Dr. Allen Turpin, a psychiatrist at South of Market Mental Health Services in San Francisco, speaks about his work with the mentally ill and the possibilities of recovery. His patients include Sandra and J.J., whose stories are told in Hope on the Street.

Ray Guevara grew up in a conservative family and experienced cultural barriers to seeking treatment for his bipolar disorder. Now, with his illness and substance addictions under control, his experiences help him as an outreach worker for the homeless mentally ill in Stanislaus County, California. In this clip, Guevara discusses why stigma, shame and discrimination prevent an estimated 80 percent of mentally ill individuals from seeking treatment.

The mentally ill are not nameless and faceless people, but fathers, mothers, sons and daughters whose families are also affected by the disability. Ray Guevara and his wife, Sunshine, discuss the impact of his mental illness on their marriage and ways they were able to cope by pulling together as a family. Ray's mother, Mona, also offers encouraging words for families dealing with mental illness.

Dr. Allen Turpin, a psychiatrist at South of Market Mental Health Services in San Francisco, discusses the use of medication in recovery. He points to J.J., his client and also one of the people in Hope on the Street, as someone who has gone from homelessness to leading a productive life. Although he acknowledges that J.J. is an exceptional case, Dr. Turpin does feel that there is hope for the mentally ill, even those living on the street, to lead stable and fulfilling lives when given access to quality care.