In this episode I speak with attorney Elizabeth Rich about her experiences navigating mental health laws in Wisconsin. Elizabeth brings a multifaceted perspective to her work weaving together experience as an attorney, an advocate, and as a parent of someone who was directly impacted by these systems.

Andrew’s V.O.I.C.E: www.andrewsvoice.org

In this series I look at Peer Respites throughout the United States and try to better understand how this model of care provides safe, noncarceral opportunities for people experiencing distress. And in this episode I speak with Jason Robison, Chief Program Officer for SHARE! The Self-Help and Recovery Exchange. We talk about the SHARE! Recovery Retreat, as well as a broader discussion about Jason’s approach to peer support and how to cultivate more humanity while navigating complex systems.

SHARE!: https://www.shareselfhelp.org/

Jason Robison: https://www.shareselfhelp.org/copy-of-lara-skutt-coo-chro

Recovery Retreat: https://www.shareselfhelp.org/recovery-retreat

In this episode I reunite with Leah Harris to talk about the concept of Forcewashing, a term that Leah coined in an article about an Involuntary Outpatient Commitment bill currently being considered in Massachusetts.

Leah Harris: https://truthout.org/articles/massachusetts-advocates-resist-dystopian-involuntary-outpatient-commitment-bill/

E. Fuller Torrey Interview: youtube.com/watch?si=DPAuc_viybzgY4ur&v=7A8xgpYV46o&feature=youtu.be

Jeffrey Lieberman Quote: https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/22/jeffrey-lieberman-calls-nick-reiner-facilities-scams/

In this episode I speak with Fern, Director of the Wild Ivy Social Justice Network. We talk about concerns related to an involuntary outpatient commitment bill currently before the Massachusetts legislature, as well as some of the non-carceral alternatives that currently exist in that state.

Wild Ivy Social Justice Network: https://wildfloweralliance.org/wild-ivy/

In this episode I speak with Steve Schwartz, Special Counsel at the Center for Public Representation. We talk about an AOT bill currently working its way through the Massachusetts legislature and break down some of the more concerning aspects of the MA bill specifically, as well as questions and concerns related to the implementation of other outpatient commitment laws throughout the country.

Center for Public Representation: https://www.centerforpublicrep.org

In this series I work with Leah Harris to look at Assisted Outpatient Treatment laws throughout the United States. Assisted Outpatient Treatment, often referred to as AOT, is a form of involuntary outpatient commitment that leverages the use of a court order to coerce people into compliance.

Leah Harris: https://truthout.org/articles/massachusetts-advocates-resist-dystopian-involuntary-outpatient-commitment-bill/

In this episode I speak with Emily Harvey, Co-Legal Director of Disability Law Colorado. We talk about a recent report from DLC that looks at the Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center, a psychiatric residential youth facility that was found to have alarmingly high reported incidents of restraint.

Disability Law Colorado: https://disabilitylawco.org/

SPRTC Report: https://disabilitylawco.org/sites/default/files/uploads/FINAL_SPRTC%20Report%2010.8.25_0.pdf

In this episode I speak with Mark Joyce from Disability Rights Maine about the importance of Protection and Advocacy Organizations and how DRM works in collaboration with their PAIMI Advisory Council. We also talk about a deeply concerning gap in Maine law that allows for prolonged and potentially indefinite detention in an emergency department. This type of unintentional due process deficiency exists in mental health laws throughout the United States and Mark highlights some of the many reasons why it is essential for state legislators to correct these policies.

Disability Rights Maine: https://drme.org/

Short Interview with Senator Lowell Weicker and John Doyle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x45XG4c5A3c

Transcript of 1985 Hearings: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED263712.pdf

Blog Post about psychiatric hospitals refusing admissions, leading to prolonged detention in EDs: https://drme.org/author/mark-joyce/

In this episode I speak with Ruth Lowenkron, Director of the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. We talk about the basic principles of due process in relation to involuntary hospitalizations as well as concerns about the ongoing expansion of commitment laws in New York.

NYLPI: https://www.nylpi.org/

NYLPI report on Kendra’s Law: https://www.nylpi.org/nylpi-releases-new-report-implementation-of-kendras-law-continues-to-be-severely-biased/

As a person with a history of psychiatric disabilities, involuntary hospitalizations and a civil commitment, I know that I will always be vulnerable to the carceral whims of legislators. I am forever trapped in the trauma of my most desperate moment, a point in time where the state declared that I was mentally unfit to be free. And I will forever fear how easy it would be for someone to decide that I should be locked away and disappeared like that again. But over the past several years I have been privileged to talk with attorneys, advocates, and people with lived experience who are fighting to create change. Fighting to protect the rights, humanity, and dignity of the vulnerable people who are being forced into these systems. So as I continue to explore the work of Protection & Advocacy organizations throughout the United States I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak with Nancy Murphy from the Disability Law Center. DLC is the P&A for Massachusetts and we spoke about the importance of Protection & Advocacy organizations and the complicated state and federal guardrails that they have to navigate.

Disability Law Center: https://www.dlc-ma.org/

Six Fundamental Rights: https://www.dlc-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Six-Fundamental-Rights-2025.01.pdf

Representative Payee Program: https://www.dlc-ma.org/representative-payee-program/

Bridgewater Report: https://www.dlc-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/DLC-BSH-Public-Report-to-Legislature-2.6.2025-Final-w.-Apps-1.pdf