Dear President Obama, your solution will not help!

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Dear President Obama, These measures will not help, it will overload teachers and expect them to wear too many hats. Our son experienced mental health symptoms since birth. Even though he had supports in the community and school system -- "his right to say no to treatment" -- at 18, as he aged into the adult system  -- has lead to serious and costly consequences. Regardless of having a good insurance plan and a loving supportive family, there was no way to help him remain in treatment.

As long as we allow our youngest, most vulnerable citizens to be protected by HIPPA and Civil Rights laws, they will continue to fall through the cracks!  (Where most end up in jail or homeless -- wasting state funds and their lives!)

When a person lacks insight 'to their illness', (anosognosia) there should be additional protections -- same as Alzheimer's patients.

A federal assisted outpatient treatment, (AOT) law in one way to make changes -- stop focusing on guns!

READ MORE HERE:  http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/17/169597304/obamas-plans-for-guns-put-focus-on-mental-health-of-the-young
Obama's Plans For Guns Put Focus On Mental Health Of The Young

by Sarah Varney

January 17, 201310:49 AM

Learn more about Kentucky's outpatient treatment law under the KRS.202A.O81 and support HB78 and SB33, here:http://changementalhealthlawsinky.blogspot.com/2013/01/hb78-and-sb33-new-bills-to-amend-krs.html

Listening To Those In The Trenches -- Solutions for Leaders

Pete Earley, American journalist and bestselling author said,

"We don’t need lists. We need improved and better-funded community mental health services. We need a national dialogue about our existing mental health laws with an eye toward protecting civil rights but also getting people help before they become an imminent danger."

 I agree with other advocates, Pete's article needs to be reprinted in every media outlet possible! Keep up the great work Pete!

Dr. Tracey Skale, the chief medical director at the Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services,

Read more here: http://www.peteearley.com/2013/01/16/listening-to-those-in-the-trenches/

Stop Minimizing Mental Illness: Worst Things to Say

I typically only post Kentucky related stories or share national articles that explain news/options for Assisted Outpatient Treatment, but this is worth the read. SO TRUE! 

Natasha Tracy tells it like it 'really' is!

Let’s Not Forget, People Die From Mental Illness

The idea that mental illness is serious isn’t something that I made up, it is a fact. Estimates are 1 in 5 people with bipolar disorder commit suicide and 1 in 2 people (yes, that’s half) attempt it. And of course there are hospitalizations, work absences, destroyed families, having to go on disability, and so on. This is serious stuff people. It is not a runny nose.

Read her article by clicking here:

Stop Minimizing Mental Illness: Worst Things to Say

Kentucky Makes Progress in Developing ACT program!

Frequent Flyer program: An interview with the CEO of Seven Counties Services, Tony Zipple on people who cycle in and out of jail and the myriad of problems they face.

Last week, an excellent article was published by Chris Kenning of the Courier-Journal regarding an ACT program in Louisville, Kentucky. Assertive Community Treatment, is an evidence-based practice, that Kentucky falls behind in implementing! 

Read the article in the Courier Journal here: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20130106/NEWS10/301060043

Learn more about ACT by clicking here: http://homeless.samhsa.gov/Resource/Assertive-Community-Treatment-Evidence-Based-Prac...tice-KIT-48154.aspx

ACT helps those individuals with Severe and Persistent mental illness, instead of allowing them to fail first, (sometime over and over) or to "die with their civil rights on" in our streets or or in jail.

"Would we allow your Grandmother, who sometimes forgets who she is, and can no longer take care of herself -- by having laws that prevent her from receiving medication, housing, etc? Would we send your grandmother to jail, hoping she would learn to "NOT HAVE HER ALZHEIMER'S RELATED BEHAVIORS" and learn from punishment -- before she could finally access treatment?" Everyday in Kentucky, individuals and their families coping with mental illness are forced to deal with this reality!

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT ANOSOGNOSIA CLICK HERE;
http://changementalhealthlawsinky.blogspot.com/2012/09/anosognosia-lack-of-insight-fact-sheet.html

Insanity - the Definition of Kentucky's Mental Health Laws at Work My Shattered Daughter, My Love! Written by "a Mom" from Lexington, KY --

 illustrates the horrific details of how Kentucky's dysfunctional mental health system allows people who cannot help themselves, to deteriorate, become homeless and end up in the revolving door.

By, GG Burns, KY Mental Health Advocate -- working to amend Ky's Community Based Outpatient Treatment Agreed Order under the KRS 202A.O81. Kentucky's Assisted Outpatient Treatment, AOT'. 

This law needs strengthening, in order to help those who can't help themselves and end up like Michael Stults! 

See HB 78 and SB 33 for more information.

Jail no place for the mentally ill - Other Views - MiamiHerald.com

Jail no place for the mentally ill - Other Views - MiamiHerald.com

HOW MANY OF US KNOW BUT IGNORE AND TURN AWAY?

by: Deborah Fabos

How many of us have known a family like Adam Lanza’s, a James Holmes, or others that commit a preventable tragedy? How many of us have witnessed or personally experienced the lonely desperation that devours the family who try in vain to get the needed treatment and support for their afflicted loved one? How many of us know the drama and trauma that comes with an untreated severe brain disorder with anosognoia and psychosis? How the untreated disorder drains every family resource; usually leaving them broken, helpless, and wondering how this could have happened? How many of us know but ignore and turn away?

Anosognosia is a brain malfunction in the frontal lobe. It prevents an individual from having insight to their condition so they will not seek treatment on their own. It is not denial. Anosognosia allows the brain disorder to control a person’s thoughts and behavior. Anosognosia cannot be talked, prayed, or loved away it must be treated.

After reading Liza Long’s viral blog, “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother,” now entitled “Thinking the Unthinkable,” memories of raising my own son sent my pulse racing and my blood pressure soaring. Even though it’s been over a decade since we faced our own trauma and drama. I can’t believe that families like ours still cannot secure treatment compliance and support services for the ones they love, fear, but still care for!

Is it lack of reliable information? Is it stigma? Is it the diverted funding that prevents the implementation and proper enforcement of current laws or the making of needed new ones? Is it a lack of hospital beds? Is it lack of public awareness or lack of professional accountability that allows this gross neglect of those most seriously impacted to continue? We must stop ignoring the issues!

When time is brain, the right early intervention, treatment compliance, and support services can save brain cells that are needed for a recovery. Our family is living proof! Our son has been relapse free for ten years and is enjoying a lasting recovery!

As Alexandra Petri points out in her Washington Post blog article, families desperately need assistance in providing early intervention, proper and timely treatment compliance, and sustained support for themselves and their loved ones who suffer from severe neurological brain disorders with anosognosia. ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2012/12/18/after-i-am-adam-lanzas-mother/ )

I believe that we must:

1: Implement, fully fund, and enforce a National Assisted Outpatient Treatment Guideline for each state to follow, creating strict psychiatric and neurological criteria for those who would qualify and to ensure compliance with prescribed treatment. http:/mentalillnesspolicyorg.blogspot.com/2012/03/samhsa-vote-assisted-outpatient.html

2: Increase the number of psychiatric beds.
http://blog.al.comspotnews2012/07psychiatric_hospital_beds_dwin.html

3: Provide sustained support services for families and those they care for. Assist families in the management of unwanted and potential criminal behavior which will help to keep their loved ones off the streets and out of the correctional system. http://www.petoskeynews.com/news/featured/pnr-mentally-ill-and-in-jail-why-incarceration-may-not-always-reduce-crime-20121227,0,6322748.story

 
Please click on the link provided and add your signature. Now is the time for action! Before it’s too late, again! https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/help-families-address-some-critical-failures-government-assistance-services/B07zl2hm

 _________________

I am so fortunate to know Deborah Fabos and even more proud of her efforts! Will you please support her White House Petition, to make a difference? GG Burns, KY Mental Health Advocate

HB78 and SB33, new bills to amend KRS 202A.081

Double victory, two bills introduced to amend Kentucky's court-ordered community-based outpatient treatment law - 2013!

On Jan. 8, 2013, HB 78 was introduced by Chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee, Representative Tom Burch. Concurrently, on Jan 8, 2013, Senator J. Denton, Senate Health and Welfare Chair introduced SB 33

 

This act is relating to amend the current KRS 202A.081, to extend the length of an order for community-based outpatient treatment and permit re-hospitalization for failure to abide by the order. This act will lengthen the current 60 days order to 180 days and will strengthen the current law by adding that outpatient providers are require to use evidence-based practices.

Please write and call Senator Denton and Representative Tom Burch for sponsoring these important bills! While this is far from what a model AOT law would be, it is a step in the right direction to help prevent future tragedies that are unfolding across Kentucky and the US daily.

In addition, please write and call your local legislators and ask them to support these bills. We hope these bills will be discussed in committee, when the general assembly convenes on February 5, 2013 (Day 5 of 30 Days).

______________________________

Representative Tom Burch, Health and Welfare (H) [Chair] (D), Mailing Address: 4012 Lambert Ave, Louisville KY 40218. Frankfort Address(es) 702 Capitol Ave, Annex Room 332E, Frankfort KY 40601 Phone Number(s) Home: (502) 454-4002, Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. EMAIL: Tom.Burch@lrc.ky.gov  

Senator Julie Denton (R), Frankfort Address(es) 702 Capitol Ave, Annex Room 252. Frankfort KY 40601 Phone Number(s) Home: (502) 489-9058, Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. 64, Annex email: click here

______________________________

Many Kentucky leaders are hopeful that these bills are a step in the right direction! Future advocacy efforts will still be be needed to fund appropriate behavioral health services, especially for those who are trapped in the revolving door and are unable to access treatment to keep them from becoming a threat to themselves or others.


Changes are needed for a small subset of vulnerable individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, who often lack insight (anosognosia*) and don’t accept treatment voluntary. In some areas of Kentucky, these individuals are frequently defaulted to jail and more so to homelessness. Under current Kentucky law, the KRS 202A.081 is underutilized, therefore eliminating funding sources that would actually help the sickest access treatment and recover! We believe current law omits the needed framework to provide care to these individuals, who due to the symptoms become either dangerous or incapable of making informed medical decisions concerning their treatment.

These amendments would aid patients who experience repetitive psychotic episodes that cause 'irreversible', cognitive brain damage! The consequences of untreated mental illness are as apparent as they are devastating: homelessness, criminalization, suicide, violence, victimization, lost productivity, permanently decreased medication responses, and the incalculable costs of unnecessary suffering. Due to advances in recent years, treatment is now available that can eliminate or substantially alleviate the symptoms of mental illness for most who suffer from it. With treatment, people with mental illness can reclaim their lives. But first, there must be treatment!

Evidence Based Practices: Describes any treatment or service, that has been shown to be effective such as:

•   Assertive Community Treatment (ACT Teams),Read recent article in the Courier Journal about ACT program in Louisville.

•   Outpatient case management
•   Peer Support Programs

•   Jail Diversion Programs, Mental Health Courts and Re-entry Services
•   (Individual Placement Support) IPS Supported Employment and Supported Housing
•   Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

______________________________

*Anosognosia is impaired or lack awareness of illness — a neurological syndrome is believed to be the single largest reason why individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder do not take their medications. Caused by damage to the brain, it affects approximately 50% of individuals with schizophrenia and 40% of individuals with bipolar disorder.

______________________________

Please write to GG Burns at: changementalhealthlawsinky@gmail.com, to add your name to "change mental health laws in Kentucky" advocacy mailing list  – as we keep up with latest updates and monitor the progress of these bills. Thank you for your support. 

Review the HB here, the SB is the same:

click on file to print