My brother suffers from severe mental illness. I’ve witnessed him trapped in a relentless cycle of jail, hospitals, and homelessness instead of obtaining the long-term treatment he desperately needs. Watching him be punished for an illness, rather than helped, is heartbreaking. No family should endure this pain. We need a system that treats, not criminalizes.

Too often, individuals with severe mental illnesses are incarcerated for actions committed while off their medication. Instead of receiving the necessary care, they are punished by a justice system ill-equipped to address their needs. This cycle is not only damaging to them but also to their families and society as a whole. About two in five people who are incarcerated have a serious mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails) according to NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, emphasizing the need for change in how we address mental health.

A Tragic Reminder of Why Reform Is Urgent

The recent murder of Iryna Zarutska, a young Ukrainian girl, by a man suffering from schizophrenia is a heartbreaking reminder of why mental health reform cannot wait. Families like mine watch helplessly as loved ones suffer with severe mental illness, with no support, no options, and no system to turn to.

It is crucial and urgent that we change the laws, fund and open more psychiatric facilities, and allow involuntary commitment for those who are a danger to themselves or others. Schizophrenia is devastating, complex, and misunderstood. Ignoring it leads to preventable deaths and suffering. Tragedies like this can and must be prevented. That young girl's death could have been avoided with proper intervention. Families deserve help. Lives deserve protection.

I am calling for more funding for psychiatric facilities nationwide. Enhanced resources can offer the support, stability, and medical attention these individuals require. Additionally, we need stronger laws that allow for extended involuntary placement for those with histories of violence, repeated incarcerations, or hospital stays, and chronic homelessness. These measures are not about taking away rights, they are about ensuring safety, dignity, and true healing.

Creating better pathways to sustained health, rather than temporary, punitive measures, is essential. Society can no longer stand by and allow people with severe mental illness to be trapped in a revolving door of incarceration and hospitalization.

Every individual deserves a chance at recovery and a life of dignity. It's time to act and create systems that genuinely support those most in need. Join me in demanding a fair, compassionate approach to mental health care. Please sign this petition to make real change happen.