Mental health in Polk County and Florida: Read every story in our series
In the last year, a grand jury described Florida's mental illness treatment system as “a sad state” and one that has “urgent problems."
In Polk County, mental health treatment stakeholders finished a year-long study recently that shows one in seven of your friends, neighbors and co-workers indicate that they live with depression or are otherwise at risk for behavioral health challenges.
Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore spent this year reading through more than a thousand pages of reports, studies and legal documents to write an 8-part, 25-story series on Mental Health.
Here's a look at the series.
Florida's mental health system is in 'a sad state'
A Polk family's struggle: 'I'm coming to kill you': Inside a Polk family's struggle with mental illness and the court system
A look inside Florida's mental health care issues: Florida’s mental health system ‘a sad state’ with devastating consequences, report says
Report from Polk Vision: Polk Vision releases report on mental illness: ‘We have what it takes ... (to) change people’s lives’
From asylums to community centers
A long history: From large asylums to community centers — a 60-year experiment
G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital closed in 2002 after deaths and mutilations. What went wrong?
Homeless population
Years ago, people would have been institutionalized. Now, many are homeless
Report from Polk Vision: Polk Vision report shows homeless are most vulnerable population
Law enforcement, Baker Acting
The war on mental health: Law enforcement officers are first line of defense in war against 'invisible enemy'
After personal struggles, criminology professor advocates for decriminalizing mental illness
In November: Woman with mental illness wielding a shovel is killed by highly trained deputy
Report from Polk Vision: Polk Vision stats: Law enforcement officers are Baker Acting people at alarming rates
In jails
Polk County Jail is home to more mentally ill people than hospitals or treatment centers
Polk County's Problem Solving Court doles out help instead of jail time
Death in Polk County Jail's mental health unit shows flaws in the system
Report from Polk Vision: Mental Health: Polk Vision report shows inmates not getting counseling in jail
Juveniles
Experts declare 'national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health'
Mental Health: Juvenile Baker Act reports reveal children who have lost hope
Report from Polk Vision: Mental Health: Polk Vision's juvenile statistics show 1 in 5 students may have attempted suicide
Treatment centers
Help can be found in hospitals and inpatient care centers
Suicide rates are dropping in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties
Report from Polk Vision: Polk Vision report shows critical lack of providers in some areas of Polk
Overcoming mental illness
New Beginning's 'God's own angels' help people overcome mental illness, addiction
Experts recommend solutions like sharing patient information, increased funding
Ending the stigma - notable Polk residents have sought help
Mental Health: Treatment is personal for my family
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland Mental Health series: Read every story by Kimberly C. Moore
