D. J. Jaffe’s Ted Talk: Critic Of Mental Health Providers Earns Their Applause In Convention Speech

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(6-15-18) D. J. Jaffe’s Ted Talk at the recent National Council For Behavioral Health Conference in Washington D.C. was one of the event’s most anticipated and discussed presentations.

Jaffe argues that the “mental health” industry is failing individuals, who are seriously mentally ill, by pushing programs about “mental wellness” and constantly denying that individuals with “untreated serious mental illnesses” are more dangerous than the general public. He says they are. His speech included some of the ideas he shared in in his book:  Insane Consequences: How the Mental Health Industry Fails the Mentally Ill .

Given that he was speaking at a convention of community mental health providers, whom he criticizes, the founder of Mental Illness Policy Org.  was nonetheless interrupted several times by applause.

Story Two: Another tidbit that involves D. J. Jaffe.

RADIO REPORTER SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT PATIENT DUMPING BY HOSPITALS & “GREYHOUND THERAPY.”

Freelance radio reporter Jessie Wright-Mendoza is preparing a national story about patient dumping by hospitals or mental health centers. She asked if I would help her find caregivers, family members or persons with mental illnesses who have experienced patient dumping and/or so-called  Greyhound Therapy.   Jessie Wright-Mendoza can be contacted at:  jessiewrightmendoza@gmail.com.
Ironically, I received this email from D. J. Jaffe this same week about an encounter he had in Manhattan with a psychotic woman in a hospital gown.

I was walking on 23rd Street when I heard (a woman) screaming at the top of her lungs from in back of me. I kept walking and then decided to look. She was still wearing her hospital gown. I remembered the mentally ill woman in Baltimore who was kicked out in freezing weather in her robe, and the kindness of a stranger to her, so I decided to approach her to see if I could help. I got her to calm down.
She was able to converse, which means she didn’t meet any commitment standard, so calling police would likely not be productive. She didn’t want any help and had discharged self from hospital so an outreach team wouldn’t be able to help either. I turned camera off and talked to her, but there was nothing I could do. She is still wandering 23rd in her hospital attire. 
He included a camera held video of the woman but for privacy reasons, I decided not to post it. It is very similar to the Baltimore video that I am reposting below. There was a difference.
The woman in Jaffe’s video was walking on a sidewalk in broad daylight with literally dozens of New Yorkers hurrying by her as if there was nothing odd about a psychotic woman in a hospital gown  screaming as she made her way down the street. Thank you D. J. Jaffe for at least stopping to speak to her.

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About the author:

Pete Earley is the bestselling author of such books as The Hot House and Crazy. When he is not spending time with his family, he tours the globe advocating for mental health reform.

Learn more about Pete.