Beyond Treatment As Usual For Major Mental Illness

Albert Einstein famously said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It’s been 60 years since antipsychotic medications came into widespread use and 20 years since the introduction of atypical antipsychotics. But far too many people remain stalled in their recovery from major mental illness. Most mental health agencies practice “Treatment As Usual” or TAU. They advise their clients: “Take your meds, stay out of trouble and maybe you’ll get better.” But even if TAU includes more than meds (e.g., Assertive Community Treatment [ACT], supportive employment, housing programs, community support . . .