Yesterday, Cindi and I entered the capitol building in Olympia, Washington at 10 a.m. We were met by a few others, including grassroots-organizer, Robert Whitlock. In the governor’s office, we announced that we had walked 75 miles for compassionate and empowering mental health care.
We were handed a scrap of paper and told that we could leave a note for the governor who was out. Luckily, Robert knew to inform us that we could ask to speak with the governor’s aides. We were then given audience.
For 45 minutes, we described “the web of deception and harmful practices coming out of the profit-driven mental-illness model” – fresh air and earth are a right, NOT a privilege and should not be used as a means for behavior conditioning. The routine of forced and coerced drugging must be stopped. HIPAA laws are being mis-used to separate families and isolate locked-up individuals in the name of “privacy.”
SSI is being pushed onto patients in early stages of symptomology, only to make “cash cows” out of our young adults, adding to the epidemic of “human warehousing” in the back wards of psychiatric hospitals.
We shared our personal stories concerning our own children. My daughter, never having hurt a soul, was not allowed to step outside, for over a year and Cindi’s son, given a 1,200% overdose at age 15, is still locked up and recycled in and out of a broken system – 20 years later. We also shared a few other personal stories.
Finally, we informed the governors aides of, what Cindi and I refer to as, the “black hole” of support and supportive services in our communities and our desire to see neighborhoods become places where hearts can heal.
The aides to the governor listened closely and took copious notes. The entire interview was taped and will be released on YouTube after our return from our one hundred mile walk.
We urge supporters to join Cindi and me for our last mile this Wednesday, August 1. We will meet on the sidewalks in front of Western State Hospital in Lakewood, Washington at 1 p.m. THIS WALK IS OUR VOICE!
Thank you for your interest and support. More updates to come soon.
1 comment
grace silvia
August 2, 2012 at 10:50 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Did you do it? Are you home?
My phone not been working for the last 4 days, but I have been thinking of you daily.
Please rest well and take care of yourselves. Be nice to your feet! Soak in hot baths! Sleep in your own beds!
Then, when you are ready, post those pictures and stories. We are waiting to hear and see.
Much love,
Grace