Reliving the experience

I've been in touch with a new friend who is going through a very similar experience that I had when my daughter's mental illness included a lack of insight that prescribed medications could help her. Because of non-compliance with treatment, she cycled in and out of hospitals, each time becoming more symptomatic, and endangering her life as she wandered off at all times of the day and night. Eventually, after reaching the required level of "clear and present danger to self or others" required by law, she would be hospitalized through an involuntary commitment.

My friend's daughter's journey has also included a month and a half period spent in jail, because while off medications and not thinking too clearly, she attempted to rob a store. This woman is not a criminal and, she had never tried to do anything like that before. Eventually, charges were dropped, after my friend had posted bail. Even the authorities understood that this woman was not well and was acting irrationally. Untreated mental illness does unfortunately, lead some people to listen to voices in their head and/or not listen to the common sense instincts that would have prevented her from attempting to break the law.

My heart truly breaks for my friend and her son who are trying to keep this daughter/sister safe and find a way to help her understand the need to reach out for treatment that has proven effective in the past or to convince the mental health system that she needs very intensive services. Until then, all I can do is be a friend, a sounding board, offer some advice on how to approach the mental health system that no longer seems to believe in long-term hospitalizations or intensive assisted outpatient services and who are not legally obliged to require someone to stay in treatment unless they are a "clear and present danger to themselves or others."

My friend's daughter's situation one more reason why I advocate for changes to our Mental Health Procedures Act in Pennsylvania through the proposed assisted outpatient treatment law, SB 226. Although the majority of people with a mental illness can and do reach out for treatment, this small minority of people with a severe mental illness and lack of insight need a compassionate law that will help them and require intensive mental health services of those whose jobs it is provide treatment.

With the support of other advocates, including this mother, we will hopefully see a better mental health system in place.