Patrick Kennedy: Part 2 : A Real Mental Health Strategy
29/05/2026 | 24 mins.
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy to get specific about what a real national mental health strategy looks like and why the current system wastes money while people end up isolated, hospitalized, incarcerated, or living on the streets. We dig into integrated care, schools-based prevention, telehealth, and the rising risks of AI so listeners walk away with practical policy ideas and a clear sense of what needs to change next.
• the need for a national blueprint that links housing, healthcare, and community supports • aligning financial incentives so integrated care becomes the default • why siloed budgets drive higher costs in ER use, incarceration, and homelessness • reducing stigma by integrating mental health into standard medical care • building mental health literacy through routine screening and early help in schools • expanding effective therapy access through telehealth and proper reimbursement • fixing cross-state licensure barriers to match patients with the right clinicians • rebuilding social connection as a core mental health intervention • using AI for personalized care while guarding against isolation and lost agency • preparing for AI-driven job disruption and the mental health impact of lost purpose
If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world.
INTRO/OUTRO Music: T. Wild Mantor Music BMI
https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Patrick Kennedy: Part 1: We Can Fix Mental Health Care If We Build Power
27/05/2026 | 25 mins.
Send us Fan Mail We talk with former U.S. representative Patrick Kennedy about why mental health parity still fails in practice and what it takes to make insurers and employers cover care that actually works. We keep coming back to one idea: real change happens when we build power and design a system that rewards early help, long-term outcomes, and community support. • Barriers to full enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act • Why payers respond to penalties more than long-term value • How lobbying, regulation and legal appeals weaken consumer protections • Building political power by organizing families and breaking silos • The business case for early intervention and recovery supports • Why supportive housing and community services can beat revolving-door crisis care • The 90-90-90 by 2033 framework for screening, evidence-based care and recovery • Lessons from the Community Mental Health Act and the cost of dividing communities • Moving from over-medicalized solutions to integration, purpose and connection If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. INTRO/OUTRO Music: T. Wild Mantor Music BMI
https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Sen Judy Amabile: When Psychosis Hits, Families Need A System That Works
25/05/2026 | 26 mins.
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Colorado State Senator Judy Amabile to connect one family’s painful path through serious mental illness to the laws that decide whether people get treatment or get pushed into homelessness and the courts. We talk honestly about psychosis, stigma, and the hard policy choices behind civil commitment, Medicaid rules, and building enough beds to stop the cycle. • Her son’s schizoaffective disorder and the road to diagnosis • Early signs like paranoia and thought broadcasting • Family anger and confusion turning into empathy • NAMI Family-to-Family as a bridge to advocacy • Why mental illness feels like the “no casserole disease” • The jump from lived experience to writing policy • Civil commitment and AOT as a contested safety net • Competency waitlists and why they don’t equal treatment • The “churn” between jail, hospitals, and the street • Medicaid changes that allow longer inpatient stays If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. One last thing, spread the word about why not me.
MUSIC INTRO/OUTRO: T. Wild MANTOR MUSIC BMI
https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Senator Creigh Deeds: How A Virginia Senator Turns Grief Into Behavioral Health Law
22/05/2026 | 26 mins.
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds to talk about how personal loss turns into a long-term push for mental health reform that actually survives the news cycle. We focus on what legislation can change, what funding really buys, and why the mental health workforce crisis is the wall every good idea hits. • his path from rural public service to mental health advocacy after his son’s diagnosis and death • why he builds a legislator-led commission so reforms do not die on a shelf • taking lawmakers into hospitals, crisis units, and schools to see gaps firsthand • expanding community mental health services statewide through budget-driven mandates • investing in long-term supportive housing as a stability tool for serious mental illness • assisted outpatient treatment limits when there are not enough clinicians to deliver care • loan forgiveness, residency expansion, and pay increases to strengthen the behavioral health workforce pipeline • handling constituent calls and the emotional weight families carry when the system fails • the mental health and criminal justice intersection, including CIT training and Marcus Alert • normalizing mental health care as health care and reducing stigma so people get help earlier
If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. One last thing spread the word about why not me.
https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
John Nutting; Treat Brain Disorders Like Any Other Illness
20/05/2026 | 27 mins.
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with former Maine State Senator John Nutting to talk about why serious mental illness belongs in the medical system, not the jail system, and how court ordered treatment can keep people alive and communities safer. We walk through Maine’s Progressive Treatment Plan, the fight to fund and implement it, and what families can do to push for mental health legislation that actually works. • John Nutting’s background in public service and the case for treating brain disorders like any other medical condition • What Maine calls AOT and how the Progressive Treatment Plan works in practice • Why anosognosia changes the ethics and logistics of “voluntary” treatment • The gap between family needs and what policy often delivers • How cycling through hospitals and jails destroys bed capacity and budgets • Lessons from other states, including Kendra’s Law, Kevin’s Law, and concerns about voluntary-only models • What separates real legislation from bills that look good but fail in implementation • Concrete ways to advocate, find your state laws, and speak to the right lawmakers If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. One last thing spread the word about why not me.
INTRO/OUTRO Music: T. Wild Mantor Music BMI
https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Autism, Mental Health, Advocacy & Human Stories.Embracing Autism/Mental Health Worldwide.Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting millions worldwide, characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Despite increasing recognition, there remains a lack of understanding and awareness about the condition. Mental health encompasses a range of conditions impacting emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting millions globally. It includes disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Schizophrenia is marked by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, while psychosis involves a loss of contact with reality, often presenting with similar symptoms. Despite growing awareness, stigma and misconceptions about mental health, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis, persist, underscoring the need for greater understanding and support. From celebrating neurodiversity to breaking down stigma, we create a safe space for listeners to learn, grow, and feel seen. Whether you're on the spectrum, a caregiver, or an advocate, join our global community for inspiring conversations and empowering resources that uplift and unite. Tune in to embrace understanding, healing, and hope worldwide! Together, we can create a more informed and compassionate society for individuals with Autism and Mental Illness.
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