Recent legislation signals that the priority is getting people into treatment, but whether that translates to large-scale impact is less clear.
“A man is yelling for help. He looks to be about 65, is unkempt and in a wheelchair that he can only roll backward with unsteady feet. I’ve seen him before on my street. Sometimes he says hello; other times he’s engaged with unseen entities. Today, he says that God has abandoned him, and he wants to die. He howls in pain and asks someone to call 911. I look around and realize that I am that someone, and I oblige, even as he ignores my pleas to stay put. There’s a fecal odor coming from the trash bag he carries, and flies circle relentlessly. I wonder, not for the first time, how a human being could reach such a state in an abundant society.”
So begins Managing Editor Dakota Morlan’s rigorously reported feature story on local efforts to help people struggling with mental illness.
Most of us have at some point encountered a mentally ill person in public. We want to do something to help, but don’t know what to do. I’ve sometimes bought a sandwich and a bottle of water, only to find the person I bought them for gone when I returned. I’ve handed out quite a few $5 bills, not knowing where they would go. And I admit some of these situations can be scary, fueled by media reports of violence, such as bystanders pushed onto subway tracks or a young woman stabbed from behind on a bus.
What can be done? Dakota writes about a relatively new service, CARE Court, which is trying to help.
– Judy Farah, editor
Other stories you may have missed: Sacramento Art Spaces Are Embracing the Power of the ‘Little Treat’
Studios and performance venues across the city are making creativity more approachable with drinks, snacks and beginner-friendly events.
Food Allergies Are Rising. A Sacramento Startup Says It Has a Faster Way to Test for Them
May Startup of the Month DipDetect’s DIY strip is designed to detect common allergens in beverages within seconds.
How Sacramento’s Fitness Economy Helped Create an ‘American Gladiators’ Star
“American Gladiators” competitor Sydney Hunter, a Sacramento local and St. Francis High School graduate, says the city’s training culture and inclusive gyms encouraged her to pursue strength and visibility.
From Trail Runs to Pubside Picnics, This Marin Coast Destination Has Something for Every Mom
Something about the sleepy town of Stinson Beach still feels undiscovered, writes contributor Melissa Luvisi in this travel essay on her family’s young traditions.
Odds and Ends
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn for daily stories and extras.