Tragedy Demonstrates MH System’s Failure

As Dr. Wise stated in his letter, I am recovering slowly from an attack by a homeless mentally ill man in San Francisco.

While I am grateful for the concern and solicitude shown me, I feel regret for the lack of concern shown toward the chronically mentally ill who roam the streets untreated. Their suffering highlights the depths that public-sector psychiatry has sunk to, lack of political awareness of the long-term costs of not treating patients in an ongoing manner, the lack of access to care, and the lack of adequate advocacy by those who “authorize” visits for treatment. Such neglect surely will place many citizens at risk.