FYI, From the Illinois Counseling Association Newsletter (which I receive as a member. This is also public information):

A new Illinois law took effect June 1, 2008. SB 234 expands the scope of Illinois commitment criteria, which formerly required that a person with a severe mental illness be, "Expected to inflict serious physical harm," in the near future before a court can authorize involuntary treatment. The new criteria permit court-ordered treatment for individual who, while not presenting a demonstrable threat of immediate physical harm to themselves or others, are clearly in need of psychiatric care and whose condition is likely to create a risk of serious harm to the person or others absent treatment.

This allows placement in treatment for anyone who, because of the nature of his or her illness, is unable to understand his or her need for treatment and who, if not treated, is at risk of suffering or continuing to suffer mental deterioration, or both, to the point that the person is at risk of engaging in dangerous conduct.

This also adds the definition of “dangerous conduct”. “Dangerous conduct” means threatening behavior or conduct that places another individual in reasonable expectation of being harmed, or a person’s inability to provide, without the assistance or family or outside help, for his or her basic physical needs so as to guard himself or herself from serious harm.

At least 150,000 to 200,000 people, or one-third of the nation’s homeless population, suffer from severe mental illnesses. About 5,000 people suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar illness commit suicide each year.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amy,

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:

At least 150,000 to 200,000 people, or one-third of the nation’s homeless population, suffer from severe mental illnesses. About 5,000 people suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar illness commit suicide each year.

So 2/3rds of the homeless population has no mental illness whatsoever?!?! Wow, I really thought that number would be higher. Now it really makes me wonder what % of the longer termers are mentally ill or just teat suckers off of PADS.

I'm thinking that the ILL-Annoy Counseling Association Newsletter needs a proofreader. Stat!

quote:

..which formerly required that at person with a several mental illness be..

"at person"? "a several"? [severe?]

quote:

..The new criteria permit court-ordered treatment...

"permits"?

My personal favorite:

quote:

..at risk of suffering or continuing to suffer mental deterioration or mental deterioration, or both...

Can you imagine anything worse than suffering mental deterioration OR mental deterioration? Or even BOTH!

Criteria or criterions are the plurals of the noun criterion - but not criterias. The verb permit is correct. The language is always changing, though, so in time it may be all good.



I think you should blame Amy for the mistakes!!

quote:

Originally posted by GEmom2:
Criteria or criterions are the plurals of the noun criterion - but not criterias. The verb permit is correct. The language is always changing, though, so in time it may be all good.



I think you should blame Amy for the mistakes!!

OK - she must have been afflicted with BOTH mental deterioration AND mental deterioration!

Yes, I heard she has a pretty bad case. It is called the "Back to School Blues."

Sorry, I re-typed it from the newsletter so I probably made a few mistakes. I ran it on word so I caught mis-spellings...or at least the mis-spellings that word catches! I'll go fix them! I typed it very fast...

Glellyn, it said one third of the homeless population suffers from SERIOUS mental illness (as in the kind that is chronic/debilitating). There are also many people suffering from less debilitating mental illnesses or illnesses that have peaks and valleys and so they wouldn't be labeled "seriously mentally ill."

And yes, I am feeling a bit of the "Back to School Blues." But I think I'll be alright.

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
Glellyn, it said one third of the homeless population suffers from SERIOUS mental illness (as in the kind that is chronic/debilitating). There are also many people suffering from less debilitating mental illnesses or illnesses that have peaks and valleys and so they wouldn't be labeled "seriously mentally ill."

Phewwww..... PADS is still, ummm, relevant.

Yeah, I knew you'd have something to say that would involve PADS.

Nonetheless, I think this is a significant change in the law and will now allow the legal system to hospitalize some of the people who are out walking the street and shouldn't be. And THAT is a good thing, IMO.

I hope you are right, Amy. Did you happen to see the Oprah, yes I said Oprah, where the homeless man was given $100,000. Very interesting and very sad outcome. And it was determined that he was in good mental health. I wish society/medicine could come up with better answers for these poor souls. My best friends brother is schizophrenic and after many years wandering the country he is finally regularly taking a new med which has helped him tremendously. It has been so hard on her family. They all contribute monthly to a fund for him and it may look like he is not cared for but there is only so much family can do if they refuse treatment and take off.

I didn't see Oprah. I honestly don't watch her show much anymore. She's gotten on my nerves. I'll go look online to see if I can find out anything from the story. You have piqued my curiosity.

Schizophrenia is, IMO, one of the hardest mental illnesses to deal with in that it just makes me want to cry. The few young people I have known with this illness are truly kind, sensitive, and compassionate. Yet, they are plagued with voices that say horrible things and have nothing to do with their own real feelings or character. The one bright light is the progress being made in terms of medication...I'm glad your best friend's brother is finding some success with medication. I can't really imagine what the family has been through.

quote:

Originally posted by GEmom2:
Criteria or criterions are the plurals of the noun criterion - but not criterias. The verb permit is correct. The language is always changing, though, so in time it may be all good.



I think you should blame Amy for the mistakes!!

I think you're ( ) new screen name should be syntactical

This is not technically related to the original post:

WARNING: THREAD-JACKING!

In reference to ShoreThing's post about Oprah's show, I'm reading a very interesting book called "Blink". It tries to explain how our brains can take in a small amount of information quickly and make a correct assessment. The problem is that most of us have opinions and views which may cloud our judgment. One of the experiments in the book is about subjects who were either prompted with thoughts of professors or soccer hooligans before they sat down to take a test. Those prompted with the professor did much better.

There are other examples as well, but the gist of it is that you can affect a person's actions in subtle ways without them realizing it. I would guess that someone who finds it hard to succeed in "normal" society has heard already that they are worthless and unable to take control of their lives. Not an excuse, but perhaps with that in mind, there are better ways of handling situations, that may actually bring about changes in behavior.

Also read, The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell.