Last Wednesday a friend of ours who works in Hollywood took us down to the northwest corner of Fountain and Vine. There, was this park bench where a young man named Desni Grey had died. Desni was about 31 and struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs but was seen as a sweet young man. Two months before he seemed healthy and vibrant and although he had his share of problems was doing well. In January and February of this year they watched him slowly deteriorate until he was skin and bones and finally gone. Desni was mentally ill. They tried to get him 'inside' to get help but he cons
istently refused. In his last days those who knew him best called the Department of Mental Health in Los Angeles where several messages were left but none returned. From where I took this picture if I was to turn around I would be looking directly at the Department of Mental Health services main building. It was right there. Kerry as she told us the story was not blaming any one person but a broken system. In the name of civil rights, those who are mentally ill and on the streets are 'protected' by not being admitted to care without consent. Our current definitions of mental illness allow for those who need it but refuse (as a result of mental illness)
Last Wednesday a friend of ours who works in Hollywood took us down to the northwest corner of Fountain and Vine. There, was this park bench where a young man named Desni Grey had died. Desni was about 31 and struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs but was seen as a sweet young man. Two months before he seemed healthy and vibrant and although he had his share of problems was doing well. In January and February of this year they watched him slowly deteriorate until he was skin and bones and finally gone. Desni was mentally ill. They tried to get him 'inside' to get help but he cons
istently refused. In his last days those who knew him best called the Department of Mental Health in Los Angeles where several messages were left but none returned. From where I took this picture if I was to turn around I would be looking directly at the Department of Mental Health services main building. It was right there. Kerry as she told us the story was not blaming any one person but a broken system. In the name of civil rights, those who are mentally ill and on the streets are 'protected' by not being admitted to care without consent. Our current definitions of mental illness allow for those who need it but refuse (as a result of mental illness)
