DJ Jaffe is the author of Insane Consequences: How the Mental Health Industry Fails the Mentally Ill (Prometheus, 2017). He writes on serious mental illness (not mental health). His op-eds have appeared in New York Times, Washington Post, Sacramento Bee, New York Daily News, New York Post, San Diego Union Tribune, Albany Times Union and numerous other publications. He regularly writes on serious mental illness for the Huffington Post and National Review. Serious mental illness is a poorly understood illness that only affects 4% of the population over 18. Many journalists confuse it with poor mental health which can affect everyone or mental illness which is said to effect 20% of population. The issues that need to be addressed to solve the mental illness crisis are often overlooked by reporters who focus on pop-psychology or couch their pieces in political correctness that prevents unpleasant truths from being told.

Articles

SAMHSA Administrator Pamela Hyde

Employees at lead U.S. mental health agency critical of leadership

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) is responsible for U.S. mental health policy. The General Accounting Office found it does a poor job and now a new report shows SAMHSA Administrator Pam Hyde lost the confidence of the agency employees.

Preventing suicide in all the wrong ways

During Suicide Prevention Week advocates are conducting suicide awareness campaigns. But there is not evidence that awareness reduces suicide. More effective suicide prevention approaches are being ignored.

Sigma Low on List Why Mentally Ill Fail to Receive Care

8 Myths About Serious Mental Illness

These eight myths about serious mental illness cause Congress to waste money and fail to implement policies that can improve care and keep patients public and police safer.   ...

The Mental Health Industry Is Misleading Congress

To solve the mental health crisis, we have to reduce mental health spending and use the savings to increase mental illness spending. That's the idea behind H.R. 3717, The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act.