Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker's Fight for Her Son

by Mindy Greiling

One mother’s fight to support her son and change a broken system In his early twenties, Mindy Greiling’s son, Jim, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder after experiencing delusions that demanded he kill his mother. At the time, and for more than a decade after, Greiling was a Minnesota state legislator who struggled, along with her husband, to navigate and improve the state’s inadequate mental health system. Fix What You Can is an illuminating and frank account of caring for a person with a mental illness, told by a parent and advocate.   Greiling describes challenges shared by many families, ranging from the practical (medication compliance, housing, employment) to the heartbreaking—suicide attempts, victimization, and illicit drug use. Greiling confronts the reality that some people with serious mental illness may be dangerous and reminds us that medication works—if taken.  The book chronicles her efforts to pass legislation to address problems in the mental health system, including obstacles to parental access to information and insufficient funding for care and research. It also recounts Greiling’s painful memories of her grandmother, who was confined in an institution for twenty-three years—recollections that strengthen her determination that Jim’s treatment be more humane. Written with her son’s cooperation, Fix What You Can offers hard-won perspective, practical advice, and useful resources through a brave and personal story that takes the long view of what success means when coping with mental illness. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Mental Illness, Memoir

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

Reviews

[Mindy Greiling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned from an author friend that it is kosher to rate one's own book. I also wanted to share a portion of the great book review in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

"Jim Greiling’s illness and his family’s 20-year effort to help him are rivetingly chronicled in former Rep. Greiling’s new book, “Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for her Son.”

The book reveals that the former legislator is as adept at storytelling as lawmaking. It relates Jim’s story in compelling terms that should both enlighten readers who are unfamiliar with his disease and hearten those who know it only too well. Greiling amply achieves her book’s stated goal: to “model what I encourage everyone to do: tell our stories."
Lori Sturdevant, Minneapolis StarTribune, Oct. 5, 2020

[Kristin Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opening true story about a mother’s struggle with her son’s mental illness and her parallel fight to change mental health laws as a legislator in Minnesota. I felt both educated about mental illness and terrified for families who have to struggle. Writing a story like this is incredibly brave. Thanks to Mindy Greiling for her courage.

[Deborah Mosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read by a parent of a child with mental health issues. I read a lot of books from this genre because I have been an addiction recovery counselor and a professor at a university program for addiction recovery.

It’s compelling. It’s a page turner. I find myself wondering, what would I have done in that situation. This is a well-written and articulate book that delivers you directly into the lives of this family. There is sadness, anger and cautious humor as Ms. Greiling recalls the turmoils she and her family faced as they struggled through our very dysfunctional mental health system, attempting to support and advocate for their son.

If you are in a similar situation, buy this book. If you are a mental health or addiction professional, Please buy this book! You will learn insights that you did not know previously, I promise!

[MarySchwanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Lawrence Schwanke. Fix What You Can is a very powerful exposure of the road blocks that our current “so-called” health care and judicial systems put in the way of a young man needing help for his debilitating schizophrenia. Even with the help of his politically savy and persistent mother, Mindy Greiling, a Minnesota Legislator, effective help from the system was hard to obtain and difficult to sustain. Hopefully politicians, health care providers and social workers read this and better understand how challenging our current system is for those suffering serious mental health conditions, even when they have very effective advocates. Imagine what happens to those not fortunate enough to have such advocates.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book shows what a rollercoaster ride the mental health system can be and how important it is for people to have advocates when they need them most. The amount of effort the author put into legislation of legal issues is amazing. Having personal experiences with those that are coping with mental illness must have been this task much more meaningful and important. Her son is very fortunate to have her as a mom.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

saw this at work and recalled seeing it on my mom's library account, i started reading it and couldn't stop. Really really upsetting and heartbreaking. Made me question through some moral conundrums. Like I logically know all the parallels between the mental health system and the prison system and that our solutions for mental illness are tantamount to locking people up and not much else (and sometimes just straight up doing that with the prison system w no grey area to speak of). Greiling's opponents on one of the bills she sponsored about making it easier to civilly commit people had some points imo, wrt the fact that it takes away the autonomy of mentally ill individuals. On paper I would 100% agree with that bc I am against taking away people's freedoms. But she was also speaking as a mother in a desperate situation. I myself have had three separate loved ones in my life where I have been absolutely desperate to make them stay in some kind of rehabilitative facility that they often didn't want to be in because I was afraid of what would happen if they were not there, and I was never once afraid of any of these people being a danger to others the way Grieling and the other mothers in the book were. It reminded me of a twitter argument I saw once about the use of restraints with some people saying it's never ever okay to restrain another human being, and someone else said "okay let's allow people to jump out of the window for woke points". I struggle with thinking through these contradictions and wanting to know what the best solution is, but it is important to think about and question your own dissonances.

I had never heard of advocacy work to have schizophrenia categorized as a brain disease like alzheimers rather than a mental illness. It's true, no one would ever think an alzheimers patient needs to work harder or go to therapy more to retain their memories, and it might help funding research. I started this review 2 weeks ago and forgot to finish it, so I'm sure I had more to say but I can't remember! Being a parent seems so hard.


Ok I'm adding some stuff I remembered

Even though it is a memoir and she wasn't required to include anything outside of her own experience, I do feel that as a representative there should have been maybe a little bit more time devoted to the issue of access to mental healthcare based on race and poverty. She does frequently mention wondering how people do it when she, with all her connections and being middle class, can barely hang on. She laments the fact that when you need help the only resource is the police and is angry that the criminal justice system is the only institution provided when medical care is what is needed. There was a focus on the fact that nonwhite people have distrust of medical institutions, but no explanation as to why, and therefore no mention of the fact that black people having mental health episodes could be killed let alone sent to jail. I am not expecting a dissertation on race and the Minnesota mental health care system but just a small amount of info was my only critique, because things people complain about in our city like the increase in homelessness are directly tied to the inadequacies of our mental healthcare system. I may have felt differently if the author was a regular mom writing a memoir and not speaking from a 30 year career legislator in the district right next to where I live.

I commend her for how much she bared her soul including the things that are really hard to admit. My thoughts on this as it relates to things my family has gone through are too much to say on goodreads but I do applaud her for making people feel less alone. I was also struck by her honesty with herself when she is upset Jim is gaining weight as a result of his meds that are helping his brain and how she knows it's messed up to care about something so shallow. Grieling truly bared it all on a topic that contains a ton of taboos and I think she did it in a way that was also respectful to her son.

[Bruce Ario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mindy, Just finished Fix yesterday. What was most impressive was your unflagging love for Jim and how much energy it required. Jim's struggles are typical for someone whose mind is not working in their interest. Mental illness is very seductive and it takes so much to break out of it. I hope you and Jim can keep fighting. The book hopefully helped the cause. I was glued to the story.

[Debbie Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is achingly honest and the author is strikingly candid about her family's struggle to realize, accept, and work toward systemic change surrounding her son's mental illness. Diagnosed with a form of schizophrenia as a young adult, the book follows the jagged roller coaster ride leading up to and after that diagnosis. As a state representative, the author also leveraged her position along with her personal journey to work toward ameliorating a broken system of providing services to those with mental illness.

Told from the perspective of a loving and well-resourced family, it is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The candid voice of the author cannot be denied. In writing the book, she consulted with her ill son at every step along the way, a testament to her love and loyalty to her son and family.

Although a painful account in many aspects, it is a totally absorbing and engaging read.

[Ann Nerland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mindy Greiling writes a deeply personal narrative about the emotional and heart rending peaks and valleys (and everything in-between) of her son Jim’s struggle with schizoaffective disorder. It is an honest, painful and occasionally funny account of her continuing journey with this disorder. In her story she stands by her son as an advocate, a beacon of hope and a compassionate mother. Greiling points out the complexities and frustrations of the fractured mental health care system she encounters along the way. As a Minnesota legislator she wrestles her energy into action to make positive changes to this system. Mindy Greiling’s story is compelling and enlightening.

[Kimberly Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book details a mother's courageous fight for her son after he is diagnosed with a serious, life long mental illness. This story tugs at your heart strings. You can feel the mother's fear for her son shining through the story. It is so hard to imagine everything that the entire family has endured throughout the years. This story draws you in as you continue to view the author's experiences as a a mother of a mentally ill adult. The hopelessness at the system does shine through at some points. As the reader, this book encourages you to be more compassionate toward adults with mental illness. At times, this book is heart breaking, but happy, encouraging moments are also shared. I learned so much from this story about the health system and methods for dealing with mentally ill adult aged individuals. I would recommend this book to any family in a similar situation.

[Tess Banion · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fix What You Can" should be mandatory reading for any person considering a career in the helping professions. But in truth anyone with a heart will love this book. Grieling's authentic voice pulls no punches. She even allowed moments of humor, a great gift to find. She examines the mental health system, the trauma inflicted on family members, her own failings and the conflicted and tortured reality of mental illness. A story of unconditional love, purported by many but achieved by few. Well done.

[Lucinda Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former Minnesota legislator Mindy Greiling writes about her family's struggle to care for their adult son who struggles with schizophrenia. It is both a heartbreaking personal story, written with love and courage, and a very important book about our mental health system's challenges and shortcomings. As a psychologist, I believe this book can serve as a powerful resource for families of people diagnosed with major mental illnesses of all types, as well as a highly educational story for professionals working with these patients. This smart, beautifully written book is also a call to action for a country where some of our most vulnerable citizens receive poor, fragmented care and inadequate support from their communities. We can do so much better, and this book shows us the way.

[Carol Marchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a well-written, compelling, and educational account of the realities of our mental health system. Based on the author's own family experiences with the system, the book was one I could not put down. The author's service in Minnesota state politics illustrates the hard, but necessary work needed to improve mental health services. I highly recommend this book. It would make for a great read as a book group choice, since it is likely to provoke a rich discussion on a topic often overlooked.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent on so many levels .. I facilitated NAMI classes for 10 years, and was a MH Clinical Care Coordinator in MN for about 12 .. used a video where this author and her family were featured. And. The story is so much deeper. And more broad .. I am now living in a state where there is almost no support except meds for folk living with MH issues .. what a gift this book is, I am gently talking and giving it to folk, both family and professionals, who don't know what to do next. No easy answers, and supportively real.

[Coraline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book a few months back by my psychology professor Dr Luker at CSP. Being a double major in psychology and criminal justice I was instantly drawn to this book because the main goal of what I want to do is improve how we deal with mental illness inside the criminal justice system. Jim and Mindy’s story is eye opening and I was so glad to get to attention the presentation they did through CSP. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone! Thank you Jim and Mindy for sharing your story!

[Kathleen Orth]

I finished the book last night within about 36 hours of getting it out of the mailbox. It’s so well written and so transparent related to all the challenges for your family and the relationships that are impacted. So sad for all you have been through but such a testament to the unconditional love you and Roger have for Jim. It was a riveting read.

[Douglas Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fix What You Can” is an important book about schizophrenia and the mental health system in the United States. A long-serving legislator in the Minnesota House, Greiling tells the story of her mentally ill son and her fight to get changes in the meant health laws of Minnesota. The story is deeply personal and at times heart wrenching. Anyone who has been touched by mental illness, either directly or indirectly, will want to get the book.

[Patricia Kiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compelling story of a family who has struggled with the mental illness of their son. It is written with honesty and compassion. The author is the son’s mother and a former state legislator who has been effective in creating policy that helps families dealing with mental illness. Ms. Greiling’s story describes so effectively how mental illness overwhelms families emotionally and financially.

[Miriam Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read! Mindy Greilingtakes us through the journey with her son with honesty and tons of important information about our mental health system. It will resonate for anyone who has dealt with these issues in their life. One of the best books I have read on this subject.

[Gayle Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading this book, Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker's Fight for Her Son.
Former Minnesota State Representative Mindy Greiling writes about her and her family's experience in dealing with her son Jim's serious mental illness.
Mindy's son Jim was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder when he was in his 20's.
I appreciate the empathetic way in which Greiling described the often heart wrenching episodes when their son experienced some affects of his condition that could have been very dangerous.
I learned about how difficult it is to get services for those with mental illness and how often the Greilings had to cut through amounts of red tape to get services.
When she was in the Minnesota legislature, Mindy helped to get a significant increase for mental health funding through a caucus she founded. She help to found the first mental health caucus in the nation.
After reading this illuminative book, I now have a better understanding of what families experience when a family member has a serious mental illness.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully written book that educates about mental health, family struggles and the lacking systems to support mental health. It also provides insight into governmental process on how to get things done.
So educational and bravely written. Thank you.

[Nancy]

Five stars!

[Frankie Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read of family relationships while navigating through mental illness and laws that can hamper or aid. With the authors legislative background this family has help and insights not available to most and still found severe roadblocks while trying to help their son. As a relative of a "character" described in this book I applaud Mindy's advocacy for change in the broken mental health system!

Good read of family relationships while navigating through mental illness and laws that can hamper or aid. With the authors legislative background this family has help and insights not available to most and still they encountered severe roadblocks while trying to help their son. As a relative of a "character" described in the book I applaud Mindy's advocacy for change in the broken system of caring for those suffering from mental illness and especially those complicated by drug addictions as well.

[Stephanie VanHeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank the author for writing this book and for being an advocate for all those in the grips of schizophrenia. If there can’t be better solutions at least there can be understanding and compassion.

[Randye Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this memoir for anyone who wants to know more not only about the family experience with schizophrenia, but also why it can be such a long and difficult process to change the legal barriers to getting our loved ones the help they so desperately need (but think they don't).

When  I wrote Ben Behind His Voices almost ten (!!) years ago, there were very few memoirs about the family experience with schizophrenia- and even few that offered any hope or action steps.  Since then, I've seen (and read) quite a few - and this one stands out for its honesty, its perspective (Mindy is the granddaughter of, as well as mother of, someone with schizophrenia), and its knowledge about  advocacy and the way things work in the world of state legislation. 

Mindy Greiling is a fine writer - you'll keep turning the pages. You'll feel less alone, if you share this issue. And you'll get a really accurate ride on the roller coaster of  family experience with "recovery" - what happens after someone with severe mental illness is treated and released? I know this ride all too well - am on it right now, as my son Ben is nearing the end of a three-month hospitalization after nine years of relative success. 

Highly recommended.

[Krista Westendorp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mindy Greiling gives us a riveting account of her son Jim's descent into the frightening delusions and effects of schizoaffective disorder and his family's relentless advocacy for his survival and treatment. Jim's story is harrowing and heartrending. Greiling chronicles over twenty years of Jim's illness, brilliantly laying out the massive failures of our legislative, health care and criminal justice systems' responses to his needs as a significantly at-risk citizen with mental illness.
Greiling succeeded in increasing funding for mental health care and bringing a much-needed awareness to our deficits in community support for people with mental illness during her twenty year tenure as a Minnesota state legislator. Her story here underscores the need for continued attention to policies impacting the lives of people living with the life-threatening impacts of serious mental illness.
Most compelling of all is Greiling's willingness to share her family's struggle with Jim's illness, her own painful reckonings with the implications of his vulnerability and instability, and her ongoing commitment to building seamless support systems.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation for our next League of Women Voters Book Club meeting, in which the author will make an appearance with us via ZOOM. This book is not easy to read because it reveals the inadequacies in our system of treating mental illness. I had some exposure to this during my nursing clinical at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC back in the 1980's. This was a around the time that Ronald Reagan's policies on mental health and issues of privacy and self-determination led to draining mental hospitals of their patients, many of whom ended up among our homeless populations. These people occupy the streets, underpasses and park benches of many major cities, including our Nation's Capitol. My heart went out to the author and her family as they tried to cope with her son's increasingly erratic and psychotic behavior, which was exacerbated by drug use and an unreliable and drug-addicted girlfriend.

The idea that psychotic patients should have so much control over their disposition and treatment is stunning. Surely self-awareness and decision-making skills are not their strong suit, and they do need the help of others. Mrs. Greiling had many tough choices to make, trying not to be an enabler to her ill son, yet not giving him too much rope either. I do not envy the parents of patients with mental illness, especially schizophrenia. Mrs. Greiling and others like her have earned my great respect.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Mindy Greiling was my state representative for many years, and this book only increases my admiration for her. I knew she had a son who was ill; I had no idea just how devastating and intractable his illness was, or how all-consuming it became for his parents as they desperately searched for treatment and housing for Jim--not just for years but for decades. Greiling had the connections to "fix what she could" as a legislator and mom, but even she was repeatedly stymied in getting Jim the help he needed. This book is a call for our leaders and mental health system to seriously address the growing problem of mental illness, treating it as the debilitating brain disease that it is. The book is also a painfully honest memoir that must have required considerable input from and negotiation with Jim and the rest of the family to allow Greiling to tell their story with the frankness it deserves. I hope it will open many eyes.

[Karen Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about a mother's struggle and advocacy for her son who has schizophrenia. Mindy Greiling was also a Minnesota State legislator who had the ear of those who could make a difference. She gave her own testimony about her son and let others tell their stories to make changes in a system that consistently failed individuals with mental illnesses. She is credited with founding the nation's first state mental health caucus, which lobbied for a significant increase in Minnesota's mental health funding.

Her son Jim's mental illness took its toll on her and her family. My heart broke for the constant stress her family went through, always wondering if Jim would ever be okay. And he never really was "okay", even to this day. In the book, she grieves for him while never giving up on him. He continues to fight his demons and Grieling continues to fight for him and others.

This is an excellent and well-written book.

[James DeBenedet · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, in the interest of full disclosure, we are the Stephanie and Jim mentioned in this book. We both read the book and found it well written. It drew us into the Greilings story and the memories of many conversations and worries for Jim, Roger and Mindy. Many of the details of her struggles with the mental health system and health care providers were new to us. These details made this whole story even more real to us.

She frequently brought in the fact that this whole story and its implications for those who are not as well connected and able to bring pressure on the providers who would rather not respond to demanding family. This book really makes the reader understand the challenges for those with mental health issues, chemical dependency issues and loss of friends and family and the support they provide.

We strongly recommend this book to those who need to understand the mental health system and to policy makers in state and local government for their use in making policy decisions affecting people such as our friends.