Janet Hays: Healing Minds NOLA journey to reform mental health systems

Janet Hayes shares her journey as a severe mental illness advocate reshaping New Orleans through innovative care systems for those with serious mental health challenges.

• Started advocacy after Hurricane Katrina when untreated mental illness led to criminalization
• Witnessed a friend die in custody due to inadequate mental health and medical care
• Founded Healing Minds NOLA to create a "one-stop shop" for mental health care
• Successfully led implementation of Assistive Outpatient Treatment courts in Louisiana
• Working to reform the "15-day rule" limiting psychiatric hospitalization under Medicaid
• Advocates need to understand their specific state systems rather than applying generic solutions
• Louisiana has adequate psychiatric bed capacity but lacks long-term continuity of care
• Policy barriers, not just funding issues, prevent effective treatment for severe mental illness
• Ideological positions often prevent pragmatic solutions that could help vulnerable individuals
• Advocates are more effective when they understand local systems and speak from experience

https://whynotme.world

intro/outro music written by T. Wild

Why Not me music published by Mantor Music (BMI)