The recent incident in Santa Barbara, Ca. brings a lot of thoughts, to share.  For one, the National Mental Health System is weak and broken in this country.  The laws are a blur, action when needed is far removed.  This serious epidemic continues to escalate right beneath our eyes, and we do nothing.  For example in this recent situation, the cops show up at this guys house before the killings.  Do they search it no, better yet do they access a national gun control manifest to see if he owns guns, no.  Does anybody jump in and put this kid under watch, lock him up, no.  Why because with the screwed up laws in our country you can’t only if suicide attempt is being made.  His father and mother knew he was off, yet did they grab anybody of authority, mental health specifically and raise the awareness for action to take place, no.  Or let’s say they did, could an authority detain and examine this individual, maybe look at his videos and manifest, what about his 3 room mates that were killed?  How does this stuff go on right underneath our noses, and not addressed?  Again no proactive approach to these type of situations, no program in place, no funding to extend the program where it needs to be, including for our veterans who come back from the battlefield, torn and tortured mentally.  Not enough, never to soon, too late!  All of it. 

When is this country going to wake up and realize that there is a problem facing us in every sector, a problem that needs to be aggressively addressed and not handled delicately rather abruptly and swiftly, and without hesitation.  All the victims in this country, lives leveled by murder and torture, some could have been saved if we as a country took Mental Health with the seriousness that it requires.  If more people got involved and actually talked to one another rather than text or emailed or social media.  A convergence directed at those who need help could just save those who have died unnecessarily.

I blame the government Federal, State and Local.  For not spending the money that is needed to put programs and shove awareness in each and every one of our faces.  Too much emphasis on gay, racial or other political agenda.  All of us are affected by this, and might just be an innocent victim someday.  How about a national, and local hotline specifically for these kind of problems.  Rather we have 911 lines for every single incident that happens, no specific for Mental Health problems and I am talking the whole circle of problems that are Mental Health related.

People react to stress differently, we don’t know what goes on inside another’s mind, we don’t know if one will “act out” their twisted thoughts or they are just thoughts.  But in this case, the guy had been posting videos, wrote 140 pages, purchased multiple firearms and lived with 3 roommates.  HELLO, enough signs for someone, or some institution to have taken a hint.

It’s time to lobby for sharing of information between parents, therapists, schools, police, gun sales outlets and others involved when young adults are showing signs of distress. HIPPA laws are well-intentioned but too many young people are falling between the cracks during the time when major mental illness sets in (late teens thru mid twenties.) This, of course, is the age when families and care providers lose the right to discuss the individual’s behaviors among themselves, based on HIPPA laws (unless the patient is willing to sign releases). The current scourge of killings by young people must be addressed through a multi-systems approach.

Two of my own children have mental illnesses. Fortunately, they’ve never had violent tendencies. But when my daughter and son became adults, I suddenly lost the right to advocate for them, which caused a terrible wrench in their treatment and care. I think HIPPA mental health laws should extend to when a youth is 23 or even 25 years old.

May is Mental Illness Awareness Month.  Each year it brings up memories that I have tried to forget for over 40 years.  This year I am tearing down the walls I’ve built around my mental illness memories and cycles of suffering.  This year I am being vulnerable and engaging in a conversation about the shame and stigma around mental illness by sharing my personal story with you. 

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A Hole in One?

MENTAL HEALTH dates back to prehistoric times when cave men were thumping women over the head and telling them ugggh! Around 5000 BC, during medieval times when these individuals were thought to be possessed by evil spirits or demons they would put a hole in the side of the persons head to let the evil spirits out-this was called skull trephine. Other reports state that exorcisms, incantations, prayer, atonement, as well as magical and mystical rituals were used to drive out the evil spirits. That was then this is now!

Michelle and I met in a hospital emergency room; both our sons had taken ill or as some would call it they had an episode! We were triaged and then given an ER room and after a couple of hours we were sat in the hallway in chairs up against a wall in front of the nurse’s station along with others who were there for the same purpose. As Michelle and I observed other patients, parents and friends seated in this row, we decided to dub it “mental health row”.

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I’m Shawnene and I was diagnosed at age 13 with a mental illness. I come from home to home in foster care. I guess that’s why I was so angry but it proved only strength and growth in my life. I am in many programs and all related to mental illness. One I am currently enjoy is an organization focused on mental illness and artistic expression in breaking stigma related to mental illness. I have been writing poetry and enjoying mic nights and being involved in helping with the next set of artists in our next show. Also I am in NAMI Peer-to-Peer with amazing adults that come together to support and educate each other with coping and dealing with mental illness and sharing their stories. I am pleased to say recovery is possible. Not anyone is alone as I am currently still recovering and wish to go to college this summer for psychology as my major. I want those to know that it’s ok to have emotions and feel the way they do. It’s human and it’s normal and no one is ever alone. I am currently enrolled in college attending programs and have managed my medications. I am recovering.

Statistics state that 1 in 5 people struggle with mental illness but I’m wondering how many people with mental illness but don’t feel safe and comfortable sharing. The term mental illness carries a stigma that most are ashamed or afraid to carry. I have generalized anxiety disorder along with panick attack disorder but that does not mean that I am my “mental illness” just as someone with high blood pressure isn’t labeled as such. Everyone has struggles and issues and should be able to express themselves and seek out the positive in life! I am optimistic about life and know that the options are endless.. the more I share and open up the lighter I feel. I am not alone. You are not alone. I will continue to be open and transparent and Use my anxiety to fuel the fire and view my shortcomings as a strengths that Are continually shaping who I am and giving me goals for who I want to be.

The effects of the stigma against mental illness is hurtful beyond measure. People have no idea what people have gone through to put them in the state they are now in. And the resulting chemical imbalance can be caused by many different things. It is wrong to disregard everything that people with mental illness say or think as insanity. And it is also wrong to think of these people as spiritually useless. As someone with bi polar disorder who was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia for years, I am speaking from experience.

I have a clean record and have never physically hurt anyone. I also take my meds on a regular basis aside from a few slip ups here and there. And the same is true of many with mental illness. It is wrong and harmful to think badly or even wrongly about a whole group of people because of the actions of a few. I would even be willing to say that the stigma against people with mental illness is such a burden upon them that it is a contributing factor in the few cases where people with mental illness actually do harmful things. And also drives many to the point of hopelessness. Not to mention the effect it has on their friends and family members who are hurting enough already.

Make sure you do your research before forming an opinion or making a judgement, and make sure you get your information from people in the field who actually know what they are talking about, that doesn’t mean some crusty old psychiatrist with ideas from the 1960s, and it doesn’t mean some tv preacher who says they are possessed. On addition, it’s wrong to treat people different for being on disability, many work, but many can’t, or at least it is very difficult for them. Many also worked for years before they’re symptoms started even afterward, and most aren’t opposed to working again. Disability is barely enough to live on, and makes it very difficult to have any kind of social life, let alone date or have a girlfriend.

The idea of having a Bipolar Disorder stung me for a long time. When I’m feeling down, sometimes I feel the pressures of the stigma revolving around my mental illness. I always felt like there was a “normal” Valerie or a status quo that I had to

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I feel like I have a “ stigmata” of mental illness, I’m a substance abuser and my rents noticed this first, then my friends…who also used, but commented several times that I “ didn’t act right” when using. I noticed my behavior was far different than my peers when I was drunk/ stoned as well. Using is never good for anyone, but my friends backed away and this led to isolation and lonliness , so I checked into a rehab , but felt closer to the pill bottle and believed for a long time that science would cure my behavior and bring my friends back, but it didn’t. what I need is a miracle, so I began hoping and thru prayer have managed my illness more concretely than believing in neuroscience or brain science.Its a good way to lose your mind, and further drug addiction in yourself.

It was never about how dirty the house was or how many newspapers you had saved overtime or the amount of magnets you had on both fridges. It was the draining effect of what your mental illness would bring. What mom was I going to see today? Will she be nice and funny? Will she be mean and hurtful? Will she be sad and kept to herself? Everyday was different. Each had a little twist to them. From bipolar to manic to depression the things that are forbidden to be talked about. Yet they take so much away from people. I never hated you I just hated your illness. I hated that you became mean in a blink of an eye or you get sad within seconds and I did love when you were funny because we could crack jokes but all it took was for one little thing and you’d switch. I never wanted this for you. All I wanted was my mom. Your illness took over and it was so hard to love you. When you knew how to take the wound you opened and twist and dig it deeper. I know one day ill look back and be thankful for all the lessons learned and maybe help others one day, but for now I just want to help you.