About this episode
Send us a text Sylvia Mignon, licensed clinical social worker and professor of criminal justice, shares her heartbreaking journey navigating the mental health system while trying to secure proper care for her son with schizoaffective disorder. Despite her professional expertise, she's experienced nine years of struggling against bureaucracies that prioritize themselves over the needs of individuals with severe mental illness. • Mental health systems and criminal justice bureaucracies often work to serve those within the system rather than clients and their families • Many psychiatric professionals avoid treating severe mental illness, preferring conditions that respond better to medication • Hospitals criminalize mentally ill patients they find difficult rather than transferring them to appropriate facilities • Legal professionals need better education about mental illness to make informed decisions • Massachusetts is closing psychiatric beds when many more are needed • Most people with severe mental illness (75%) eventually stop taking their medication • Support groups through organizations like Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance provide crucial help for families • Online resources and books by family members of those with mental illness offer education and perspective • Advocacy efforts include potential class action lawsuits against state mental health departments that fail patients Visit TonyMantor.com if you have a story to share on Why Not Me? The World podcast. Please tell others about our show and help spread the message that no one is alone in this world. https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI) The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates. Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed. Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care. Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.