Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate

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Pete Early shares his journey from Washington Post journalist to mental health advocate after his son developed bipolar disorder, revealing how a broken system forces families into crisis before providing help.

• Diagnosis came during his son Kevin's college years with warning signs like "food doesn't taste good" and confusion about reality
• Psychiatrist delivered a devastating prognosis: "incurable disease" with lifetime medication, weight gain, likely unemployment
• Kevin stopped taking medication after a few weeks, leading to psychosis and breaking into a stranger's house
• Early couldn't get help until his son became "dangerous" enough for intervention
• His son joined 365,000 Americans with serious mental illness who end up in jails and prisons annually
• Crisis intervention training for police makes crucial difference in mental health encounters
• Recovery came through proper medication, independent living with supportive roommates, and finding purpose as a peer counselor
• Early discovered the difference between being a parent versus a partner in someone's recovery
• Mental health system requires criminal behavior before providing adequate treatment
• Despite Early's connections and resources, getting proper help took years of struggle

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The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.

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Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed.

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Fejezetek

1. Pete Earley:From Journalist to Advocate (00:00:00)

2. Welcome to Why Not Me? (00:00:05)

3. Pete Early's Personal Mental Health Journey (00:05:12)

4. Kevin's Descending Crisis (00:10:10)

5. Incarceration Instead of Treatment (00:15:16)

6. CIT Training Makes a Difference (00:21:54)

7. Recovery Is Possible (00:25:34)

8. The System Designed for Failure (00:30:43)