"They say justice is blind. It must be to ignore the plight of the mentally ill in America’s prisons." So writes Matthew Mangino for thecrimereport.org in introducing the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s recent two-part series on mental illness and incarceration. In his editorial "America's 'Mental Health Gulag,'" Mr. Mangino points to North Carolina as well as other states as examples of less than humane treatment and solutions.

Monteith Place residents reject mental hospital plan

Give the residents of Huntersville’s Monteith Place credit. In this age of political correctness and inclusiveness, they did not hide behind intangibles or generic descriptions in voicing their opposition to Carolinas Healthcare System’s plans to build a behavioral health hospital adjacent to their subdivision. Story continues here >>>

Fayetteville hospital gets reprieve

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A Fayetteville hospital has been granted a last-minute reprieve by federal regulators, who were set to cut off funding following two patient deaths. Story continues here >>>

Mental health advocate named to subcommittee

Laurie Coker’s reputation as a persistent, passionate local advocate for behavioral-health issues, including making numerous trips to the General Assembly, has caught the eye of legislators. Coker has been appointed to a 24-member subcommittee focused on governance of local management entities, which oversee behavioral-health providers and services. She is director of the N.C. Consumer Advocacy, Networking and Support Organization. Story continues here >>>

Study shows more disabled kids sent out-of-state

RALEIGH, N.C. — An advocacy group for people with disabilities is calling on North Carolina officials to better care for children who have both a mental illness and developmental disability, hundreds of whom have been sent to live in facilities outside the state because of a lack of adequate resources closer to home. Story continues here >>>

Troubled assisted living center in Wake Forest gets reprieve – Raleigh News & Observer

RALEIGH — An assisted living center in Wake Forest won a temporary reprieve from a judge today that allows the 80-bed center to postpone a shutdown and move of all resident Story continues here >>>

Public hearing on proposed psychiatric hospital continued to next week | The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

Huntersville staff, officials and residents are concerned about the traffic impact that a proposed psychiatric hospital at N.C. 115 and Verhoeff Drive will have. Story continues here >>>