I referenced the first thing in the original post. I was at a meeting for an state-funded initiative my company belongs to called MFP (Money Follows the Person). The initiative is to move intellectually/developmentally and physically disabled folks and the elderly out of institutionalized settings (nursing/rest homes, large developmental centers, psychiatric hospitals, large group homes) into the community with assistance. The basic gist is that the funding individuals receive to live in the institutionalized setting will also pay for life in the community. One self-advocate (a 55-year old I/DD and physically disabled lady) was there. For the most part, people were kind, but a couple of times she tried to speak, the lady who heads up the initiative shushed her like a child. At lunch, no one sat with her. On the way home, I felt like we were a group of hypocrites; talking about this great thing we are trying to do while ignoring the person in the room. I was as guilty as anyone else. This started a questioning process about the nature of the mental health care system; from psychiatry to therapy to institutions to group homes, etc.

The second thing rocked my world. I will PM you about that because it is primarily about religion (involving people from my past).

The third thing was really rather simple, yet profound. Listening to my mom say that when she went to the doctor, she broke down. And after 65 years of needing to do this, she finally had the courage to tell someone, "I need help". I wish she had done it a lot sooner, for her sake and mine, but at least she did it before the end of her life. She is not depressed right now and it is amazing to see.

It was a hell of a weekend!