TREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER

OUR MISSION: The Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. TAC promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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New report finds deficit of nearly 100,000 public psychiatric beds

result is increased homelessness, emergency room overcrowding, and

use of jails and prisons as de-facto psychiatric hospitals

Read the Treatment Advocacy Center's report

IN THE NEWS ...

Closing arguments today in deadly fire trial

IL – ABC 7 Chicago, May 9, 2008

Officials identify body in home

NH – Concord Monitor, May 8, 2008

Witnesses testify about killing of man

PA – Erie Times-News, May 7, 2008

Homicide victim, 61, was "afraid" of her son

AZ – Arizona Daily Star, May 6, 2008

Woman gets 90 days in jail in toddler

scalding case

IL – Northwest Herald, May 1, 2008

Police: Man Stabbed Mother To Death

FL – WPLG Miami, April 30, 2008

Read additional stories on TAC's news ticker.

Did we miss a story? Send it to us. Consequences of nontreatment fill papers daily, like suicide, homelessness, arrest, and violence.

ON TAC'S BLOG ...

A Quest For Answers [5/9]

Increasingly Popular Skid Row [5/8]

Where is the mental health community? [5/2]

A Benefit of Outpatient Commitment Often Overlooked – Preventing Victimization [5/1]

Reform in Idaho Makes State’s Commitment Law Among the Nation’s Best [4/25]

Sadly, Just Another Monday [4/23]

Déjà Vu All Over Again [4/22]

How Painful Tragedy Can Result In More Treatment And Less Stigma [4/18]

Want to join the conversation? Email us! We are interested in your thoughts - and in guest blogs

TAC IN THE NEWS...

March 17, 2008: The Treatment Advocacy Center released its report on the nationwide shortage of public psychiatric beds. The report - picked up by the New York Sun - reveals a shortage of almost 100,000 beds across the country.

March 12, 2008: The Virginian Pilot published a letter from TAC executive director, Kurt Entsminger. Enstminger criticized Virginia lawmakers for failing to bring real reform to the state's mental health system.

March 2008: TAC's Rosanna Esposito had a letter published in Psychiatric Services along with Dr. Valerie Westhead and Jim Berko. The letter cites the success of assisted outpatient treatment in Florida's Seminole County.

QUICK LINKS ...

Who is the Treatment Advocacy Center?
What is assisted outpatient treatment?
What is lack of insight?
What is my state's treatment law?
How can I fight for treatment for the person I love?
How can I get on your mailing list?
What special resources do you have for familes?
How should my family prepare for crisis?
What books do you recommend? (Includes books by Pete Earley, Xavier Amador, and Fuller Torrey)

I have more questions ...

IN RESEARCH ...

Dr. E Fuller Torrey's presentation at the 2007 NAMI Convention: The Causes And Consequences Of Our Failure To Treat Individuals With Severe Psychiatric Disorders (San Diego, June 22, 2007) Dr. Torrey is president of the Treatment Advocacy Center and was named America’s most famous psychiatrist by the Washington Post.

Schizophrenia and violence. Study links violence and schizophrenia: CATIE data show 19.1% of patients violent in six-month period. Treatment Advocacy Center President Dr. E. Fuller Torrey: “Although most individuals with mental illnesses are not violent, violence by a subgroup of individuals with schizophrenia is far from rare. And the violent behavior is almost always associated with the person not having received treatment for their illness. The only solution is treatment.” Read more...

FOR FAMILIES ...

Read about how to prepare for crisis and fight for treatment; a study showing that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) reduces caregiver strain; voices from families on AOT; and a guide to navigating the HIPAA privacy law. Find more information and advice for advocates on our advocates page.