Support Change, Not Chains, for Mental Health.

We must bring severe mental illness (SMI) out of the shadows and confront neglect with fearlessness and resolve. Severe mental illnesses are highly treatable in most cases yet, while 5-6% of Americans have SMI, a disproportionate share of people in New Orleans with SMI are homeless (75%), incarcerated (20%) and in the revolving doors of Emergency Rooms and hospitals.  

We have a track record of improving legislation to support earlier access to treatment, before the threshold of “dangerousness to self or others” is required. If we agree that severe mental illnesses should be treated like any other serious medical conditions—such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or cancer—then it raises an important question: why is a demonstration of violence or imminent danger required for access to care in mental health, when it is not required for treatment of other diseases?

Passing legislation is one matter but implementing it is another. Louisiana's Assistive Outpatient Treatment law was passed in 2008 but sat on the books unused until Healing Minds NOLA began advocating to implement programs statewide. 

In our advocacy, we work with families every day who struggle with these situations. 

We need your support to build capacity and bring legislators to the realization that we demand REAL change, REAL solutions, and REAL care for people with REAL severe mental illnesses - NOW.