Sozosei Foundation Updates
IN THE NEWS
Resources for Learning and Involvement
At our 2020 Summit, registrants and participants shared varied and rich resources about the field of decriminalizing mental illness. Sozosei is honored to share those resources here. If you have a resource you wish to share, please email us at [email protected]
Together, we can start to mitigate the devastating consequences of treating mental illness as if it is a crime. In so doing, we must acknowledge and respond to the policies that created our current challenges, and the societal implications of those policies. Resources illuminating the issue, including research and advocacy efforts, are listed below and organized by topic.
Deflection and Pre-arrest Diversion to Prevent Opioid Overdose
Communities across the country have implemented deflection and pre-arrest diversion (DPAD) initiatives to link people who use drugs to evidence-based care and services instead of incarceration.
Meeting the Needs of Justice-Involved People With Serious Mental Illness Within Community Behavioral Health Systems
A new approach is needed that focuses on addressing the multiple factors that contribute to justice involvement for this population. Although the authors’ proposed approach may be viewed as aspirational, they suggest that an integrated community-based behavioral health system—i.e., intercept 0—serve as the focal point for coordinating and integrating services for justice-involved people with serious mental illness.
How to Transform the U.S. Mental Health System Evidence-Based Recommendations
This report provides recommendations to promote transformational change to improve the lives of the millions of Americans living with mental illness.
A new poll conducted by Safer Cities shows that voters support creating a new agency of first responders, like emergency medical services or firefighters, to reroute some 911 calls away from armed police officers to medical professionals who are better situated to respond to mental health and homelessness related situations than armed police officers.
In the spirit of collaboration, we recently hosted a Virtual Book Club featuring authors and renowned psychiatrist Dr. James Knoll and renowned psychologist Dr. Joel Dvoskin. Led by Sozosei Board Member, Mary Chi Michael, Dr. Knoll and Dr. Dvoskin discussed their contribution to the recently released book, “Decriminalizing Mental Illness” with more than 100 attendees.
The Foundation recently kicked off a series of Global Solution Labs to surface more knowledge and perspectives about how to create a future where mental illness is not treated as a crime. Over 50 multi-disciplinary “Solutionists” gathered on May 7, 2021, to take on the ambitious task of identifying the top solutions to move the needle on the decriminalization of mental illness.
National Juvenile Justice Network webinar profiling youth voices.
Broadcast addressing the critical health needs of Americans through original digital content, and impactful local events.
Washington Post article comparing the likelihood of police shootings for people living with mental illness in mid-size towns versus those in large cities. Please note this article contains some graphic content.
Research from the Treatment Advocacy Center showing that individuals with mental illness tend to receive a more severe punishment than those without a mental illness.