Housing and the ‘Right to Fail’ For People With Severe Mental Illness (Full Documentary) | FRONTLINE

Following the lives of former group home residents who are now on their own, FRONTLINE and ProPublica investigate New York’s effort to let people with mental illnesses live independently.

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Thousands of New Yorkers with severe mental illnesses won the chance to live independently in supported housing, following a 2014 federal court order. FRONTLINE and ProPublica investigate what’s happened to people moved from adult homes into apartments and find more than two dozen cases in which the system failed, sometimes with deadly consequences.

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34 Comments

  1. Home care outside cities for these mentally ill persons with 24/7 psychiatrists and social workers and provided with full medical care , first and foremost. Mentally ill should be assessed first if they can live "independently" or have relatives who may possibly take them. But sadly, 99% probability that no relatives will take them with this kind of culture and governmental set ups. Lost of true care for these people is what I see in this documentary. Close to being 'heartless' from people of the government.

  2. I had a schizophrenic living next door to me i worked 3 to 11 when i got home hed be waiting in the hallway screaming at me claiming i was banging my door all night when i wasnt even home i was at work. He tried to get into my apartment turning the knob. Thank god it was locked . When he finally moved out he put a note on my door thanking me for giving him food which i never did lol.

  3. Leave them in the institution and do a better job providing a good life for them. To turn most of these people out on the street is utterly cruel.

  4. As someone with bipolar NOS I relate to Nester when his mom died. When my mom died I lost it for 3 months. Literally! I am not a drinker and I drank for a week straight. I couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't do anything. Finally I slowly regained my life.

  5. It’s scary when you realize Nestor is an example of what a high-functioning schizophrenic looks like, as he is obviously intelligent and has some degree of insight into his condition.

  6. What I don't get is if someone had a broken hip, you'd never think to tell them they have to walk 2 miles to the hospital to get help because clearly, the structures for walking can't work at that point. Mental illness is caused by the structure for making decisions being damaged/not working, yet we expect someone in that condition to make mindful decisions on their care.

  7. I live in Eugene Oregon and I’m 46 and I can’t get the support program that I’m in because I’m not visaculy disabled only metal disabled I can’t get a jobs or the ability to get a provider and no fireands my ex family gave up on me im truly alone in my lony life I have no more options 🤯😭🤬

  8. Everybody would struggle if forced pumped with chemicals and have their brain burned
    into beef jerky with electricity ECT forced treatment on people who do not want it.
    Even navy seals could not remember few objects that were placed in front of them on a table when in high intensity
    training. What these people are put through is so much more than a navy seal training.
    ECT forced treatments erase memory. Do not do it in the first place then there will not be the problem of these people
    be not able to remember.

  9. I have bipolar disorder that hit me in my late 20s, been rejected from social security my whole life even though i paid into it. I barely function these days and take meds. No addiction issues. Its the sick society not the people.

  10. This is ridiculous, you do not give people who are impaired the right to make their own decisions/live their own lives. These people are vulnerable by nature and do not have the capacity to deal with life alone or decide what level of care they will or won't accept. The Mental Health/Govt/Social Services have massively failed on this.

  11. This is a problem for medical sciences, not politics. I believe there are potential cures for schizophrenia bipolar and so just waiting to be discovered. The first one discovered was for anti nmda Receptor encephalitis. Many more will follow in the following century.

  12. HIS MOTHER SUED A STUDENT DENTIST THEY GOT RICH SHE GOT ALIMONEY FROM A LABORER THEN FOUND A SUGAR DADDY THATS CAPITOLISTIC MONEY DONT VOTE FOR TRUMP OR THE REPUBLICANS I WONT

  13. MY PYSICAL DOCTOR FROM IRAQ I DONT THINK HE CARES I RARELY SEE HIM THE SHRINK HINDU IS THE SAME WAY A FEW PILLS AND THEY GET ALL THE MONEY IVE KNOWN THIS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL HINDUS AND ARABS MONEY ALL THEY CARE ABOUT ME US ARMY JOURNALIST RECRUIT MY FAMILY CAME HERE ON BOATS THEM IN0JETS

  14. I always like these kinds of programs. Things will be much better for all of us regardless of the situation, if only we have kind, caring friends and family. Simple as that. Thanks. ❤

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