Treatment Advocacy Center - Research Weekly Publication by Morré Taylor; Photo by Khashayar Kouchpeydeh By Morré Taylor (August 10, 2022) People with serious mental illness have a long history of being highly engaged in the criminal justice system, as at least 40% of individuals with serious mental illness have been in jail or prison during their… Continue reading Challenging Solitary Confinement for People with Serious Mental Illness
Disability Law Center Again Calls for Bridgewater State Hospital Reform on the Basis of Serious Concerns About Facility Conditions and Rights Violations – Disability Law Center (dlc-ma.org) In 2017 the Disability Law Center (DLC) met with Governor Charlie Baker and urged him to allocate funding to provide more comprehensive medical and psychiatric care at Bridgewater… Continue reading Bridgewater State Hospital – Serious Concerns About Facility Conditions and Rights Violations Persist
Reposted from WGBH, By Sarah Betancourt, July 22, 2022 As Massachusetts heads into a weekend of sweltering temperatures, prison advocates worry that the more than 13,000 people incarcerated in the state’s prisons and county jails are especially in danger of heat-related illnesses. Massachusetts’ jails and prisons often don't have air conditioning. Many incarcerated people are medically… Continue reading The heat wave feels even hotter if you’re in prison. Mass.’s solution of ice and fans offers little relief.
By FFIMI Member and Advocate Donna Winant Here we are,Figuring out waysTo better the daysFor our loved ones. We are in a difficult place in a broken system,Pray for grace and changeWork for compassion and right-doingsWork when you can to effect positive legislation.Mental illness and barbed wire should never be a twosome. Photo Credit: Unsplashed… Continue reading Mental illness and barbed wire should never be a twosome
Brian Stettin, longtime policy directory of Treatment Advocacy Center, states: " The question lingering in the back of the mind of any advocate is always: Am I making a difference? When the wrong to be righted is deep-seated, complex and decades in the making, there will inevitably be grist for discouragement. But we must never discount the… Continue reading Treatment Advocacy Center’s Brian Stettin Bids Farewell
FFIMI Director, Donna Winant, was interviewed by Leonna Abraham Brandao's of Blog Talk Radio/Shedding Light. Leonna's passion is to get people talking and working together to find solutions to social justice issues, including the many that exist in the criminal justice system. Donna shared about FFIMI's mission and goal to be the voice of justice involved… Continue reading Shedding Light Podcast
The Poem Was Written On Behalf of Those Who Reside at Bridgewater State Hospital Can you hear pain?I can feel the pain inside my mindPain at the pain I’ve causedPain at not wanting or understanding whyMy brain isn’t working rightDidn’t ask for thisDidn’t want thisMaybe I’ll ask the gods that beIf they can hear my… Continue reading Hear Our Voices
In the January 2022 Report, DLC’s sweeping recommendations include the following: DOC must immediately remediate mold and assess for other environmental toxins existing in the BSH physical plant per expert recommendations and industry standards.The Commonwealth must commit to closing [BSH] and constructing a modern facility designed to provide psychiatric evaluations and treatment in a safe,… Continue reading Disability Law Center Calls for CHANGE at Bridgewater State Hospital
by Mike Walsh, FFIMI Member Thanks to the Disability Law Center (DLC) and their recent report regarding the poor physical conditions and inappropriate practices in the treatment of persons served at BSH, the situation has been receiving a lot of much needed attention from the public and State Legislators. As advocates for this extremely vulnerable… Continue reading FFIMI Calls for Action on Issues Raised by Disability Law Center’s Report of Bridgewater State Hospital!
Boston Globe - Opinion February 21, 2022 FFIMI agrees that the oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital belongs with the Department of Mental Health, and NOT the Department of Corrections. We agree with writer, Robert Weber of Newton, MA, that without this change, the conditions for the persons served at BSH will not improve. I am… Continue reading Bridgewater Hospital’s woes will go on without change in agency oversight
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness 