Empty Tank, Empty Head

Sound like the shrinks got this one right, rare as that may be.

The poor professor apparently wasn't thinking ahead by walking around without spending money in her pocketbook.

A short rant:

For those of us of a certain age, you may remember that this was a time of changing attitudes towards mental illness. Granted, there were abuses and quick judgments when admitting some people who did not warrant such treatment. However, there are those who cannot be helped and they should be under constant supervision.

During the early to mid 1908s reducing funding and closing mental treatment hospitals in order to "mainstream" people who cannot function within societal norms was a great mistake, IMO. But that is what we are stuck with presently and it is sad to see people without support of families or friends left to fend for themselves. Public assistance is not geared to care for the mentally ill and no one wants to increase the spending for it.

In my midwestern state, a 14 year old cannot be held in a mental health facility against his/her will. If the child expresses a wish to leave, the hospital must let them go. The parents are still liable for any criminal damage the child might cause upon release, however. A friend's 15 year old son, who was suicidal, was admitted and they hoped that he wouldn't find out about this loophole himself because, of course, he didn't want to be hospitalized. Had he been released, he would have found a way to kill himself ASAP; after being held for a couple of weeks and treated outpatient with therapies and meds, he is now in college, working, has a girlfriend, and is doing very well. It does not seem logical to me that a person who is having a mental illness episode of some sort is deemed responsible and coherent enough to make treatment decisions about themselves, but not coherent enough to sign certain types of contracts.