Breakdown: A Times Special Report

Mental Health in California

For California's estimated one million people with mental illness, life is a daily struggle. Times reporters Scott Gold, Lee Romney and others are chronicling their lives and the strained system meant to serve them.

Schizophrenia takes a daughter away

December 29, 2007

COLUMN ONE

Schizophrenia takes a daughter away

By the time she landed at Metropolitan State Hospital in 2006, Tiffany Sitton had been haunted by delusions for 15 of her 23 years. Spiders burrowed under her skin. Ghosts ordered her to hurt people. Schizophrenia and psychiatric drugs dulled her eyes and numbed her brain.

December 7, 2007

COLUMN ONE

Shutting door to treatment

Torrie Gonzales stood at the stove, laughing with her boyfriend as she fried him some eggs on his 23rd birthday. Then she felt him press a flimsy blade against her neck.

September 16, 2007

BREAKDOWN

New funds, enduring ills

For two years after Alfredo Ruiz was diagnosed with schizophrenia, his family tried -- and failed -- to find him help.

Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times

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