Let’s begin the new year by celebrating success stories and I can’t think of a better model for other communities to follow when it comes to stopping the criminalization of persons with mental illnesses than what I have personally observed in Bexar County, Texas, home of San Antonio.

Thanks largely to the leadership of Leon Evans, the CEO and President of the Center for Health Care Services, Bexar County has become an example of what can happen when a community joins together to improve its mental health services.

* The Bexas County jail — once so overcrowded that the county was considering building a new one — now has a surplus of roughly one thousand empty beds!

*Bexar County saved an estimated $9 million annually in jail costs and inappropriate emergency room admissions — close to $50 million alone in savings to the community since 2008.

How did Bexar County achieve these successes? Duh!  By focusing on diverting non-violent individuals with serious mental illnesses from incarceration into treatment and crisis services outside the criminal justice system.

And that is something every community and state should be doing!

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Actress Jodie Whittaker protrays my friend, Sandy Grimes, who helped catch Ames

I’ve received a number of emails and calls this week about whether the ABC mini-series entitled The Assets is based on my book about CIA spy Aldrich Ames. The eight part television show that begins tonight is NOT based on my book, Confessions of a Spy: The True Story of Aldrich Ames. But because I am the only journalist who was able to interview Ames without the government’s knowledge and censorship (see Promises to Traitors Matter) it is a logical question.

The Assets is based on the book, Circle of Treason: A CIA Account of Tratior Aldrich Ames and the Men That He Betrayed, written by Sandy Grimes and Jean Vertefeuille, two of the CIA employes who helped catch Ames.

Sandy is a good friend and so was Jean, who passed away last January. Both cooperated with me when I wrote my book and I encouraged them to write their own after mine was published. I gave their book a plug because I thought it was a terrific read that added important information about the CIA’s relationship with the Russians who were executed because of Ames’ treachery. (See  Fox Files To Show Interview About CIA Spy Aldrich Ames)  Ironically, it was Jean’s obituary that first got the attention of TV producers that led to The Assets. They wisely hired Sandy as a consultant.

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Once again, Patti has done a fabulous job decorating our house both inside and out to celebrate the excitement and  joy of the season. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each and everyone of you. Be well, have hope, help others and pause for a moment to remember those among us who are homeless, alone, estranged from others or are incarcerated because of a mental illness.Click to continue…

Jean P. Earley

April 1919 to December 2013

The best mom a son could have.

“Who ran to help me when I fell, And would some pretty story tell, Or kiss the place to make it well? My mother”
-Ann Taylor

The new director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness doesn’t take command of our nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization until January 2nd, but Mary Giliberti already is being grilled by long-time NAMI activist Dr. E. Fuller Torrey.

Torrey, who has been critical of NAMI lately, has fired off a letter demanding the new director publicly state her views about the closing of state hospitals. Torrey and his followers are suspicious of Giliberti because she once worked for the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, a driving force behind “deinstitutionalization.”  Bazelon also strongly opposes the passage of Assistant Outpatient Treatment laws, which Torrey endorses.

I warned readers earlier this year of a split that was forming between NAMI members.  NAMI was formed by parents who were frustrated with the mental health system, but in recent years more and more consumers have joined its ranks and some of them are opposed to issues that NAMI has traditional supported.

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My son, Kevin (known by his middle name Mike in my book) has written a rap song and made a video to promote an upcoming local show that will feature individuals with mental illnesses and their families speaking about stigma and recovery.

I recently wrote that Jennifer Killi Marshall was using Kickstarter to finance the May 18th production in Arlington, Virginia, of  This Is My Brave.   The name reflects the moment when individuals decide they will speak openly about their illnesses without shame or fear. (You can still contribute at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thisismybrave/this-is-my-brave-opening-up-about-mental-illness)

Going public takes courage, says Ms. Marshall, who has written a blog about her life since she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She has been hospitalized four times in the past five years.

In addition to this song, Kevin writes and performs rap music on other topics. (WARNING: A shameless plug by his father: I think his albums are amazing and worth every penny and I’m not a fan of rap! You can read more about him and his work at www.getthatworm.com)

I also want to share some sad news with those of you who know me personally or who have supported my advocacy and writings.  My 94 year old mother, Jean, went from being fine two weeks ago, to becoming bedridden and unresponsive. She is under hospice care in our home, having been diagnosed with bone cancer. Because of this, I have not been able to follow up on several mental health issues that I wish to explore more fully, such as NAMI’s selection of a new executive director and Rep. Murphy’s bill. I hope to do this in future blogs and appreciate your patience and kind thoughts.

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