Letter to the Editor: Unmet needs
By Oscar Kastner, Tulsa on Sep 15, 2013, at 2:24 AM Updated on 9/15/13 at 5:46 AM
Letters to the Editor
In his letter, ("No One Listened," Aug. 31) Robert Leppelmeir made some inaccurate claims, inaccurate conclusions and key omissions. His intent was to exonerate George W. Bush for his war against Iraq.
Re: Baby Veronica story: Isn't it just a little odd that the same attorneys in Oklahoma City and South Carolina and the adoption agency are the same parties in the Desaray case in Oklahoma City and are now representing the Capobiancos.
In recent support group meetings, we still hear from families that Oklahoma does not have appropriate treatment facilities for an important group of people who have mental illnesses. These are the ones who have anosognosia (are mentally ill, but don't realize their own need for treatment).
Because of behavioral problems they have been turned away from shelters such as the Day Center for The Homeless and John 3:16. They may have been evicted from apartments or other living facilities, and they cannot live with families. Some have been found to be so difficult that they cannot be helped by the Program of Assertive Treatment (PACT teams). And some end up in jails or prisons because their illness causes them to commit crimes. And all less restrictive facilities are at capacity.
We need one more level of corrective treatment to deal with these who are of great concern to families, and of concern to society in general. They need special intensive care to deal with and correct behavioral problems when they are not cooperative. Such special care would give mental health courts one more way to help people, and it would be cost effective. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services have worked cooperatively to advocate for care improvements in the past 25 years, and they can help legislators to amend the law as necessary now.
Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to
letters@tulsaworld.com.
Letters to the Editor
In his letter, ("No One Listened," Aug. 31) Robert Leppelmeir made some inaccurate claims, inaccurate conclusions and key omissions. His intent was to exonerate George W. Bush for his war against Iraq.
Re: Baby Veronica story: Isn't it just a little odd that the same attorneys in Oklahoma City and South Carolina and the adoption agency are the same parties in the Desaray case in Oklahoma City and are now representing the Capobiancos.
