The ins and outs of mental health treatment advocacy are something that most people do not have the time to follow closely. But, for the past twelve months, when it comes to helping get much needed psychiatric treatment for those desperately in need, exciting things have been happening in the nation’s heartland.
From my perspective, the stars aligned so perfectly in Kansas that it seemed as though the heavens had spelled out assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) against the night sky. I just wanted to provide a quick update on that phenomenon.
Momentum began building last spring, when leaders from Wyandotte and Douglas Counties attended a training sponsored by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration and my organization, the Treatment Advocacy Center. Participants became convinced they could do more in their state to help those caught in the revolving door.
It was about this same time that I reached out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Kansas to test the waters to see if there was interest in working together to advance AOT in the state. Their board responded with a resounding “Yes!”
I also reached out to the Sheriffs and Police Chief’s associations and received the same enthusiastic support. Soon other organizations joined the band, and we formed a coalition to determine the best way to proceed. Our group quickly came to consensus about the need to survey judges and prosecutors to learn what they wanted. Based on the responses we received, we agreed that a one-day AOT symposium -- similar to the previous training -- was the next best step.
Symposiums cost money, however, and ours would not have been possible but for a generous donation from a Kansas-based foundation, which prefers to remain anonymous.
We received enough money to host a free event for 100 people and mailed invitations to county leaders around the state inviting them to send teams to learn more about effectively meeting the needs of individuals with serious mental illness who cannot recognize their need for treatment.
Ten teams, with an average of ten members each, registered to attend, and on May 18th -- a beautiful, sunny day in Topeka – we held the first Kansas AOT Symposium at the Capital Plaza Hotel and Convention Center.
Former Bexar County, Texas Judge Oscar Kazen and my Treatment Advocacy Center colleague, policy director Brian Stettin, joined us. During the morning portion of the event, the two held rapt attention of the audience.
In the afternoon, Probate Court Judge Kate Lynch and her team from Wyandotte County shared how their AOT program is vastly improving lives and saving money in their community.
As the pictures show, we had a packed house. Participants remained engaged in the discussion throughout the day and by the end of the training had strengthened their advocacy networks and opened new lines of communication with each other. Seven of the ten teams committed to taking the next step toward implementation!
It was an inspiring event – and one that leaves me hopeful for a future with fewer barriers to treatment for people with serious mental illness.
by Betsy Johnson
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