Stephen B. Seager's Blog
September 14, 2015
I'm directing a film...
SHATTERED FAMILIES: THE COLLAPSE OF AMERICA'S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
My name is Stephen Seager MD. I have been a psychiatrist for twenty-five years and have worked extensively with the seriously mentally ill (SMI). Recently, I wrote a book, "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year with the Criminally Insane," and while doing publicity for this book, I came in contact with many families of persons with SMI. Listening to them and recalling my own experience, it quickly became apparent that whatever national mental health system once existed, has now totally collapsed. Where once we offered treatment, patients with SMI now suffer unspeakable degradation as their families endure intolerable pain and indignity trying and failing to get needed medical care for their disastrously sick children.
Seeking treatment, families and patient's face federal and state laws that actively deny sick people care. They face a system that supports homelessness and encourages treatment refusal. Today, 1,300,000 persons with SMI languish in prison - often in solitary confinement. Often in prisons run by companies whose profits depend on incarcerating more and more mentally ill persons. 350,000 persons with SMI rot on our urban streets. Many are shot by police. Most die 20 years sooner than expected. And their families must stand by helplessly and watch this happen.
This must change. We can build a system that provides medical treatment, housing, compassion and care. We can stop the suffering and indignity. We can stop the shootings. The pointless and degrading mass incarcerations. The disease and death.
Shattered Families will also propose solutions for our national nightmare. For solutions do exist. Solutions of which we can all be a part.
That's where you come in. Nothing changes minds, educates and motivates like a movie. And "Shattered Families" will be a movie like no other. It will be a movie to which families can turn and say, "Watch this. This is what I've been talking about. This is what I've been trying to tell you."
This is where your contributions will go. To produce a movie that will change minds and hearts and - we fully believe - lead to a change in our mental health laws, and a fundamental change in how we care for persons in our country with SMI. We are asking for 20,000 dollars but we could use more. The money will be spent for first-class, post-production editing and then national publicity and film festival entires. This is where eyeballs will meet the screen.
Making a first rate movie is expensive. National publicity for a first-rate movie is expensive. Changing minds and laws is expensive. But we start here. Many people complain about America's mental health system. Here is something concrete that everyone who has a mentally ill relative, friend, or who cares about this subject, can do. Something you can get behind and become a part of. This will be your movie. Your concern. Your action. Please take that action. Please contribute. "Shattered Families" will happen. We are entering the Sundance Film Festival as well as many others. We will show the film around the country or the world if we can raise the needed funds. "Shattered Families" will matter. Let's make it matter a lot. Send something. Big or small. Make a difference. It's the least we owe those persons who suffer with SMI and their families.
We are a better people. A better country. We can do the right thing. Please help make things different. Share this message with your friends and family. Use IndieGoGo Share tools. Tell everyone you know. Make some noise. If we do nothing, nothing will change.
For a contribution larger than $100, we will send you an autographed picture of our cast and crew. For any contribution, your name, or the name of a loved one, will be mentioned in the closing credits...Thank you
My name is Stephen Seager MD. I have been a psychiatrist for twenty-five years and have worked extensively with the seriously mentally ill (SMI). Recently, I wrote a book, "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year with the Criminally Insane," and while doing publicity for this book, I came in contact with many families of persons with SMI. Listening to them and recalling my own experience, it quickly became apparent that whatever national mental health system once existed, has now totally collapsed. Where once we offered treatment, patients with SMI now suffer unspeakable degradation as their families endure intolerable pain and indignity trying and failing to get needed medical care for their disastrously sick children.
Seeking treatment, families and patient's face federal and state laws that actively deny sick people care. They face a system that supports homelessness and encourages treatment refusal. Today, 1,300,000 persons with SMI languish in prison - often in solitary confinement. Often in prisons run by companies whose profits depend on incarcerating more and more mentally ill persons. 350,000 persons with SMI rot on our urban streets. Many are shot by police. Most die 20 years sooner than expected. And their families must stand by helplessly and watch this happen.
This must change. We can build a system that provides medical treatment, housing, compassion and care. We can stop the suffering and indignity. We can stop the shootings. The pointless and degrading mass incarcerations. The disease and death.
Shattered Families will also propose solutions for our national nightmare. For solutions do exist. Solutions of which we can all be a part.
That's where you come in. Nothing changes minds, educates and motivates like a movie. And "Shattered Families" will be a movie like no other. It will be a movie to which families can turn and say, "Watch this. This is what I've been talking about. This is what I've been trying to tell you."
This is where your contributions will go. To produce a movie that will change minds and hearts and - we fully believe - lead to a change in our mental health laws, and a fundamental change in how we care for persons in our country with SMI. We are asking for 20,000 dollars but we could use more. The money will be spent for first-class, post-production editing and then national publicity and film festival entires. This is where eyeballs will meet the screen.
Making a first rate movie is expensive. National publicity for a first-rate movie is expensive. Changing minds and laws is expensive. But we start here. Many people complain about America's mental health system. Here is something concrete that everyone who has a mentally ill relative, friend, or who cares about this subject, can do. Something you can get behind and become a part of. This will be your movie. Your concern. Your action. Please take that action. Please contribute. "Shattered Families" will happen. We are entering the Sundance Film Festival as well as many others. We will show the film around the country or the world if we can raise the needed funds. "Shattered Families" will matter. Let's make it matter a lot. Send something. Big or small. Make a difference. It's the least we owe those persons who suffer with SMI and their families.
We are a better people. A better country. We can do the right thing. Please help make things different. Share this message with your friends and family. Use IndieGoGo Share tools. Tell everyone you know. Make some noise. If we do nothing, nothing will change.
For a contribution larger than $100, we will send you an autographed picture of our cast and crew. For any contribution, your name, or the name of a loved one, will be mentioned in the closing credits...Thank you
September 13, 2015
Shattered Families: the Collapse of America's Mental Health System *A New Film*
My name is Stephen Seager MD. I have been a psychiatrist for twenty-five years and have worked extensively with the seriously mentally ill (SMI). Recently, I wrote a book, "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year with the Criminally Insane," and while doing publicity for this book, I came in contact with many families of persons with SMI. Listening to them and recalling my own experience, it quickly became apparent that whatever national mental health system once existed, has now totally collapsed. Where once we offered treatment, patients with SMI now suffer unspeakable degradation as their families endure intolerable pain and indignity trying and failing to get needed medical care for their disastrously sick children.
Seeking treatment, families and patient's face federal and state laws that actively deny sick people care. They face a system that supports homelessness and encourages treatment refusal. Today, 1,300,000 persons with SMI languish in prison - often in solitary confinement. Often in prisons run by companies whose profits depend on incarcerating more and more mentally ill persons. 350,000 persons with SMI rot on our urban streets. Many are shot by police. Most die 20 years sooner than expected. And their families must stand by helplessly and watch this happen.
This must change. We can build a system that provides medical treatment, housing, compassion and care. We can stop the suffering and indignity. We can stop the shootings. The pointless and degrading mass incarcerations. The disease and death.
Shattered Families will also propose solutions for our national nightmare. For solutions do exist. Solutions of which we can all be a part.
That's where you come in. Nothing changes minds, educates and motivates like a movie. And "Shattered Families" will be a movie like no other. It will be a movie to which families can turn and say, "Watch this. This is what I've been talking about. This is what I've been trying to tell you."
This is where your contributions will go. To produce a movie that will change minds and hearts and - we fully believe - lead to a change in our mental health laws, and a fundamental change in how we care for persons in our country with SMI. We are asking for 20,000 dollars but we could use more. The money will be spent for first-class, post-production editing and then national publicity and film festival entires. This is where eyeballs will meet the screen.
Making a first rate movie is expensive. National publicity for a first-rate movie is expensive. Changing minds and laws is expensive. But we start here. Many people complain about America's mental health system. Here is something concrete that everyone who has a mentally ill relative, friend, or who cares about this subject, can do. Something you can get behind and become a part of. This will be your movie. Your concern. Your action. Please take that action. Please contribute. "Shattered Families" will happen. We are entering the Sundance Film Festival as well as many others. We will show the film around the country or the world if we can raise the needed funds. "Shattered Families" will matter. Let's make it matter a lot. Send something. Big or small. Make a difference. It's the least we owe those persons who suffer with SMI and their families.
We are a better people. A better country. We can do the right thing. Please help make things different. Share this message with your friends and family. Use IndieGoGo Share tools. Tell everyone you know. Make some noise. If we do nothing, nothing will change.
Please go to Indiegogo.com/shattered. Any contribution large or small is greatly appreciated. For a contribution larger than $100, we will send you an autographed picture of our cast and crew. For any contribution, your name, or the name of a loved one, will be mentioned in the closing credits...Thank you
Seeking treatment, families and patient's face federal and state laws that actively deny sick people care. They face a system that supports homelessness and encourages treatment refusal. Today, 1,300,000 persons with SMI languish in prison - often in solitary confinement. Often in prisons run by companies whose profits depend on incarcerating more and more mentally ill persons. 350,000 persons with SMI rot on our urban streets. Many are shot by police. Most die 20 years sooner than expected. And their families must stand by helplessly and watch this happen.
This must change. We can build a system that provides medical treatment, housing, compassion and care. We can stop the suffering and indignity. We can stop the shootings. The pointless and degrading mass incarcerations. The disease and death.
Shattered Families will also propose solutions for our national nightmare. For solutions do exist. Solutions of which we can all be a part.
That's where you come in. Nothing changes minds, educates and motivates like a movie. And "Shattered Families" will be a movie like no other. It will be a movie to which families can turn and say, "Watch this. This is what I've been talking about. This is what I've been trying to tell you."
This is where your contributions will go. To produce a movie that will change minds and hearts and - we fully believe - lead to a change in our mental health laws, and a fundamental change in how we care for persons in our country with SMI. We are asking for 20,000 dollars but we could use more. The money will be spent for first-class, post-production editing and then national publicity and film festival entires. This is where eyeballs will meet the screen.
Making a first rate movie is expensive. National publicity for a first-rate movie is expensive. Changing minds and laws is expensive. But we start here. Many people complain about America's mental health system. Here is something concrete that everyone who has a mentally ill relative, friend, or who cares about this subject, can do. Something you can get behind and become a part of. This will be your movie. Your concern. Your action. Please take that action. Please contribute. "Shattered Families" will happen. We are entering the Sundance Film Festival as well as many others. We will show the film around the country or the world if we can raise the needed funds. "Shattered Families" will matter. Let's make it matter a lot. Send something. Big or small. Make a difference. It's the least we owe those persons who suffer with SMI and their families.
We are a better people. A better country. We can do the right thing. Please help make things different. Share this message with your friends and family. Use IndieGoGo Share tools. Tell everyone you know. Make some noise. If we do nothing, nothing will change.
Please go to Indiegogo.com/shattered. Any contribution large or small is greatly appreciated. For a contribution larger than $100, we will send you an autographed picture of our cast and crew. For any contribution, your name, or the name of a loved one, will be mentioned in the closing credits...Thank you
January 4, 2015
November 30, 2014
National Radio Program link
Last night I did a two hour live interview of Coast to Coast AM radio for my book "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year With the Criminally Insane.. A big national broadcast. The producer said the phone lines "exploded." If you want to learn about the criminally insane and how people who plead the "Insanity Defense" are treated in a hospital, give this a listen. Link below. Hopefully, you'll then check out the book. Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and any bookstore...All my best...Here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuIqh...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuIqh...
November 20, 2014
CSPAN -TV NOV 23 7:30 ET
Just got word! This Sunday night, November 23 from 7:30 to 9:00 ET CPSAN 2 television is airing a ninety minute talk with Q + A I did for my book "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year with the Criminally Insane."
Heres the link:
http://www.c-span.org/schedule/?chann...
CSPAN.ORG homepage has a "channel finder" in the bottom right corner of the homepage. Enter you zip code and cable provider and it will give you the channel.
Let me know what you think...All my very best
Heres the link:
http://www.c-span.org/schedule/?chann...
CSPAN.ORG homepage has a "channel finder" in the bottom right corner of the homepage. Enter you zip code and cable provider and it will give you the channel.
Let me know what you think...All my very best
November 10, 2014
New York Times
For all my Goodreads friends, on Tuesday Nov 11th my article "Where Hell is the Other Patients" is the featured "headline" piece in the Op/Ed section of the New York Times. It concerns the same issues as my book, "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year With the Criminally Insane."
Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/opi...
If you give it a read PLEASE leave a comment. That's how they measure "buzz." Thank you so much and God bless our veterans...
Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/opi...
If you give it a read PLEASE leave a comment. That's how they measure "buzz." Thank you so much and God bless our veterans...
November 3, 2014
What it's Like to Sell a Book...
Just a quick reminder. Tuesday night - tomorrow, Nov 4th - I'll be giving a talk, doing a reading, answering questions then signing copies of my book, "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year with the Criminally Insane."
Book Passage: Talk And Book Signing - Corte Madera CA - Nov 4th 7PM
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
7:00pm 9:00pm
Nov. 4th, 2014 - 7PM
51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera CA 94925
415.927.0960
Thanks for being such good friends...
Book Passage: Talk And Book Signing - Corte Madera CA - Nov 4th 7PM
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
7:00pm 9:00pm
Nov. 4th, 2014 - 7PM
51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera CA 94925
415.927.0960
Thanks for being such good friends...
October 31, 2014
What it's Like to Sell a Book...
Happy Halloween. Just wanted to remind all my Northern California friends that THE GIANTS WON THE WORLD SERIES for the third time in five years. And that I have a talk and book singing this tuesday, Nov 4th (don't forget to vote) at 7:00 PM Book Passage in Corte Madera, in Marin county. This is the big bookstore in the North Bay. They hosted President Carter. Anyway, hope to see you there...The last few signing have been lively and informative...
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR STEPHEN SEAGER
Book Passage: Talk And Book Signing - Corte Madera CA - Nov 4th 7PM
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
7:00pm 9:00pm
Nov. 4th, 2014 - 7PM
51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera CA 94925
415.927.0960
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR STEPHEN SEAGER
Book Passage: Talk And Book Signing - Corte Madera CA - Nov 4th 7PM
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
7:00pm 9:00pm
Nov. 4th, 2014 - 7PM
51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera CA 94925
415.927.0960
October 18, 2014
What it's Like to Sell a Book...
My book signing last night at Copperfield's book store in Napa was a great success. Largest crowd they'd ever had. My reading, talk, and a really interesting Question and Answer Session was covered on national TV by CSPAN television. Check CSPAN2.org for the times it will air in your area. If you want to know all about the epidemic of violence at Napa State Hospital and my book "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year with the Criminally Insane," give CSPAN a look. Many current and former Napa State employees were in the audience it was an emotional, entertaining and informative experience for all concerned. So thankful to all those who showed up and participated...What a great night...
I will be at Barnes and Noble in downtaown Santa Rosa today at 2:00 PM if you'd like to hear the presentation live...
I will be at Barnes and Noble in downtaown Santa Rosa today at 2:00 PM if you'd like to hear the presentation live...
October 16, 2014
What it's Like to Sell a Book...
A reminder for all my Santa Rosa, North Bay Area friends. I'll be at Barnes and Noble on Saturday Oct. 18th from 2:00-4:00 PM for a talk, questions and signing my book "Behind the Gates of Gomorrah, a Year With the Criminally Insane," about my first year as a psychiatrist at Napa State Hospital. Come by and say hi...I'd love to see you...
Why is Napa State Hospital plagued by an epidemic of Violence?
Why is 3,000 assaults a year on patients and staff tolerated?
Find out:
Barnes And Noble: Talk And Book Signing
Saturday, October 18, 2014
2:00pm 4:00 PM
Downtown 4th Street
Santa Rosa, Ca
Why is Napa State Hospital plagued by an epidemic of Violence?
Why is 3,000 assaults a year on patients and staff tolerated?
Find out:
Barnes And Noble: Talk And Book Signing
Saturday, October 18, 2014
2:00pm 4:00 PM
Downtown 4th Street
Santa Rosa, Ca
