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I walked out of the police roundtable discussion today right after the
introductions and a clarification of the mission. Let me tell you why.
The police roundtable discussions were set up a few years ago to help the
police get a better understanding of the mentally ill and figure out more
efficient and safer ways to meet their needs and the needs of the police.
The meeting I attended today had one representative from the St.Paul police
department, about 15 representatives from different mental health service
agencies in the city, one representative from the Ramsey County chapter of
N.A.M.I. (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill- her son has a mental illness)
and me (the Co-Chair of the Ramsey County Mental Health Advisory Committee and
the only one who stated I had a mental illness).
Before the meeting started I listened to a couple of the people talking. One
of the men was saying he had been somewhere and was stading in line with a
couple of guys that looked like they were "clients" of the other guy.
When the meeting started we all introduced ourselves and I asked for a
clarification of the mission of the roundtable meetings. They told me it was
to work with the the police to find the best way to deliver services and help
those struggling with mental illness. I pointed out that there seemed to be a
scarcity of both police and people with mental illness at the table.
I had the understanding that the roundtable was to get a better dialogue
between the police and people with mental illness. I didn't know they just
wanted to talk ABOUT us not WITH us. Boy am I stupid.
Anyway, when i figured that out, I told them that the meeting was a waste of my
time and I left.
If Chief Harrington and his people, and any of the other law enforcement
agencies in Ramsey County, ever really want to open up that dialogue there are
lots of strong, courageous people in this city who live everyday of their life
with mental illness.
Until till, don't claim that you are trying to understand our problems and
needs by talking to people who might know us. We're ill, not stupid.
Renee Jenson
Como
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