Dr. Jhilam Biswas

more timely medications to people with psychotic illness. Because right now in Massachusetts, and I know in other states, because I talk to psychiatrists everywhere, this is a huge issue. We cannot get care to individuals with serious mental illness who have an insight problem, who can't tell that they're ill. And that's a very common problem among people with psychosis.

And that I do think results, it's multifactorial, but it is a factor that results in this cycle of homelessness and incarceration. Because if you're coming off your meds and you become sick and no one is monitoring you and you don't have ties to care and you've burned bridges with your caregivers, you do end up in this cycle of losing your housing, ending up on the streets.

And that I do think results, it's multifactorial, but it is a factor that results in this cycle of homelessness and incarceration. Because if you're coming off your meds and you become sick and no one is monitoring you and you don't have ties to care and you've burned bridges with your caregivers, you do end up in this cycle of losing your housing, ending up on the streets.

And that I do think results, it's multifactorial, but it is a factor that results in this cycle of homelessness and incarceration. Because if you're coming off your meds and you become sick and no one is monitoring you and you don't have ties to care and you've burned bridges with your caregivers, you do end up in this cycle of losing your housing, ending up on the streets.

using substances, ending up with head injuries. And then that is this downward spiral into interactions with law enforcement and crime, and then ending up in the carceral system. One of my deep sadnesses is the fact that some of our largest jails in the country, LA, Chicago's Cook County, and New York Rikers are some of the biggest psychiatric hospitals in our country.

using substances, ending up with head injuries. And then that is this downward spiral into interactions with law enforcement and crime, and then ending up in the carceral system. One of my deep sadnesses is the fact that some of our largest jails in the country, LA, Chicago's Cook County, and New York Rikers are some of the biggest psychiatric hospitals in our country.

using substances, ending up with head injuries. And then that is this downward spiral into interactions with law enforcement and crime, and then ending up in the carceral system. One of my deep sadnesses is the fact that some of our largest jails in the country, LA, Chicago's Cook County, and New York Rikers are some of the biggest psychiatric hospitals in our country.

And that shouldn't be the case. I think that's a human rights violation. to have our carceral systems provide psychiatric care.

And that shouldn't be the case. I think that's a human rights violation. to have our carceral systems provide psychiatric care.

And that shouldn't be the case. I think that's a human rights violation. to have our carceral systems provide psychiatric care.

Exactly. And so it is important in those settings to really get a forensic psychiatrist to do an evaluation and provide recommendations. It's very sad that so many people with mental illness do end up in the carceral system. But just having that psychiatric evaluation that follows them, that people can read and say, oh, this person has this diagnosis. Oh, this is this person's history.

Exactly. And so it is important in those settings to really get a forensic psychiatrist to do an evaluation and provide recommendations. It's very sad that so many people with mental illness do end up in the carceral system. But just having that psychiatric evaluation that follows them, that people can read and say, oh, this person has this diagnosis. Oh, this is this person's history.

Exactly. And so it is important in those settings to really get a forensic psychiatrist to do an evaluation and provide recommendations. It's very sad that so many people with mental illness do end up in the carceral system. But just having that psychiatric evaluation that follows them, that people can read and say, oh, this person has this diagnosis. Oh, this is this person's history.

These are the medications that might be helpful. Or here are some ways this individual can cope with their mental illness. That is such an important report to have for that individual and to have that level of psychiatric analysis done for that individual who's in the carceral system. I really think that that's so important.

These are the medications that might be helpful. Or here are some ways this individual can cope with their mental illness. That is such an important report to have for that individual and to have that level of psychiatric analysis done for that individual who's in the carceral system. I really think that that's so important.

These are the medications that might be helpful. Or here are some ways this individual can cope with their mental illness. That is such an important report to have for that individual and to have that level of psychiatric analysis done for that individual who's in the carceral system. I really think that that's so important.

This is such an important question. It's one I personally struggle with every day and think about every day because I think there are some key things to educate society about when it comes to mental illness and how people end up in the criminal justice system.

This is such an important question. It's one I personally struggle with every day and think about every day because I think there are some key things to educate society about when it comes to mental illness and how people end up in the criminal justice system.

This is such an important question. It's one I personally struggle with every day and think about every day because I think there are some key things to educate society about when it comes to mental illness and how people end up in the criminal justice system.

One is substance use is like one of the biggest issues that results in violent behavior and then results in someone with mental illness or substance use disorder to be incarcerated. This impulsive behavior that comes from substance use. Another is traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury is a really big deal in the United States.