Dear John,
I hope that this note finds you well. In case you missed it, I wanted to share an op/ed I published last week on New York City’s ongoing failure to develop a comprehensive strategy for responding to mental health crises. As I write in the New York Daily News, every time police are forced to respond to a mental health crisis, the risk of tragedy increases. That’s because people with serious mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed in an encounter with law enforcement than someone without a diagnosed mental health condition.
If New York City – and other communities across the nation -- truly wants to make real reforms, it must take serious mental illness seriously.
As I argue in my op/ed, that means building and supporting inpatient treatment options, ensuring that community mental health investments prioritize the most seriously ill, and embracing models for non-law enforcement responses to mental health.
It is far past time that our leaders took serious mental illness seriously. Your continued support of Treatment Advocacy Center helps us continue to advocate for those who are most vulnerable, and offer solutions for policymakers.
Thank you for all that you do.
