1 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide? 2 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 1: Hosted by Tony Mentor, broadcasting from the heart of Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. 3 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: Join us as our guests share their raw, powerful stories. 4 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: Some will spark laughter, others will move you to tears. 5 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: These real life journeys inspire, connect and remind you that 6 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: you're never alone. We're igniting a global movement to empower 7 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: everyone to make a lasting difference by fostering deep awareness 8 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: on wavering acceptance, and profound understanding of autism and mental health. 9 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: Tune in, be inspired, and join us in transforming the world, 10 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: one story at a time. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome 11 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: to Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide. 12 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: Before we jump in, if you haven't already, I invite 13 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: you to tap polow. It only takes a couple of 14 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: seconds and it helps this show reach more families who 15 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: need to hear these conversations. Thanks for being here. Welcome 16 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: to our special event, Crafting justice empowering autism and mental 17 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 1: health through legislation. Joining us today is John Nutting, a 18 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: former Maine State Senator who has spent time on the 19 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: front lines of government helping craft legislation that impacts mental 20 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: health services in the system families rely on. We're going 21 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: to talk about the realities of serious mental illness, the 22 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: challenges policy makers face in addressing it, and what meaningful 23 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,639 Speaker 1: change would look like if we truly prioritize mental health 24 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: in our communities. It's going to be a great conversation. 25 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us today, that's. 26 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: All right, No no problem at all. 27 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: If you would give us a little information about yourself 28 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: in your background. 29 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 2: Well, I used to be a dairy farmer slash state legislator. 30 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: Looking back, I don't know how I did both, but 31 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 2: I was young and so was my wife. And the 32 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court main Supreme Court years 33 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 2: ago told me said, if a family tells me that 34 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 2: there's no brain disorders in their family, I know they're lying, 35 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 2: because biological it's in every family. And that's one of 36 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: the points we're trying to make here in Maine is 37 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 2: that if you have a disorder of any part of 38 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: your body that goes without saying that you're going to 39 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: treat that disorder, the same should be true for the brain. Absolutely, 40 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: and we've got millions of families torn apart by this 41 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 2: subject nationwide and bull of homelessness in jails and hospitals, 42 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: or went over and over again because one particular group 43 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 2: has this debate raging across the country. Well, it's their 44 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 2: right to be psychotic, right to be bipolar, right, and 45 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 2: that just assures that they're not going to have any 46 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: successes and may hurt somebody else and may hurt themselves. 47 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: It's just so unnecessary that a levels of melatonin and 48 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: serotonin in their brains are not normal. Sure, especially some 49 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: of the now newer medications help to restore those without 50 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: as many side effects as previous medications. Some progress is 51 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: being made there, well, that they can go on and 52 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: start to have some successes in their lives. 53 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: Sure, I know different states have different acronyms for this. 54 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: So what is the AOT law in the state of Maine. 55 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: Well, it's called the Progressive Treatment Plan. I was a 56 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: sponsor of it as a state senator way back in 57 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 2: two thousand and three. We've made some progress, but I 58 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: have to admit that it's been a twenty three year 59 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 2: battle to try to get the original law implemented as 60 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 2: it was written, was still not there yet. We've made 61 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: progress Bob Staples, who you met before, and I just 62 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: finished going to Augusta. In fact, we had the final 63 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: vote today on LD nineteen eighty nine and active and 64 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 2: increase access to the Progressive Treatment Plan Legal Fund, because 65 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 2: last year the Attorney General suddenly announced they weren't going 66 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 2: to represent all of the PTP hearings in front of 67 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: our judges, and so it left families really in alerts 68 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: that if they couldn't afford the attorney themselves, the loved 69 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: one was not going to extend. It is for a 70 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 2: one year term with one year extensions at a time 71 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: if they have a district court judge agreed to it. 72 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: Okay, Now, when lawmakers start crafting legislation for mental health, 73 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: what are the biggest gaps you see between the families 74 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: actual needs versus what policy is actually providing. 75 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 2: Well, I think there has to be more communication both ways, 76 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 2: and it's better than it used to be. But we've 77 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: had one group in Maine that has fought us on 78 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 2: the subject for twenty three actually twenty four years now, 79 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 2: the Disability Rights Center that don't like anything like this. 80 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 2: It's it's their right to be psychotic. They shouldn't have 81 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: their rights taken away by a court order, and you know, 82 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 2: blah blah bl like that. And of course, three quarters 83 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 2: of schizophrenics and maybe fifty percent of bipolar have awareness themselves. 84 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 2: They don't have this and a signosia lack of awareness. 85 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: And they the groups against aot and against the PTP 86 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 2: plan A Maine seem to have the thought that nobody 87 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 2: has an a signotia lack of awareness, that nobody needs 88 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: a cord order, And of course that's not the case. 89 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: You know. 90 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: I remember when I was living in the state of 91 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: Maine at that time, there was a big push for 92 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: smoking bands around the state in all the areas. I 93 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: had friends that were very heavy smokers. They would argue 94 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: that they had the right to smoke. I said, I 95 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: have the right not to breathe your smoke, right. I 96 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: don't understand what part of the Disability Act that they 97 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: just don't get. Maybe they have the right to be psychotic, 98 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 1: but we have the right to feel safe in our 99 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: own community. 100 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 2: We have the right not to pay millions and millions 101 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: of dollars to keep people in jails and hospitals all 102 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 2: their lives after they commit a crime because we didn't 103 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: help them with their lack of awareness by keeping him 104 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: on a treatment plan. You take the young man in 105 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: Westbrook last year that killed the young parents in front 106 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 2: of their children in their car. He had been on 107 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: a PTP plan and was off his treatment plan. He 108 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: was working with an intensive case manager who knew full 109 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 2: well about MAINZ PTP statute, could have filed the court 110 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 2: order to keep him on as treatment plan. That none 111 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: of that. So now the state domain is going to 112 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 2: pay about twenty one million dollars to keep him lifetime 113 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: in jail. 114 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was told that the biggest hospital in the 115 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: country for serious mental illness is the La County prison. 116 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: If that is true, we really need to do something 117 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: to help these people that are incarcerated. Then merely putting 118 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: them through the court system and then ultimately in jail 119 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: is not helping. What is the root cause of this issue? 120 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 2: Just last week in front of the main legislature, the 121 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: head of the main Sheriff's Association said, we need more 122 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 2: funding because we're being forced to keep hundreds of people 123 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 2: in our county jails that should be out in the 124 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: community with supports or in a hospital, and we're just 125 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: warehousing them in the county jails. 126 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: Now in today's world, of course, has changed some since 127 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: you were in the Senate. Well, if you was advising 128 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: a senator or a representative for legislation that's happening this year, 129 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: what is it that you would prioritize to truly help 130 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: the lives of the individuals and of course their families 131 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: that we're trying to get these bills passed for. 132 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: I would have them, as we do for any other 133 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: medical condition. I would urge them to speak to the 134 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: medical professionals in the field, The psychiatrists, psychologists, the nurse practitioners, 135 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: the main nurses association all work on a daily basis 136 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: with individuals suffering from untreated brain disorders. And they're the ones. Well, 137 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 2: a nurse put it to me so eloquently just a 138 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: month or so, she said, this and a signotia lack 139 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 2: of awareness. People with Alzheimer's in dementia have the same 140 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: and a signosia. And we put them in facilities so 141 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: that we assure that those people received even the care 142 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 2: they do not realize they need. And yet where the 143 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 2: schizophrenic or anasignotia, we build a nice mental health facility 144 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 2: and say if you want to come see me, oh, oh, well, 145 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,959 Speaker 2: come in, we'll help you, and they're never going to 146 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: come in. I don't need to be in a treatment plan. 147 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 2: You need to be in a treatment plan as they're 148 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: coming from. And so it's the same and a signotia, 149 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,079 Speaker 2: whether the schizophrenic or an Alzheimer's, and yet we treat 150 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 2: them totally different. 151 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is totally crazy in some states, and I'm 152 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: not sure where main falls on this particular issue. One 153 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: of the consistent problems I hear is there are never 154 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: enough beds in the state, and then of course they 155 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: get those beds, they need the funding to go through. 156 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: It seems like a vicious circle. My question, how do 157 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: we stop that circle so people can get the help. 158 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 2: The biggest single thing we could do so quickly, in 159 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: my opinion, is stop the person that's cycling over and 160 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 2: over over again and tying up hundreds of beds. I 161 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: heard of a young man in Maine that had forty 162 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 2: three hospitalizations before they finally put him on the PTP 163 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 2: plan six years ago. He's had none sense, and so 164 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 2: we're tying up an unbelievable amount of bedspace over and 165 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 2: over with these folks cycling over and over and over again. 166 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 2: Same with the jail cells. 167 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, that almost sounds like common sense. Now. I have 168 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: heard many people say that when they talk with their senators, 169 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: their legislators, lawyers, any of those people, they tend to 170 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: feel like they're invisible. They feel like they do not 171 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: understand what they are going through. How can we build 172 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: their confidence that their voices are actually getting heard and 173 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: what they say actually means something, so that we can 174 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: get them the help that they need. 175 00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 2: In Maine. In the last eight to ten years, we've 176 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: had so many instances where we've got our growing list 177 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 2: of parents and family members from our family support groups 178 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 2: to come to Augusta to testify on public hearings, to 179 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:19,599 Speaker 2: come to Augusta for press conferences. After the Lewiston tragedy 180 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 2: that was written in all the papers, a young man 181 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,839 Speaker 2: that was schizophrenic. The Army had him on a treatment plan. 182 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 2: He was reservest so when his reserve time is done, 183 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 2: they released him to the state Demain. State to Main 184 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 2: did not keep him on his treatment plan, and so 185 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 2: we had three press conferences on that one subject alone. 186 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 2: Because you almost could have predicted that eventually something was 187 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: going to happen. The psychosis and the visions that they 188 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,959 Speaker 2: get gets a frindier. Especially, it becomes reality to them 189 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 2: that demon is living in the light switch, or my 190 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 2: mother is trying to kill me and is evil, and 191 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 2: once they're on a treatment plan, those things change. 192 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: Yes, that's a very tough situation for sure. 193 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 2: I know a parent that I've got to keep nameless. 194 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 2: But she lives in the southern part of the United States, 195 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: and because of her sons phoebeer and delusions that are 196 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 2: real to him, she's very evil and he has to 197 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: kill her. He's a former sharpshooter in the military, not 198 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 2: just an average person. The laws down there are so 199 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 2: terrible different county by county that they're just saying, oh, well, 200 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 2: oh well, you know absolutely nothing. This is just a terrible, 201 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 2: terrible situation. 202 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 1: Yes it is, and I believe that I have spoken 203 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: with that lady that you're talking about, and it's sure 204 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: is a bad situation. What we have to hope for 205 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: is some of these states are going to get together, 206 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: put their heads together, and come up with something that 207 00:12:58,880 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: are real solution. 208 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 2: Last year, I, like millions of other people, watched Governor 209 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: Nwsom from California come on sixty minutes talking about the 210 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: New Care Court Act, in California, extra money for judges 211 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 2: and housing to get the homeless off the street and 212 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,959 Speaker 2: help them get a job. It all sounded wonderful and 213 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 2: right at the last minute, without telling the parents of 214 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 2: the psychiatrists or any of the medical professionals, they made 215 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 2: it voluntary. It gutted the whole bill. So now I've 216 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: heard with our national Shattering Silence Coalition monthly national zoom calls. 217 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 2: We have parents in California. They get the loved one 218 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 2: to court. You know, you've been homeless, in and out 219 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 2: of jails. This is going to be an apartment for you. 220 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 2: We're going to work with it on a daily basis, 221 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: get you a job. Ay you interested? And the young 222 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 2: person says, hell, no, I don't need to be in 223 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: a treatment plan. You need to be an a treatment plan. 224 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 2: They walk out of the court and nothing ever happens. 225 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 2: And because that was the urging of the Displayed Rights 226 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 2: Center that hates these type of laws nationwide, I'm hoping 227 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 2: Massachusetts this year is the forty ninth state that has 228 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 2: a statute like this. We're all kind of looking up 229 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 2: at Michigan. Their law is Heaven's law. What I've read 230 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 2: and talked to and seen there by far the finest 231 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 2: state in the country. They started with one area of 232 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: Michigan that has about four hundred thousand people in it, 233 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 2: and I retired judges running the program, and they have 234 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 2: over twenty seven hundred people on their Kevin's Law program. 235 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: They have room in their hospitals, they have room in 236 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 2: their jail. Their homeless problem is much less than it 237 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 2: used to be because people are on their treatment plan. 238 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: When I very first started talking about schizophrenia and serious 239 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: mental illness, I'll be honest, I really didn't know anything 240 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: about it at all. And when I would hear about 241 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: something that someone did it turned out to be psychotic. 242 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: I didn't understand that this was serious mental illness. So 243 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: my first reaction was put them in jail, throw away 244 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: the key. Right Now, since I've been talking with people 245 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: and gaining more understanding of this, my first reaction when 246 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: I hear or see of someone that did something, I 247 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: want to know, is this person just a really bad 248 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: person or is this a situation where the system completely 249 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: failed them? 250 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 2: Right? Right? 251 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: How do we teach and get people to understand that 252 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: just because someone does something does not mean they're bad. 253 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: It means we have to look at the system first, 254 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: more than just a person. 255 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 2: Yes, excellent, excellent question. It's a much needed change we 256 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: need to make. I think a lot of the elementary 257 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 2: and high schools are beginning to try to broach that subject. 258 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 2: A lot of it is still so like I don't 259 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:57,239 Speaker 2: understand myself. I never talked to anybody that does understand. 260 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 2: Why the vast majority of schizophrenes I was born in January, 261 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 2: in the first two weeks of February. Why and so 262 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 2: it's just the phobias and the delusions become so real 263 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 2: to these individuals that they start doing things that harm others, 264 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 2: are to harm themselves. 265 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: Just a short time ago, I talked with a legislator 266 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,280 Speaker 1: that was working on a bill for serious mental illness 267 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: in that state. They were able to work on a bill, 268 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: put it together, and get it ready to present to 269 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: the House. Then they had a vote on it and 270 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: the vote came back unanimous that they passed the bill. 271 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: Then it went to the Senate where it died a 272 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: horrible death there. How do we get these people, our representatives, 273 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: talking to each other so they understand the issue. Because 274 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: if a bill went through the House and got passed 275 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: by that many people they need to look at it 276 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: a little bit harder so they can take it into 277 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: a law that is actually going to help the people 278 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: that so desperately need it. 279 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean it's like when I served. I mean 280 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 2: there was at least some communication between both ends of 281 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 2: the hallway we used to call it between the House 282 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 2: and the Senate. When one body did one thing, you know, 283 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 2: at least you were aware of it. Also going to 284 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 2: be improved, I think going forward, if we slowly and 285 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 2: I think this is happening, slowly increase the number of 286 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: parents that are unashamed and are willing to reach out 287 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 2: to legislators to let them know what this really is, 288 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 2: that it's real that when they're not on the treatment plane, 289 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 2: it's devastational to the not only the family, but usually 290 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 2: the community. And so that they raise people's awareness this 291 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 2: is a medical condition. This is not you know, Billy 292 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 2: down the street choosing to do this. This is what 293 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 2: he believes, you know, he should do in order to survive. 294 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: And of course it's not accurate at all. 295 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:07,719 Speaker 1: Yeah. Now, sometimes legislation is passed and the intentions of 296 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: it was something that was really really good, but the 297 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: end outcome for the people that it was supposed to help. 298 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,880 Speaker 1: For some reason, it just doesn't work. So with your 299 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: experience of working with legislators and of course the Senate, 300 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: which separates meaningful legislation from policy that just looks good 301 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 1: on paper. 302 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 2: Well, in Maine, I first submitted this bill in two 303 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 2: thousand and two and had a firestorm of opposition to 304 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 2: it and some parents they are testifying for it, and 305 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 2: the Commissioner of Health and Human Services at the time 306 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:46,239 Speaker 2: under the John Baldochi administration, talked to the administrators of 307 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 2: the law in New York, which is called Kendra's Law. 308 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 2: So she brought forth the suggestion that we table a 309 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 2: bill from one session to between this session, between the 310 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 2: first long session and the second shorter section. She put 311 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 2: together a very large feral work study group over eight 312 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 2: months involving medical professionals and parents and opponents to the 313 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 2: PTP law, so that you really got a chance to 314 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 2: thrash out what had worked in other states and what 315 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 2: didn't work in other states. So you try to get 316 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 2: grassroots help in drafting something so that it actually interviewed 317 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 2: as psychiatrist that had practiced in New York for years 318 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,399 Speaker 2: and it was familiar with their law could tell you 319 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 2: what he liked and what he didn't like about the 320 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 2: initial draft of the main law. You know, that way 321 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 2: you have a better chance, I think of getting something 322 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 2: to be run as as it wanted. You know, at 323 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,719 Speaker 2: our district court hearings, a law enforcement or a medical 324 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 2: professional or a guardian can file the application to have 325 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 2: a PTP district court hearing, and the court notifies the 326 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: parties involved, including the person. The court sets an attorney 327 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 2: for that person so they are represented during the hearing. 328 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 2: And so it's a judge. It's a decision of a 329 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 2: district court judge after a hearing where there's give and 330 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 2: take and questions and answers and challenges made to assumptions. 331 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 2: Some states just have a PTP type or AOT order 332 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 2: is just done administratively. Boom, the judge stamps it and 333 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 2: all of a sudden you're under a PTP court order, 334 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 2: and that just doesn't have the effectiveness. As the judge 335 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 2: at the end of the hearing looking at the young 336 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 2: person saying, this is my decision, this is why you 337 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 2: may have had six hospitalizations and you've been homeless, and 338 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 2: goes over the history and this is what it's going 339 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 2: to be for you going forward, you're going to work 340 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 2: with an ACT team or a group home or intensive 341 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 2: case manager in the community. We're going to try to 342 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: get you a job and keep your out of jails 343 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 2: and hospitals and see if we can start having some 344 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 2: successes in your life. Judge also explains to the person 345 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 2: that if you stop your treatment plan, you're back that 346 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 2: evening in the hospital. They know that, and so they 347 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 2: for the most part, not always, but they stay on 348 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 2: their treatment plan and you can start to have some 349 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 2: successes with them. And a psychiatrist told me, he says, 350 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 2: somebody with an asignotia, they're all probably always going to 351 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 2: have anti signosis. 352 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: He says. 353 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: If somebody's been on a one year PTP and was 354 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 2: extended for another year, he says, I can sit down 355 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 2: and talk with him. You some he called something he 356 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 2: called backdoor insight. Mister Smith, you you probably don't feel 357 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 2: any differently whether or not you've been on a treatment 358 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 2: plan in the last two years. But let's sit down 359 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 2: and look at your life the last two years and 360 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 2: look at the two years previous to it, and they 361 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 2: begin to see that their life is different. It's more 362 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 2: positive now and because their brain chemical sure is normal again. 363 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's really good to hear. Now. When I started 364 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: my podcast, i named it why Not Me. Basically, what 365 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 1: it means is that there's an individual type of situation 366 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: here where one voice can matter. What would you tell 367 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 1: a listener that decides they want to be an advocate, 368 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 1: they want to believe that their single voice can make 369 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: a difference and start something very positive. Where would you 370 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: tell them to start? And then what would you tell 371 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: them to do? 372 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 2: We're probably the first most difficult thing would be to 373 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 2: not ridicule and laugh behind the person's back that's acting differently. 374 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 2: Try to research what your laws are groups like the 375 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:49,360 Speaker 2: National Shadowing Silence Coalition in Maine, the Staples Foundation website. 376 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 2: Research what are your laws in your state, what legislators 377 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:58,719 Speaker 2: in your state have sponsored brain disorder laws in the past, 378 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 2: and so you can begin to know who to reach 379 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 2: out to to speak about making things better. We're better 380 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 2: than we used to be fifteen years ago in Maine, 381 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 2: but we're in the process now. It's not done yet. 382 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: But this is a list of thirty five tragedies that 383 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 2: have happened in Maine from people off their treatment plans. 384 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,159 Speaker 2: Every one of them. You can see they're unnecessary. We 385 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 2: had a young man in Maine last year started going 386 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 2: to emergency rooms begging for help, begging to be put 387 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 2: on a treatment plan. All they did was keep him 388 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 2: for two days, calming down, dump him back out on 389 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 2: the street. Eventually he got so bad last ball that 390 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 2: he attacked some people in broke a woman's job, and 391 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 2: so now he's in jail. Now this is somebody who 392 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: was asking for help, had been on a treatment plan 393 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 2: previous and had done very well, wanted that again. Things 394 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 2: like this just make the hair stand up still in 395 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 2: the back of my neck. That unnecessary. If if you 396 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:06,120 Speaker 2: were suffering that bad with a disorder of your stomach 397 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 2: or your bones or your skin, bang, you know, let's 398 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 2: let's get that person help. And this here, somebody has 399 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 2: to beg for help, they still don't receive it. And 400 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 2: so we've made a presentation main to all the district 401 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 2: attorneys have made about what the law is and how 402 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 2: it can be used more effectively and use more than 403 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,439 Speaker 2: it has been in the past, and that I believe 404 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 2: will bring about some positive change going forward, because it's 405 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 2: better for them to step in early in somebody's history, 406 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 2: especially if they've been in a hospital previous. Get them 407 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 2: to help they need or may not realize they need, 408 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:48,360 Speaker 2: but get them help before something bad happens. That costs 409 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 2: society millions and millions of dollars. 410 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's a huge amount of money. In closing, 411 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: what is one of the things that you would like 412 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: to let our listeners know that gives them an insight 413 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:07,160 Speaker 1: of you as an advocate and of course you as 414 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: a representative on what you're trying to do to make 415 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: things better for those that need the help. 416 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 2: Just raising people's awareness that this is a biological disease 417 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,399 Speaker 2: of the brain. It is no different than any other 418 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 2: disease of any other Bodybuart, your chemical levels are not normal. 419 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,399 Speaker 2: More often than not, you're born in the dead of 420 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 2: the winter. Nobody knows why. Open discussions with family members 421 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 2: and school officials early on, and medical professionals, even your 422 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 2: primary care physicians, helping to direct them towards being on 423 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:53,400 Speaker 2: a treatment plan. We in Maine now have over seventy 424 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 2: five people that are in their early teens, many of 425 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 2: them are not on the treatment plan. Were paying untowed 426 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 2: millions to keep them in facilities outside the state of 427 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:08,159 Speaker 2: Maine because we don't have any facilities for young people 428 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 2: in Maine. That's money we should be keeping them in Maine, 429 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 2: having community supports to prevent things from happening, not just 430 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:21,640 Speaker 2: reacting to them afterwards. The folks, the very hard working 431 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 2: folks that always in Maine have opposed this type of legislation. 432 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 2: I think by now have realized that John Nutting is 433 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 2: not going to back off, and we're gaining numbers of 434 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 2: parents and caregivers almost on a daily basis, growing our 435 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 2: network of parents and caregivers and law enforcement that want 436 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 2: to do better in this regard. 437 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,160 Speaker 1: Well, this has been really good, a lot of great information, 438 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:51,119 Speaker 1: great conversation. I really appreciate you taking the time to 439 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: join us today. 440 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 2: Well, look, thanks so much for having me on. Appreciate it. 441 00:26:54,840 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: It's been my pleasure. Thanks again, thanks for taking time 442 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 1: out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. 443 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,959 Speaker 1: We hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed 444 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: bringing it to you. If you know someone who has 445 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 1: a story to share, tell them to contact us at 446 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: WHYOMT World. One last thing, spread the word about why 447 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 1: not me, our conversations, our inspiring guests that show you 448 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: are not alone in this world.