In response to Dr. Christopher Gordon’s letter ‘Invitation to a Dialogue: Forcing Treatment’

In response to Dr. Christopher Gordon’s letter ‘Invitation to a Dialogue: Forcing Treatment’ (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/opinion/invitation-to-a-dialogue-forcing-treatment.html?_r=0) I must agree with his point, “But for most patients experiencing psychotic states, mandated treatment may create more problems than it solves.” However, when assisted outpatient treatment laws are written well, they protect those who would not qualify for forced treatment while providing needed treatment for those who are not able to get treatment on their own due to lack of awareness of their illness. As to the exact percentage of people who would qualify for assisted treatment I am not convinced that the numbers that are currently reported accurately reflect all those who are on the streets, in jail, in-and-out of care, or in the morgue. Dr. Gordon also points out that, “For many medical conditions, better outcomes occur when patients share in treatment design and disease management.” Again, I agree with this statement once an afflicted individual has had an opportunity to get treatment and has been able to reduce or eliminate psychotic episodes to the point they are able to contribute. I use my own son as an example. Being treatment resistant, there was no reasoning with him about anything let alone treatment. We were the crazy ones. It was only when he had been compliant, for a period of time, to a medication that worked for him were we able to involve him in treatment decisions. Because only then was he able to reason. Assisted Treatment Laws need to be well written so that those who do not need medication will not be forced to take it. Improvements need to be made in screening and early interventions need to be in place and available to parents for the best possible outcome for their afflicted loved one and themselves. Parents need to be given a voice in the intervention and treatment process. To say that, “Mandated treatment is a blunt instrument that may drive more people away from seeking care than it compels into care.” is to say that we need to have the best AOT laws so that everyone has a chance to get the treatment they need. With or without assistance. The cycle of homelessness, jail, and brief hospitalizations is not conducive to a successful treatment plan for anyone. It is, however, an excellent way to die.

Defining 'Care' When We're Talking About a Severe Brain Disorder

'Care' in this context means more than reaching out and being friends, or any of the programs that are already out there and available for those who can find them and take an active part in their treatment and recovery. It's more than what an HMO can do, even though there is a lot of room for improvement in that area as well! 

What I proposed in my petition (links given below) is a three point need list that will help families get care for their loved ones who suffer from a severe brain disorder with lack of insight and other severe symptoms such as (but not limited to) command hallucinations.

 We're talking about a small percentage of those who suffer from schizophrenia for example, who are so impacted by their brain disorder it controls what they think and what they do. They do not have any insight to their condition and will not seek treatment on their own. Their behavior, if their disorder goes untreated, will break laws, break family bonds, and break their brain.

In these cases, time is brain. With each psychotic episode they lose the brain cells they will need in order to have a recovery. This is why it's so important that early intervention and compliance to the right treatment is so very important!

For those who can get help for themselves, this does not apply to. But as I do not want to see any path to recovery blocked, because I believe that everyone has a right to recover, we need to provide the added support for those who are most severely impacted. Right now, on a whole, we don't.

 This does include but is not limited to AOTs. When written properly, they safe guard those who don't need it from abuse and allows for a 'fast track' for treatment for those who need it the most.

 Life by illness is not a good life. It is filled with traumatic cycles of homelessness, abuse, jail, and being alone. Because their choices are made by the disorder, not by a clear mind able to make decisions freely.

I know. I've seen the changes in my son. We lost him to his disorder. He could not show love, he could not listen to our words of love. All he could hear were the command voices. All he felt was fear and confusion. All he did was destructive to people and property. Because all he was, was the illness. We didn't have him any more.

 Once we found the right treatment and he remained compliant to it we slowly got our son back! He now feels love. Not just for others but for himself. And because of his self love he makes better choices. HE make his choices. NOT THE DISORDER!

 Our family spent the better part of almost two decades finding and getting the right intervention, treatment, and recovery. I strongly believe that EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO A RECOVERY!!! Everyone has a right to make their life choices as free from their illness as possible.

The points on this petition will help families do just that. Assert their loved one's right to recover.


 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/help-families-address-some-critical-failures-government-assistance-services/B07zl2hm http://signon.org/sign/how-many-of-us-know-but.fb23?source=c.fb&r_by=6303597 We also need to to personally make an appointment with their representative to see him or her in their home office, personally write the President, personally write Biden. Believe it or not, many of those personal letters still reach them and the old theory that one letter counts for 100 petition signors locally and 10,000 nationally, is still true. So please, sign, share, and write! Families shouldn't have to give up on their afflicted loved one. We need to help them, today! Thank you for your continued support!

HOW MANY OF US KNOW BUT IGNORE AND TURN AWAY? Petition site

http://wh.gov/Pndl Here's a shorter link for the We the People petition site for those who use twitter! Easier to sign the petition!

HOW MANY OF US KNOW BUT IGNORE AND TURN AWAY?

We have the petition on another site that requires less signatures! Same petition so please sign and pass along! http://signon.org/sign/how-many-of-us-know-but.fb23?source=c.fb&r_by=6303597

HOW MANY OF US KNOW BUT IGNORE AND TURN AWAY?

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