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

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