Mental Health Matters

The newsletter of the ISBA’s Mental Health Law Section

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2021 Articles

Appellate Summary By Andreas Liewald December 2021 A summary and analysis of In re Hans T.
Celebrate Mental Health Month By Joseph Monahan May 2021 Mental Health Month is observed in May every year to raise awareness and educate the public about mental health issues.
COVID-19 and Mental Health By Dr. Alexandra Tsang February 2021 Strategies to manage your well-being during COVID-19.
Editor’s Note By Sandra M. Blake December 2021 A note from the editor.
Editor’s Note By Sandra M. Blake November 2021 An introduction to the issue from the editor.
Editor’s Note By Sandra Blake February 2021 An introduction to the issue from the editor, Sandra Blake.
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Mental Health Law and Practice: Some Resources to Address These Concerns By Barbara Goeben May 2021 A look at the unique wasy in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health law and practice.
The Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit Session 2—Mental Health Diversions From the Justice System through Leadership, Collaboration, Building Momentum, and Moving Forward With Lessons Learned From the Pandemic By Eun K. Yoon February 2021 A summary of the second session from the Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit, which focused on creative responses to help the most vulnerable populations during the pandemic.
The Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit Session 3—Learning From the Voices of Lived Experience: Informing Change By Juanita Archuleta February 2021 A summary of the third session from the Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit, which focused on a holistic approach to treatment and featured the lived experiences of two people in crisis, their involvement with criminal law, and their efforts to get help.
The Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit Session 4—How Mental Illness and Trauma Affect Quality of Life By Cheryl R. Jansen February 2021 A summary of the fourth session from the Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit, which focused on how mental illness and trauma affect quality of life.
The Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit Session 5—Illinois’ Path to Improving the Court and Community Responses to Persons with Mental Illness: Bringing the Community Together in One Voice and Common Mission By Sandra Blake February 2021 A summary of the fifth and final session from the Illinois Mental Health Task Force Virtual Summit, which served as a call to action to improve our court, community, and system responses to persons with mental illness and co-occuring disorders.
Issues in Defending Mental Health Court Clients By Timothy Lea November 2021 A look at what makes the practice of mental health law unique as compared to other areas of law.
Legal Mechanisms for Family Involvement in Caring for Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses By Mark J. Heyrman December 2021 Continuity of care for adults with serious mental illnesses remains a problem in Illinois, particularly for persons who may, from time to time, be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility. 
Mental Health Court in the Age of Zoom By Vincent Cail November 2021 By now most courts in Illinois that handle mental health calls are required to function remotely via Zoom—however, virtual court hearings offer both benefits and pitfalls.
Observe Mental Health Month: Care for Yourself, Your Community By Robert E. Wells, Jr. May 2021 Ways to observe Mental Health Month.
Three-Legged Stool of Mental Health Treatment By Joseph T. Monahan November 2021 An overview of a three-pronged model to help clients and their loved ones get the services they need when mental health issues are present.
You Are Not Alone By Yasmine A. Owaynat & E. Kenneth Wright December 2021 The discourse surrounding mental illness is overwhelmed with stigmas and stereotypes that impede people from seeking or fully participating in mental health services.