This story is part of a yearlong series about Colorado’s broken mental health care system. Read the first installment here. Owen Chaffin, as he grew larger as a teen, punched holes in the walls of his family’s Littleton home with his head and feet. He shredded clothing, tore up books and broke three windows on the school bus.He kicked his mother in the back of the head one day while she was driving the car and nearly knocked her out.His rage was uncontrollable.“He was very destructive,” said Owen’s father, Ron Chaffin. “It got to the point where we couldn’t have him at home. He was hurting us, and we couldn’t keep him safe from his self-injurious behavior.”Owen had appeared to be developing normally, his dad said, until about age 3, when he began regressing after receiving vaccinations. The idea that vaccinations are related to autism has been refuted by scientific studies, but a possible correlation remains … [Read more...] about SPECIAL REPORT: Parents struggle, families buckle with a child’s mental illness
National alliance on mental illness
Kansas death penalty case has implications for mentally ill
Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press Updated 10:17 am CDT, Saturday, March 23, 2019 FILE--In this Oct. 2011, file photo, James Kraig Kahler listens to the judge while being sentenced in Osage County Court in Lyndon, Kansas. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a Kansas death penalty case that could have implications for mentally ill defendants across the nation. The case involves Kahler, convicted and sentenced to death for the 2009 fatal shootings of his estranged wife, her grandmother and his two teenage daughters. His attorneys argue that he was suffering from depression so severe that he experienced extreme emotional disturbance, dissociating him from reality. (Anthony S. Bush/The Topeka Capital Journal via AP, Pool, File) less FILE--In this Oct. 2011, file photo, James Kraig Kahler listens to the judge while being sentenced in Osage County Court in Lyndon, Kansas. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a Kansas death penalty ... more … [Read more...] about Kansas death penalty case has implications for mentally ill
National Alliance on Mental Illness widens reach to include Monument, northern Colorado Springs
Dan and Louisa Carscadden moved to the Monument area in 2016, after retiring from careers as schoolteachers in California. Though they were done teaching for a paycheck, Louisa said they knew they were going to “give back to the organization that helped us,” the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Starting next month, NAMI is widening geographical offerings in Colorado Springs and nearby towns, including Monument, to reach more residents with its mental health education programs. The Carscaddens are on board, teaching a free program in Monument from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, from Feb. 6 through April 24.“(We) really want to teach in our own community,” Louisa said. “That’s important to us.” The couple has previously led a NAMI class; in that case, it was a faith-based program hosted at Woodmen Valley Chapel in northern Colorado Springs.“This is a class, it’s not a support group (and) you’ll go home with a huge … [Read more...] about National Alliance on Mental Illness widens reach to include Monument, northern Colorado Springs
Beaumont announces new mental health hospital in Dearborn
Kristen Jordan Shamus Detroit Free Press Published 12:01 AM EST Nov 5, 2018 Beaumont Health is to announce details Monday about its plan to build a new mental health hospital in Dearborn in conjunction with Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services. Construction on the $40 million free-standing hospital is to begin in early 2019 on eight acres of vacant land on Oakwood Boulevard near the Southfield Freeway. When it opens, the hospital — Beaumont's ninth — will have space for 150 beds and will be operated and managed by UHS, which also will be the majority owner. With the addition of the new hospital, Beaumont will double its capacity for in-patient mental health care, for which there's a growing need, and expand its intensive day programs and outpatient mental health care offerings. “There have been many conversations at the state level about the increasing necessity for mental health services, and the need outpaced … [Read more...] about Beaumont announces new mental health hospital in Dearborn
Vikings’ Everson Griffen back on the field, and that’s the best news of all
The last time the Vikings and New Orleans Saints played, it was memorable, with Stefon Diggs turning an improbable catch-and-run into a playoff-winning touchdown that instantly became known as the Minnesota Miracle. These teams met again Sunday night and it was memorable for so much more than the winning or losing of an NFL game. Never mind the final score, many will remember it as the night Everson Griffen put on a uniform again and played in a game. The first member of the Vikings to charge out of the tunnel minutes before the game began, Griffen had one tackle and no sacks, though he did put some pressure on quarterback Drew Brees in the Saints’ 30-20 victory over the Vikings. How Griffen played wasn’t as important as the simple fact that he played. “It felt amazing being back out there,” Griffen said. He helps make the Vikings a better team, sure, but there is so much more going on here. Griffen returned to the Vikings last week after being gone a … [Read more...] about Vikings’ Everson Griffen back on the field, and that’s the best news of all