You may have heard in the news last November that a Virginia state
senator, Creigh Deeds, was attacked
by his son at his home before his son killed himself.
The CBS news program 60 Minutes
did a story on Creigh Deeds and Gus Deeds Sunday night, and it shed more light
on what happened in November and how the U.S. is not equipped with resources to
properly care for those with mental illness.
In a segment called “Nowhere to Go: Mentally Ill Youth in Crisis,” Creigh Deeds tells his story about
trying to get help for his son. Creigh Deeds got an emergency custody order,
which lasted just six hours, to get his son to an emergency department in
Virginia, but he and his son ended up going home without the help Gus Deeds
needed.
The next morning, Gus Deeds attacked his father with a knife before
shooting and killing himself.
The story notes that most people with mental illness are not violent.
The story focuses on those “who are a danger to themselves or others.”
You can view the segment or read the script HERE.
The Virginia General Assembly is now in session, and one piece of
legislation that Creigh Deeds has proposed would extend the length of time of an emergency custody order to 24 hours.
Another piece of legislation would “establish an acute psychiatric bed registry that will provide real-time information on the availability of beds in public and private psychiatric facilities and residential crisis stabilization units for individuals who meet the criteria for temporary detention.”
In the 60 Minutes interview,
Creigh Deeds said, “There’s just a lack of equity in the way we as a society,
and certainly as a government and insurance industry, medical industry, with
the way we look at mental health issues.”
I agree with him. What can we do about that?
Here are
some suggestions:
*Find out what is going on in your state with mental health services.
Are they adequate? Do they meet the needs in each community?
*Support legislation that would improve services.
*Be a friend to those in your life who have mental illnesses. Be the
kind of friend that you are to those without mental illnesses.
*Remember that there is much more to a person than his or her mental
illness, just as there is much more to a person with diabetes than his or
physical challenge.
*Seek help if you have any concerns about your mental health.
*If given the opportunity, be a voice for those who have mental illness.
Remind others that those with mental illnesses deserve the same kinds of
sympathy and help that those with physical illnesses deserve.
Thank you for reading this and for your support of me on this blog.
I read a blog post today from someone that is struggling to find mental health services for her son (diagnosed with a mental illness) ... this post of yours has also reminded me that there is still so much to do.
ReplyDeleteWhile I believe that folks are a bit more open-minded when it comes to mental illness, I believe there is still such a long way to go.
Thank you for bringing awareness.
Oh Tina wise advice this hits close to home for many of us I am sure. I hope things are more open now making it easier for those in need to get the help they need. That is my wish anyways. Good post. Hug B
ReplyDeleteI can remember back in the late '60's and on into the next several decades when Canada cut back financing on Mental Health institutions and care, closing said places and leaving thousands out in the community in inadequate and unprepared care facilities. I know things have not changed for the better though it seems there is more talking about the situation so perhaps this will one day change into a positive, healthier attitude with a safer environment and systems in place for the short/long term crisis.
ReplyDeleteAn important post, Tina. In our extended family we have had to deal with some significant mental health issues and I think it's the lack of understanding, acceptance and proper treatment (or even acknowledging that treatment is needed) that is really hurting us all. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeletesuch an important issue tina and i could not agree with you more!! one of the biggest issues i see is with main stream america, thinking mental illness is a choice.
ReplyDeletemy nephew has a serious problem, serious...he lives at home with his parents and i fear for all of them. he is on medication with NO place to go!!
It is so sad, and downright outrageous, that people cannot get the help they need even when they are actively seeking it. Someone needs to be held accountable for this. Reminds me of the stories that came out after the Virginia Tech massacre about how the gunmen and his family had tried to get him help but no one listened...
ReplyDeletei hate that the father knew his son needed help and couldn't get it. 6 hours... not long enough.
ReplyDeleteSuch a very important issue. I did see the piece last night, and all of the stories were heart-breaking. I worked in the health insurance industry for nearly 20 years and please know that many things covered or not covered in your policies ARE mandated by individual states as well as Federal mandates. Starting there is always an excellent idea. Whether or not they listen is the challenge we all face. Whether or not they listen also results in too many tragedies.
ReplyDeleteThere was some legislation pushed through last November, right before the election, by the old governor. It was not good legislation for mental health folks who receive the service that I provide. It makes it much harder for them to qualify, and they will be receiving less hours last summer. It is so sad that this legislation passed before he left office :-(
ReplyDeleteI'll have to watch that. Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post. I have bipolar, and was seriously ill for years without being picked up upon! More does need to be done.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.
I agree with you Tina. That poor father and also the son...6 hours of help isn't enough, 24 probably not either. More needs to be done,
ReplyDeleteIt seems like when budgets are cut the ones that suffer the most need it the most, the ill and the elderly. We have come so far, but yet so far to go.
ReplyDeletei really believe that with all that is going on in the world lately/recently we will see a big change in the "mental health" area. it just has too. ( :
ReplyDeleteI know for a fact that Nebraska has cut and cut and cut funding for mental health care over the past few years -- why? I have no idea. The need is there.
ReplyDeleteI saw that segment and was just heartbroken for the senator. Two of my cousins (sisters) are bipolar, the only two children of my aunt. The family is in constant turmoil. The older one writes about her condition on hubpages. The family has tried to help, but resources are limited. It's very frustrating. There should be more help out there for people who really need it.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to understand why we still don't view mental illnesses like any other illness. The brain is part of the body, and it can get sick and require medical attention. Just like the heart might. Or the liver. Or the kidneys. We don't neglect broken bones. Or high cholesterol. Or diabetes. Or an open wound. And on and on and on. So why do we neglect to care for the brain, which is the most important organ of the body? Why is there stigma attached to that? And limited health services? It just doesn't sit well with me. And this problem is everywhere. We have our own shortages in Canada.
ReplyDeleteOne of the major road blocks is money. There's no will to put anything into mental health. Here we have public health care and mental health seems to be at the bottom of the list. No support at all.
ReplyDeleteTina, this is a very important post and one everyone needs to read....I think most every family is touched by mental illness and to assume it is not a real issue is to be blind. Until the stigma is removed, we cannot move forward at the speed we should and desire.....
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad story. We have so far to go. Thanks for all you do for those who suffer from mental illness..
ReplyDeleteThank you for adding to the National Conversation - I agree - we need to care for We The People - (instead of commerce . . . ) Everyone counts . . . we can do better.
ReplyDeleteSending you LOVE!
Somehow, I had not heard the story about the Deeds family. How absolutely tragic. I will check out that program. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a fine line between for safety and the state effectively incarcerating them. There are a couple cases in my area where non-violent persons have been held for months in a mental hospital facility and the facility refuses to release them. Sadly I foresee a time in our future when individuals are locked up in mental hospitals due to undesireable beliefs, or political leanings, or other politically incorrect leanings...and no, my tinfoil is NOT wrapped too tightly.
ReplyDeleteThe country should be having these conversations after sandy hook. I guess we've come a long way but still have work to do.
ReplyDelete