Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy

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Denise Paley shares the harrowing story of her son's sudden onset schizophrenia at age 18 and his subsequent five-year imprisonment without sentencing, revealing critical failures in how our justice system handles mental illness.

• Son Ellis was an honor roll student with a bright future before experiencing first-episode psychosis

• Police dismissed parents' concerns when Ellis disappeared, missing critical intervention opportunity

• Ellis has been incarcerated for nearly five years, remaining unsentenced with his case continued 48 times

• He spent 3.5 years without proper treatment for psychosis while in prison

• When finally transferred to a facility that properly treated his condition, his symptoms completely remitted

• Denise successfully advocated for mandatory crisis intervention training for Connecticut police officers

• People with serious mental illness are 10 times more likely to end up in prison than in hospital

• Contrary to popular belief, 50% of people with schizophrenia recover within 10 years with proper treatment

• First episode psychosis requires immediate treatment - early intervention dramatically improves outcomes

• Breaking stigma and sharing family mental health history can help others recognize symptoms earlier

Join us in spreading awareness about mental health in the justice system by sharing this episode and telling everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World.

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intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild

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