‘Marta Girl’ living in a special home
Thank you to David Simpson of the AJC for following up on this story about Nafiza Ziyad, the mentally ill woman whose videotaped rant aboard a MARTA train received over 600,000 views on YouTube and became a viral sensation.
Ziyad, 25, is now living in a personal care home for the mentally ill. According to her attorney, she was jailed from May 8 on simple misdemeanor charges for verbally abusing an elderly MARTA passenger - until her release late Friday evening.
Ziyad must live at the facility in order to remain out of the DeKalb County jail on bond, defense attorney Derek Gage of the DeKalb County public defender’s office said Tuesday.
The name and location of the home were sealed in court records to protect Ziyad’s privacy.
The young woman who was diagnosed bipolar in 2003, was arrested at least 12 times in several counties over a 4 year period. But each time she was released back onto the streets without treatment.
“We’re not dealing with a criminal here,” said Mr. Gage, who showed remarkable insight and sensitivity to Ziyad’s plight. “We’re dealing with someone who’s mentally ill and doesn’t have the services available to her that she should have available to her because she is indigent.”
This is a shame because jail staff and a judge should have recognized that Ziyad was a danger to herself and to the public. This case illustrates the urgent need for additional funding and mental health staffing at County jails.
At the personal care home, Ziyad will be monitored to be sure she remains compliant with her medication, her lawyer said.
“She’s doing very well. She’s obviously extremely embarrassed about the fact that this video was so widely seen by so many people. But I think it’s also kind of become a stimulus for her to take a little more responsibility in her life,” Gage said.
Many thanks again to writer David Simpson for caring, and to loyal reader Shari for the link!
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12 Responses to “‘Marta Girl’ living in a special home”
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Good.
Sad it took this for people to pay attention
KUDOS TO YOU AUNTIE SANDRA FOR KEEPING UP WITH THIS STORY….I FEEL LIKE U WERE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THIS STORY……..AND IF IT WEREN’T FOR YOU KEEPING UP WITH THIS STORY…………I’M SURE SHE WOULD’VE BEEN RELEASED AGAIN WITH NO TREATMENT
Good for her.
One more thang
“I’m on da Marta Train………And I’m fen na do my thang”
Ok enough
wow, good follow up to a disturbing story…however, i was on the marta this morning for the first time in 3 yrs and that’s the first thing i thought about was the video of her….the “i’m pressing charges, i’m pressing charges statement she made kept replaying in my head…wow.
i hope she continues to take her meds if/when she released from the private care home…most of the time individuals go to tx facilities, get well, get released, but get caught up in the same circumstances that got them placed there…follow-up/after care services are usually not avail…it’s sad there isn’t more help out there for the mentally ill…it’s even sadder these services are usually the first to be cut whenever budget cuts occur…
GREAT TO KNOW THAT SHE’S GETTING THE HELP AND ATTENTION THAT SHE NEEDS.
Good for her. I am glad she is getting the help that she needs.
Po’ Thang!
I really hope that now this is out in the open that she can get help and stay on her medication. Sad to say but most people who have mental illness dont like to take their medicine because it “makes them sleepy”,”messes with sexual functions” or ” they feel like they dont need to take it everyday”. I have worked in the medical field for 9 years and i would hear those excuses and reason allllllllllll the time. Most of it is true in regards to the 1st 2 reasons… it does make you sleepy and can affect your sex life, but however if you get off of the meds.. THIS IS THE RESULT!
Glad shes getting help…It was long overdue
glad to hear
I’m happy for her but sad for so many others who aren’t getting the help they need—particularly the ones who recognize that they need help and can’t get it.
For one of the wealthiest nations on the planet, we have a jacked and beaurocratic healthcare system.
I am glad she is getting the proper help she needs, because she did not need to be put in jail that would have made her even more psycho.