A most heinous act happened in Fullerton, CA in July. A homeless man with schizophrenia was ruthlessly beaten to death by 6 Fullerton police officers. The officers, who said they were responding to suspicion of stolen items from a car, are claimed to have hogtied Thomas, beat him with the butt of a tazer until blood squirted up on their arms, and drop-knee kick him, crushing his neck. I won’t post the picture here, it’s pretty graffic. You’re welcome to check it out on Fullerton’s Future. Actually, just read the whole blog. It’s obviously slanted with a “distrust political authority” slant, but the facts are dead on about the beating: the officers have been placed on administrative (read: paid) leave, but it took 3 weeks before the public outcry lead this investigation to continue. I won’t go into all the details, but it sounds too hard to deny there has been an intense effort on behalf of Fullerton Police Department to cover up this crime. Without the impassioned, outraged cries of the public, it’s uncertain if this would have ever been responded to in a human manner. To quote Kelly’s father, all that may have been left of his son would be “the blood in the gutters.”

I post about this because I am saddened on so many levels. First, it’s inexcusable for police– who “serve and protect”– to have enough power to beat any suspect senseless. They are not the executors or punishment. Kelly, regardless of his innocence or guilt, deserved a proper trial. Even hardened, violent criminals deserve a trial. Even these 6 officers who beat Thomas deserve a trial. Regardless, the punishment for stealing from cars is not DEATH.

Yet it’s undeniable that there is punishment for being homeless, or having a mental illness. Because, let’s face it, that was probably the true crime here. Kelly Thomas was homeless, potentially smelly from having been out in the elements, maybe exhibiting symptoms without having had his medications… and apparently the crime was worthy of death to those officers. How despicable.

Obviously, this crime outrages me. I can’t even write straight about it.

But I write today to ask you to do something.

No matter where in the world you are… Fullerton, Long Beach, San Fransciso, New York, London… you can make it known this is unacceptable.

1. You can “like” the Justice for Kelly Thomas page on Facebook to show your support of justice.

2. If you’re in the area, you can attend the protests outside the Fullerton Police Department every Saturday at 9AM until action is taken against those responsible.

3. You can do your part to refute stigma as you see it around you.

Thank you. I trust you to see justice comes forth from this tragic death. Justice for Kelly Thomas, justice for others in his company, justice for those in your community. Thank you, thank you.

But, as the article mentions, I recognize our habitual word choices often reflect the current state of our culture. Maybe we speak in phrases that generalize and stereotype because it’s not yet considered a tragedy that those generalizations and stereotypes exist.

It’s not okay to generalize against other races. It’s not okay to stereotype against other orientations. Nor should we allow ourselves to participate in activities that stigmatize and alienate persons with disabilities.

Just another topic to remain PC on

As I just finished relaying to my friend who shared this video with me, what the f? This is exactly what pisses me off about cops. This video demonstrates that they no longer exist for the protection of the law, but they exist for the sake of the law. By that, I mean they aren’t functioning for the betterment, safety, and well-being of society; they are acting out of a need to keep things normalized. The response to this man wielding a knife while in his wheelchair did not fit the crime.

It’s even better that this happened outside of a MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY! Cops need to have better training SPECIFICALLY in working with people with mental health issues. Did this guy actually pose a threat to these officers? Maybe, but probably not. Did the cops recognize this man was less of a threat to others than to himself? No. But if they had, they would have seen that shooting this man was exacerbating the problem, not resolving it.

I hate to make mass generalizations, but this is what I’ve been seeing for years now. Cops need to be more confident in their ability to talk down potentially violent members WITHOUT having to use needless brute force which will just further agitate the person. Do they go through non-violent crisis intervention training to understand how to effectively address these NON-THREATENING situations? Because to me, this just looks like the man who fired his gun was acting out of an adrenaline surge. Watch the video… do you disagree?

What I love about the documentary is the life that is captured– in the eyes and voices of those telling their stories… in the snapshots of those dancing and singing in the streets… even depicted in the artwork that adorns the walls of missions and churches. Those who call Skid Row their home take ownership of it. Their home appears different from yours and mine… but it is something many take pride in. Viewers are walked through the people-filled streets as a homeowner would walk guests on a tour through a house. I felt I had been taken in by the wonderful individuals who shared their stories and still feel a deep connection to each person who shared. I only wish I could share with them my joy and tears from my journey to their home.

Definitely check it out if you can.

Cheryl is an older woman who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. She hears persecutory voices harassing her… constantly, as far as I can tell. She is often curt, obstinate, and argumentative– which I can very easily attribute to the fact she almost certainly is always hearing negative voices. I will admit, Cheryl’s argumentative nature has gotten the best of me more than once.

Today was one of those days. I ran into Cheryl and she already flying off the handle– screaming and swearing and provoking arguments with anyone who passed by. I walked her outside the building and tried my best to be patient while she got all her screaming out. I’m no mental health professional, but sometimes I really do believe it feels a little better to blow off steam. So I allowed her that room– begrudgingly. I resented the time I stood there with Cheryl, waiting for her to finish yelling before I intervened. Still, she quieted before long, we had a brief discussion on stress tolerance, and then carried on with our task for the day.

I wont bore you guys with the details of our outing, but while we in line at a store, I found myself zoning out. Everything else had just become so much more alluring to me than devoting my full attention to this woman. Each time I tried to bring my attention back to her, I found my eyes attracted to the cashier mechanically scanning items… the bright, sunny day outside… the hangnail on my left thumb…

At one point I found my attention directed at a balloon someone was holding in the line over. It was a brightly-lettered happy birthday balloon with curling ribbon cascading from it’s knot. I forced my attention back to Cheryl and found myself wondering when her birthday was. If I remembered correctly, it had passed recently without my having so much as wished her a happy day. Yikes.

The memory of her previous birthday then flashed into my mind. She had come into the office, cheerful for a change because it was her birthday… but again, no one had remembered. She kept inviting people to join her in running to the store for grab milk so she could have a special birthday lunch. Later that day, I saw her in the deli– alone– sitting behind a half-pint carton of milk and downing spoonfuls of Frosted Flakes. And that had been her birthday celebration.

It struck me anew the lonely life this woman must lead. Not only does she fear everyone she is around because of the voices she hears… but her defensive actions prevent her from making friends. She must be in her late 50s, yet she has no significant other or children, few if any friends, and an estranged family who doesn’t know how to support her any longer. This woman’s mental illness is truly keeping her in isolation, obliterating her chances of having a positive social support network.

Loneliness: The forgotten side effect of mental illness. Who wants to be without community, love, and support?

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Accused of forging his identity and living in the United States illegally, Mark Lyttle was driven across the Texas border and dumped in Mexico. The North Carolina native, who didn’t even speak Spanish, tried repeatedly to prove his citizenship… yet no one followed up on his story. Having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a learning disability, it is likely his attempts to advocate for himself were brushed off and misunderstood by the courts and officials who “processed” him.

While facing deportation is a difficult and lengthy process, those with mental illnesses facing the system have an increased amount of barriers. Psychosis, delusions, low frustration tolerance, and other mental health symptoms can easily stand in the way of a person appropriately (or even clearly) expressing his or her case.

The Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union are urging authorities to provide needed services to those detained persons with mental illnesses– services that address the lack of appointed counsel, inflexible detention policies, inadequately coordinated services, and insufficient guidance for judges on handling people with mental disabilities.

At least 15% of the 392,000 cases processed by the US Immigration Courts involved persons with various mental illnesses. Check out this article (which inspired this blog post) that highlights the problems that have thus-far been encountered.

This article got me thinking about the multiple institutions that aren’t adequately prepared to provide services to persons with mental illnesses. One of my clients right now is trying to appeal a loan on her record that went to collections– she claims she has no idea why she is being billed for this loan. Based off my interactions with her, I don’t doubt she was conned into applying for a loan and then out of her money. It’s happened before. But her mental illness makes it so difficult for her to coherently string two phrases together, let alone plead her case to any sort of credit official. I wouldn’t be surprised she she ends up lost in the system with a mounting debt that she never can clear.

These are just two systems that are difficult to navigate. What about the systems that you and I encounter daily? Will many managers be willing to rent to potential tenants who, out of their high anxiety, continuously call and plead for apartments? Will employers jump at the opportunity to hire someone who can’t manage to keep a job due to his bouts of depression which confine him to home for weeks at a time? Will any teachers stand for a student experiencing active psychosis in the classroom? How, then, are we to accommodate persons who need an extra hand in finding housing, employment, and education– 3 factors which undeniably contribute to one’s quality of life?

…Perhaps an appropriate question for the week we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act?

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I’ve rarely been so giddy to see an episode of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart* (of which I am an avid fan). The show recently featured Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady, who wrote a book titled Within Our Reach. In the book, Carter explores lessons learned during her 39 years of devotion in the mental health field: recovery is possible for all with mental illnesses and all deserve the opportunity to move forward from illness to lead fulfilling lives.

What I found most encouraging about this was Carter’s passion to promote awareness about mental illnesses. It’s more common than you’d expect– a good 1 in 4 Americans suffer from mental illness, according to Carter.

I prefer to think of mental health as a spectrum (just like she said!) There’s mental wellness and mental illness, and at various times ALL PEOPLE move up and down and around the spectrum. There are times when depressive symptoms are more evident. There are times when anxiety runs rampant. There are times when no symptoms are visible. There are times when psychosis occurs.

Mental health is really much more like physical health, in that matter. We all experience some form of physical wellness, and physical illness. We aren’t afraid to treat our symptoms when we are physically ill– why should we fear to treat our symptoms when we are mentally so?

*[I was going to find a clip of just the interview, but then I decided just to include the entire episode because, let's face it, Jon Stewart is awesome. But if you just want to see the interview, it starts at 13:45.]

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I posted a few days ago about John McGraham– a homeless man, maliciously burned alive in a hate crime. I lamented over how such hatred can form against people groups and noted socioeconomic groups were hardly different from race and ethnic groups.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who feels this way.

A recent CBS article reports growing awareness and attention to the safety concerns of the homeless. From vandalism and mischief to violence, harassment, and rape, the homeless live in constant fear of their safety. Advocates are pressing to classify attacks such as the one against McGraham as hate crimes. While violent offenders could face tougher prison sentences, the homeless (or their advocates) could prosecute non-violent crimes and harrassment as civil rights violations.

The thing that encouraged me about this article was not just the fact that these crimes would be recognized as crimes against mankind. What’s more, LA county took initiative to reduce the growing stigma against the homeless before the hatred becomes a norm. For example, schools could benefit from bringing the past [and present] homeless into classrooms to educate on the causes of homelessness. I could imagine how direct, open conversation with a tangible and visible human being could reduce the mystery and fear surrounding homelessness.

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Extra blogs this week since I’m on vacation… yet, funny I took this week off when I KNEW how resourceful the RAM clinic would be for my members.

The Remote Area Medical clinic plans to serve over 6000 people during the 5 days they will be in LA. The clinic is comprised of health care professionals who have volunteered their time and assistance to provide free health care for the week. Assistance ranges from dental check-ups (including dentures and small dental surgeries), women’s health care (ie. mammograms and pap smears), vision (exam AND prescription frames)… even chiropractic and acupuncture! They even assist with making connections with local medical providers for follow-up care.

What a wonderful resource, and necessary too: the clinic has only been open two days, and already 2,260 have been seen and all 6,300 admission bracelets have been distributed.

The LA Times reports on the event, plus includes stories of those who were turned away.

Check the RAM National site to see where else this awesome resource will be provided. It looks like Oklahoma City and Chicago are next on the list.

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The LA Times just reported on a man sentenced to life in prison without parole for setting a homeless man on fire. The attacker Ben Martin was fired for previously kicking a homeless man, John McGraham, outside the barber shop he worked at. But apparently Martin didn’t learn his lesson that violence doesn’t pay– after his dismissal, he returned to find McGraham, douse him in gasoline, and light him on fire with a road flare, burning him alive.

Another tragic story of the hatred exhibited towards the homeless.

I often wonder what causes this kind of animosity. I know people who are uncomfortable interacting with the homeless. I know people that are upset by crime related to homelessness. But I simply don’t understand why the very existence of a homeless person could fuel such a violent and disturbed act.

Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. We’ve seen it all throughout history– between religious groups, racial groups… socioeconomic groups are no different. It just makes me really sad.

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Glenn also summarizes the mission of many psychosocial rehab mental health programs: “The challenge is to keep people with mental illness living full and productive and creative lives, and that is totally possible.”

Here is also the PSA the two produced:

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A study of seven cities to host the Olympics shows that the large-scale event “lead to rising housing costs, resulting in forced evictions, displacement and criminalization of homelessness.”

After the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, 720,000 people were evicted from their homes. Then, the homeless were corralled outside the city. In Beijing, at least 6000 families were relocated, although additional research has lead human rights activists to believe that the number is a bit off. In reality, it’s probably closer to 1.5 million people.

One could assume these numbers are tragic, but not unsurprising. But in the west… we don’t believe in marginalizing city residents! We are more focused on human rights and equality, and would never stand for such an injustice!! (don’t worry, you’ll sense the sarcasm in a moment)

Then in Barcelona, why were 600 families evicted during the preparations of the event? And why, when rent rates increased 139 to 149%, were the remaining low-income residents forced outside the city?

I know what you’re thinking– that’s not America. Surely, we know better in the land of the free.

Not really. For the 1996 Games, 30,000 Atlantans were displaced and 2,000 public housing units were demolished. Legislation was introduced to criminalize homelessness.

Maybe the last ditch hope is that we can learn from history. But unfortunately, at least to date, we have not. Even now, preparations for the 2012 London Olympics has made 1000 families at risk of relocation. And in Vancouver, low-income housing is disappearing left and right to make room for tourist accommodations. A recent article in the LA Times discusses the increased number of homeless in the city already.

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You can read it here: Best Practices

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This one is interesting to note the number of people dying alone in their apartments amongst their things. Why is this? Is this because of the health code violations that make living in a home of “stuff” unsafe? Or are family and friends simply too overwhelmed to follow up on the safety of their loved ones who hoard? It seems to me that family and close friends will be an integral part of the recovery process– it is their love and encouragement that will give the personal motivation to reconcile family ties and pull lives, literally, in order.

Interesting statistic: Nearly 2 million people in the US are estimated to suffer from compulisve hoarding.

Please note: Although the article says compulsive hoarding is a subset of obsessive compulsive disorder, please be advised the condition has recently been conjectured as having closer ties to other mental health disorders. I personally have seen a closer connection between schizophrenia, borderline personality disorders, and other anxiety disorders, but have yet to meet a person either diagnosed with or that i would describe as suffering from OCD. I’m sure they’re out there, but that has not been my experience yet.

You can read the article here: Compusive Hoarders Suddenly In Spotlight

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