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SALT LAKE CITY #8212; Standing before a judge, after pleading guilty to serious charges, isn't where Sylvina Poland ever thought she would be. Yet, there she was — a former PTA President, mother of two, and now ex-wife of a doctor.
The incident that brought Poland to court was memorable, to say the least. "I'm the naked car thief
On June 22, 2010, Poland stripped down, stole a car, crashed into an ATK security fence, and then ran from police.
"She did have blood on her body from the initial crash. She was hot and sweaty, dirty, and very slippery. She managed to escape the grasp of the two officers," West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan told reporters.
Poland then jumped behind the wheel of a police car and took off again. Officers tased her three times and took her to jail.
- Mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders. They cannot be overcome through "will power" and are not related to a person's "character" or intelligence.
- Mental illnesses usually strike individuals in the prime of their lives, often during adolescence and young adulthood.
- Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives.
- With appropriate effective medication and a wide range of services tailored to their needs, most people who live with serious mental illnesses can significantly reduce the impact of their illness and find a satisfying measure of achievement and independence.
Courtesy of NAMI Utah
But she wasn't on drugs, or intoxicated; Poland was having a manic mental breakdown. "I didn't create it. It just happened to me, and it was devastating," she said.
Poland didn't know it at the time, but she is bipolar. She would go from happy and upbeat to irrational and delusional.
"I had gone about three weeks with no food and no sleep, so this was kind of like the culminating point of becoming psychotic I guess," Poland said.
She received a mental evaluation while in jail and was recommended for Mental Health Court — a place where it's not about sentences or punishment.
"Mental illness is an illness, as are other illnesses. It strikes people of all types," said Judge Judith Atherton.
Instead, they in Mental Health Court focus on saving the lives of people suffering from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder. The judge, defenders, prosecutors, Valley Mental Health, and Adult Probation and Parole all work together to decide the best course of action for each defendant.
The defendants plead guilty to their crimes to enter the program and are closely monitored. Most appear weekly in court and consent to home visits. They take medication to stabilize their illnesses and test for illegal substances.
"I think I'm pretty much of a cheerleader," Atherton said. "They are no different than anyone else. They have mental illness, but they are resilient, smart, humorous, (and) courageous."
"She treats us like real people, and she treats us like even the smallest little improvement is a big deal," Poland said of Atherton.
After going through a divorce, losing custody of her children, friendships and financial stability, Poland now has a new start. She is mentally stable and just got remarried. She credits her success to Mental Health Court.
"It's given me a life," Poland said. "I can't say it's given me my life back, (but) a life outside of a cell."
"You have to be happy about life if you're going to live it," she continued, "otherwise you've basically given up."
Tuesday on KSL 5 News at 10, we'll share the stories of two very different men with one thing in common: their mental illness. We'll also show you the statistics for the program.
Email: jstagg@ksl.com
