America's Mental Health (Care) is Getting Worse
Synopsis:
A four-part series examining the woeful state of mental health care in the United States, with detailed descriptions of the history of mental health care and why it's failed, how it has impacted the numbers of homeless on the streets and the jail and prison populations, and a look at programs that are working in this country and elsewhere.
Book Excerpt:
"Even with all of today's medical advances, recognizing, diagnosing and treating the severely mentally ill in this country takes an average of 10 years, experts say. Almost without exception, they are 10 years of heartache and frustration for the mentally ill and their families. Add to that lack of funding for adequate care and treatment of the mentally ill, nearly a quarter of whom end up in the criminal justice system, and you have a recipe for disaster."
Author Comment:
I worked on this series for four months, and my fervent hope is that it will open up a new dialogue in this country about mental illness and how we can provide more comprehensive and compassionate care for those who suffer from it.
Topics/Categories:
bipolar disease, Depression, goverment policy, institutionalization, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Politics, Schizophrenia
Genre:
Chemistry, General Politics, Health, Illness, Wellness
Type of Work:
Original Published Source:
Miller-McCune magazine online
Purchase From:
America's Mental Health (Care) is Getting Worse
Original Publish Date:
November 14, 2008
Formats:
Online
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