Without appropriate treatment options, parents of a grown child with severe mental illness are often the ones left to provide care. As care providers, families face a very real risk of violence. In fact, the most common victims of violence and homicides are family members, especially mothers. Despite this risk, families continue providing care and fighting for treatment. “The first thing I thought of is … I can’t help him if I’m dead.�- One mother’s reaction to her son’s attempt to harm her. The Treatment Advocacy Center (www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org) is a national nonprofit dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. TAC promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (Source: Treatment Advocacy Center)

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