One in 30 American adults experiences serious and persistent mental illness (SMI) involving psychosis, like schizophrenia or severe bipolar disorder.
You probably know more than 30 people, so if this hasn't touched you yet, it will.
If you were experiencing SMI, you'd like to think you'd get treatment, even if:
- You didn't understand you were ill
- You threatened or harmed loved ones during a psychotic episode
- Your family had to call emergency services and have you taken into custody
- There was no single pill to fix it and effective care might require care in a hospital
- You didn't have the money to pay out of pocket for therapy
But there's no straightforward path when it comes to treating serious mental illness. Frequently, those who have SMI must threaten or commit a violent crime before they get access to treatment. Most often, this treatment is provided in emergency rooms and jails because of shortsighted budget cuts that eliminated nearly all treatment facilities over the past several decades. You can help change that and make a difference in someone's life.