But I didn't. And why? Because teachers and medical professionals aren't as unaware as she literally just made them out to be. Standards for educators have changed since she first started complaining about these issues. Not a single point she makes is new to me; I've heard them all before and I've heard all her arguments before.
She's confusing the disagreement of /informed/ individuals with her for sheer ignorance because she is convinced of her own infallibility.
Her argument and basis for creating this book could have just as easily been: "Huh...I wonder if the Earth is flat. Yeah, that sounds about right." *asks geologists, teachers, parents if the Earth is flat and majority don't think so* "Oh, it's not? That can't be true! I think it is, so you obviously disagree with me just because you've been brainwashed by Big Globalist! I should write a book about this...I would be a hero!"
Quite frankly, if you take this book for anything more than it really is (a huge logical fallacy meant to prey on the fear of care-givers and exploit them for money/publicity), then you are no better than a parent who immediately permits their child to be babysat by some random man they met at a gas station just because he once said he was good with kids.
Because that's all that Cook is. A woman who has no credibility other than saying what some people already may want to hear. Sure, she works with children. Unfortunately for her, in a world where evidence matters, that isn't enough. As the saying goes, "Just because a child crawled out of you doesn't mean a PhD did." Although in this case it would be "Just because you have experience in caring for children with special needs doesn't mean you have all the information or ability to comprehend and analyze the information necessary to make your attempted argument."
Also, don't forget to boycott the workforce in general. Why stop at Big Pharma? What if guys, what if...gasoline actually puts out fires and Big Firefighter was just taking advantage of us this whole time?! And don't get me started on Big Mechanic- all a broken down car needs is some new wiper fluid.
Seriously, stop with the asinine fear mongering, Cook, and maybe you'll be worth a read.
That said, there absolutely is an argument to be made concerning the relatively high levels of misdiagnosis in children and the tendency for doctors to often unnecessarily prescribe drugs (ex: opiate crisis), but that argument certainly won't resemble Cook's.
April 16, 2018
This is an important book for anyone who is concerned about the welfare of our children. Cook, a school social work consultant, tells us she witnessed first hand the transformation of our schools and clinics into centers for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood mental disorders with toxic behavior and mood-altering drugs.
Behind the empty rhetoric of better health and social outcomes, Cook shows us numerous, detailed examples of children who were seriously harmed or disabled by drug treatments, not made healthier. Some children died. The author also investigates the hidden, unbiased scientific evidence and numerous court records and criminal fines which clearly document the lengths that drug companies and their partners go to deceive and pressure doctors, educators and other community groups to believe that children are sick and need “life saving� mind drugs.
Meanwhile, black box warnings, such as those inside drug packages for SSRI's, the most common class of antidepressants used in children, which state: “Potential Association With Behavioral and Emotional Changes Including Self-Harm� are downplayed, blocked, ignored or are met with meaningless slogans that “the benefits outweigh the harms�. There are safer alternatives but they don't make money.
This is a shocking expose of a cover-up. We are under the assumption that governments are protecting our children and schools are safe places for them. Cook reveals that this is not the case. More than 9 million children and adolescents in North America are on psychiatric drugs, as young as a year old. Cook reports that there are relentless ongoing efforts by big business to drug more by promoting drug company propaganda to students in their classrooms, in the hope they will be life long customers. It is a hidden form of corporate abuse directed at our most vulnerable children in order to maximize profits.
All parents should read this book.
Behind the empty rhetoric of better health and social outcomes, Cook shows us numerous, detailed examples of children who were seriously harmed or disabled by drug treatments, not made healthier. Some children died. The author also investigates the hidden, unbiased scientific evidence and numerous court records and criminal fines which clearly document the lengths that drug companies and their partners go to deceive and pressure doctors, educators and other community groups to believe that children are sick and need “life saving� mind drugs.
Meanwhile, black box warnings, such as those inside drug packages for SSRI's, the most common class of antidepressants used in children, which state: “Potential Association With Behavioral and Emotional Changes Including Self-Harm� are downplayed, blocked, ignored or are met with meaningless slogans that “the benefits outweigh the harms�. There are safer alternatives but they don't make money.
This is a shocking expose of a cover-up. We are under the assumption that governments are protecting our children and schools are safe places for them. Cook reveals that this is not the case. More than 9 million children and adolescents in North America are on psychiatric drugs, as young as a year old. Cook reports that there are relentless ongoing efforts by big business to drug more by promoting drug company propaganda to students in their classrooms, in the hope they will be life long customers. It is a hidden form of corporate abuse directed at our most vulnerable children in order to maximize profits.
All parents should read this book.
Want to read
December 23, 2019Obviously some people will feel threatened by this book.
It exposes what a lot of people already are aware of.
Children have no choice and for anyone to think it is ethical
to diagnose, drug children, has no rights to be around children.
Because Johnny does not co-operate, is the fault of a system.
There are literally thousands of ways to 'help' Johnny
that do not involve shams and lies.
Forms of social control, where we define normal from abnormal have no
place in society, especially when it comes to a population that can't even tell
you that his distress comes from the drugs psychiatry feeds.
In fact, kids should not to be ever made to feel they are different.
Unless you want some utopian world, leave innocent lives alone.
The whole mess is unethical. It risks millions of children's futures and health.
The drugging of children MUST stop. Unless you are willing to eat these safe drugs yourself,
don't even think about giving them to kids.
It exposes what a lot of people already are aware of.
Children have no choice and for anyone to think it is ethical
to diagnose, drug children, has no rights to be around children.
Because Johnny does not co-operate, is the fault of a system.
There are literally thousands of ways to 'help' Johnny
that do not involve shams and lies.
Forms of social control, where we define normal from abnormal have no
place in society, especially when it comes to a population that can't even tell
you that his distress comes from the drugs psychiatry feeds.
In fact, kids should not to be ever made to feel they are different.
Unless you want some utopian world, leave innocent lives alone.
The whole mess is unethical. It risks millions of children's futures and health.
The drugging of children MUST stop. Unless you are willing to eat these safe drugs yourself,
don't even think about giving them to kids.
March 19, 2018
Making Healthy Children Sick: What the Mental Health Industry Is Not Telling You by Jo Ann Nolan Cook tackles the hard issue of Mental Health and its implications as well as what is being hidden. It gives data to beck up the idea that the mental health industry . Jo Ann Nolan Cooks deals with the long term effects of being labeled with a mental health problem at a young age. The author even question if there is not more harm being done than help. An informative read with an interesting take on a very major current problem.
I received a copy thru a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Giveaway.
I received a copy thru a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Giveaway.
January 22, 2022
This is an important book. I abandoned it not because I didn't like it but because it hit too close to home for me. While I am a long way past being a child, I have suffered chronic major depressive disorder (and a whole shoebox of other things) since I was a child. I started reading it when I had just started treatment, and it was too difficult to read. I will probably pick it up again later to read it from a better place.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has, works with, or treats children with mental illness.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has, works with, or treats children with mental illness.
February 26, 2018
I have not read this book yet but as a foster parent I am very interested and can not wait to start it. I will update my review after I’m finished
March 5, 2018
Fascinating information about the medication our children are taking that could be unnecessary. I think it serves as a good reminder about the power of the healthcare system in America in general.
April 15, 2018
Making Healthy Children Sick is eye opening and informative.
I received the book for free from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads.
I received the book for free from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads.
July 16, 2018
Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway
May 16, 2018
On the up side I found this a very informative read,full of good research , authors personal professional knowledge and insight into the alliances between the pharmaceutical companies, government, doctors, schools and teachers. The diagnosis of and the over medication of our children and how that is happening is well explained and described. This is a must read for any parent or grandparent raising children today.
The down side is that it's such a long book and at times tedious to read. (That's just my own take.) It took me longer to read than normal for me.
Our children today need better than the treatments they are receiving and this book addresses these issues. All parents need to inform themselves and be aware of this issue.
The down side is that it's such a long book and at times tedious to read. (That's just my own take.) It took me longer to read than normal for me.
Our children today need better than the treatments they are receiving and this book addresses these issues. All parents need to inform themselves and be aware of this issue.
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