Crazy

The interview on Fresh Air today touched a nerve. The guest was a ex-Washington Post Reporter name Early who's book, Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental health Madness, is just out. It is his account of his harrowing experience trying to get help for his psychotic son's illness when doctor's hospitals and insurance company's wouldn't because of the "imminent threat" test for coercive treatment. We've gone from commitments to large state mental hospitals that were often horrific places to a policy that makes treating a mentally ill person almost impossible if they don't want treatment.

It reminded me of my two-month long endeavor to get guardianship for my mother, whose dementia and psychosis have made it impossible for her to pay her bills, manage her money and take care of herself. I finally did get guardianship Thursday the 13th, but the hoops we had to jump through were numerous and frustrating.

Hundreds of thousands of homeless and prison inmates could be treated and kept in the general population if only we had mandatory outpatient commitment. That is, a court ordering that the patient could stay free as long as they consent to medical treatment. The time has come, I think.