This is what caused our shock, when we learned that our son had a mental illness! We had no education, no insight about what was happening around us. That’s scary. And we didn’t know where to turn. Getting impartial advice about this stuff 30 years ago was almost impossible. We drained the libraries, read all the books and still came away with almost nothing. There was no National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) then. Now there is!
These are people like you and us, my wife and myself, that have lived through the shock and distress with having a loved one that begin to act “strange,” and proceeding through the steps of diagnoses, and treatment. NAMI can help with education and support throughout the entire process. They have helped us, they can help you too. How to begin? Small steps count. Visit www.nami.org and browse information about different diagnoses and courses of treatment. Learn symptoms as warning signs.
Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is this week — October 4-10 — designated by Congress only a decade ago to promote public education about serious mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Other diagnoses include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder.
Why should you care, you say; that’s not going to happen to me. The sad truth is that mental illness does not discriminate. No one is immune. We found that out the hard way. Here are some facts:
About 60 million Americans experience mental health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious conditions.
On average, people with serious mental illness live 25 years less than the rest of the population. One reason is that less than a third of adults and less than half of the children with a diagnosed illness receive treatment.
Half of all lifetime cases begin by age 14, but 10 or more years may pass between the onset of symptoms and getting help. One reason for delay is the stigma that wrongly associated with mental illness, which the U.S. Surgeon General has identified as a barrier to care.
In the Army, the suicide rate has been the highest in over 25 years. Two years ago, the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the Department of Veterans Affairs jumped by 20,000—almost 70 percent.
The above are the facts. What can you do? The first step is to educate yourself and those around you.
If you see cause for concern, discuss the symptoms with your doctor. Early identification is often a key to recovery. Treatment works— but only if a person gets it. Treatment may involve combinations of medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy (“talk therapy”), peer support groups or community services. Diet, exercise, sleep and social support networks also play a role. For more information, you can call NAMI Tennessee at: (800) 467-3589, and ask for the HELP LINE.
During MIAW, simply renting a DVD of the movies The Soloist or Canvas and watching them with family or friends can make a difference. Afterwards, discuss together what you knew—or didn’t know—about mental illness beforehand.
It’s also important to know that the mental health care system needs improvement. This month, PBS television stations across the country will begin to air "Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness," an exceptional program that challenges the mental health care system. For more information, visit www.mindsontheedge.org. Watch it. Then write a letter to our mayor and governor and tell them what you think.
We need to end stigma
We need to transform the mental health care system.
We need to help ourselves and others.
Help requires action and education must precede action.
We need to start NOW!
That’s what MIAW is about. It means strengthening our community. That’s the reason why you—all of us—should care. Someone you love has a mental illness, that’s why there’s NAMI.
Opinion
LION AND THE LAMB: Mental health system still needs improvements
- Opinion
-
-
Gary's World: The magical Star Wars summer of '77
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
-
Lion and the Lamb: When politics and religion meet
Several wealthy contributors to the Republican presidential campaign are once again trying to figure out how they can use a video clip containing three words that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright used in a sermon on April 13, 2003. Wright, now retired, had been pastor of the 6,600-member Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago when Barack Obama was a member there.
-
Random Thoughts: Returning vets fight fire
Cemeteries are given special attention this week in preparation for Memorial Day next Monday. During the Civil War gracious ladies of the south laid flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers from both sides. The custom spread across the country and was called Decoration Day until the early 20th century.
-
Tidbits: Finding more time in your day
If we had another two hours in every day, we'd all probably still be begging for just a little bit more to get all our stuff done before that clock strikes midnight and it's game over.
-
Stumptalk: Hooray for the innovators
In his brilliant article in the Free Market, Daniel Sanchez says, “There will always be a one-percent. The well-being of the 99-percent depends on who makes up the 1-percent: innovative entrepreneurs or the state and its cronies. This in turn depends on the ideologies adopted by the 99-percent.” This is the way societies have always been organized and always will be.
-
GARY'S WORLD: Graduates, create your own opportunities
Time flies. One day you have a baby boy who is fascinated with stuffed Miss Piggy and Kermit rattles and the next day he wants to wear his cowboy boots and hat with every outfit no matter what the occasion. Before you know it, he's playing in the elementary school band, going into high school, learning how to drive, driving to school, going to prom and graduating.
-
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Truly a January in May
“It’s June in January” became a popular standard after Bing Crosby introduced the song in 1934. A strange thing happened last week. I call it a tale of ‘It’s January in May.’
-
LION AND THE LAMB: Our challenged nation
Three major social justice issues have been a source of contention in our nation over the years, and interestingly, each of them has involved the subject of equality.
-
WE THE PEOPLE: Repressing the ‘Grapes of Wrath’
Sometimes a hole appears, ever so briefly, in the curtain that hides the plans of those who control our government. One such opening occurred when Alan Greenspan testified to the Federal Reserve Board on Feb. 26, 1997. During that testimony, Greenspan revealed that “worker insecurity” was (in his view) a boon to the economy, allowing productivity to increase without causing workers to demand increased earnings.
-
TIDBITS: Never stop moving forward, grads
This week is a week of celebration. According to my files of graduating seniors, Cumberland County will see more than 550 students earning their high school diplomas this week. Now, those youngsters will venture out into the world, armed with the knowledge and character instilled in them by their parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, teachers, principals, classmates, coaches and others.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Gary's World: The magical Star Wars summer of '77


