> I wouldn't even initiate due diligence unless you had already convinced a couple doctors or researchers from respected hospitals or universities that your company could succeed.
There is much inertia in maintaining the status quo. What you say here about 'convincing doctors or researchers' is a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem. It's being worked on by a Psychologist (PhD) I know and his colleagues, but the progress is glacial.
Soon after my girlfriend got siphoned off into that world where the patients never get better (court-ordered treatment), I emailed the president of an organization of changework professionals whom I'd had a session with months before. His organization is on the fringe of acceptability to the broader sphere of conventionally-practicing psychologists and psychiatrists. I wanted to draw attention to the plight of people who get stuck in the care of people who think they're more competent than they really are. He wrote back to tell me that "the missionaries get eaten by the cannibals," which I thought was a good point.
Now we're at the point where I can join the hecklers, and also share my insights. It's been about 6 weeks since her last discharge. The injected Aripiprazole (brand name: "Abilify", which is sold as an "anti-psychotic") wore off 2 weeks ago. She is now unmedicated and hasn't slipped back into psychosis like the professionals were sure would happen if she didn't take their brain-shrinking drugs. Last week she was hired for a real job, and started training today. It's a low-skill position, but it's just right for her at this time.
There is a regular stream of submissions on HN about mental health, so I know there's interest. I have an idea...
Thanks again!