Hush!!!{ IT'S MENTAL ILLNESS}

Every person in the USA as well as the world, knows someone who has a mental illness!

 " No...not me!", is cried out among the masses! Oh, yes...even you.

There is that quirky neighbor who keeps every issue of the daily newspaper in piles crowding their home. The uncle who never goes to family functions because he's been feeling " ill" and that teacher from freshmen year who washed their hands a zillion times a day. Then there's those who have violent thoughts or self destructive thoughts.

Saddened at the horrific killings that occurred last Friday, in the Isla Vista, Santa Barbara area, I knew so many who were relieved in knowing that their loved one wasn't involved. But I had to stop....and think, how can humans annihilate each other as easily as crushing a spider under their feet!

How did we, as a society, get to this place of hate, anger and pain? What is going on inside the brain of a person that allows themself to act on such violent impulses that the average Joe would never act on? What is the factor here!

I'm sure there are many, depending on the case. Revenge, money, retaliation, pride to name a few, but that's not what I'm concerned about...we can all find some rational reason to off our boss, ex or sibling at one point in time...but we don't do it!

The factor I'm debating is mental illness!

It's the one illness besides Aids nobody wants to admit to or talk about. Very few are even educated on the facts and figures, stats or any other information about the subject that only comes to light with tragedies. When is our so-called "advanced "society going to advance enough to wake up and come to terms with mental illness?

 People who have some degree of a mental illness are fantastic at covering up or hiding their mental issues. They can also be great at denying there is an issue at all. Here is where the problem lies. Without admittance there can be no help! Without the proper help, there is more display of illness!

I have forever wondered why having a "mental" illness can't be addressed as any other illness? Why is the stigma attached so absurd that people remain " in the closet" about their illness, as the gay community was forced to for centuries? Now that being gay has finally come to the place of openly admitting to society, many persons can take that unnecessary burden off their shoulders. I only wish we could at least unlock that door that so many are behind who suffer from a mental illness. Open those prison doors that they are stuck behind due to stigmas and fear. Let this illness be just that...an illness that can be treated and taken care of.

For centuries, those who suffered any form of mental instability, even cognitive challenges were institutionalized.When I first started my psychiatric nurse training, in the late 70's, children were still in psychiatric hospitals ( mental wards) who had Down Syndrome, epilepsy, and seizure disorders. The worst part is that physicians were still recommending it to the scared parents at birth. Not a whole lot has changed. It was suggested to me when my child with Downs was born only 11 years ago! Embarrassment seemed to be the reason many hid away their children, family and friends with cognitive issues and certainly mental illness as well.

Whenever the words mental illness are uttered, to many, the image of a screaming lunatic will often come to mind. {Not so! There are many forms and degrees of illness that are mild to moderate and some display very few outward signs.} This must change in order for the stigma to be erased and people will come forward to be helped. A person with a mental illness can lead a perfectly" normal" and productive life in their community with the proper interventions and the support of their loved ones and the community.

So many famous, productive persons had issues with mental instability from Lincoln (melancholy...which today is clinical depression) to Van Gogh. I can't help but think how much more could have been accomplished by so many more if only they had been treated. Now, there's no excuse for these backward archaic stereotypes of this illness. Get with the program!

I honestly feel that society has put people who suffer from a mental illness in a type of prison, barring them from jobs, and important roles in society. Ostracizing people with illness is not the answer. Treatment is out there, in many shapes and forms. New medications are constantly being used to control symptoms and therapies help with many of life's difficulties for those with mental illness. If one doesn't work go on to the next!

The most recent atrocity here at the UCSB community, is a prime example of what I'm saying. We don't know the specifics of this case, the true backgrounds of the disturbed student or his family. What we do know is only a deranged individual could think and act the way he did. It appears he received "help" from numerous professionals but I question this immensely. I don't fully understand why a sick mind as his was allowed to be unsupervised for so long with the threat to himself and society at large. Just who were these "professionals"?

My heart aches for those young students who suffered what they did and those who were taken by his sickness. And I know many will disagree with this, but, I am saddened that this young man didn't truly get the help he needed. What went wrong? His reaction to being ignored, not included, was not any form of a typical reaction, yet how many out there are dealing with these rejections everyday? Who might be suffering in the same way and who without proper help will react with the same violence?

How many sick minds are out there fearful of reaching out for help or are going unnoticed by friends and family? How many more massacres and killings and innocent lives will be lost because mental health is not a priority in this society?

Does anyone remember the early 1980's when psychiatric hospitals were closing and patients were given their "freedom"? Where did they go and how did they handle their illness is still being observed, as we see so many homeless persons who were once patients in institutions taking to the streets not able to handle their sickness.

I am concerned that more innocent lives will continue to be taken as our mentally ill are not dealt with properly. More funding is needed, more insurance coverage for testing and psychiatric care is needed. More interest in this problem is needed. Now that it is front page news, everyone is talking, but in a few weeks this will die down and everyone will go back to their lives forgetting that this issue MUST be addressed, dealt with and not swept under the rug.

Education about mental illness needs to be widespread. Warning signs and red flags need to be highlighted. Doctors and health professionals need to be more observant and take more interest in their patient's mental and emotional well being along with their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  

What I'm suggesting is that as a society we really need to be proactive with mental illness as we are with cancer, diabetes and other physical ailments. Remove the stigma that's attached and make it okay to ask questions about one's emotional and mental health. Allow people to not be afraid to admit what they are thinking and feeling and make it easier to get help everywhere for everyone. Have it mandatory to cover testing and therapy so those afflicted can get the help they so need and deserve!

This problem is all of ours whether you like it or not. Everyone knows someone whether it be family, friend or coworker who may be suffering in silence. Get the help you may need if it's you who may be suffering. Forget the stigma and think about how different it will be once help is sought. NOBODY should be embarrassed to admit they need help for any illness, especially a mental/emotional one. You are not alone, believe me!