Pete Earley: A Father’s (and son’s) Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness

Pete Earley is a storyteller whose books include four New York Times bestsellers, likeThe Hot House and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness.His years as an investigative journalist include six years at The Washington Post. Pete is a tireless advocate for mental health system reform.

Many listeners ask: What about the Dads? Pete Earley knows. He was most recently seen on the PBS documentary “Hiding in Plain Sight” with his son Kevin Mike Earley.

In today’s episode we hear their family story, and many thoughts on what we’d like to change about the system - including NAMI. We also touch on the new 988 system, and once again Judge Stephen Leifman in Florida, who envisioned a reform program that would help people reintegrate into society by helping them with housing, relationships, and health care—especially mental health care. 

We ask:

• Tell us your story, and Kevin’s story - how have things changed since you wrote “crazy”?
• 988 is rolling out - comments?
• What has been your experience as a “Dad in the Trenches”? Do you think it’s different from the way Moms tend to handle mental illness in the family?
• Did your book, Crazy, inspire any changes in the mental illness/prison system?
• What are your thoughts on the recent direction of NAMI? Are there other organizations who are more about SMI (serious mental illness)?
• Tell us about Hidden in Plain sight and what that experience meant for Kevin - and for you.
• What are the most pressing issues today that you are fighting for?
• What would you most like other Dads to know?

Links: http://www.peteearley.com/

Judge Leifman speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFbyI6I0Mlk

The Lifeline and 988 - https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/ 

NPR 988 story:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/15/1111316589/988-suicide-hotline-number

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Randye Kaye -Broadcaster, Actress, Voice Talent, Speaker, and Author (“Ben Behind his Voices”, “Happier Made Simple”)

Miriam Feldman – Artist, Mom, Author “He Came in With It”

Mindy Greiling – member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for twenty years. Activist, Legislator, Author (“Fix What You Can“)

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman