Wow, I wish my ex-husband could have received this type of early intervention. It was heartbreaking to watch him slowly decline, to experience the grief of realizing we would never have the relationship we had both hoped for, not understanding as a young couple in our 20s what was happening and with no access to health insurance, family or community support for him to have a chance at a meaningful life — which eventually led to our divorce and his subsequent homelessness.

When I realized what happened several years after he left, I’ve wrestled with the guilt of not knowing if he is even alive, could I have done more? And yet, it was dangerous for me to live with him, without any treatment, I suffered both physical and emotional abuse. There was no other choice but to have him leave.

I’m glad to hear that research and best practices are improving, I hope these types of support systems can be offered to everyone who struggles with this genetic + environmental mental illness not of their own making…