Pete Earley had been a journalist for 30 years when his work on crime and punishment became personal. His son Mike was declared mentally ill, and in one episode, he damaged a neighbor's house when he broke in to take a bubble bath. Mike was arrested and the ensuing journey led Pete into the maze of the mental health care system. Pete Earley is coming to Utah and Monday he joins us to explain how America's prisons have become the new mental asylums and what it means for those suffering from illness.
Navigating Mental Illness
Have you or a loved one had to navigate the mental health care system? What challenges have you found?
I lost my brother Spencer earlier this year. He was a diagnosed schizophrenic spending time in jail. He killed himself in his jail cell in Salt Lake City Utah in February. He should have been in a mental institution or hospital. Yesterday was his birthday. He would have been 34. We have had a very difficult time getting records about what happened to him. I am disgusted with our system.
I've had deep depression over 21 years. I've been on Prozac or the generic kind for quite awhile. My doctor suggested Abilify which is a new drug to help me since I've really been struggling. She gave me samples for a month and I almost felt like my old happy self. She was out of sample so she wrote me a presciption for one month. I went to Pharmacy and it was over $600.00!!!! I told them I was more depressed thinking about having to pay over $600.00. I obviously declined the prescription. Now what? How are we suppose to pay for these things!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know the makers of medication can help assist in the cost, they have prescription programs... Here is a couple links to help you on your way to getting the abilify.
They are there to help, exspecially if you dont have insurance or dont quilify for medicade and such. Read the information the first link is the form to fill out, the 2nd link is the actual web site.
The 3rd link is a coupon you can print out and use many times, however the discount is not known, the discount can be diffrent at any pharmacy locations but is probably best to call many pharmacys to see what kind of a discount you would get with them exspecially if you need you medication ASAP and then wait for approval from the makers if you qualify.
There are also clinics that help people with medications here in Utah if there is mental illness. If you need help locating these clincs write back and let me know. I will find one for you.
11/09/2009 11:09:22 AM
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