Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) introduced legislation today that would make significant changes in our nation’s mental health care system.

Spurred by the mass killings in Newtown, Murphy’s proposed bill,  The Mental Health Reform Act, would slow the current push in the mental health community toward self-determination at any and all costs toward a more paternalistic view.

For advocates such at Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, who played a key role behind the scenes in helping shape the legislation, passage would be a major victory. For the Bazelon Center For Mental Health Law and other consumer activists that have guided much of the government’s recent mental health thinking, it would be a set back.

Murphy, who is the only psychologist serving in Congress and has an inside working knowledge of our mental health care system’s successes and faults,  is proposing changes  based on testimony at several hearings that the Energy Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held during this year.  His bill targets 12 areas for major reform. Each is important and several are controversial.

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I am in the midst of a health crisis with my 94 year old mother and not in my office, but wanted to post this email from a reader. It is one of several that I have received this morning.

Dean Brooks at museum opening. Nurse Ratched (Actress Louise Fletcher in white behind him.)

A light snow was falling and motorists unfamiliar with slick conditions were moving slower than usual as I headed from Portland, Oregon, on Friday to nearby Salem to meet with Dr. Dean Brooks’s three daughters.

My friend, Dr. Brooks, died in July at age 96, after spending much of his life advocating for persons with mental disorders. He was best known for being the superintendent at the Oregon State Hospital when the movie, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, was filmed there. Dean played himself in that classic film.

I was meeting with Dennie Brooks, Ulista Jean Brooks, and India Brooks Civey to tour a new museum that opened at the state hospital, in large part because of their efforts. More about the museum in a moment. First, I want to mention what I heard broadcast on the local National Public Radio affiliate as I was driving.

Several local reporters were discussing news events and because snowfall is unusual in Portland, one mentioned that the city only had 1,000 emergency shelter beds for the estimated 2,500 homeless persons living on its streets. She then mentioned that many homeless individuals were refusing to go into shelters despite the cold.

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FROM MY FILES FRIDAY:  Two years ago, I published a blog about Glenn Koons, a well-known peer specialist and advocate in Pennsylvania who had died after vanishing for several days. Authorities later said there was no foul play and his death was accidental. As a tribute, the Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania set up a scholarship in his name.  Unfortunately, no one was ever able to determine why Glenn vanished before he died.  Some speculated that he had become depressed because of a recent relapse. He had been held up as a recovery model and possibly thought he had failed. I am not certain what happened in his case, but no one should ever feel badly about having a relapse. It can happen. I am reprinting this blog to help keep Glenn’s memory alive. He was an inspiration to others. His passing also is a reminder that we need to be vigilant when it comes to providing services and support to individuals with mental disorders, including those who are in recovery.  

Death of an Advocate   Sept. 19 2011

I first met Glenn Koons when I was invited to speak at a luncheon in Montgomery County, Pa., being hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It was one of the first speeches that I delivered after publication of my book and before my talk, NAMI Board Member Carol Caruso introduced me to Glenn. I was immediately struck by his easy-going manner. Carol bragged that Glenn was one of the first NAMI trained  Peer-to-Peer mentors in the entire nation. Glenn and I spoke for several minutes and I was impressed by his thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.

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I tweeted this morning that NAMI would announce its new Executive Director at noon, which is what it did. Here’s the official release.

NAMI Names Mary Giliberti as New Executive Director

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Giliberti as the new Executive Director of the national organization.

Giliberti has served as a Section Chief in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services since 2008. She previously served for three years as NAMI’s Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for federal and state issues.

She also has served as Disability Counsel for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and senior attorney at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. She is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School. After graduation from law school, she clerked for Judge Phyllis Kravitch on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

“Mary has had a long and distinguished career advocating for individuals and families living with mental illness,” said NAMI National Board President Keris Jän Myrick. “She was selected after an extensive search informed by many NAMI grassroots leaders and others.

“We are excited by the vision, energy and collaborative style she will bring to NAMI’s mission as we begin a new chapter in its 35-year history.” While at NAMI previously, Giliberti was a co-author of NAMI’s Grading the States  reports in 2006 and 2009.

“NAMI is a powerful agent for change in the mental health care system. Our greatest resource is our people,” Giliberti said.

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Barriers to Care for Those with Serious Mental Illness

By Timothy Clement    [email protected]

In June, the organization I work for, The Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation, hosted a conference in Philadelphia called Opening Closed Doors. Prominent thought leaders in mental health and advocates for family members of those living with mental illness assembled for two days to address the obstacles that interfere with positive outcomes for those with serious mental illness (SMI). Two of the largest barriers identified were well-intentioned privacy laws that sometimes prevent families from participating in the recovery process and involuntary commitment laws that require the presence of imminent danger to self or others.In addition to these challenges, we at the Scattergood Foundation recognize that there are other, societal impediments that hinder wellness for those with SMI: stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.

The project on which I work seeks to remedy the stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination encountered by people with mental illness. Endorsement of stereotypes leads to prejudicial attitudes, which in turn can lead to discriminatory behaviors. This is the process of stigmatization.

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