Mental Health Inc

by Art Levine

  182 commit crimes again: John K. Inglehart, “Decriminalizing Mental Illness: The Miami Model,” New England Journal of Medicine, May 5, 2016, http://www.nejm.org/; Sarah Liebowicz et al., A Way Forward: Diverting People with Mental Illness from Inhumane and Expensive Jails into Community-Based Treatment That Works, Report by ACLU of Southern California and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, July 2014, 7, https://www.aclusocal.org.

  182 high-quality services to some: LA County DMH, MHSA Annual Update Fiscal Year 2016–2017, September 20, 2016, http://file.lacounty.gov.

  183 no-confidence vote: County of Los Angeles Chief Executive Office “Approval of Proposed Jail Health Services Structure,” June 9, 2015, http://file.lacounty.gov.

  Chapter 10: To Live and Die In LA

  185 more than one a day: Christopher Ingraham, “We’re Now Averaging More Than One Mass Shooting per Day in 2015,” Washington Post, August 26, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com.

  186 stopped dozens: Art Levine, “Could a LA-Style Threat Assessment Team Have Thwarted the Isla Vista, Seattle or Oregon Shooting Sprees?” Huff-Post, August 21, 2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.

  186 magical powers: Alison Knopf, “AOT Cost-Effectiveness Study Stirs National Debate,” Behavioral Healthcare Executive, Aug 22, 2013, http://www.behavioral.net.

  187 repeatedly been hospitalized: “Implementing AOT Laws,” Treatment Advocacy Center, http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org.

  187 review of mandated treatment: S. R. Kisely and L. A. Campbell, “Compulsory Community and Involuntary Outpatient Treatment for People With Severe Mental Disorders,” Cochrane Collaboration, December 4, 2014, http://www.cochrane.org.

  187 wouldn’t be able to identify: Email to author from D. J. Jaffe, executive director of Mental Illness Policy Org., December 30, 2015, online at https://www.scribd.com.

  187 can’t afford to wait: Erica Goode, “Focusing on Violence Before It Happens,” New York Times, March 14, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com.

  188 well over fifty planned school and campus attacks: DMH, School Threat Assessment Team (START), Application for 2013 Quality and Productivity Awards, Quality and Productivity Commission (LA County), June 27, 2013, http://qpc.lacounty.gov.

  188 already halted: Levine, “Could a LA-Style Threat”; DMH, START, Application for 2013 Quality and Productivity Awards.

  188 authority to seize weapons: Kelly Ward, “The Gun Violence Restraining Order: An Opportunity for Common Ground in the Gun Violence Debate,” Developments in Mental Health Law 34, no. 3 (October 2015): 1–2.

  188 get their guns back: Michele Luo, “In Some States, Gun Rights Trump Orders of Protection,” New York Times, March 17, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com.

  189 copycat threat: Mark Follman and Becca Andrews, “How Columbine Spawned Dozens of Copycats,” Mother Jones, October 5, 2015, http://www.motherjones.com.

  190 crime victimization survey: Linda Teplin et al., “Crime Victimization in Adults With Severe Mental Illness,” Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, no. 8 (August 2005): 911–912.

  190 three to five times: Seena Fazel et al., “Schizophrenia and Violence: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” PLOS Medicine, August 11, 2009, http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000120.

  190 debunked claims: Jeffrey W. Swanson et al., “Mental Illness and Reduction of Gun Violence and Suicide: Bringing Epidemiologic Research to Policy,” Annals of Epidemiology 25 (2015): 368, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24861430.

  192 joint pairings: LA DMH, Emergency Outreach Bureau, Field Response Operations, http://file.lacounty.gov.

  193 its officers shot thirty-eight people: Kate Mather and James Queally, “More Than a Third of People Shot by L.A. Police Last Year Were Mentally Ill, LAPD Report Finds,” Los Angeles Times, March 1, 2016, http://www.latimes.com.

  194 shot a homeless, mentally ill man: For video of shooting, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxyy8mMh2JM.

  194 teams shouldn’t get involved: See #3, demand for LAPD use of SMART teams in Skid Row in Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice et al., “Open Letter to City of LA Elected Officials, Los Angeles Police Department….,” March 12, 2015, online at https://cangress.files.wordpress.com.

  194 quarter of all fatal shootings: Kimberly Kindy et al., “Fatal Shootings by Police Are Up in the First Six Months of 2016, Post Analysis Finds,” Washington Post, July 7, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national.

  195 every thirty-six hours: Wesley Lowery et al., “Distraught People, Deadly Results,” Washington Post, June 30, 2015, http://www.washingtonpost.com.

  195 confrontations dropped 80 percent: “Memphis Model: Police Pioneer Use of Crisis Intervention Teams to Deal with Mentally Sick,” Democracy Now, October 22, 2013, https://www.democracynow.org; Art Levine, “The Calm Arm of the Law,” City Link, March 27–April 2, 2002.

  Chapter 11: Torture In Alabama

  199 multibillion-dollar residential treatment industry: Nina Flanagan, “The Ripeness for the Behavioral Health Market Is Now,” Healthcare Dive, October 19, 2015, http://www.healthcaredive.com; Sebastian Murdock, “The Troubled Teen Industry Has Been a Disaster for Decades. And It’s Still Not Fixed,” HuffPost, August 23, 2016, http://testkitchen.huffingtonpost.com/island-view.

  200 whippings, beatings and alleged rapes: Kathryn Jones, “Horror Stories From Tough-Love Teen Homes,” Mother Jones, July/August 2011, http://www.motherjones.com; Brandy Zadrozny, “Rapes, Daily Beatings, and No Escape: Christian School Was Hell For These Boys,” Daily Beast, June 12, 2016, http://www.thedailybeast.com.

  200 brink of death: Alexandra Zayas, “Military School ‘Cadet’ Exercised to Brink of Death,” Tampa Bay Times, October 26, 2012, http://www.tampabay.com, part of series, “In God’s Name: Unlicensed Religious Children’s Homes,” at http://www.tampabay.com/faccca/.

  200 more moderate approach: Jennifer Rich, “Gateway Academy Takes New Path to Progress,” Washington County News–Holmes County Times Advertiser, July 21, 2015, http://www.chipleypaper.com/1.497931.

  200 Teen Challenge: Global Teen Challenge, http://globaltc.org/our-story/.

  200 Florida, Alabama and Missouri: Alexandra Zayas and Kathleen Flynn, “Unlicensed Youth Homes,” Tampa Bay Times, February 22, 2013, http://www.tampabay.com/faccca/; Matthew Franck, “Acting on Faith: A Look Inside Reform School in Missouri,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 17, 2002, online at https://www.culteducation.com; Anna Claire Vollers, “3 Convicted for Child Abuse at Religious Alabama Private School,” Mobile Press-Register, January 24, 2017, http://www.al.com.

  200 no requirements: U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, July 2009, https://www2.ed.gov.

  200 convicted sex offender: For Teen Challenge in the U.S., go to https://www.teenchallengeusa.com; “Teen Challenge Exposed by Action 9 News,” Topix (Orlando), February 5, 2008, online at http://www.topix.com; “Convicted Sex Offender Heads Teen Challenge Augusta,” Topix (Orlando), February 21, 2008, http://www.topix.com.

  200 “spitting in the face of Jesus”: “Teen Challenge: Coercive Groups Disguised as Rehab,” Daily Kos, April 27, 2008, http://www.dailykos.com.

  201 chief enforcer of sadistic beatings: William Knott, manager and co-founder of Restoration Youth Academy (now closed), online at http://www.heal-online.org/rya.htm.

  203 “put in shackles”: See video display of letters accompanying Art Levine, “The Harrowing Story of Life Inside Alabama’s Most Sadistic Christian Bootcamp,” Newsweek, March 2, 2017, http://www.newsweek.com.

  203 vicious corporal punishment: Kathryn Joyce, “Horror Stories From Tough-Love Teen Homes,” Mother Jones, July/August 2001, http://www.motherjones.com.

  204 Change.org: Racheal Anthony, “The State of Missouri, the City of La Russell, Missouri: Stop the Abuse at New Beginnings Ministries Run by Bill and Jennifer McNamara,” Petition, Change.org, https://www.change.org.

  204 Lester Roloff: Pam Colloff, “Remember the Christian Alamo,” Texas Monthly, D
ecember 2001, http://www.texasmonthly.com.

  204 200,000 or more youths: Residential Facilities: State and Federal Oversight Gaps May Increase Risk to Youth Well-Being, GAO-08-696T, April 24, 2008, http://www.gao.gov; Frank Ainsworth, “An Exploration of the Differential Usage of Residential Childcare Across National Boundaries,” International Journal of Social Welfare, 23, no. 1 (January 2014): 16-24, online at https://www.scribd.com.

  204 Independent Fundamental Baptist: Susan Donaldson James, “Biblical Reform School Discipline: Tough Love or Abuse?” ABC News, April 12, 2011, http://abcnews.go.com; Angela

  204 Smith, memo, “Private School Requirements (Or Lack Thereof),” online at https://www.scribd.com/document.

  204 Restoration Youth Academy: Anna Claire Vollers, “Former Students Share Harrowing Stories of Life Inside Alabama’s Worst Religious Private School,” Mobile Press-Register, June 30, 2016, http://www.al.com.

  207 institutional suicide: ACLU, “Alone & Afraid: Children Held in Solitary Confinement and Isolation in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities,” August 9, 2013, https://www.aclu.org/report/alone-afraid.

  207 police reports: A sample, see Holmes County Sheriff’s Department, Incident Reports, Teen Challenge, late 1990s–2011, online at http://www.heal-online.org/policereports.pdf.

  210 “residency has no impact”: Letter via email from Luther Strange, Office of Alabama Attorney General, July 26 2016, online at https://www.scribd.com.

  210 police report: Prichard, AL Police Department incident report by “Eric” Reyes charging William Knott with assault, August 7, 2012, https://www.scribd.com.

  213 abuse allegations: Vollers, “Alabama Removes 22 Boys From Religious Boarding School Amid Allegations of Abuse,” Mobile Press-Register, December 9, 2016, http://www.al.com.

  213 “demon out of you”: County Sheriff’s Office Offense/Incident Report, case no. 2105-066773, September 12, 2015, 4, https://www.scribd.com/document.

  216 regulate all private residential: Chip Brownlee, “House Votes to Crack Down on Extremist Gay Conversion, Behavioral Bootcamps,” Alabama Political Reporter, May 5, 2017, http://www.alreporter.com.

  217 few mental health professionals: Victoria Pelham and Brett Kelman, “Mental Health Shortages Reach Crisis Levels,” Desert Sun (Palm Springs), May 21, 2015, http://www.desertsun.com.

  217 Survivors of Institutional Abuse: For SIA website, go to http://www.sianow.org.

  217 helping close: Alexandra Zayas, “Christian Girls’ Reform Home Closes After Times Investigation,” Tampa Bay Times, February 13, 2013, http://www.tampabay.com.

  218 at least nominal oversight: (California) SB-524, Private Alternative Boarding Schools and Outdoor Programs, September 30, 2016, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

  Chapter 12: Profits and Losses from Residential Treatment/Bain Capital

  219 Dana Blum: Art Levine, “The Dark Side of a Bain Success,” Salon, July 18, 2012, http://www.theinvestigativefund.org.

  220 water, Sprite and Pepto-Bismol: “Wrongful Death Case Settled Against Youth Treatment Center,” Spence Law Firm, October 10, 2011, http://www.spencelawyers.com; State of Utah v. Deborah Cole and Jorge Alberto Ramirez, “Information [filed by DA to support charges for felony abuse or neglect],” in the 3rd District Court, West Jordan Department, Salt Lake County, UT, no. 07019475, October 11, 2007, online at https://www.scribd.com; “Charges Against Youth Counselors in Teen’s Death Dismissed,” Deseret News, September 12, 2008, http://www.deseretnews.com.

  220 online magazine Momlogic: Gina Kaysen Fernandes, “Saving Troubled Teens: A Greedy Industry?” Momlogic, December 10, 2009, online at http://www.heal-online.org.

  220 wrongful death settlement: “Wrongful Death Case,” Spence Law Firm, 2011.

  221 sold for $1.3 billion to Acadia Healthcare: Caroline Chen, “Acadia Healthcare to Buy CRC Health in $1.18 Billion Deal,” Bloomberg, October 29, 2014, https://www.bloomberg.com.

  221 Jerry Rhodes: “CRC Health Group to Be Acquired by Acadia Healthcare,” PR Newswire, Oct 29, 2014, http://www.prnewswire.com.

  221 scandal-plagued Universal Health Services: Gina Chon and Anupreeta Das, “UHS Agrees to Acquire Psychiatric Solutions,” Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2010, https://www.wsj.com; Miles Moffeit, “Danger in the Psych Ward,” Dallas Morning News, March 18, 2016, http://interactives.dallasnews.com.

  221 disputed allegations of neglect: Comments to ProPublica from Joey Jacobs, Chairman, President and CEO, Psychiatric Solutions, Inc., November 14, 2008, http://s3.amazonaws.com; Garden City Employees’ Retirement System v. Psychiatric Solutions, Inc., U.S. District Court, M.D. Tennessee, Nashville Div., no. 3:09-00882. March 31, 2011, http://securities.stanford.edu; Christina Jewett, “Despite Probe, Problems Continue at Psych Facility,” Chicago Tribune, February 26, 2009, http://www.chicagotribune.com.

  221 $9 million settlement in 2014: DOJ, “Tennessee Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Agrees to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for $9.25 Million,” April 16, 2014, https://www.justice.gov.

  221 four patients in less than two years: Stephanie Innes, “Sierra Tucson Fined Over Deficiencies in Psychiatric Care,” Arizona Daily Star, July 4, 2016, http://tucson.com.

  221 most recently in August 2015: Innes, “Second Suicide Reported This Year at Rehab Facility,” Arizona Daily Star, September 18, 2015, http://tucson.com; Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, “Incident Report: Suicidal Subject,” September 16, 2015, online at https://www.scribd.com.

  222 unconscious but still breathing: Innes, “Third Sierra Tucson Patient Death in 13 Months,” Arizona Daily Star, February 7, 2015, http://tucson.com; Innes, “Lax Care at ‘Rehab to Stars’ Cost Patient His Life, Lawsuit Says,” Arizona Daily Star, December 14, 2015, http://tucson.com.

  222 hanged himself in his bathroom closet: Innes, “Second Suicide.”

  222 loosened oversight: Innes, “Exclusive Tucson Rehab Center Gets License Back,” Arizona Daily Star, October 31, 2015, http://tucson.com.

  222 corpse was found on the grounds: Innes, “State Probing Sierra Tucson,” Arizona Daily Star, October 16, 2011, http://tucson.com.

  224 two weeks to find his body: Innes, “Rehab Center Sued Over Patient Who Strayed Off, Died,” Arizona Daily Star, January 17, 2012 http://tucson.com.

  224 mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit: Innes, “Mother Sues Tucson-Area Rehab Center Over Son’s Death,” Arizona Daily Star, April 15, 2016, http://tucson.com.

  225 promised again: Innes, “Exclusive Tucson Rehab”; Innes, “Sierra Tucson Fined Over Deficiencies in Psychiatric Care,” Arizona Daily Star, July 4, 2016, http://tucson.com.

  NOTE: See full list of references for articles and documents on Sierra Tucson on pages 222–225, citing more specifics on reported deaths and government citations, here: https://www.scribd.com.

  225 “crown jewel”: Teya Vitu, “CRC Health Buys Sierra Tucson for $130M,” Tucson Citizen, May 31, 2005, http://tucsoncitizen.com.

  225 even before Litwak’s 2011 death: Innes, “Third Patient in 13 Months Dies at Sierra Tucson Center,” Arizona Daily Star, February 7, 2015.

  226 customary practice: David Corn, “New Romney Video: In 1985, He Said Bain Would ‘Harvest’ Companies for Profits,” Mother Jones, September 27, 2012, http://www.motherjones.com.

  226 $220 billion behavioral health field: DHHS, SAMHSA, “Behavioral Health Spending & Use Accounts 1986–2014,” no. SMA-16-4975, http://store.samhsa.gov. Note: Total MH/substance abuse spending amounts to 7.5 percent of total health spending.

  226 dispute the allegations: Jesse Hyde, “Life and Death in a Troubled Teen Boot Camp,” Rolling Stone, November 12, 2015, http://www.rolling-stone.com; Justin Horwath, “Ranch Owner Sues Over Treatment by State Officials,” Santa Fe New Mexican, September 3, 2016, http://www.santafenewmexican.com; D. Diego Zamora et al. v. James Scott Chandler et al., “Complaint for Damages…,” County of Santa Fe, First Judicial District, February 2, 2014, https://assets.documentcloud.org.

  226 broader corporate culture at CRC He
alth Group: Levine, “Dark Side of a Bain Success.”

  226 wrongful death and abuse: Claire Withycombe, “Mount Bachelor Academy Suits Resolved Privately,” Bend Bulletin, February 23, 2015, http://www.bendbulletin.com.

  226 former staff and clients: Levine, “Dark Side of a Bain Success”; Art Levine, “Romney Profits from Bain-Owned Health Company Facing Wrongful Death, Neglect Allegations,” HuffPost, July 25, 2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.

  227 2015 financial statement: “Acadia Healthcare Reports Third Quarter Financial Results Consistent with Previously Announced Preliminary Financial Results,” Business Wire, press release, November 1, 2016, http://www.acadiahealthcare.com.

  227 Mel Sembler: Molly Redden, “GOP Gov. Rick Scott Raising Big Bucks With Founder of Abusive Teen Boot Camps,” Mother Jones, April 1, 2014, http://www.motherjones.com.

  227 (WWASPS): Timothy Williams, “Students Recall Special Schools Run Like Jails,” New York Times, July 23, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com.

  227 “Romney, Torture and Teens”: Maia Szalavitz, “Romney, Torture and Teens,” Reason, June 27, 2007, http://reason.com.

  227 more than $450 million: Chen, “Acadia Healthcare.”

  227 30,000 clients daily: CRC Health, Success Stories (website), http://www.crchealth.com/get-help/success-stories/; Acadia Healthcare, 10-K, Annual Report ending December 31, 2016, available at http://www.acadiahealthcare.com/investors/sec-filings.

  228 massive debt of well over $600 million: CRC Health Corporation, Form 10-K, Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2006, https://www.sec.gov.

  228 largest collection: “Private Equity Descends on Addiction Treatment Centers,” Treatment Magazine, February 2006, http://www.treatmentmagazine.com.

  228 UHS chain: SEIU, “Criminal Investigation of UHS Facilities Widens to Include Parent Company,” UHS Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Harm of Maximizing Profits, http://uhsbehindcloseddoors.org/investigations; Rosalind Adams, “Locked on The Psych Ward,” BuzzFeed, December 7, 2016, https://www.buzzfeed.com; Rosalind Adams, “Lawmakers Sound Alarms on UHS psychiatric hospitals,” December 9, 2016, https://www.buzzfeed.com.