Helping Veterans Cope, Mentally Ill Ex-Inmates, Question Everything

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

Rob Ferrett and Veronica Rueckert talk about helping veterans cope with re-entry into civilian life, a lack of care for mentally ill ex-inmates in Wisconsin, and why we should question everything.

Featured in this Show

  • Report Details Lack Of Care For Mentally Ill Ex-Inmates

    A new report from the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (WCIJ) details the lack of care provided for ex-inmates with mental illnesses in Wisconsin.

    According to WCIJ reporter Nora Hertel, many inmates in the system require medication.

    “About a quarter of the prisoners in the Wisconsin system are taking psychiatric medication,” Hertel said.

    While the medication is provided for inmates while in jail or prison, “state prison inmates are generally released with two weeks of pills and a four-week prescription,” said Hertel. For those in county jails, that number can be as low as three days of medication, she said.

    There are several difficulties involved in securing prescriptions after release from prison. First, according to Hertel, “a lot of people who end up in the prison system — before that — they didn’t know they had a mental illness … maybe they were treating it with alcohol or street drugs. When they get out they don’t have the network to get proper health care.”

    To make matters worse, the number of pills provided upon release might not be enough to hold an ex-inmate over until more can be prescribed. With regards to community clinics, “a lot of the counties have wait lists, some of them several weeks,” said Hertel.

    The difficulties in securing medications can lead to increased recidivism.

    Hertel spoke with one inmate who was an alcoholic and repeat-offense drunken driver. He lost his Medicaid coverage and was unable to afford his prescriptions, leading him to rely on alcohol to deal with his depression. Now in prison, according to Hertel, “he is afraid when he gets out, he’s not going to have the community health care he needs.”

    Ultimately, according to Hertel, when it comes to psychiatric care in Wisconsin, “there is a lot of demand.”

    To read the full WCIJ report, visit their site.

  • Helping Veterans Cope With Reentry To Civilian Life

    An event this week aims to help veterans deal with reentry into civilian society. Central Time talks to speakers about what issues veterans have hard time talking about, and how art and creativity can help.

  • Lack Of Care For Mentally Ill Ex-Inmates

    A large number of inmate in Wisconsin prisons suffer from mental illnesses that are kept in check with care and medications provided in prison. Upon release, many of these ex-inmates don’t have access to medications that can help keep reduce recidivism.

  • Why You Should Question Everything

    A journalist makes the case for critical thinking about everything, and embracing the skeptical life.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Galen Druke Producer
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Nora Hertel Guest
  • Doug Bradley Guest
  • John Mundt Guest
  • Guy Harrison Guest