At FFIMI, we have sounded this alarm before—and we are far from alone. Advocates, families, clinicians, and impacted individuals have long called for meaningful change at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). Yet the suffering continues. The population at BSH includes some of the most vulnerable people in our state—individuals living with serious mental illness. These individuals… Continue reading Bridge Over Troubled Waters: A Call for Change at Bridgewater State Hospital
Another scathing report about Bridgewater State Hospital Disabiltiy Law Center just released their Feb. 6, 2025 report and the conditions at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) have NOT improved. The report states: "The Commonwealth must stop waiting for change that will never come and protect BSH Persons Served (PS), a population widely recognized as including individuals… Continue reading Disability Law Center Finds Unlawful, Violent Practices and Unsafe Environmental Conditions Persist at Bridgewater State Hospital
Below is the press released shared by DLC on July 30, 2024. Today, the Disability Law Center (DLC) released a public report discussing findings and recommendations from its intensive monitoring of Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) from January to June 2024. As Massachusetts’ Protection and Advocacy agency, DLC has federal authority to monitor facility conditions and… Continue reading July 30th DLC Report Calls for Transfer of Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health IMMEDIATELY
Massachusetts must stop mistreatment of people with mental illness Reposted from CommonWealth Beacon May, 13, 2024 by Summer Maxwell The report released in March condemning Bridgewater State Hospital —Massachusetts’s state psychiatric facility — felt more like a broken record than a revelation. The 87-page document outlined issues that have plagued the facility for years, including… Continue reading It’s past time to move Bridgewater State Hospital out of the Department of Correction
Two significant bills are currently progressing through the Massachusetts legislative process, and we implore you to extend your support. These bills are essential for transferring Bridgewater State Hospital from the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health, ensuring appropriate care for individuals in need of mental health services. FFIMI stands… Continue reading Your crucial support is needed to advocate for transferring Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health, where it rightfully belongs
Boston, MA – The Disability Law Center (DLC) has issued its July 2023 report detailing findings and recommendations from its intensive monitoring activities at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH), including the Bridgewater Annex Units at Old Colony Correctional Center. DLC covers an array of topics in the report, all of which indicate that health and safety risks… Continue reading Disability Law Center Again Recommends Transfer of Oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health Due to Continuing Health and Safety Risks and Rights Violations
This summer has been a productive month of advocacy for the Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness. Several of our members participated in two Massachusetts legislative hearings in support of the following bills: Representative Ruth Balser’s bill H.2985 An Act transferring Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of… Continue reading FFIMI Supports Two Important Legislative Bills
Boston, MA – The Disability Law Center (DLC) has issued our January 2023 public report summarizing findings and recommendations arising out of intensive monitoring efforts at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) from July 2022 through December 2022. The report examines both continuing and new concerns discovered during this reporting period related to facility conditions and BSH policies… Continue reading Disability Law Center Finds Continuing Systemic Rights Violations and Health and Safety Risks at Bridgewater State Hospital
Introduction My name is Tom Kavanaugh. I am a board member of my local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter, the facilitator of the Bridgewater State Hospital Families Group, and the father of a son with mental illness who is currently being held at the hospital. About the Patients If I may, I’d like… Continue reading NAMI Board Member and Family Advocate Adds His Voice at Judiciary Oversight Committee
Representative Michael Day, who moderated the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearings on December 21 stated in the February 2022 issue of Commonwealth Magazine that the then recent Disability Law Center (DLC) report was "deeply disturbing." Based on the January 2022 and July 2022 DLC reports, a barrage of damning news articles, meetings between the Criminal Justice… Continue reading Bridgewater State Hospital Must be Placed Under the Dept. of Mental Health – Not the Dept. of Correction
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness ~ Advocating for those who are Justice Involved 