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Darrell Herrmann, a retired US Army captain and former computer programmer, shares his remarkable journey of living with schizophrenia since 1984 and his mission to help others with severe mental illness live better lives.

• Former US Army captain specializing in field artillery and nuclear weapons before developing schizophrenia
• Earned a computer science degree and worked as a programmer for 18 years after his military discharge
• Spoke to over 30,000 people in hospital groups before COVID, helping patients understand psychosis
• Author of "Straight Talk About Living with Severe Mental Illness," available on Amazon
• Explains that diagnosis often changes and finding the right medication takes time and patience
• Defines psychosis as experiencing hallucinations and delusions while losing touch with reality
• Developed a personal three-bucket strategy to sort real experiences from hallucinations
• Advocates for comprehensive education programs for people diagnosed with psychotic disorders
• Believes the mental health profession itself is often the biggest source of stigma
• Argues most mental health professionals lack proper training in understanding and treating psychosis

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Pete Early shares his journey from Washington Post journalist to mental health advocate after his son developed bipolar disorder, revealing how a broken system forces families into crisis before providing help.

• Diagnosis came during his son Kevin's college years with warning signs like "food doesn't taste good" and confusion about reality
• Psychiatrist delivered a devastating prognosis: "incurable disease" with lifetime medication, weight gain, likely unemployment
• Kevin stopped taking medication after a few weeks, leading to psychosis and breaking into a stranger's house
• Early couldn't get help until his son became "dangerous" enough for intervention
• His son joined 365,000 Americans with serious mental illness who end up in jails and prisons annually
• Crisis intervention training for police makes crucial difference in mental health encounters
• Recovery came through proper medication, independent living with supportive roommates, and finding purpose as a peer counselor
• Early discovered the difference between being a parent versus a partner in someone's recovery
• Mental health system requires criminal behavior before providing adequate treatment
• Despite Early's connections and resources, getting proper help took years of struggle

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A mother shares her 18-year journey supporting a son with schizophrenia through mental health system failures, incarceration, and experimental brain surgery.

• Colleen Scott's son started showing signs of schizophrenia at age 17, withdrawing socially and exhibiting erratic behavior
• A prosecutor advised having her son arrested "to get him in the system" for mental health help, resulting in traumatic incarceration
• Laws preventing family commitment, alongside HIPAA restrictions at age 18, create nearly insurmountable barriers for families seeking help
• After years of struggle, Colleen secured disability benefits and eventually enrolled her son in an experimental Deep Brain Stimulation trial at Johns Hopkins
• The mental health system's integration with the legal system often criminalizes mental illness rather than treating it
• Current group home living with court-ordered treatment provides some stability, though interactions with police remain common
• Colleen advocates for better training for law enforcement and restoration of family commitment options with proper safeguards
• Organizations like the National Schizophrenia and Related Conditions Society (NSSC) offer hope through focused advocacy and lobbying efforts

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A mother and clinical social worker shares her heartbreaking journey navigating the legal system after her high-achieving son developed serious mental illness, revealing how our justice system criminalizes rather than treats mental health conditions.

• Licensed independent clinical social worker with 40+ years experience working with vulnerable populations
• Her academically successful son began experiencing internal racing thoughts and anxiety despite outward success
• Despite parents' professional backgrounds (mother a social worker, father a psychologist), they faced enormous challenges getting appropriate care
• Son discontinued medication at 29, leading to psychotic episodes and repeated negative police encounters
• Law enforcement and legal system demonstrated lack of training and empathy in handling mental health crises
• Massachusetts lacks assisted outpatient treatment programs that could have prevented criminalization
• 70-80% of incarcerated individuals suffer from serious mental illness
• Anosognosia: neurological condition where individuals lose ability to self-reflect on their behaviors
• Advocate working with National Shattering Silence Coalition to change legislation and improve mental health services
• Need for systemic change in how police, courts, and society respond to mental health conditions

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Justin Volpe shares his journey from being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and incarcerated to becoming a certified recovery peer specialist who has trained over 3,500 police officers in crisis intervention.

His story demonstrates how individuals with lived experience can transform systems and save lives by bridging gaps between law enforcement, courts, and treatment providers.

• Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in his early 20s after struggling with substance abuse
• Released from jail through Miami's Jail Diversion Program, which provides support, therapy, and resources
• Became a peer specialist within 8 months of incarceration, helping others navigate the system
• Worked for 14 years getting thousands of people out of incarceration and connecting them to services
• Describes his role as a "bridger" between systems that don't typically communicate with each other
• Trained over 3,500 police officers in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) approaches
• Featured in documentaries "The Definition of Insanity" and Ken Burns' "Hiding in Plain Sight"
• Now works nationally with state behavioral health teams at NASMHPD
• Advocates for including people with lived experience at policy and planning tables
• Emphasizes that recovery is possible: "I was written off and told I'd die on the street"

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Jessica Ferguson shares the deeply personal story of her brother's struggle with serious mental illness and how systemic failures led to his incarceration after being accused of a triple homicide when he should have been in psychiatric care.

• Her brother had been stable with his mental illness for a decade before showing concerning behavior changes in early 2023
• Despite three psychiatric hospitalizations within months, he was repeatedly discharged after 72-hour holds with no substantial care plan
• Family pleas for help were ignored as healthcare providers cited voluntary treatment requirements and HIPAA restrictions
• Only after being accused of a crime did he receive consistent psychiatric care
• The jail system provides minimal mental health support compared to psychiatric hospitals
• Families need healthcare proxy arrangements and better knowledge of resources before crises occur
• Massachusetts lacks Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) options that could mandate treatment
• Mental health systems must partner with families who know their loved ones best

If you know someone with a story to tell, send them to TonyMantor.com. Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me, the World, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

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Dr. Jhilam Biswas, a board-certified adult and forensic psychiatrist, discusses how mental health issues intersect with the criminal justice system and the urgent need for reform.

She shares insights from her research and clinical experience working with incarcerated individuals with mental illness, explaining why mental health care in America's prisons is a humanitarian crisis.

• Director of Psychiatry Law and Society program at Brigham and Women's Hospital and co-director of Harvard Mass General Brigham Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship
• Research shows delays in psychiatric treatment lead to increased violence and worse outcomes in forensic settings
• Individuals with autism have higher comorbidity with serious mental illness and are more vulnerable in law enforcement interactions
• Mental illness evaluation processes vary based on setting, with court-ordered evaluations having strict timelines
• Three main pathways to incarceration: substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and untreated mental illness
• America's largest jails have become de facto psychiatric hospitals, which Dr. Biswas calls "a human rights violation"
• Currently championing two legislative reforms in Massachusetts: the Timely Treatment Bill and Critical Community Services Bill
• Mental illness is treatable but often cyclical, requiring consistent medication and support
• When people suffer from psychotic disorders, they often lose insight into their condition, making treatment refusal a symptom rather than a choice

Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me, The World, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.

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Eric Smith shares his remarkable journey from child piano prodigy to mental health advocate after battling psychosis and addiction.

His story reveals how finding the right medication after a decade of failed treatments transformed his life from hospitalization and FBI involvement to becoming a Texas Judicial Commissioner on Mental Health.

• Displayed extraordinary musical talent from age three, studying under world-renowned pianists and performing with Grammy winners
• Experienced early warning signs when grades declined in middle school, with a psychologist predicting future psychosis
• Developed full-blown psychosis after getting sober, believing he had decoded assassination plots involving world leaders
• Contacted the FBI about his delusions, leading to multiple meetings before his parents sought help from his former psychiatrist
• Required three hospitalizations over several years before finding success with Clozapine after more than 10 years of failed medications
• Experienced a profound moment of clarity two weeks after starting Clozapine when the "noise" in his mind quieted
• Returned to education, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA through graduate school
• Now serves as a commissioner with the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health and runs his own consulting business
• Advocates for better access to effective treatments like Clozapine, which international guidelines recommend after two failed antipsychotics

Visit www.ericwtsmith.com to learn more about Eric's consulting work or to contact him directly.

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