An interview with ProPublica’s Sarah Smith about the continued neglect of the mentally ill.
mental illness
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘What Are We Going to Do About Tyler?’
A devastating indictment of America’s failure to treat mental illness. ProPublica reporter Sarah Smith tells the story of Tyler Haire, who was sent to jail at age 16 for a violent crime and then spent years locked away while waiting for a psychological evaluation. Tyler struggled since early childhood, but state services are underfunded and […]
Posted inStory, Unapologetic Women
We’re All Mad Here: Weinstein, Women, and the Language of Lunacy
“He has demons.” The language of madness is the last resort for a society that can no longer deny the evidence of structural oppression and violence.
Posted inArts & Culture, Blog Post, Crime, Current Events, Science & Nature, Unapologetic Women
We Need to Talk About Madness: A Reading List
Talking about it is terrifying, but not talking about it is deadly.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Shock Tactics
A 911 plea for help, a Taser shot, a death — and the mounting toll of stun guns.
Posted inArts & Culture, Nonfiction, Quotes
The New Age of Anxiety
W.H. Auden named it 70 years ago, and our latest age of anxiety is one of Xanax, fidget spinners, and constant swiping.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
The Admission
Stacy Torres recalls the mixture of frustration and relief that came with checking herself into a New York City psych ward at the age of 20.
Posted inNonfiction, Quotes, Science & Nature
Ending Depression With a Push of a Button, But Only For a Moment
For people with severe, depression, deep-brain stimulation offers an uncertain but potentially life-altering solution.
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
How to Disappear
For Alex DiFrancesco, coming out as transgender—even to themself—wasn’t possible without first disappearing.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Brain-Altering Science and the Search for a New Normal
An electrical implant known as a deep-brain stimulator is giving some patients a new start.