"Studies show that people with a serious mental illness are no more prone to violence than anyone else — when they get the help they need"

Really wish that the lead-in to this amazing story by the Boston Globe Spotlight team had been

"STUDIES SHOW THAT PEOPLE WITH A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS ARE NO MORE PRONE TO VIOLENCE THAN ANYONE ELSE — WHEN THEY GET THE HELP THEY NEED"

The article is a long read and just the first part of several, but take the time to read it. Then come back here and read my email to them (below). 

Overall, it's an amazing thing to have the "megaphone" of the Spotlight team on the topic of mental healthcare in Massachusetts (and beyond). We really are having a long overdue conversation reviewing the results of changes that started many years ago. Those ideas were meant to create a better outcome for those with mental illness. I hope this time we can learn from mistakes quicker and adjust, rather than plod along without really learning from what's working and what isn't. 

​I write this email with deeply mixed feelings. As the parent of a son with schizophrenia, I have lived the choices and challenges described in the article and know the truthfulness of the experience.  This is not the first time one of Michael's articles has moved me (I wrote to you after the Peter Minich story a few years ago). 

However, as someone dedicated to tackling stigma, I fear that the approach of sensationalizing the violence as the lead does a disservice to the necessary conversation.  One of the most important points is buried deep in the article:

      "Studies show that people with a serious mental illness are no more prone to violence than anyone else — when they get the help they need."

And while as a family member, I am well aware that I am at the highest risk, the article might make the average reader afraid for themselves. The article reinforces stereotypes that are exactly the reasons why the general public shies away from the seriously mentally ill and why the knee-jerk reaction is to call the police and incarcerate them. Lock 'em up where they can't hurt anyone. 

I appreciate the service this Spotlight series can do to highlight the need for insurers, state and federal government to pay for the needed care. The current payment situation means that most people cannot afford care, even if they can find it. While it is not quite only for the 1%, it can literally bankrupt a middle class family to pay for the care. And it's entirely inaccessible for anyone else. Which is why I recently left my long time high tech career to pursue advocacy for mental healthcare as well as fundraising to pay for care for those who cannot afford it.

The problem is very nuanced. An entire set of challenges revolve around lack of clinicians to provide care because reimbursement rates are so low that it's hard to make a reasonable living.  It does mean that those who enter the field are amazing and dedicated people. I would hope your future articles will help encourage people into the field, we so desperately need them!

As you mention, this is not a Massachusetts only problem but having spent some time recently in DC with Behavioral Health providers from all over the country, we are actually lucky to have the DMH. That's how much worse it is elsewhere (even in view of the comparison to other New England states & New York that you cite). If you can spark a national conversation and support for more robust legislation, that would be amazing. I'm sure you know about the current proposed legislation in both Houses and how rapidly it's getting watered down to the point of ineffectiveness. And as long as it doesn't include funding, there won't be any real change. Mandates and intentions are not enough. 

We appear to be having a national conversation about mental health on a level not seen since the "snake pit" era. I appreciate what you are doing to advance the conversation and love the call to action for Massachusetts to lead the way.  If there is any way I can help, please contact me.