WBUR by Deborah Becker A new report found little has been done to correct problems at Bridgewater State Hospital, including the use of medications to chemically restrain patients. The Disability Law Center (DLC) found that the Massachusetts Department of Correction, which operates the facility, illegally used chemical and physical restraints on people in custody, lacks adequate services… Continue reading Little has been done to correct problems at Bridgewater State Hospital, report finds
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
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
By Donna Winant, FFIMI Director The mission of Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness (FFIMI) is to advocate for persons suffering from Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and involved in the criminal justice system: to assure they are provided a continuum of proper psychiatric care, treatment, and services across the entire spectrum of the… Continue reading A Model of Care
By Kelli South of Treatment Advocacy CenterCo-response teams involving both police officers and mental health providers are becoming more widely used for response to crisis calls involving people with mental illnesses. As these programs grow in popularity across the United States, there is not yet a large amount of research available proving the efficacy of such crisis response… Continue reading From Treatment Advocacy Center: Co-Responding Police and Mental Health Team Reduces Likelihood of Arrest
FFIMI is proud to unveil our new logo which is an original design by one of our family member's loved one who is incarcerated. They put a lot of time and thought into its creation and we feel that the design beautifully depicts a foundational element of our mission - the love we hold for… Continue reading FFIMI’s New Logo
Massachusetts needs to find a better way to care for peoplewith mental illness who remain behind bars.By The Editorial Board Updated July 1, 2021, 4:00 a.m Several FFIMI members recently testified at the Commonwealth’s Hearing of the Committee on Mental Health, Substance on Monday June 28th. The hearing lasted for over 5 hours and testimony… Continue reading Making Prisons More Humane – Boston Globe
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness ~ Advocating for those who are Justice Involved 