My son, who has recently been incarcerated in a federal penitentiary, has severe bipolar disorder. Today we received a letter from him stating that he has been given the wrong medication, the wrong dosage or, when he complained, no medication at all.

My son has been taking lithium since shortly after his arrest a year ago. It has been a miracle drug for him. His thinking and communication has become so lucid. His letter today was paranoid, much like the letters we used to receive prior to his taking lithium.

Is there any recourse that will not further jeopardize him? His mental instability has already caused him to have an altercation with another inmate. I am afraid for him.

If anyone has information that might help us to help him please let me know.

Thanks

Nate's Mom,

I truly wish I had some answers for you. I have been on lithium since 1981 and it is a miracle drug. I am so thankful to God that it works for me. I know the concerns you have for your son are real cause I know what it is like not to have the lithium. You will be in my prayers. God Bless

Have you tried to talk to the warden or the medical unit? Someone there should listen. It may mean finding the person that will though...Good luck!

Deb

The prison system can be extremely cruel to someone who has mental health issues. Many psychiatrists abhore how some people with a mental illness are treated in that system. Of course, judging from the way the corrections system functions, they really aren't into treatment as much as they are into punishment. Rather then placing someone in a room for a couple hours to think about their behavior, the prison would rather just lock them up in the hole for several months with no human contact.

You could try to send him a letter encouraging him to hang in there, and start seeking ways to start a grevience procedure against that prison. Denying him the help that he's entitled to could very well be considered as cruel an unusual punishment. Also, consult with Human Services in your area for any advice that they could offer. They may know of some resources that could help. At least it's worth a try.

I've heard of families commiting their relatives to treatment in order to get them out of the prison system, but I don't know about the success rate. I do know that if he were in a hospital rather then in a prison, he would have visitation rights, rights to a telephone and entertainment, would be able to wear civilian cloths, and would most likely benefit from programs that would help him function better. Also, the mental health profession would never place a patient under their care under excessive and un-necessary restraints.

I wish you the best of luck, and please let us know when you think of something that works. It's really a human rights issue.

MrCoffee

Start with the shrink, every prison has one. I am very impressed at the mental help my friend gives the inmates, he really cares! From what he tells me inmates have access 24/7. I'm in Califorina. Don't give up till you get help. Don't raise your voice no matter how frustrated you get. Voice influctuation is VERY important when dealing with these guys.

Good luck!!

Alice in Wonderland

Thanks for the input and the encouragement. There is no psychiatrist or psychologist on staff at the federal prison in Florence CO. In one of his first letters my son said that he could put in a request to have a teleconference appointment with a psychiatrist at another federal prison. I shall encourage him to try that. His meds should be monitored.
I have a call in to his federal public defender and my daughter has a call in to our congressman's office. With any luck, even though luck seems to be in short supply, we will be able to reach someone who can do something about this.
I really am afraid though of bringing unwanted, negative attention on my son and making his life even harder in prison. It is hard to know what is the best thing to do.

Nate's mom....
I understand your concerns about not wanting to cause problems for your son.... but you really have to balance the possible risks of speaking up with the risks of NOT speaking up and your son not getting his medication.....
I am a professional counselor and have worked professionally with inmates with mental health problems in a state prison and have seen firsthand (and since experienced first-hand through my relationship with JD who has issues with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder) the inadequacy in mental health services within prisons.......
In MY opinion, I would advocate as hard as you can to ensure he is given the treatment he needs.... because in the long run, if he is NOT stabilized on meds, he will end up having problems too........
Go to the warden, his counselor, WHOEVER you can find some contact information for and keep speaking up until he is getting the treatment he needs!!

I also too understand Nate's MoM .My brother is in a californial prison . He too is also on meds and I dont know if he should be at all on meds . I understand Nate's Mom when you say you dont for sure if looking into your sons well being will hinder is situation or make it better.I truly understand but,our love ones are worth fighting for.

Write to the Warden. Check into Prisoner Advocacy Groups. Find out the grievance procedure and use it! He has a valid grievance. Another good source of support and advocacy is the prison Chaplin. It doesn't matter if he's religious or not the Chaplin will help. Keep fighting. He has the right to adequate medical care and he is not receiving it. The system has a rsponsibility to provide it.

Oh I forgot ... does the federal prison system have a Prisoner Ombudsmen? I know that some state prison systems do and that all state mental health facilities do.

Nate's mom, I would suggest you call the prison and ask to speak to the mental health caseworker responsible for your son. Be clear and concise, and leave emotion out of the conversation...and insist that your son be given his proper meds. If you get nowhere with that approach, I would call the warden himself, and let him know you will not be hushed or placated.

So many times, I think issues such as this tend to get swept under the carpet, because the prison staff assume no one on the outside will have the grit to insist on what is right for their loved one inside.

Keep us posted!

Susan in Providence

I understand what you are going through my fiance has cancer and they are always messing up his medication. In fact since he is still in County Jail and they don't know how long he will be there, they are not treating his cancer b/c it is too exspensive. Maybe you can talk to your son's lawyer and he might be able to have something done in there. If not just keep calilng them and hounding them about it. Stay strong!!