Implementation of Assisted Outpatient Treatment
AOT (Kendra's Law in NY, Laura's Law in CA, etc.) has provided consumers with a less restrictive alternative to inpatient commitment and incarceration. Research shows 81% of consumers in AOT say it helped them get well and stay well. Independent research shows it helps the mentally ill by reducing homelessness (74%); suicide attempts (55%); and substance abuse (48%); Keeps the public safer by reducing physical harm to others (47%) and property destruction (43%) and saves money by reducing hospitalization (77%); arrests (83%); and incarceration (87%). It also has a positive effect on the treatment system, saves money, and delivers care to the most severely ill whom voluntary treatments and peer support have not worked for.
Mental Illness Advocate
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181 comments
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Eric Revere
commented
Allowing psychotic individuals with no insight into their mental illnesses to roam our streets is immoral. Our government has a moral obligation to help these individuals. AOT is another tool to provide them with rights-protected help to aid in their recoveries.
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Helen M. Thomson
commented
No amount of peer support or recovery programs will help a severely mentally illl person who is unable by his/her illness to access that care. AOT hads proven a life saver and a cost saver where it has been implemented. Let's get our mentally ill people out of the jails and prisons where they are now getting theimental health care! Dorothy *** did that in the 1800's!
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Anonymous
commented
AOT is NOT applicable for every person with mental illness. Those who do not recognize their illness (anosognosia) are the primary beneficiaries. Recognizing decompensation as early as possible (especially if one knows past patterns) and securing services (involuntary, if necessary) is the most helpful approach. Untreated illness simply strengthens stigma in our society. Gerry
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june conway beeby
commented
Without this legal option to save the lives of people whose brains prevent them from making informed decisions, there would be many more tragedies caused by UNTREATED serious mental illnesses (SMI) like schizophrenia,manic depression and other chronic psychoses.
I can only assume that those who want to prohibit this hope for SMI, with these biological brain diseases, do not understand the cruel reality of their dysfunctioning brains which cause them to do unbelievable things that they never would even think of doing if they were not seriously mentally ill.
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Dave Lushbaugh
commented
AOT appropriately applied improves the quality of life for all people affected by MI by reducing stigma and discrimination by reducing the public's fear of violence.
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Anonymous
commented
MHSA funding in CA. Lauras Law and Kendras Law. Stigma reduction. Understanding Anosognosia. Overall general funding for Mental Health until recent years. Programs which instill a greater understanding of Mental Illness and what is not Mental Illness.
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Steve Gray
commented
It's critically important for some with an illness that AOT be available as an option. Far too many are too ill to make informed choices. AOT should be there when needed!
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Mary Tabor
commented
My daughter benefited from AOT in the state of Indiana several years ago. She is now in New Mexico and would not be in her present state of recovery without having had that very valuable service out of state. Mary Tabor
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Anonymous
commented
Helping people who are ill, just like the Heart, Lung or any other organ. It should be the number one concern. In order to take someone off of Life support you need to be "brain dead". Is it no wonder why the brain is such a gift to be preserved and help if it has a desease?
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Iris Kapil
commented
More attention should be given to physical health -- to the side effects of the meds -- weight gain, metabolic syndrome, dry mouth, etc.. Care should be for diabetes, dental health, cholesterol, etc. The psychiatric and primary health care should be integrated into a total health care package for the person.
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GM
commented
It is very important that society accept their responsibility for those with serious mental illness.
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Anonymous
commented
I m 100% behind it
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Eva Feeley
commented
AOT has removed some of the feeling of helplessness of the families of the mentally ill.
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constance kosuda
commented
best thing in the world - cost-effective, big savings to States that implement this ; close the prisons / put the money into AOT.
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Anonymous
commented
We know AOT saves lives and improves treatment outcomes.
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Anonymous
commented
My son was hospitalized (schizo-affective disorder) and committed to a state hospital after he stopped his medications. He now has AOT, a public guardian, and lives independently.
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Why Doesn't SAMHSA Care?
commented
Wonderful. But SAMHSA historically does not support programs focused on serious mental illness, so doubt they will support this
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joy torres
commented
Locked inside wanting to hide
Sitting is this cell and my head filled with messages from **** all because were forced too..
My thoughts race as I wonder through the day. Why do they treat me this way? They say they are helping yet all there doing is making me a criminal and not treating me civil. I am sick and need help yet all I get is this. Come in and take a seat, let’s see what is the charge does it have influence?
I know that I am here for being sick yet now it’s committing a crime, so let’s do some time. All alone so far in my head to know what’s home. I’ve got some things I'd like to say, I will see myself change from day to day as this head of mine is really considered criminally insane . All these people told me the same. The thoughts I will have, the things I will feel, I will be here for every meal as to find out why I had to not know what I did as I sit in this cell in my head from ****. I feel some sadness as they take my dignity while they humiliate me sitting on this cement slab cold as **** and there is no turning back I sit and wonder how come they take my rights and hide me from all your sight. I scream out only to no one to hear except the celli yelling crazy get out of here and I feel so alone at night, I say "I wish that I were home", make the best of the time I’ve got as I pick a corner spot, and let's hope that it's not a lot. One day as I part, yes, me, that is the day they set me free. They walked me through giving me the see you again real soon.. I knew it would be cuz once they got you they track you till eternity. Someday the gates will open, and once more I'll be free. Except one thing A fact that makes me wonder, “What will become of me? “Have I a future awaiting me, is there hope and will I have a home? Such as the past I've known? Will I be accepted by others, or forced to walk alone? Are there opportunities of employment, for a woman such as me? With no one even was blinking an eye. Or will I have to sell myself again, in order to get by? What of the friends that I once knew, but haven't seen in years? Are they dead because there is no one? Will they accept my friendship now, without any doubts or fears? What is there awaiting me, When I go out of that gate? Is there yet a chance for me, or is it now too late? As I say I am sorry for all the pain and hurt I put you through 10 years of my life has been spent in this place I will never come back, when I see my sons face. I want to spend the rest of my life cheering you up when your down I swear I will change this time around that man you condemn has a name, sister or brother, child and a wife A Mum and a Dad who has given him life! What would you do if this happened to yours? Deny all your love and close all the doors? Here she comes once again. Do you honestly think I'd like it if you sink to a level And just turn your back and deem me as a devil? Yes! She’s done wrong and is serving her time And No! I do not agree with this for it is not a crime. It is not my fault for this mental distraught however with support I know it would be a lot of work I'm sure you want to know my name, it hasn't changed, it's still the same. We are both together in this man made ****. Only cuz the county does not want to tell that I am sick and need a doctor not handcuffs and a number.Glad to meet you, I’m prison cell. Not in an outpatient treatment center which civilizes me not criminalizes
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I was on AOT. They once put a survey questionnaire in front me asking me if it helped me 'get well or stay well' or something like that. I sang AOT's praises because I knew I would be locked up if I gave them the answer they did not want to hear. Any resistance on my part, I knew would be used to use more force against me. I wanted to please my captors. I was also very drugged and cognitively impaired from the drugs when the survey was given to me. It was the perfect crime. Research on unwilling research subjects answering surveys, surveys handed to them by the system which has ultimate power over their civil liberties. Like asking 19th century slaves to fill out a survey on their masters. OF COURSE, under duress you are going to give these human rights criminals what they want to hear.
I have seen in the past what the coercers are capable of. I lied on the survey just to stay out of being locked up in hospital. Maybe the survey the person who posted this question alluded to WITHOUT CITING IT was the one I answered. Who knows? Either way trust these numbers like you would trust the numbers on a concentration camp survey that said people were happy with their captors.
With a gun to your head, you will say anything. I know I did.
AOT is unmitigated evil.
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Candace Morrow
commented
Ha, ha. Nice one, anonymous! (Were 80% of the 81% of people who said forced treatment helped them too drugged up to understand what they were being asked?)
