For Parent(s) with a Deaf child or Adult with a mental disorder?

-----------------------------------
Alan Judd (reporter) is with Atlanta Journal Constitution
-----------------------------------
To share your experiences (good, bad and ugly) with the mental health
system, contact Alan Judd or Andy Miller at 404-526-2640.
-------------------------------------

Sent by Mark_Johnson@... <mailto:Mark_Johnson%40shepherd.org>

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/meshcrider0107a.html
<http://www.ajc.com/search/content/meshcrider0107a.html>

...Sarah was one of at least 115 patients from Georgia's state
psychiatric
hospitals who have died under suspicious circumstances during the
past five
years, according to an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-
Constitution.
...

... This study revealed a pattern of neglect, abuse and poor medical
care
in the seven state hospitals, as well as a lack of public
accountability
for patient deaths. ...

... Dangerous conditions in the hospitals arise from decades of
disregard
by public officials, chronic overcrowding and understaffing, and
public
indifference, the newspaper found. ...

... In 2000, state legislators created an ombudsman's office to
investigate
abuse and neglect âEUR"- but never appropriated money for the office
and never
filled the job. And the problems have become even more
intractable. ...

... Experts say relatively simple measures could have prevented many
deaths
...

... Skinner (Gwen Skinner, Department of Human Resources) agrees that
Sarah's death was avoidable. ... I would say that anytime you have
a child
die, the system has failed. ...

... She (Sarah) loved cartoons. Given the choice, she would have
eaten ice
cream with every meal. She gardened with her grandmother ...

To share your experiences (good, bad and ugly) with the mental health
system, contact Alan Judd or Andy Miller at 404-526-2640.



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