The Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses.
TAC promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
We hope in our press room you will find useful resources for your story - please contact us for more story ideas and anything else you need.
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TAC IN THE NEWS ...
March 17, 2008: The Treatment Advocacy Center released its report on the nationwide shortage of public psychiatric beds. The report - picked up by the New York Sun - reveals a shortage of almost 100,000 beds across the country.
March 12, 2008: The Virginian Pilot published a letter from TAC executive director, Kurt Entsminger. Enstminger criticized Virginia lawmakers for failing to bring real reform to the state's mental health system.
March 2008: TAC's Rosanna Esposito had a letter published in Psychiatric Services along with Dr. Valerie Westhead and Jim Berko. The letter cites the success of assisted outpatient treatment in Florida's Seminole County.
February 21, 2008: Jonathan Stanley, TAC assistant director, was quoted in the Hampton Roads Daily Press calling on Virginia lawmakers to bring greater reform to the mental health system.
February 16, 2008: TAC board member Carla Jacobs responded to an LA Times op-ed about the importance of treatment for severe mental illnesses and California's Laura's Law.
February 14, 2008: Dr. E Fuller Torrey, TAC president was quoted in the New York Sun about the reality of violence and untreated mental illness.
February 7, 2008: The Treatment Advocacy Center released a statement with its disappointment that Virginia's general assembly didn't act to reform the state's involuntary treatment standard. "The deaths of 33 people at Virginia Tech should have been a wake-up call to legislators to provide real reform to the state’s broken commitment laws. Instead, the General Assembly is considering little more than lip-service reform."
February 1, 2008: Jon Stanley, TAC assistant director compares New York and California inpatient treatment laws in the New York Daily News.
January 30, 2008: TAC president, Dr. E. Fuller Torrey was quoted in the Richmond Times Dispatch about the importance of treating peoople with severe mental illnesses who are in jail.
January 29, 2008: TAC's Jon Stanley was quoted in the Washington Post explaining the failures of Virginia's mental health system. "On a scale of one to 10, Virginia right now is a one when it comes to mental health." SB 177 is the only bill in the General Assembly that would provide real reform.
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About TAC
What is our mission? Who is on our board? How did we get started? What do people say about us? Find out ...
About E. Fuller Torrey, M.D.
TAC's founder and president has been called "America's most famous psychiatrist." The author of more than 20 books, including Surviving Schizophrenia, he is in high demand for interviews and speaking engagements. Read his bio, download a copy of his full vitae, get links to more information about his research. All here ... (Want to interview Dr. Torrey? Contact us with your request.)
About Kurt Entsminger, J.D.
Kurt Entsminger is an attorney with extensive experience as a nonprofit manager. As a person with bipolar disorder, he also understands first hand the importance of treatment. More details... (Want to interview Kurt Entsminger? Contact us with your request.)
About Jonathan Stanley, J.D.
TAC's assistant director is an attorney and advocate whose knowledge of our nation's mental illness treatment laws and the politics surrounding their passage and use make him an excellent interviewee More details ... (Want to interview Jonathan? Contact us with your request.)
Press releases
Current and archived. See the full list here ... (And sign up if you'd like to be added to our press alert list.)
Story ideas
Stumped for an angle? Check out some ideas to get started ... and more ideas ...
Interviewees
Contact us to get local perspectives and national analysis. Let us know what you need. We can connect you with family members, mental health professionals, law enforcement, consumers, researchers, and other experts on the consequences of nontreatment and the value of more humane treatment laws, including:
- people with severe mental illnesses and their families, who can discuss the inadequacies of today’s mental illness system and the benefits of assisted outpatient treatment;
- law enforcement officials;
- medical professionals;
- TAC president E. Fuller Torrey, MD;
- TAC executive director Kurt Entsminger;
- TAC assistant director Jon Stanley; and
- people who have been affected by your state law.
Contact us
For more information, to set up interviews, or to brainstorm ideas, contact The Treatment Advocacy Center, by email, phone ( 703 294 6001) or fax (703 294 6010). Our mailing address is 200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 730, Arlington, VA 22203. |
Facts about assisted outpatient treatment (AOT)
Assisted outpatient treatment is less restrictive than inpatient hospitalization, and more realistic, considering the shortage of beds. It is proven to reduce incarceration, arrests, homelessness, suicide, violence, and victimization among recipients. Start your research here ...
Consequences of nontreatment
An estimated 4.5 million Americans today suffer from the severest forms of mental illness, schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness. The National Advisory Mental Health Council estimates 40 percent, or 1.8 million people, are not receiving treatment on any given day. Stories fill the headlines. Those with untreated mental illnesses live homeless on our streets, are victims of crimes, fill our jails and prisons, commit suicide, and commit acts of violence. More details on the consequences of failing to treat...
State treatment laws
Get information on the mental illness treatment law in a specfic state, see how it compares with other laws, and read our "Model Law for Assisted Treatment" to see what the law could be. Get started...
Kendra's Law
New York's assisted outpatient treatment law is a great example of how these laws can save lives. Get started...
Medical background
Find out about severe mental illnesses like schizophenia and bipolar disorder, the affects of medication, and the medical phenomenon of lack of insight into illness. On this page...
Sign up to stay informed
Stay informed with our weekly email news roundup, our periodic hard copy newsletter, and our press alert list. Sign up now ... (And remember to regularly check our blog and newsticker updated most business days.)
Newsletter articles
Browse our newsletter archives (all free) for original articles and ideas. Start reading...
Research and resources
Look through briefing papers, reports, news stories, and research. All here...
Contact us
For more information, to set up interviews, or to brainstorm ideas, contact The Treatment Advocacy Cener by email, phone (703 294 6001) or fax (703 294 6010). Our mailing address is 200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 730, Arlington, VA 22203. |
News ticker
TAC's news ticker links to recent relevant news stories. Some newspapers require free one-time registration (we usually don't link to papers requiring paid subscriptions to read online stories). See a recent story not listed here? Let us know. Have something to say about a story? Write a letter to the editor.
NE - Freemont Tribune, July 18, 2008
PA - Pocono Record, July 17, 2008
TIME – July 16, 2008
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Murder suspect is called incompetent
KY – Louisville Courier-Journal, July 15, 2008
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Hikers find body below Pali ledge
HI – Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 14, 2008
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Mother haunted by her son's final words
PA – The Patriot News, July 10, 2008
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Sun Valley woman dies near Twin Falls
ID – Idaho Mountain Express, July 9, 2008
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Accused Arsonist Found Incompetent
CT – The New London Day, July 8, 2008
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Life in a tent symbolizes woman's sad descent
FL – Miami Herald, July 6, 2008
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Deputy's killer leaves prison, sent to psychiatric hospital
KY – Louisville Courier Journal, July 3, 2008
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RI – Providence Journal, June 29, 2008
VT – Rutland Herald, June 26, 2008
UT – Salt Lake Tribune, June 16, 2008
FL – WCTV Tallahassee, June 12, 2008
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