Lost Patients live show explores what's next for mental healthcare
In the podcast "Lost Patients," journalists Will James, Sydney Brownstone ,and Esmy Jimenez explored why so many people with severe mental illness in Washington state are not getting the care they need.
They took listeners along on this investigation – from the grounds of the former Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley to the streets of downtown Seattle.
On Thursday, KUOW listeners gathered at Seattle’s Central Library to learn more about the show, its themes, and questions it sought to answer.
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At the heart of the reporting in "Lost Patients" is the inaccuracy of the idea that the mental health safety net is a "broken system." The show demonstrated how we may not really have a “broken system.” We have a system where each piece works as it’s designed – hospitals, homeless shelters, police, the criminal justice system. But the overall picture includes built-in gaps that fail many people in need, like the individuals and families who were featured in Lost Patients.
Joined by a live audience, Soundside host Libby Denkmann and "Lost Patients" host Will James explored what works in mental health treatment and how those lessons might help us build something better.
Denkmann and James were joined by:
Sydney Brownstone -- an investigative reporter at The Seattle Times and host and reporter of "Lost Patients"
Esmy Jimenez -- a reporter for "Lost Patients" and now a senior reporter at The Boston Globe
Laura Van Tosh -- a patient advocate and the founder of Mental Health Policy Roundtable, a professional knowledge exchange program
Carolynn Ponzoha -- a patient advocate and TikToker
Timothy Jolliff -- acting senior director of Clinical Programs for the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) in Seattle
Dr. Paul R. Borghesani -- an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine
Listen to each episode of "Lost Patients" and read more about the stories they shared here.
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Will James
Host, Lost Patients
Will James is a Seattle-based writer, reporter, producer and host whose audio documentaries delve into some of the most complex and polarizing issues in the U.S. He developed, co-reported, and produced the podcast Outsiders, chronicling unsheltered life in one city for more than a year, with KNKX Public Radio and The Seattle Times.
More stories from Will James »
