RICHMOND, Va. -- U.S. jails are overrun with mentally ill inmates and are ill-equipped to deal with the problem, according to a recent survey of corrections staff. The study found that on average 16 percent of prisoners in the U.S. correctional system are seriously mentally ill.

The study’s authors estimate that on any given day there are as many as 350,000 mentally ill inmates in the U.S. - ten times the number in U.S. hospitals. According to Cook County, Ill. Sheriff Tom Dart, it may be the most thoughtless and inhumane way to treat mental illness.

"You're putting an individual in a four-by-eight concrete room, often with someone else,” Dart said. “And then you may or may not be giving them treatment. And then you're surprised that when the day comes to release them, their issues are greater than they were when they came in."

Only about 40 percent of mentally ill inmates receive medication of any kind, the study found, and slightly fewer receive other forms of psychiatric treatment. Most jail staff also reported that the number of mentally ill prisoners is rising.

The survey, conducted by Public Citizen and the Treatment Advocacy Center, is the first in 20 years.

Three mentally ill Virginians have died recently while in custody. Some officials cite the high cost of care as a reason more is not being done. Others argue that investing in proper treatment would be cheaper in the long run, reducing the burden on police and jails.

John Snook with the Treatment Advocacy Center said that Virginia has seen this debate before.

Referencing an article he wrote for a state newspaper in 2004, Snook said, “that was before Virginia Tech, that was before the Jamycheal Mitchell case. All of these tragedies happened and unfortunately nothing's been done. Virginia has known about this problem for years."

According to the study’s estimates, there are 250,000 mentally ill people who are homeless, many because they can't be kept in care. Jennifer Hoff, whose adult son spent four years in jail - about half of it in solitary confinement - said that, in spite of being totally incapable of caring for himself, her son was put out of the psychiatric institution where he was placed as a child.

"He got his shoelaces handed back to him and a plane ticket home because he aged into adulthood,” Hoff said. “For young people like him, turning eighteen is quite frankly a death sentence."

To read the full report, visit treatmentadvocacycenter.org.



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Boulder and Broomfield County residents can now access mental health services the same way they can access urgent medical care.

Dr. Nadia Haddad, medical director of mental health services with Mental Health Partners, said all too often, people can't get help unless they are already connected with an outpatient provider, and many have months-long waiting lists. She said if people have to wait for care, their situation can get worse, and what might have been a manageable issue can turn into a crisis.

"They are going to the emergency room or going to a psychiatric hospital. And so what we're trying to do is fill that gap so that people can get connected with services when they need it, on a walk-in basis," she said.

Mental Health Partners, a community mental health center serving Boulder and Broomfield counties for 60 years, recently launched UrgentPsych Mental Health and Substance Use Urgent Care. The walk-in program provides immediate, in-person support for urgent mental health and substance use needs for anyone, regardless of their ability to pay, whether or not they are an existing client, or speak English. For more information about the 24-hour facility in northeast Boulder, call 303-443-8500.

Mental Health Partners' new Intensive Family Services program provides in-home therapy for K through 12 youth with disruptive behaviors who are at risk of being placed in foster care or the juvenile justice system. The urgent care facility is also available to people of all ages.

"That's another really challenging part of seeking out services. Care for children and adolescents is often even more challenging to find. There are fewer child psychiatrists out there," she said.

Both new programs were created in part to get people the services they need to avoid hospitalization. But Haddad said when people do reach a point where they need 24/7 monitoring and daily visits from a medical provider, it is essential that people can access hospital-level care.

"The vast majority of people who are dealing with mental health-related issues do not require hospitalization. If we can change people's trajectories earlier, we can prevent mental suffering, and they may not have to go through the hospital," she explained.


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This is National Library Week, honoring the many roles that libraries play in their communities.

In central Texas, a pilot program is using the public library system to expand mental health services in rural areas.

Residents in four counties can get assistance at their local public library through the Libraries for Health program.

Trained mental health peer specialists evaluate clients and refer them to clinics for additional help if it's needed.

The program is funded through the St. David's Foundation, working to advance health equity in Central Texas.

The foundation's Senior Program Officer Abena Asante said the initiative works in tandem with the mental health community.

"It's in no way taking the place of clinical-directed psychologists," said Asante. "It's just one community response in addressing the lack of mental wellness resources in rural communities."

Asante said libraries are trusted and accessible gathering places for people living in rural areas. The libraries tailor programs to meet specific local needs based on feedback from the residents.

Data collected during the 3.5-year pilot program will be used to evaluate its success. The nonprofit Via Hope trains the peer specialists who work in the libraries.

Dr. Sandra Smith, vice president of Via Hope, said the staffers use their own life experiences to help them relate to the clients.

"They have to have had a mental health challenge at some point in their life," said Smith. "We don't ask them any specifics about that, we don't ask diagnoses - it's a self-disclosure."

The Libraries for Health program operates in eight libraries in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays and Williamson counties. If successful, it could be implemented in other parts of the state.





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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported one in 36 children around the U.S. has autism spectrum disorder. Rates are much higher than a decade ago and support organizations hope Wisconsin communities do more to make individuals feel welcome, including adults on the spectrum.

April is Autism Acceptance Month. Not only do advocates want to empower those with a diagnosis to live their fullest possible lives but they also ask those around them to learn more about it.

Katie Hess, executive director of the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, said there are some key practices to keep in mind.

"Really, what we're looking for is for people just to be open-minded and patient, and understanding," Hess explained.

Acceptance does not happen only at home or school. Workplaces also are encouraged to foster more inclusiveness, with nearly 60% of people with autism now employed after receiving vocational services. Their advocates said they have many strengths and asking them about their needs creates a better environment for them.

Symptoms of autism can vary widely for each person on the spectrum, including how they interact with others. Hess noted whether individuals are considered "high need" or "low need," having the public pay more attention to the evolution of this disorder is vital.

"We're learning new information all the time, so certainly reach out to your local chapter, your Autism Society," Hess urged. "Ask questions."

Her chapter will soon begin offering a training program to organizations about how to become more autism friendly, including being able to identify a person on the autism spectrum and how to best offer ways to help if they disclose their diagnosis.


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