🚨 CALIFORNIA Gov. Newsom slashed funding for peer-run Warm Line by 75%. They provide what hospitals and cops can't: lifesaving peer support from someone who's been there. Tell Newsom our loved ones are NOT expendable: 📞 (916) 445-2841 #MentalHealthMatters #CaliforniaBudget #PeerSupport

WTF, RFK Jr? www.mediaite.com/media/tv/chr...

3/3 The real story: Christine's heroic self-advocacy. Her research identified what doctors missed. I'm sharing my letter as a template docs.google.com/document/d/1.... If you agree, let the @newyorker.com know! #ResponsibleJournalism #SMI #schizophrenia #psychosis #MentalHealthAdvocacy

2/3 • Only 4% of autoimmune encephalitis cases-> "isolated psychosis" • Blood tests: 50% false positive rate • Zero peer voices about what recovery actually means The article reinforces "sane/insane" binary. Mary's recovery described as "becoming sane" vs her "insane" identity.

1/3 🧵 Just sent @newyorker.com a scathing letter... "Mary Had Schizophrenia—Then Suddenly She Didn't," risks convincing SMI families their loved ones need expensive testing for conditions affecting <5% of cases. This is dangerous health misinformation...

3/3 Families like mine don't want loved ones disappeared into institutions. Give them housing, healthcare, and dignity. This order offers fear-mongering and forced treatment that research shows doesn't work. Do better. Our loved ones deserve better. #LivedExperience #EvidenceBasedCare

2/3 Here's what they're not telling you: - Only 25% of unhoused people have serious mental illness - People with SMI are 14x more likely to be crime victims - Housing First works - forced treatment doesn't This is reinstitutionalization by another name

1/3 As an SMI mom and carer, I've got something to say about the White House homelessness order, which says moving unhoused people to "long-term institutional settings" will "restore public order." The truth: this isn't about helping people. It's about hiding them. #DisabilityJustice #Homelessness

Great overview of patient rights and autonomy for people with schizophrenia. Dignity improves outcomes! #Schizophrenia #patientsrights schizophrenia.mental-health-community.com/living/know-...

3/3 But 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆. The risk of involuntary or coerced surveillance is high. No matter how well-meaning, courts, families, or insurers must not use this or any monitoring tool without informed consent. #BipolarDisorder #PrecisionMedicine #PatientRights

2/3 ...which in turn could result in: ✅ 70% 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 in emergency room visits in testing ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 via smartphone app ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 from repeated needle sticks ✅ 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 within narrow therapeutic window

1/3 Researchers at USC just developed the world's first wearable lithium sensor that monitors medication levels through sweat. For people with bipolar disorder who take lithium, this could mean an end to mandatory blood draws...

4/4 ...sometimes the answer is "this provider sucks and isn't helping me." That's not resistance - that's excellent self-advocacy. Might be time for a new provider. It bears repeating...coercion is NEVER the answer. #MentalHealthSupport

3/4 What works: - Timing that respects THEIR energy patterns - Shared planning tools they actually want to use - Flexibility without shame - If they don't want to go, LISTEN to why because...

2/4 "Missed appointments" usually aren't about resistance...but about appointments being too early, too stressful, too hard to remember, too patronizing, or flat-out unhelpful. Collaborative care calendars work because they start with partnership, not pressure.

🧵 1/4 Schizophrenia Tip #17: Collaborative Calendar-Keeping 🤝 Most people with schizophrenia want to maintain their health, but need support systems that respect their experience AND their brains. #CollaborativeCare #Schizophrenia

Sacramento County's inviting comment on their Prop 1 plans. 30% of $ now goes to housing interventions (finally!) but vague "directing resources to those with the most significant challenges" needs clarification #BehavioralHealth #Prop1 #PeerSupport www.saccounty.gov/us/en/articl...

SZ Tip 16: Offer practical help 🧠 Executive function challenges in schizophrenia are REAL and neurological. Sometimes loved ones might struggle to organize pills or return calls. Helpful: "I'm headed to the grocery—send me your list?" Not helpful: "Stop making excuses" #SchizophreniaSupport

3/3 This controversy exists because we don't have enough providers with lived experience who are willing to talk about it. Having a mental health condition can be an ASSET when seeking to help others. If you haven't been there, talk to someone who has before treating. #psychiatry #SSRI #withdrawal

2/3 The study didn't even measure "brain zaps" - if you've had 'em, you know how scary they can be, even if not "clinically significant." "Below threshold for clinically significant" still means real suffering. Population averages don't tell the whole story.

🧵 1/3 - That @jama.com study that says antidepressant withdrawal is "modest" on average? Folks are missing the point, IMHO. What I learned taking SSRIs for years: Missing doses = RAPID severe depression that resolved in HOURS when I resumed. But when I did a ten-day taper ? Zero symptoms.

Mental health care access in San Francisco: distressingly, many people can only access care AFTER losing their jobs, homes, or freedom. We can...we MUST do better. 🏙️💙 #MentalHealthCrisis #SanFrancisco www.sfpublicpress.org/sf-has-a-cha...

It's Alcohol Awareness Week in the UK🇬🇧. The US message is "drink responsibly"... the UK has "no wrong door" policies: no one gets turned away when seeking services. A real US alcohol awareness campaign would support everyone with a problem...full stop. #DualDiagnosis #HealthcareEquity 🏳️‍🌈

3/3 We must demand data protection standards that actually protect vulnerable populations. And NOTHING should be developed or marketed without lived experience voices at every step. The research is promising. Let's just do this right. #DigitalMentalHealth #DataPrivacy #SMIFamilies

2/3 The GOOD: Early detection could prevent the kinds of crises that leave our loved ones traumatized and mistrustful of doctors and institutions. The SCARY: Sharing 24/7 tracking data...What happens when this data gets hacked? Sold? Subpoenaed? 🔒

1/3 New research shows smartphone data can predict schizophrenia relapses a MONTH early. For SMI families, this is promising--and also scary. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34994710/ rdcu.be/etfXw

Crisis prep for SMI families 🆘 Search, print + post: - Mobile crisis team - Crisis intervention services - Psychiatric emergency contacts Your NAMI chapter knows what works where you are. Start there. Being prepared is love in action. 💙

Prison peer counselors are providing mental health crisis intervention...because the system won't. Derek's story in @mindsitenews.bsky.social is yet another example of the power of peer support (an 88.9% reduction in the suicide rate) when the system fails AGAIN. mindsitenews.org/2025/06/26/p...

8/ Maurice Anthony and 8 other plaintiffs are fighting for every person with a disability who's been imprisoned and forgotten. 𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 "𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀." Follow this case. Share these stories. 💛 ‪@solitaryconf.bsky.social‬ #SolitaryConfinement #DisabilityRights

6/ The lawsuit points out that monitoring agencies repeatedly told NY they were violating the law. NY's response? Double down and claim their interpretation was correct despite clear statutory language. To me, that makes their cruelty deliberate.

5/ In case you think this is mere oversight... NY deliberately created 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: - PTSD - Depression (unless "severe enough") - Mobility issues that don't require wheelchairs - ...and more 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻' 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴" 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱

4/ The numbers are staggering: - 28% of people in NY solitary have mental health diagnoses - 50% of prison suicides happen in solitary - People with SMI spend 3x longer in isolation This isn't just Maurice - it's THOUSANDS of people with disabilities

3/ Even more infuriating: NY KNEW they were breaking the law. When legislators wrote to clarify that ANYONE on the mental health caseload is protected, NY basically said "𝗻𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗲'𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵."

2/ Maurice Anthony is legally blind. NY's #HALT Act SPECIFICALLY prohibits solitary confinement for people with disabilities. But he's been locked in a cell 20+ hours/day since the law took effect in 2022. His words: like being trapped "in a casket" where "you can't get out" 💔

🧵 THREAD 1/: New York is being SUED for 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. ⚖️The #MauriceAnthony lawsuit is an important milestone that should matter to everyone who loves someone with mental illness...

Deeply, deeply disappointed in my state governor @gavinnewsom.bsky.social and the CA State Association of Psychiatrists for backing #SB27 💔 This massive #CARECourt expansion makes it easier for the state to forcibly process and institutionalize people. Bye bye, due process. ⚖️🚫 #MentalHealthRights

"This legislation will...make it 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲." Everyone who voted for this bill bears the stain of cruelty on their hands. Read 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗜 's complete statement:👇 www.nami.org/press-releas...

here: gutting the systems that support people with mental health disabilities there: compassion builds care cafes to provide a gentler, more healing alternative to those in crisis really making it hard to feel patriotic #mentalhealthpolicy animeaura.store/crisis-cafes...

NIH funding under the new bill (just passed): "Funding for brain research will be consolidated into one institute with a budget of 2.445B. Currently, brain research is funded by several institutes and adds up to over 5B. So it looks like brain research is getting slashed by over 50%." yes? 🧠📈 🧪

This Disability Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈, I couldn't be prouder of my daughter Sally 💜 Not because her schizoaffective disorder is something to overcome, but because she refuses to let stigma, inadequate systems, and discrimination limit her. #DisabilityPride #SMIFamilies #schizophrenia

4/4 "Progress only occurs when people make demands" - Frederick Douglass (via Del Vecchio) We all gotta step up now--because staying quiet isn't working. Full interview: www.madinamerica.com/2025/06/prog... #MentalHealth #PeerSupport #Activism #SpeakUp

3/4 "When we see our president calling for increased institutionalization, if that's 'making America great again,' that's a real problem." Preach. 🔥 Half his recovery office staff just got terminated without cause. Veterans included. This is what "shrinking government" looks like?

2/4 Del Vecchio's "Three Cs" framework explains what we're up against: - 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 (more forced treatment) - Corporate (private equity takeovers) - Complacent (peer workforce going quiet)

🧵 1/4 A voice we need to hear: Paolo Del Vecchio devoted 30 years to federal mental health policy. Del Vecchio was the FIRST person with lived experience hired at SAMHSA—and only because activists literally staged a sit-in demanding representation. That's how change happens. 💪

I'm not anti-research--quite the contrary. But with conclusions like these, we need to take a hard look at what's driving interpretation. Because sloppy information is worse than none at all. 6/6

Peer recovery requires choice and autonomy. Fear-based messaging isolates families and undermines recovery relationships when we need connection most. 5/6

Fellow caregivers, please know that your loved one's cannabis use may be self-medication, genetic factors, or unrelated to their condition. Trust previous, rigorous genetic studies that found tiny effect sizes (4%) and stronger evidence for reverse causation. 4/6

What's more, all that precise rigor falls apart when a distinction is made between casual users and those with CUD (Cannabis Use Disorder), an ill-defined label that doesn't specify HOW MUCH cannabis creates risk. "A....um, lot?" 3/6

No shade to the research methodology. Credit where due. But "genetic correlations found" ≠ "cannabis causes schizophrenia." The same genes that make someone likely to use cannabis may also influence mental health - we already knew that. 2/6

🧵 Cannabis study headlines are ONCE AGAIN scaring the shit out of families because of misinterpreted data. Allow me to clarify the gap between the Nature Mental Health_study's actual findings and how they're being weaponized against families and peer recovery. doi.org/10.1038/s442.... 1/6 ->