I have spent some time in the streets. I have known many homeless people. Many of them are mentally ill and should be in adult foster care homes or mental hospitals. But they are "not a danger to themselves or others." If they take their medication they may not be but they do not take it. They can not hold down a job because of their illness. They go down the street talking to themselves, arguing with themselves, yelling at buildings and poles, using karate on telephone poles, they direct traffic, walk like they are in a trance and scare other people.
Our mentally ill are put in prisons when they should be in hospitals but it is
cheaper to put them in prison. The Supermax prisons are not only used for
the most dangerous criminals but for the mentally ill and people that make the
system mad.
The links below are links about mental health and places to go for help.
The mentally ill don't belong in prison
Mentally Ill Fill Prison Cells, Says Fed Study
Mentally Ill Need Care, Find Prison - Without Treatment, Many Cycle In and Out of Jail
16 percent of state prison inmates mentally ill
DOC HERDING THE MENTALLY ILL INTO A DEATH CAMP
The Nations Voice for Mental Illness
A Plea for the Mentally Ill Homeless
National Institute of Mental Health
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Mental Health Association
Mental Health Matters a Mental Health, Self Help & Psychology Information and Resources
Behavior OnLine, the gathering place for Mental Health and Applied Behavioral Science Professionals
October 22, 2003, New York Times - By FOX BUTTERFIELD
Mental Health Aspects of the Development Disabled
The mentally ill don't belong in prison
The Freudian Slip Music Therapy
Two of the mentally ill women that were in my life. I wonder how things would have been if they took their meds.
The Castle of Hope for Lost Souls - Group Site Map