The San Francisco Chronicle has a full-page editorial on Mental Health ‘Reform’ today. It is written from a liberal pose but it’s bottom line is the ‘moderate’ version of the old Torrey refrain, ‘deinstitutionalization’ is the problem, lack of services is what needs to be fixed, the way to do this is more money, control and yes involuntary services ‘as needed’. What we’d call the ‘San Mateo’ or ‘Riverside’ version of local mental health.

If we are going to fight this NAMI offensive based on the LHC report, on the RAND study, however thinly we think it is, we are going to have to work together. And we are going to be fighting on a ‘new ground’ where there is open discussion about mental health policy, one that we don’t know or understand as well as we did the confrontation style ‘discussion’ around AB 1800.

This strongly suggests that we find a way to work together. In my last post I called this the problem of ‘coalition’. But every response from the Network is ‘same-old, same-old’, which is to say, “Only within the exclusionary disrespectful framework that has been established.” I call upon the Network to stop its fractious approach to this vital struggle and to start working on ways where we can collaborate productively.

In my heart I have my doubts, because this is a tough corner to turn. But I will give it my best. In the meantime, it’s the New Moon & I have a date with the starfishes.

Respectfully

Andrew Phelps

Chronicle editorial