May 17, 2025

Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration

26 minutes

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A mother and clinical social worker shares her heartbreaking journey navigating the legal system after her high-achieving son developed serious mental illness, revealing how our justice system criminalizes rather than treats mental health conditions.

• Licensed independent clinical social worker with 40+ years experience working with vulnerable populations

• Her academically successful son began experiencing internal racing thoughts and anxiety despite outward success

• Despite parents' professional backgrounds (mother a social worker, father a psychologist), they faced enormous challenges getting appropriate care

• Son discontinued medication at 29, leading to psychotic episodes and repeated negative police encounters

• Law enforcement and legal system demonstrated lack of training and empathy in handling mental health crises

• Massachusetts lacks assisted outpatient treatment programs that could have prevented criminalization

• 70-80% of incarcerated individuals suffer from serious mental illness

• Anosognosia: neurological condition where individuals lose ability to self-reflect on their behaviors

• Advocate working with National Shattering Silence Coalition to change legislation and improve mental health services

• Need for systemic change in how police, courts, and society respond to mental health conditions

Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me, the world, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

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By Tony Mantor

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