The Mental Health Association of Portland remains firm on Department of Justice v. City of Portland. The position elucidated in this column has been our unvarying stance since the outset of the lawsuit, and, barring sudden, cataclysmic changes descending ...
7 Aug 2014 - Jason Renaud
On the desk in Juliet Follansbee’s downtown Portland office is a thick book of Oregon laws. It contains only a few sentences that grant the state agency she operates tremendous power over the lives of hundreds of Oregonians. In May, Follansbee was made in ...
12 Apr 2014 - Jake Thomas
Oregon’s mental health care systems gained attention and new money from the 2013 legislative sessions-- and more is on the way. While this is good news for Portlanders, especially those experiencing homelessness, mental health problems or addiction, it’s ...
18 Nov 2013 - Jasmine Rockow
They were given a bus ticket along with a few days worth of medication and food. They traveled long distances to cities in California where they arrived as strangers. Their journeys have sparked outrage and lawsuits. Now there are calls to find out if it ...
4 Oct 2013 - Jake Thomas
The Mental Health Association of Portland is asking Oregon's Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to inquire into a Nevada state psychiatric hospital that has been accused of dumping patient's in surrounding states. Below is the letter written to th ...
16 Sep 2013 - Street Roots Staff
Transgender clients faces unique challenges within health system By Jenny Westberg, Contributing Columnist In December 1973, a psychiatric breakthrough wiped out all signs and symptoms of mental illness for millions of Americans. It wasn’t a new drug. It ...
8 Nov 2010 - Street Roots
Navigating the inequities of mental health system By Jenny Westberg, Contributing Columnist Keaton Otis died on May 12. We know police shot at him 32 times. We know the other victim, Officer Christopher Burley, and we know he’ll survive. We know so much a ...
15 Jul 2010 - Street Roots
You’ve stepped up to the plate, mayor; lets hit a home run By Jenny Westberg An Open Letter to Sam Adams: Dear Sam, Thank you for responding, finally, to our repeated calls to bring accountability to the Portland Police Bureau. It may have taken a couple ...
22 Jun 2010 - Street Roots
Finding lost friends: A guide for connecting off the grid By Jenny Westberg, Contributing Columnist According to the National Institute of Mental Health, each year around 25 percent of adults suffer from a diagnosable mental illness — more than 57 million ...
21 May 2010 - Street Roots
Denying life will only make you miserable By Michael Hopcroft, Contributing Writer Do you suffer from mental illness?” “No, Doctor. I enjoy every minute of it!” Of course, nobody really enjoys being mentally ill. But this very old joke illustrates somethi ...
27 Apr 2010 - Street Roots