Hello
This forum is a great Idea. The link to Aaron's story really hit home for me. It made me physically ill to read the story.
I hope that we can really get this MH board up and running because there is a high need for information and awareness about people that have mental illness. There is an extremely high need for advocacy for these people and I know that with my son who has a mental illness and was just sentenced to three years I will have to be his voice and his advocate and I need a whole lot of support. I get terrified when I think of what they could do with his medicine while he is in there. Like the story of Aaron it has taken years of trial and error to find the right meds for my son and what happens if they start screwing with it while he is locked up...what happens if they do not give it to him....

I have lots of questions about MH in prisons's David you said that this is an issue close to your heart and I am looking forward to getting you input about this topic. Once again I am running late for work and have to go.

On my intro. someone suggested talking to the programmers at the prison he will be going to? Who are they and who do I ask for? Is there any suggestions as to who I may contact at the receving center that I can tell them about my son. Any and all feedback is greatly anticipated.

Gotta run,
Susan

Susan, One thing you could do is contact support groups for
the mentally ill in your area. They might be able to help.
Also , your sons doctor.

link to NAMI http://www.nami.org/

Do you know where he is going, Susan? Which prison, that is?
Once he gets to a prison, you should contact the mental health officials there and if necissary (sp), become a thorn in their sides. Let them know someone does care and will not let go. I don't mean to take a stance like this right away, but all to often you just get the run-around. Be prepared and persistant.
Once you know where he is going you can get the number of the prison and the people you will be dealing with.
Keep us appraised and we will do whatever we can to help. You can bet I will do my part if you need me.

David

NAMI is very good , I belong to it myself. I hope they will be able to help. I think they have just passed some new laws
pertaining to meds. in jail and prison for those with mental illness.

You can count on me to help also.
We just recently started a new mental health advocacy group in wilmington nc.
I too agree, with Valerie....NAMI is good also.
peace to everyone...jerry

I just took a look at the NAMI site, albeit, a quick look, it sounds like it will do a lot of good for the "free world" but I saw no mention of anything pertaining to prison. There are a lot of horror stories pertaining to same in the great State of TX (tongue in check!)! Definatly an area of concern everywhere!

NAMI HAS SOME VERY STRONG AND INFLUENTIAL ADVOCATES WHO WILL ADVOCATE FOR RIGHTS OF THE MENTALLY ILL IN ANY LOCATION--INCLUDING PRISONS

Sherri, Thanks so much for posting that site. Just got off the phone with someone who can really use this info. I have a person close to me that is in a crisis unit just this week. PTO is a wonderful sorce of info! Peace. cl

Susan, another thing you might want to consider is getting your son to sign a Power of Attorney allowing you to access all of his medical records. I have had problems with the system telling that I don't have a right to the information and when they say he needed to sign for allowing me access, they said he never signed after he did. So, I was told about this. Just have him sign a General Power of Attorney, send it to the prison he is at and have it put in his file that will go with him everywhere, and keep one with you so that when you do start to become a "thorn in their sides" as David puts it, ;) they won't try to start giving you the run around that you don't have permission for the information.

Just a thought.

If you want a sample, PM me or E-mail me and I will send you the one that I used.

Joy