I hope we wake up soon and realize that mental illness is no different than physical illness. If someone is experiencing symptoms of depression, feeling confused, over-reacting, isolating themselves, etc. the need for medical attention is no different than someone who is having a low grade fever, developing a cough, and having achy muscles. In the first scenario if psychlogical symptoms are treated, they may get help before doing something that could Result in death. In the second example, the patient may get treatment before their condition worsens and turns into pneumonia. The pneumonia patient is not ashamed of being sick and no one judges them about why they are sick or questions, if they are sick. That is not the case with mental illness. WY has one of the highest suicide rates of all the states. I believe it is because of the Cowboy Up mentality. To admit you need help or that you are having problems, has the stigma that you are a weak person. Sometimes depression and bipolar disorders are brought on by some thing as common as nutrition or a chemical imbalance in the system. These shootings, like the one that just happened at Ft Hood, are a cry for help and a sign of how uneducated and closed minded we are about mental illness.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 22:20:52 +0000
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