Furious Seasons

August 25, 2008

Humboldt County Discriminates Against Injured Mental Health Worker

Stan Cavers is likely known to some of you as someone who's commented here in the past. He lives in California and is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Back in the spring, he took a job as a kind of peer mental health worker up in Humboldt County. Not long after, he was attacked by a patient whom he was checking on. Cavers suffered a serious concussion and other injuries.

Now, the County is trying to fire Cavers because he couldn't report to work in June due to the concussion and post-concussion syndrome (rather similar to the NY Mets outfielder who has only recently returned to the team), it is fighting his workers compensation claim and Cavers is without legal help of any kind. He's tried contacting numerous attorneys who won't touch his case (probably not much money in it for them) and mental health advocacy groups, which have ignored Cavers. There's much more on all of this here.

This is one of the most wicked examples I have seen in ages of a mental health bureaucracy run amok. It'd be great if any readers who may know of a lawyer in California who can help Cavers would reach out to him. It'd also be really cool if some of you went over to his blog and left him some comments.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at August 25, 2008 12:05 AM

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Comments

I'm appalled by Stan situation. I remember when he was going to this job full of energy and hope to care of patients with dignity. What now? Can't he find a lawyer?
I cannot help myself thinking about Eric Rosenthal has created Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) in 1993. He has been diagnosed manic depression at a early age and has worked in Uruguay, Hungary, Russia, Armenia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Turkey, Romania, Argentina, and Serbia.
What about US human rights in US?
Stan has already search for help among some of them as he states in the link Philip left.
No reply at all!
Perhaps he should exile in one of this countries if he becomes homeless.
Don't come to Brazil Stan!
Perhaps Uruguay.

Posted by: Ana at August 25, 2008 06:07 AM

Oh good ol' humbolt county. What city does he live in. If it's Eureka I am not suprised, most of the employers in that town just don't give a crap about thier employees. I will go visit his blog.

Posted by: BipolarBunny at August 25, 2008 08:36 AM

I was appalled to read this...thank you for bringing it up here, perhaps some reader will be able to help him.
This is really awful.
bizi

Posted by: bizi at August 25, 2008 09:07 AM

Dearest Ana:

I coming to Brazil and moving in with you; so you better go food shopping {Smirk}.

Stan

Posted by: Stan at August 27, 2008 07:09 PM