Meet marcie sohara

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Marcie Sohara’s journey into mental health advocacy began in 2009, when her 19-year-old son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. After being told by a physician to abandon all expectations for her son’s future, Marcie refused to accept a hopeless prognosis.

Leveraging the research skills honed during her BA studies, she discovered a different truth: that with early intervention and the right clinical support, a functional and fulfilling life is possible.

As the State Policy Director for Pennsylvania, Marcie is dedicated to dismantling the systemic barriers that prevent families from securing life-saving care. Her advocacy is rooted in the belief that families must be central to the treatment team. She is a fierce proponent of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and a vocal critic of the current obstacles within HIPAA regulations and involuntary hospitalization protocols that often "tie the hands" of those trying to help.

One of Marcie’s primary policy goals is reforming Pennsylvania’s commitment standards. She is currently working to shift the legal terminology away from "danger to self or others," arguing that waiting for a crisis to occur is often too late. By modernizing these standards, she aims to ensure that treatment is accessible long before a situation becomes life-threatening.

Today, Marcie’s son is thriving within an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team and a vocational program that keeps him healthy and productive. By monitoring how these community-based models function in real-time, Marcie remains a tireless advocate for the SMI/SBD community, proving every day that recovery is not just a hope, but a reality when the system works as it should.