The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "mental health system" ...
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Breakdown: Charlotte's Mental Health System Under Stress
The series takes a close look at the mental health system in Charlotte, North Carolina and finds that many psychiatric hospitals turn away patients who threaten themselves and others -- sometimes with disastrous results.
Tags: psychiatric; hospital; mentally ill; mental health system; prescription
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The Texas
Mentally disabled residents of a school in Texas were forced to be a part of a “fight club” run at night. The brutality of this was highly disturbing and it terrified these residents. Many of them tried to leave, but the staff members continuously forced them back and continued the abuse. Since all this information was revealed, these former staff members have been found guilty of felony charges of injury to the mentally ill and face time in prison.
Tags: mental health care; system; Texas State School; Corpus Christi; brawl; battle; struggle; state government; state facilities; civil rights
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Dr. Deception
The story reveals the bad behavior of a well paid psychiatrist. Among his bad behaviors there are duplicating reports to county judges, inappropriate behavior with a female jail inmate, and falsifying reports of competent defendants. Not only was he a problem, but the systems, including the courts, allowed him to get away with all his wrongdoings.
Tags: mental health; courts; defendants; trials; judges; money; unethical behavior
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Nobody's Fault
"The intersection of our mental health and criminal justice systems as seen through the death of one mentally ill man in the county jail."
Tags: treatment; Humboldt State; privacy protection; superior court; suicide;
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Mental Disorder: The Failure of Reform
The series examined each major failure of an eight-year effort to reform North Carolina's mental health system. Among others, the investigation found the state wasted $400 million on ineffective or unneeded services and at least 82 patients in state mental health hospitals and homes for the developmentally disabled had died of homicide, suicide, accidents or medical errors.
Tags: mental disability; hospital; North Carolina; mental health; patient; reform; medical care; health policy
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Mental Disorder: The Failure of Reform
Until the News and Observer published "Mental Disorder," most North Carolinians had no idea that their state mental health system was a disaster. The five-part series examined each major failure of an 8-year reform effort. Major findings included that the sate had wasted at least $400 million on services that were ineffective or unneeded and various cases of money mismanagement. They also found that at least 82 patients in state mental health hospitals and homes for the developmentally disabled had died of homicide, suicide, accidents or medical errors. In dozens of cases, hospital officials had covered up the true circumstances of the deaths by falsifying records and telling family members the patients had died of natural causes.
Tags: mental health; developmentally disabled citizens; North Carolina; mental health reform; mental health hospitals; patient rights; patient abuse; patient neglect
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To Hug a Porcupine
Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengoches did not understand why the three little boys they'd adopted were acting so violent. Only years later and by accident did the couple discover that the boys had been horribly abused by a series of adults in early childhood, a fact that the state's foster care system knew but filed to disclose. The technical name for the boys' behavioral ailment is "Reactive Attachment Disorder" but they have been described as sociopaths. The parents successfully sued the state for $10 million but cannot get the money released due to budget cuts and the concept of sovereign immunity.
Tags: reactive attachment disorder; adoption; foster care; budget cuts; mental health; child abuse
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Virgina Tech Shootings Raise Alarms About Gun Control and Mental Health
These stories investigate a number of issues raised by the April 16th, 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. They reveal shortcomings in the state's mental health system and a gaping loophole in the process used to screen mentally ill people seeking to purchase guns. The stories go into great detail about how the shooter, Seung-Hui Cho, battled mental illness and then was allowed to purchase guns because his illness was not reported databases used to screen gun buyers.
Tags: education; higher education; university; college; violence; school shooting; state government; gun control; mental health
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Missouri’s Mental Health System
KCUR's investigation found that "Missouri's mental health system is in crisis." Group homes had violations, medication errors were made and more. "The state also fined at least five facilities, between 2004 and 2007, for abuse or neglect that led to resident deaths."
Tags: mental health; state; Missouri; medication; funds; health code violations; neglect; abuse; justice system
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VA Mental Health System in Crisis
"The entry consists of an ongoing investigation of the Department of veterans Affairs and its mental health system. Each of the stories relies on exclusive access to VA data and documents obtained under FOIA that shed light on the inconsistent treatment of veterans suffering from mental health ailments."
Tags: FOIA; veterans; mental health; federal government; post-traumatic stress disorder; Timothy Bowman; health care system;