Family Guide to Mental Illness and the Law

When a loved one with mental illness comes into contact with the law, trying to advocate for them can be an overwhelming and frustrating endeavor. Mental illness adds a layer of complexity to legal processes, and the justice system can be downright bewildering, even for the most well-intentioned. How can families find out if their loved one is being mistreated or ignored, and how can they make sense of their rights under various laws and regulations? Family Guide to Mental Illness and the Law offers the nuts-and-bolts legal information and problem-solving steps families need. This accessible resource explains how common legal issues uniquely impact people with various forms of mental illness and what family members can do to help. Readers will learn how to · help protect a loved one's job, housing, or medical care · participate in hearings about guardianship, involuntary commitment, bankruptcy, and more · assist in making financial arrangements · navigate federal laws surrounding the Family and Medical Leave Act, HIPAA, disability claims, and workers' compensation · steer criminal proceedings away from jail and toward treatment Beyond the legal system, this book also guides readers in interacting with officials and authorities, lobbying for better laws, and working with local governments towards improving policies that affect those with mental illness. Complete with real-world examples, Family Guide to Mental Illness and the Law provides practical advice and eases the feelings of isolation that often accompany loving someone with mental illness.

Linda Tashbook, Esq., is a law librarian at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and part-time lawyer. A Fulbright Senior Specialist and winner of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Pro Bono Award, she is well known for her Homeless Law Blog, www.homelesslaw.info.

PART 1: Health Law Ch. 1: Health Information Privacy Ch. 2: Disability Benefits: SSDI and SSI Ch. 3: Guardianship Ch. 4: Psychiatric Advance Directives Ch. 5: Involuntary Commitment Ch. 6: Professional Misconduct PART 2: Criminal Law Ch. 7: When the Police Are Called to Help Ch. 8: Negative Police Encounters, Getting Arrested, and Going to Jail Ch. 9: Minor Crimes Ch. 10: Mental Health Court Ch. 11: Criminal Court Trials and Mental Illness Ch. 12: The Rights of People with Mental Illness in Jails and Prisons Ch. 13: Damaged Reputations Part 3: Employment Law Ch. 14: Employee Reputations and Opportunities Ch. 15: Employment Discrimination Ch. 16: Taking Leave and Being Compensated Ch. 17: Responses to Employment Termination Part 4: Consumer Law Ch. 18: Owing Money Ch. 19: Families and Finance Ch. 20: Trusts Ch. 21: Supportive Money Management Ch. 22: Housing Law Part 5: Death and the Law Ch. 23: Missing Persons Ch. 24: Wrongful Death Ch. 25: Suicide Law Ch. 26: The Wills of People with Mental Illness