Opinion: Mental illness sufferers deserve community understanding

By MARK BALLARD
Guest columnist

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, 11:45 a.m. — There is a severe lack of understanding when it comes to mental illness. Everyone from the general public to first-responders, nurses and physicians and those throughout the judicial system need to increase their awareness of mental illness, concern and compassion for those who are affected.

What is mental illness? It is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental illness can affect persons of any age or race. It is not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or upbringing.

It is estimated that 25 percent of American adults suffer from, or have suffered from, mental illness. There is no cookie cutter approach to treatment. People with mental illness and their families have found it is a continuous battle of trying first one medication and then another until they can find one that helps. There is no quick answer to what medicine will be effective. What works for one person may not for another.

Many times it takes a combination of medicines to be effective. Doses — and at times, medicines themselves — may have to be changed from time to time, which requires continuous medical oversight. Many struggle having a drugged, lethargic feeling from the effects of being overmedicated or not having the proper medicines.

It is no surprise that many stop taking their meds to get away from that feeling. And because mental illnesses have no cure, treatment must be continuous. Good doctor/patient interaction and a good rapport is crucial to getting the medication to be effective while allowing the patient to still function in day to day life.

What can we as a society do to help individuals with mental illness? Education is needed most of all. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) advocates for the mentally ill and provides training and has support groups. I recommend anyone that has family members who are living with mental illness, or anyone that interacts with the lives of the mentally ill, become educated on the different illnesses and how an individual’s demeanor may change when they are off of their medication or if it has become ineffective, as well as the proper way to interact with the individual. Remember, mental illness is an illness just as diabetes, heart disease, or any other illness is.

Nationwide, the “system” as a whole (i.e. EMS, law enforcement, nurses, doctors, judicial and politicians) needs to be revamped in its treatment of the mentally ill. Because of the lack of understanding of the disease, too often the mentally ill are misunderstood; they get brushed aside or are seen as violent. Proper training, along with having advocates for the mentally ill in local government and the medical and judicial fields, is crucial for ensuring the mentally ill get the help they need and the respect they deserve.

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