FYI
Article by Ryan Dowd, homeless
Question Dear Ryan, What is it like to sleep in a homeless shelter? I’m having a hard time imagining… Mark Answer I have never slept in a shelter because I had to. I have, though, slept in a homeless shelter (the one where I work) many times to feel what...
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Posting Part of Ryan Dowd Newsletter
“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”. It may be hard to find anyone in the US who hasn’t heard the term. Ryan Dowd from homelesstraining.com wrote a beautiful essay in a recent newsletter. The early part of his essay describes an interaction he had with a friend from his youth. When I...
About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia weighs heavily not only on people who suffer from it, but also on the people who love those suffering from it. Dealing with the symptoms plus the challenges of medication makes it an especially demanding illness for everyone involved.Schizophrenia is a mental illness that interferes with the ability to...
If You Think Someone Near You Is in Crisis: How to Help Right Now
If you believe someone may be in immediate danger or may hurt themselves, call emergency services right away. In the U.S., you can also call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support, or text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line [1]. When someone you care about seems overwhelmed, withdrawn, hopeless, or says things...
How Support and Understanding Can Change Lives
Mental health challenges can affect every part of a person’s life, including relationships, housing stability, employment, physical health, and daily routines. For many individuals, having access to compassionate support and a safe place to live can make a meaningful difference in their ability to move forward with hope and stability....
Mental Illness Risk Assessment
There are three things you need to know to assess risk from someone who suffers from severe mental illness. FIRST: Most people with severe mental illness are not violent. 97.1% of people with a severe mental illness are not violent. If you add substance abuse to severe mental illness that...
In the Event That I Am Pronounced Mentally Insane…
It was a Saturday. Mid-morning. Pleasantly warm outside. On such days, people should be skipping stones across tranquil ponds. Or playing frisbee with panting dogs in freshly mowed fields. Or driving through mountain passes with windows down and music loud. I was doing none of those things. I was in...