X Mental Health: Patrisse Cullors & James, Incarcerated Advocate

Mental health is key to how we treat ourselves and each other. But can investing in mental health really make us safer? We holla at Patrisse Cullors – artist, author of An Abolitionist’s Handbook: 12 Steps to Changing the World and Yourself, and caretaker of her brother, who has been criminalized for mental illness. We also talk to James, who is currently serving 15 years in prison for an altercation that took place during a mental health episode.    If you or someone you know is struggling or thinking about self-harm, there are ways to get help. Go to spotify.com/resources for a list of organizations that offer support for anyone feeling distressed, experiencing feelings of depression or anxiety, or thinking about self harm or suicide. Check out our episode notes below for links to resources and some of the other points discussed in this episode. Socials @osopepatrisse @vicmensa @indigomateo @richiereseda ============== Find and independent bookseller where you can buy Patrisse’s new book An Abolitionist’s Handbook: 12 Steps to Changing Yourself and the World. Check out some of the statistics on Mental Health X the criminal justice system from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Read this NPR article about the work being done in Trieste, Italy around mental health that Patrisse mentions in the episode, and how this abolitionist framework is now under threat. You can hear James on Vic’s 2021 album The I Tape. Find out more about Patrisse’s art and the work she’s doing through her organization The Crenshaw Dairy Mart in Inglewood, CA, as well as the Care Not Cages initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices