Love and Loss at a Mental Health Clinic by Justin Samuels
A
merican Hustle cemented the reinvigoration appeared not to be like that. of my life. When Sydney Prosser felt she was I ended up returning to the university to comscrewed over by Irving Rosenfield and she had been plete my studies. I graduated. I returned to NYC. I busted by the FBI agent Richie DiMao, she said she had settled in my life in NYC. My friendship with would take that pain and anguish and produce the the musician picked up. But inapplicable, he would hustle/act of her life to get out of that situation. That disappear for weeks and not return my calls. He one line is the ultimate line for any writer or artist. would then say he liked someone else. But then he Some years ago I struggled with depression and would like me again and want to talk to me again. interruptions academically and professionally. I Then he didn’t like me. Then he did. In 2012, I wasn’t able to work and had to take medication for moved to the Rockaways. It was a dream for me depression. The medication I took was Wellbutrin. as I’ve always loved the ocean. Unfortunately I lost I drank quite a bit in those days as well. I was on everything in Hurricane Sandy and in the followpublic assistance. I decided that my life had to go ing months went into a deep depression. After my back on track. In order so called friend played to return to my studies games with me in 2013, and complete them, I it was the last time. I had to go get six months exploded. We fell out and These organizations are of therapy. It was hard didn’t speak to each other primarily concerned about to get into an outpatient for awhile. I nastily conincreasing the number of program at a hospital, fronted him and we had clients they have, so they so I called community some arguments. In the organizations. I ended last time he played the I can get more funding from up going to Manhattan liked you but I’m seeing the government. They assist Mental Health Services, someone but I liked you and enable drug addicts a community non-profit. game, he revealed to me to get on welfare and stay They were willing to do he was working off the the six months of therapy books at multiple musion welfare for decades, I needed. While I was cal gigs while collecting without having to work at Manhattan Mental welfare and working part ever. Health Services, I met time at a college. I went and fell in love with a to his shows so I know musician. He was in he was paid in cash. I therapy for whatever reported him for welfare mental illness and drug use. We got closer as fraud and posted his welfare fraud online. The tale friends, but when I would suggest doing something of his fraud is the first entry listed when one google’s fun like going to a party he would talk about how his name. His reputation was ruined and as a result much work he had in rehearsals. I admired this he is currently working as a street musician (perparticular person because he seemed to work and forming on the street for cash). While its true I was have it together. Manhattan Mental Health Services being vindictive, a part of me was upset that he had and other gay community organizations, and the learned very well to exploit government programs hospital structure encourage welfare dependency to enable his addiction. He had learned this very among the mentally ill. These organizations are well at Manhattan Mental Health Services. primarily concerned about increasing the number of clients they have, so they can get more funding from n the aftermath of my reporting him and callthe government. They assist and enable drug addicts ing him out online, I began to make changes in to get on welfare and stay on welfare for decades, my own life. No longer would I associate with drug without having to work ever. My musician friend addicts or welfare cheats. I crossed all people who
I
RFD 160 Winter 2015 29