Episode 91: Decriminalizing Mental Illness
Alexa and Yoel are joined by Jennifer Cox and Lauren Kois, co-directors of the Southern Behavioral Health and Law Initiative. They discuss ways that those with mental illness face unique challenges within the legal system, and explain how their work pushes for a shift away from criminalization and towards more comprehensive mental health support.
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (aphid.fireside.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
Yoel and Alexa chat with Jennifer Cox and Lauren Kois, co-directors of the Southern Behavioral Health and Law Initiative. Established in 2020, the initiative was created to address the dearth of mental health resources for people who become involved with the legal system. Jennifer and Lauren walk our co-hosts through common scenarios that can occur when a person with mental illness encounters the legal system, some of which involve long waits in understaffed state hospitals with little access to basic mental health resources. They also describe various efforts to ameliorate these problems, including their own work to optimize use of the 988 mental health emergency line in Alabama. In the process, they offer hope for researchers who aim to effect policy change without becoming mired in political polarization. And, they challenge future guests to a deadlifting contest.
Special Guests: Jennifer Cox and Lauren Kois.
Links: