By Ernest Nate Benjamin Hello, friends, family, and supporters of Family & Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness (FFIMI). I wanted to share another piece for the FFIMI blog. I wrote to the powers that be a while ago, hoping to secure funding and training for clinicians to learn about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing… Continue reading From Trauma to Healing: Advocating for EMDR in Prisons
By Benjamin Walsh Years go by, and I don't understand my place here or what this is—what prison is. Is it punishment? Correction? Restoration? Hell? Just a warehouse? All those things at various times? The department is a living contradiction of aims. It needs strong leadership to bring it into becoming something that actually resembles… Continue reading A Reflection from the Inside: The Power of Leadership and the Opportunity for Cultural Shift in the Massachusetts DOC
What are the long-term effects of excessive sentencing on individuals, families, and communities? We are sharing this resource for those who might be interested in an event aimed at promoting restorative justice, something that FFIMI is passionate about. Join a panel conversation to explore the state of excessive sentencing in the United States as well… Continue reading Excessive Sentencing and Mass Incarceration in Context – at Tufts Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life
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
Why BSH Need to be Moved to the Department of Mental Health Hear Our Voices is a dramatic portrayal inspired by the real-life experiences of individuals residing at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH) in Massachusetts. Crafted by an author intimately familiar with BSH and informed by the accounts of individuals with serious mental illness who have… Continue reading Hear our Voices
Exciting. Exhilarating. Energizing. This is the enthusiastic response of Sheriff Donna Buckley, the first female sheriff ever elected to Barnstable County, describing her mission to serve the community, families, and incarcerated individuals. She also carries a sense of solemn responsibility with a forward-thinking vision and a strong determination to ‘get it done’. Her goals are… Continue reading A Mission of Hope
At Families and Friends of Incarcerated Individuals (FFIMI), we intimately understand the significance of maintaining strong bonds with our loved ones who are incarcerated, as well as the considerable barriers hindering this connection. That is why we have previously shared about a bill to lift many restrictions on visiting loved ones who are incarcerated, and… Continue reading Support Keeping Families Connected – Contact Your State Rep before May 8th
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
What is BH-JI? BH-JI is a MassHealth program that helps people leaving jail or prison, people who have recently left jail or prison, people on parole, and people on probation to connect with behavioral health services and social supports in the community. BH-JI is a partnership between the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human… Continue reading Helpful MassHealth Resource: Behavioral Health-Justice Involved (BH-JI)
A Call to Oppose Wellpath's Contract Renewal in Massachusetts FFIMI commends Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey for addressing Wellpath's deficiencies as the Healthcare Provider for Massachusetts prisons. In a joint letter, the senators emphasized urgent improvements needed in the current healthcare system. Please refer to Senator Markey's press release here: Senators Markey, Warren, Durbin, Ossoff, Lawmakers… Continue reading Advocating for Improved Mental Health Services in Massachusetts Prisons: FFIMI Applauds Senators Warren and Markey’s Efforts
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness ~ Advocating for those who are Justice Involved 