On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Boston City Council opened a hearing to discuss an increase in investments for mental health clinicians to work alongside the Boston Police Department. Led by Councillors Annissa Essaibi-George—who heads the Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health and Recovery—and Ayanna Pressley (who is part of the same committee), the issue was presented…
The Continuing Impacts of Slavery on African Descendants in America
Chattel slavery in America came to an end in 1865, but the horrific, barbaric, cruel, criminal acts still affect African descendants today. Yes, I’m a black man writing this article, but a white person could have written this article too. It’s not about black history. It’s about an honest and true history of the human…
Last Word: Dawn
Photo: Alena Kuzub I met Dawn on her first day back at Spare Change News after a six-year absence. Based on the big smile on her face and her camaraderie with the paper’s staff, it was obvious she was glad to be back. One thing about this newspaper is that even when Dawn was away,…
$600M More in State Budget Cuts—Tough Times Ahead for the Mental Health Community?
Section 9C: Whenever, in the opinion of the commissioner of administration, available revenues as determined by him from time to time during any fiscal year under section 5B will be insufficient to meet all of the expenditures authorized, he shall within 5 days notify in writing the governor and senate committees on ways and means…
Hospital Abuse of Mental Health Patients: The Rights You Deserve and the Efforts Being Made to Secure Them
by Amanda Morley The Movement Even though the quality of care in Massachusetts and around the country has greatly improved over the past several years, horror stories persist about psychiatric patients being needlessly abused and even dying as the result of negligence by staff and doctors that can border on cruelty. It is unfortunate…