#Autism

In an age where mental health awareness is at an all-time high, a new perspective from neuropsychiatrist Dr. Alastair Santhouse raises thought-provoking questions about the potential over-diagnosis of mental health conditions. Dr. Santhouse’s recent book, No More Normal: Mental Health in an Age of Overdiagnosis, argues that while mental health awareness is undoubtedly beneficial, it might also be leading more people to identify with symptoms that may not necessarily qualify as mental disorders. For Thai readers, understanding this global conversation is crucial in navigating local mental health discourses.

In a surprising and controversial move, the U.S. federal government has appointed David Geier, a well-known vaccine skeptic, to lead a study examining the disproven link between vaccines and autism. This decision, revealed by the Washington Post, has sparked outcry from the scientific community, given Geier’s history of promoting discredited research in this arena.

This development is part of a broader narrative where public health agendas in the U.S. appear to be influenced by prominent anti-vaccine figures. David Geier, in collaboration with his father, Mark Geier, has consistently advocated against vaccinations. Their research, often dismissed by the scientific community for its methodological shortcomings, focuses on purported dangers of vaccines, specifically mercury-based ingredients, which they claim are linked to autism—a claim that has been thoroughly debunked by numerous scientific studies over the years. Despite the widespread scientific consensus, their studies still hold sway among certain anti-vaccine circles, particularly those led by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now oversees health initiatives.