Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
The American mental health system is broken beyond repair. Rather than trying to tweak a system which fails everyone, it is time to commit to a bold vision for a better way forward. This podcast explores the American system against the plumb line of an international best practice, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), in Trieste, Italy. The 40-year old Trieste model demonstrates how a community-based treatment system upholds the human rights of the people served. The Trieste story is anti-institutional and models the therapeutic value of social connection. Topics will address contemporary challenges in the American failed mental health system as contrasted with the Italian approach toward accoglienza – or radical hospitality – as the underpinning of their remarkable culture of caring for people. Interviews will touch upon how the guiding principles of the Italian system – social recovery, whole person care, system accountability, and the human right to a purposeful life – are non-negotiable aspects if we are to have any hope of forging a new way forward in our American mental health system. This podcast is curated and hosted by Kerry Morrison, founder and project director of Heart Forward LA (https://www.heartforwardla.org/). Heart Forward is collaborating with Aaron Stern at Verdugo Sound as the technical partner in producing this podcast (https://www.verdugosound.com). Kerry Morrison is also the author of the blog www.accoglienza.us.
Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
He Came in with It: A Portrait of Motherhood and Madness. A conversation with the author -- and my former neighbor -- Miriam Feldman
Miriam Feldman – one of the strongest women I know -- recounts her journey as the mother of a son struggling with schizophrenia. She points out that as a mother, you tend to worry about child abduction or car accidents. Nothing prepares you for serious mental illness.
From her book: “This is the story of how mental illness unspools an entire family…it exposes the shortfalls of our mental health system, the destructive impact of stigma, shame and isolation, and, finally, the falsity of the notion of a perfect family.” Mimi lived across the street from me, and her son is the same age as mine. I did not know about this story until I read her book!
Why does this have to be such a secret? And why does it have to be so hard? In this interview, you’ll hear about the things that must change if we are going to interrupt this tragic cycle of illness, despair, hospitalization and derailed dreams. Fortunately, Nick did not end up homeless or incarcerated, but this is too often the circle of life for people with mental illness in our country. Nick’s story adds to the growing chorus that this must change in America.
Mimi’s 2020 book is called He Came in With It: A Portrait of Motherhood and Madness.
Her website is a treasure trove of her art, her blogs, information about her book and resource information for families and friends trying to understand mental illness and how to navigate this space.
Here is a “TED-type” talk she recently gave as part of a NAMI Washington State “The Brainpower Chronicles” event in November, 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Jc8k8NKHM&t=127s
Link Article in LA Yoga October 2020
Instagram handle: @mimitheriveter
Links to other topics referenced during this interview.
About NAMI | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance
HIPAA – the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act