The Criminalization of the Mentally Ill | Reagan Kremer | TEDxUNT

Summary

This emotional story follows the speaker’s journey with their brother, Brady, who experienced a manic episode due to undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The speaker reflects on the painful impact of the episode, which led to Brady's arrest and mistreatment by police. The narrative highlights the broader issue of how people with mental illnesses are often misunderstood and criminalized, rather than receiving the care they need. The speaker advocates for more compassionate, informed responses to mental health crises, stressing the importance of community awareness, advocacy, and seeing individuals beyond their illnesses.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker's older brother, Brady, was the first in their family to earn a master's degree, inspiring the speaker's academic journey.
• 😀 Brady experienced a severe manic episode due to undiagnosed bipolar disorder, which led to strange behavior, paranoia, and sleeplessness.
• 😀 In a crisis, the speaker's family called 9-1-1, expecting an ambulance, but instead, several police officers arrived, escalating the situation.
• 😀 Brady was arrested, charged with a felony, and placed in solitary confinement, where he was treated inhumanely and restrained, not knowing what was happening to him.
• 😀 The speaker later learned that Brady had bipolar disorder and his behavior was due to a manic episode, highlighting the lack of understanding of mental illness in such situations.
• 😀 People with mental illness are often wrongly seen as violent and dangerous, which leads to their criminalization rather than receiving the help they need.
• 😀 According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, over 2 million people with mental illnesses are arrested annually in the U.S.
• 😀 A key myth is that mentally ill people are violent and unpredictable, which exacerbates negative stereotypes and leads to police involvement instead of proper care.
• 😀 Most individuals with mental illness are actually more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population, showing the real danger is to them, not by them.
• 😀 Communities, like one in Iowa, have implemented mobile crisis response teams, including social workers and nurses, to respond to mental health crises instead of law enforcement.
• 😀 These mobile crisis response teams are more effective, connecting people with resources and reducing the likelihood of jail time, showing that systemic change can reduce harm and improve outcomes.
• 😀 The speaker advocates for a shift in perspective, asking society to see people with mental illness as individuals with dignity and worth, not as problems to be solved or inconveniences.

Q & A

Who is the speaker's brother, and what is significant about his role in the speaker's life?

The speaker's brother, Brady, is described as one of the most kind, generous, and funny people the speaker knows. He was the first in the family to earn a master's degree, which inspired the speaker to pursue their own academic goals.

What event led to the speaker's brother being arrested?

Brady began exhibiting strange behaviors, such as speaking in codes, paranoia, and lack of sleep, which led the family to call 9-1-1 for medical help. Instead, police officers arrived, and due to Brady's paranoid state, he mistakenly believed they were there to harm him, resulting in his arrest and incarceration.

How did the speaker's brother end up in solitary confinement?

Brady, in his manic state, was arrested and placed in jail, where he was held in solitary confinement, restrained to a bed with a spit mask, unaware of his surroundings or the consequences of his actions.

What diagnosis did the speaker's brother receive after the incident?

The speaker's brother was later diagnosed with undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The behaviors that led to the arrest were part of a severe manic episode related to his condition.

What does the speaker believe is one of the most horrifying aspects of their brother's story?

The speaker highlights that it is not uncommon for people with mental illness to experience similar situations of misunderstanding and mistreatment, such as being arrested rather than receiving proper mental health care.

What is the significance of the statistic that over 2 million people with mental illnesses are arrested each year?

This statistic illustrates the widespread issue of individuals with mental illnesses being arrested, often due to misunderstandings and lack of proper mental health resources, rather than receiving the medical attention they need.

What is the common myth about people with mental illnesses, according to the speaker?

The common myth is that people with mental illnesses are violent, unpredictable, and therefore dangerous. This misconception leads to their criminalization rather than providing the necessary care and support.

What is the contrast between how people respond to physical medical emergencies and mental health crises?

In physical emergencies, people are often trained in CPR or first aid, but in mental health crises, there is often a lack of understanding or training, leading to individuals being viewed as violent or threatening instead of in need of help.

What role did the closure of psychiatric institutions in the 20th century play in the criminalization of people with mental illnesses?

The closure of psychiatric institutions left many severely mentally ill individuals without proper care, contributing to higher rates of homelessness and incarceration, as they were not provided with the necessary resources or support.

What is the Mobile Crisis Response Team, and how does it address mental health crises?

The Mobile Crisis Response Team is a community program in Iowa consisting of social workers, therapists, and nurses who partner with law enforcement to respond to mental health crises. The team provides immediate mental health assessments, connects individuals to necessary resources, and follows up to ensure long-term stability.

What is the speaker’s hope for the future regarding how people with mental illness are treated?

The speaker hopes that one day society will treat everyone humanely, regardless of their mental health status, and that people will see individuals with mental illnesses as human beings rather than problems or inconveniences.

How does the speaker suggest we begin to change societal attitudes toward mental illness?

The speaker advocates for open conversations, educating oneself on mental health, and challenging personal biases. By doing so, society can foster understanding and compassion for individuals with mental illnesses.