The book will launch fall of 2020!
Fix What You Can
when her son Jim's first psychotic episode manifested itself in a delusion demanding he kill her. Her seat at the table helped her to change policies that would have barred her from saving his life. She first had to overcome her fear that Jim would be like her beloved grandmother who disappeared into a mental hospital when she was 10. Given the heightened national interest in mental illness today and the millions of people affected, this book is timely. It spans 20 years and covers new ground about living with schizophrenia, adding understanding and new appreciation of the challenges.
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Latest news
Housing First
A recent hearing of the Minnesota House of Representatives Housing Committee probed the intersection of mental illness and housing. I expected to hear stories of despair and facts about dire shortages. I wasn’t disappointed, but people who told their stories about how their lives were turned around when they finally found a safe place Read more about Housing First[…]
Young Brains & Marijuana
A Letter to my fifteen-year-old granddaughter Dear Taylor, I learned a lot about marijuana and mental illness at a recent National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Conference. I want to share some of it with you while it’s still fresh on my mind, because it scared me. I don’t want you to get schizophrenia like Read more about Young Brains & Marijuana[…]
Families Can Help
Family involvement is an evidenced-based practice shown through research to help people who have serious mental illness do better. Yet, many parents like me and other family members struggle to be included in the mental health system charged to care for our loved ones. Conferences Omit Parents This oversight is furthered along by the mental Read more about Families Can Help[…]
Should We Expect People With Serious Mental Illness to Work?
I struggle with my expectations for our son who has a serious mental illness. When he’s doing well he seems full of potential, but that is not always the case. Many mental health professionals seem to have the same dilemma. Dr. E. Fuller Torrey In the seventh edition of his book Surviving Schizophrenia, Dr. E. Read more about Should We Expect People With Serious Mental Illness to Work?[…]
Minnesota Must Get Serious About Mental Health Courts
It’s time for state-level discussions in Minnesota about funding mental health courts. I recently attended an excellent conference about the criminalization of mental illness. Even though it was more geared to mental health practitioners, I went as a parent because Ramsey County recently denied participation in their excellent mental health court to my son who Read more about Minnesota Must Get Serious About Mental Health Courts[…]
“Tainted” Coverage
I was not surprised to read about the recent U.S. District Court ruling against United Behavioral Health. I was only surprised that it took so long. Over ten years before, our family had battled the Minnesota-based United Health Group subsidiary giant to gain cover for our son who has a serious mental illness. Only after Read more about “Tainted” Coverage[…]
Let’s Classify Schizophrenia As The Brain Disease It Is
I support the new push to reclassify schizophrenia as a brain disease instead of a mental illness. Alzheimer’s is classified as a brain disease and garners significantly more research dollars as a result. Also more understanding that it’s no one’s fault. When son Jim was first diagnosed 20 years ago, I talked hopefully to a Read more about Let’s Classify Schizophrenia As The Brain Disease It Is[…]
Going to the Dentist
Some dentists say they can’t afford to provide care for patients on government programs. Minnesota is among the states with the lowest reimbursement rates (currently 27 percent). Minnesota Public Radio, May 2, 2017 I never would have suspected that one of the most hurtful episodes of our son’s mental illness would involve our family’s dental Read more about Going to the Dentist[…]
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