Comic Relief

Coffee and Tea and Cake Morning at New Horizons

This morning we are having a fundraiser for Comic Relief. Everyone is tucking in to the lovely assortment of cakes on offer. You can also decorate your cake and buy tickets for the raffle. 

Here are some pics of the stall. 

If you free come along today between 10am and 2pm.

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Gabriella Gifford and Mike Kelly, courageous, but misguided.

     Before I get into the crux of my column, there are some issues that must first be explored. I must point out that former Congresswoman Gabriella Giffords, should be praised for the courage she and her husband have shown for her miraculous recovery from the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona in January of 2011. She is an inspiration to anyone who suffers any life changing event, and I hope and pray that she continues to reclaim her life.

     With that being said, she and her husband, retired astronaut Mike Kelly, have put themselves in the spotlight on one side of an issue that both invites and even demands scrutiny. Especially when the primary cause of many tragedies is being routinely corrupted and ignored, resulting in many innocent people stigmatized as the scape-goats.

     On a near daily basis, this couple has spoken up and called for tougher gun laws, including the banning of certain semi-automatic weapons. Along with President Obama, they indicate that it is essential that the mentally ill be prevented from owning guns as a way to protect Americans. Even more disturbing, they continue to classify individuals suffering from mental illness with those of violent felons. As an example, in a recent speech in Tucson, Arizona, he said, "The least we can do is a very commonsense thing to make it more difficult for criminals and the mentally ill to have access to firearms."

     For many years, countless advocates and consumers have worked hard to create awareness that people with mental illness can function properly in society. However, it is the ignorance that Mr. Kelly is displaying here that condemns people with one of these conditions into a lifetime of living in a self-imposed underground. What he fails to realize is the sheer nature of mental illness. It is not a condition that is easy to diagnoses nor is it one that has clear boundaries. However, those diagnosed conduct a daily struggle for wellness, understanding and against the very discrimination that Mr. Kelly is advocating. For some emotional reasons, he is under the archaic assumption that mental illness is a crime unto itself. These comments are extremely harmful and will limit the lives of innocent people.

    To clarify, it is now understood that people who suffer the indignities of one of these afflictions are no more violent than the rest of society. In fact, they are more likely to become victims of crime, at a higher rate than people deemed "normal". Additionally, many other studies have shown these conditions to be the number one direct cause of disability in the workplace. Many of these poor souls are trying desperately to find the proper treatment and recover, only to find little social acceptance, which is a massive roadblock. Even more dangerous is to be categorized with violent felons like Mr. Kelly and President Obama seem to find no guilt in doing.

     What is routinely misunderstood is exactly who suffers from these disorders. Many are surprised to discover that it affects rich, poor, famous, not so famous, military personnel, politicians, sports heroes, first responders and the list goes on and on. These people wage a struggle for understanding and search for appropriate treatment. Mr. Kelly has inadvertently demonized an unlimited group of people who have done nothing more than get sick.

     A more pointed example would be; he is telling police officers who develop mental health issues from vicarious trauma, that they are no longer fit to perform the work in their field, and that is completely wrong. With treatment, they should be permitted to resume their careers, and many have gone on to continue to be excellent law enforcement officers. I know that because I have met many of those who did just that!

     Mr. Kelly was also quoted in that speech as saying, "if the background checks they're calling for had been in place, the man who opened fire at the store (where Congresswomen Giffords was shot) never would have been able to buy a gun." That makes a vast deal of assumptions, which fail to stand up to scrutiny. Chicago, Illinois, which boasts a powerful gun control law, witnessed 532 murders in 2012, 435 by guns. I venture to guess, precious few of those weapons were procured by lawful means. I have doubts whether the gang leaders and drug dealers who perpetrated most of those homicides would have passed the background check as proposed.

     Let us now examine the perpetrator of the shooting in Tucson, Jared Loughner, and the true failures that led to this tragedy. Now serving a life sentence, he was a man who suffers from schizophrenia, and was clearly psychotic when he committed these atrocities. Mr. Kelly is correct that this could have been prevented, but not the way he believes. I agree this man should not have been in possession of a gun; however, he could have certainly acquired one by the same means that the murderers in Chicago have.    

     The true path that could have prevented this shooting was a modernized mental health system. One with proper funding, readily available treatment, and most importantly, civil commitment laws that do NOT allow individuals to walk around in a delusional state, like Mr. Loughner was doing.

     It was not widely reported, but Loughners parents had attempted, on more than one occasion, to have their son forcibly brought in for needed treatment. However, until he became a direct threat to himself or others, the current law does not allow for forced civil commitment. Had his parents had this resource of modern commitment laws at their disposal, their son may have been in a hospital instead of at that campaign rally. What is even more bedeviling is that those laws have been virtually unchanged since that fateful day in January of 2011, even though similar tragedies have occurred in Aurora, Colorado and Newton, Connecticut.

     Though this is an emotional issue, Mrs. Giffords who served three terms in  the U.S. Congress, did not make mental health care reform an enormous priority. Though not alone in that inaction, the programs did and will continue to suffer a diminishing standard of care in spite of an ever increasing demand for services. This is not to say she is to blame for the systems undoing, but it is clear she did little to prevent the continued destruction. Once again, remarkably few changes have been proposed that will reverse this downward spiral.

     I do believe that Mr. Kelly and Mrs. Giffords are remarkable individuals, and I applaud their desire to work for change. However, because of the loud voices on both sides of the gun control issue, it has totally drowned out the potential for true change within the mental health framework. We will continue to see suicide rates increase, families torn apart, promising careers derailed and more detrimental outcomes, with few calls for restructure.

     One final point must be made in that this is not about ideology, or is it about partisan politics. Neither party has a copyright of responsibility for the systemic failure when it comes to treating the mentally ill. It must be remembered,  after the tragedy involving Congresswoman Giffords, there were strong calls for a dialogue on mental illness. She and her husband were both in a position to influence that dialogue. Instead, they have challenged the instrument of the perpetrator, not the disease that was the true culprit. That in itself is an added tragedy.  

     

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Justice For Ian Iskenderian ! Mercy Hospital finally to answer for tragedy in Oberlin.

      On March 5th, the civil trial of Mercy Hospital, formerly known as Lorain Community Health Partners versus Laura Iskenderian will begin in a Lorain Common Pleas courtroom. This long awaited trial is the result of alleged negligence on the part of the hospital in the treatment of her son Ian, which led to a police standoff, shooting and the subsequent suicide of her son, who suffered from mental illness.

     The seeds for this case were planted on November 31, 2005, when Ian Iskenderian, who was missing for several days, was discovered in a psychotic state, wandering near the community of Wakemen, Ohio. At that time, he was transported to Lorain Community Health Partners and placed in the emergency room where he lingered for several hours. Unnoticed, dressed only in a gown and slippers,  he walked out of that ER, broke into a home, stole clothes, and a vehicle. He then drove out to Oberlin, broke into his grandparents business, stole some guns, and then shot up a gas station on  the corner of SR 58 and US 20. As the police arrived, he then fired warning shots and hit their vehicles. It must be pointed out that Ian was an excellent marksman and could have certainly hit any of the officers if he had chosen.

     Now with this scene becoming increasingly dangerous, the local SWAT team was summoned as Ian barricaded himself inside a barn. While his mother Laura pleaded with him to surrender, a shot was heard, and she just knew what that meant. Ian had put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. With that, the troubled life of Elvis Ian Iskenderian came to a sad conclusion.

     For the next several days, the local front pages described how terror struck Oberlin, and how this standoff ended so tragically. The papers were full of stories on Ian and about some events in his life. Not surprisingly, a great deal of information released can be categorized as misinformation. One is that he was involved in an LSD induced altercation with the Oberlin police in 2001, which was stated as fact through various media outlets. In reality, the police were so caught up in their own prejudices at that time, they failed  to check Ian's toxicology report. People would be shocked to discover that report showed no LSD was present in his system. Not surprisingly, the Oberlin police department, who repeatedly made these declarations, has never issued a retraction for that misinformation.

     As the facts of this case became  clearer, there began calls for accountability on the part of the hospital. On December 9, 2005, the Lorain Morning Journal challenged Lorain Community Health partners not to hide behind a shield of confidentiality and explain what happened: They said, "Excuse us, but the only person whose confidentiality might be violated is dead, apparently after he proved more than a match for hospital policy and procedure."  In essence, how did this young man just walk out of the hospital?

     Some other facts need to be clarified, which adds to Mercy Hospitals lack of a sound defense. Ian had previously been a patient there for mental health conditions, so they were aware of his diagnosis. With flight being a symptom of these conditions, why was he not restrained or at least watched closely by security personnel?

     Additionally, this hospital claimed on more than one occasion, "no inpatient has left our facility in an unauthorized manner", implying that Ian was never admitted. Keep in mind that this hospital advertises short wait times in their ER, and Ian had been there for several hours. With that, how can they claim that they never admitted him? To play devil's advocate, even if he was not officially admitted, that should not absolve them of liability in this case. Once paramedics brought him in, it became the hospitals responsibility to protect and treat him, no matter what administrative technicalities they use as a defense!

     Since this case, Mercy Hospital has boasted numerous improvements, including the mental health wing. They have even secured a portion of their ER with a specific "backdoor" for the police to bring in psych patients. However, when challenged about their improvements in an earlier column, the hospitals public relations department became characteristically silent. This begs another question; Was it a legitimate improvement, or was it designed to segregate people with one of the socially unacceptable disorders?

     From personal experience, I have found the medical community to be surprisingly ignorant of mental illness, not just this one facility. It is as if people like Ian and me have little or no intrinsic value. Like a major part of society in general, people like us are marginalized, and others feel no significant obligation to provide the appropriate treatment.

     Based on what occurred, more questions remain unanswered. Was Ian's handling the result of negligence, gross incompetence, or outright bigotry because of his illness? As harsh as an allegation of bigotry is, it bears investigating, because many things went wrong in that ER that day. It is not as if this is a small malfeasance; a young man died because of their actions.

     This case will not be decided on the morality of Mercy Hospitals actions, but on the technical aspects of the law. This will make it a difficult case for the Iskenderian family to win, but it has so far survived many motions. I am certain that during this trial, both Ian and his single mother, will be dragged through the mud, but my hope is that the jury will not diminish the life of Ian, and show this hospital that people with mental illness do matter.  If they do, perhaps more attention will be paid to those who suffer in silence and are desperate for treatment.

     So often, when it comes to mistreating the mentally ill, little in the way of accountability is ever given to the offenders. It is still a common practice by the medical community and  rogue police departments, to be abusive and dismissive of those afflicted, resulting in few if any individuals being punished for their actions. This lawsuit is about accountability, and about stopping the medical community from neglecting selected groups of individuals. This is more than respecting the rights of Ian; it is about restoring dignity to people, and holding those responsible for the discriminatory practices that they have perpetrated.

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Mindy McCready; a sad but inevitable end!

     In 2006, while speaking to a group of nursing students, one of them asked me about a country western singer named Mindy McCready and her increasingly maladaptive behavior. Since I had never heard of her, the student went on to describe her mental health and drug issues, and how it derailed her once promising career. It was on that day I began to pay close attention to this famous artist.

     Tragically, with all that I learned about her life, it came as no shock when I recently discovered that she finally succeeded in killing herself with a gunshot wound to her head. Immediately, I pulled out a file that I have accumulated on her, and went straight to a CNN.com story from July 18, 2006. It was one that discussed her recent arrest for a DUI. On the bottom, I made an ominous prediction when I wrote, "this will have a bad outcome". Even back then, I believed that she would die prematurely from either a drug overdose or by her own hands. I  hoped that I would be wrong, but with her outward behavior, I knew that was unlikely.

     A close examination of her life is what made that prediction so easy to make. She hit the pinnacle of her career at a remarkably young age and from that point, began her downhill spiral. Her first album took Nashville by storm, but she was unable to sustain her success. After that, mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, domestic abuse and family dysfunction followed her every move.

      When others reflect back on her life, they discover that she was a metaphor for being "used and abused." As a teenager, she had an alleged affair with former major league baseball star Roger Clemons, a married father of two. Though he denies those claims, Roger Clemons can best be described as having questionable integrity. Add to that arrests for drugs issues, DUI's, prescription fraud, plus she was once beaten so severely by a boyfriend that he was charged with attempted murder, and her demise became quite clear.  Embarrassingly, another former boyfriend released an unauthorized sex tape of her, and with so much misery accumulating, there was now a recipe for disaster.

     It is common knowledge that all the love in the world does not cure a chemical imbalance, so it can be added that fame and wealth also fail as a treatment mechanism. No matter what Mindy McCready accomplished, she could not escape her inner demons, which were always present and grew stronger over time. However, she did not go down without a fight, as on more than one occasion, she checked herself into rehabilitation to try and control her condition. However, she could never overcome what was torturing her, and apparently, she did not continue her treatment as prescribed.

     Another person who did manipulate her was one that used therapy as a rouse to entice her and others on television. She was exploited on a show called "Celebrity Rehab" with someone named Dr. Drew. He brought her and others on a show to pour their hearts out as a way to exorcise their demons. Sadly, it was more  exploitation for ratings than anything else.  It bears mentioning that five individuals who appeared on that show over a two year period have ended their lives by suicide, and the idiot doctor still defends his methods. Those comments alone are proof that stupidity knows no bounds.

     It should come as no surprise that if a person attempts suicide, that individual is highly likely to try it again, and she contributed to that statistic. There were four other documented attempts, three by pills and one by slashing her wrists. All ended with short stays in a rehab facility, and failed to stop Mindy from continuing her degenerating condition. That alone is evidence that she was planning her exit strategy years before she finally succeeded. It was as if, like many others, she kept reaching for help and was never able to find that metaphorical life preserver.

     It is difficult to see what was the last stressor that caused her to end her life. It is evident that the death of her boyfriend a month before in a similar fashion was the final tipping point, but the seeds of this destruction were planted many years ago. It must be added that as of now, the police are treating his death as suspicious, and Mindy McCready was questioned several times. Though it appears to be a suicide, this impression of being involved with possible foul play could have contributed to her already fragile emotional state.

     One point must be made. Most suicides are not the result of one specific incident, rather, it is the culmination of a series of events. Keep in mind these factors can be real or fictitious because that person is cursed with clouded thinking. Over time, these events tend to add up until the individual can find no way to end their suffering, which leads to such tragic outcomes. The best comparison is a boxer getting battered with body punches until it finally breaks them down, rather than one large knockout punch.

     One other issue bears mentioning. It is not common knowledge that the first two weeks after leaving a hospital for a mental health crisis are a critical time. This is a period when there is a high risk for suicide, and there are many theories for this phenomenon. My impression is that a hospital provides a protective shield from reality; the walls are there to stop the demons from invading the mind of its targets. Once that person leaves the hospital, it is as if time stood still on the outside, and the emotional malignancy that drove them to seek treatment is there waiting to resume its attack. If the individual is not prepared to accept  this realism, the truth can be overwhelming, and have catastrophic results.  It appears that this could have contributed to her death as she killed herself 11 days after her release.

     Society tends to judge people who die of suicide in a demeaning fashion. People have already judged Mindy McCready unfairly and with condemnation. I have read where some said that she wasted her life and threw it all away, meaning her fame and talent. What these individuals fail to understand is that addiction and mental illness are sadistic and traumatic conditions. Like everyone else afflicted, she had to wake up every morning and start her day by battling her inner pain. It is a struggle that cannot be understood by anyone who has not suffered as many people do so in silence.

     In the end, she joined an unending line of people who finish their lives as a way to escape the pain they suffer. I have written about many, a young girl from Vermillion Ohio, a successful businessman from Elyria, and the son of a Super Bowl winning head coach. Tragically, this list will continue to grow, until we as a society begin to develop a concerted effort and investment in treating and understanding these disorders. So far societies track record is decidedly limited, and the future does not appear any brighter. Rest in Peace Mindy McCready!

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New Horizons Youth Project

New Horizons Youth Project Every Thursday starting at 4pm until 9pm.

The project offers young people 1:1 support with their mental health recovery and helps them to self manage their mental health problems.

Also on  offer:talks from partner agencies on issues such as drugs & alcohol, sexual health, training and employment. 

A range of social and physical health activities are also on offer including arts & crafts and access to a Nintendo Wii.

Self help tools are on offer including information about self harm  as well as a safe space to allow young people to socialize.

In addition to these services New Horizons will be working with the WEA to run a 2 day confidence building course and with Journeys to offer a Depression Busting course and Mental Health First Aid for young people.

For more information please contact - Natalie Jones and Kristy Davies on 01685 881113 or email: natalie.jones@newhorizons-mentalhealth.co.uk

If you are a youth organisation and are interested in working in partnership please contact the centre on 01685 881113 or download a referral from our main website - www.newhorizons-mentalhealth.co.uk

If you are a young person aged 18 – 25 suffering from mental health issues in RCT and would like support please get in contact on 01685 881113 

New Horizons, 16 Dean Street, Aberdare CF44 7BN

Reg Charity: 1066601

Registered Address: New Horizons, 16a Dean Street, Aberdare, CF44 7BN 

Tel: 01685 881113 | Email: info@newhorizons-mentalhealth.co.uk

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New Horizons’ Young Person’s Support Project

Exciting News from New Horizons.....

New Horizons’ Young Person’s Support Project

The New Horizons mental health charity has received a vital funding boost from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales for a young peoples’ project.

The Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) based charity, has been awarded a grant of just over £7,000 for a pilot project to support young people living with mental health issues in the area.

New Horizons manages a range of resource and outreach centres throughout Rhondda Cynon Taff for people experiencing mental health or emotional wellbeing issues, and projects the positive image of people suffering mental health problems through challenging discrimination by means of education, outreach work, information and support services.

The grant will enable New Horizons to offer a six month pilot project from January-June 2013 at the Resource Centre in Aberdare to support young people (aged 18-25) who are living with mental health issues in RCT. The pilot project will offer 1:1 support using the Recovery Model, access to information, advice, counselling and training (including a Depression Busting course) and access to the internet cafe.

Gill Malpas, Chair of New Horizons, says: “New Horizons is really pleased to have received the funding from Lloyds TSB to develop this new service for young people which I know is desperately needed in this area”.

Mike Lewis, Grant Manager for Wales at the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, said, “New Horizons is a positive and well run charity helping disadvantaged young people across the Rhondda Cynon Taff area. The Foundation’s focus is on supporting charities that are able to help people play fuller roles in their communities and New Horizons does just that.”

If you are a youth organisation and are interested in working in partnership please contact the centre on 01685 881113 or download a referral from our website - www.newhorizons-mentalhealth.co.uk
If you are a young person aged 18 – 25 suffering from mental health issues in RCT and would like support please get in contact on 01685 881113
New Horizons, 16 Dean Street, Aberdare CF44 7BN

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Mental Health News 2013 now available

click here to download a copy (PDF) or to read an online version click here >>

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Virtual Volunteers - Wanted

We need Virtual Volunteers to help us with the web site. If you want to research and write articles and stories, source images or take photographs, provide technical IT support to the web site co-ordinator, or share IT skills with other contributors, contact us.

It doesn't matter where you are, as everything can be done by email. Make a difference and join our team!

If you have a few hours to spare each week, why  not join our team? Email us for further information at:admin@mentalhealthsupport.co.uk

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Politics 1 Real Solutions 0

     As the fog of shock from the December tragedy in Sandy Hook school in Connecticut begins to vanish, we witness cries for reform that are best described as the theater of the absurd. Instead of searching for avenues to prevent future tragedies, this country's leaders are once again pointing fingers of blame at the wrong people. One group clearly singled out, the National Riflemen's Association (NRA), has been disgustingly compared to the NAZI's. This in spite of knowing that its members are for the most part, hardworking, law abiding citizens. However, that is only the tip of the iceberg of stupidity.

     On a personal note, I have been speaking out for years about substandard care in the mental health system. In this tragedy, like others in Tucson Arizona, Aurora Colorado, and on the campus of Virginia Tech University, mental illness was the nucleus of the cause. To be more specific, it is a system ravaged by budget cuts, reduction in the number of beds, and in many cases, scarce available treatment.  Once again, these misunderstood disorders are getting a vast deal of attention, but it is evident that it is the mentally ill themselves are being made the scapegoats, and not the failing system. It does not require a great deal of searching to discover proof of that wrongful indictment.

     Not long ago, Juan Williams, a Liberal Fox news correspondent made a comment that only added to the hysteria on this emotionally charged issue. He said, "If you have a mentally ill family member, the government shouldn't let you have a gun." This was on top of the startling announcement by NRA President Wayne LaPierre, who is now advocating  "a national registry of those with mental illness" be established to make us feel safer. Both have shown a remarkable lack of  awareness of mental illness, and their proposals just marginalize those who suffer in silence. These comments, which border on bigotry, play well with ignorant people, but do nothing but add to the burden that the stigma of these afflictions create.

     Not to be outdone for attention, Vice President Joe Biden added to this madness of stigmatizing those with mental illness by declaring that people afflicted cannot be trusted. He proposed that there should be a mental health check for everyone who owns a gun. Though he used this as a forum to garner support from a fringe element of society, it once again, degrades everyone who suffers from these malady's. This coming from a man who once had to drop out of a race for President because he plagiarized his speeches. Simply, he stole the work of others.

    I have heard and read many different newfangled solutions to this situation, but many seem to  fall just short of sewing a "Star of David" on the clothes of those suffering with mental illness. Sadly, it is not that much of an exaggeration to believe that is what these "three stooges", Biden, Williams and LaPierre  seem to be advocating. Next, I am anticipating the call to round up mentally ill individuals, and march them into a resettlement camp. After all, that was what a former mayor of Avon Lake Ohio once wanted to champion.

     Illuminating these individuals lack of coherence, is none seem to understand that no visible lines can be drawn as to where mental illness begins and ends. No true test exists that can be given to diagnosis someone; it is simply a syndrome of symptoms. These individuals live by the motto, never let facts stand in the way of a good headline!

     Now, focusing on the real issue, the problems in the mental health system are no secret and have been known for quite some time. It is the lack of proper funding and laws that have been in need of updating for several generations. It is also the broken promises from deinstitutionalization. However, with each tragedy, the calls for reform are almost always ignored, or placated with minor corrections that do not require significant increased expenditures. However, this is a time for some genuine dialogue and corrections, not stupidity being lead by the likes of the Joe Biden's.

     With his recent proposals, President Obama's approach to this issue was to make tokenistic gestures on improving access to mental health care. It is clear that these minor changes are nothing more than a way to camouflage his true obsession, which is gun control. Much worse, his uncalled for attacks on specific media outlets and NRA members do nothing but inflame opposition to any real conversation that could bring positive results.   

     Recently, I contacted the offices of Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, and Congressman Jim Renacci. I asked one question, which was "Since tragedies in Tucson Arizona, Aurora Colorado, and now Newton Connecticut, why are there no proposals to overhaul and repair the mental health system?"  I did receive statements from both Senators press secretaries, but never received a response from Congressman Renacci's office.

     Senator Brown's office wrote about being a father and grandfather and how this tragedy in Connecticut affected him. One comment did stand out. He said, "we must start a sensible dialogue about gun safety in our communities, and reexamine our mental health system."

     Though his words sound promising, my question to Senator Brown is; How can we have a sensible dialogue on mental illness and guns, when so many outrageous comments are being made, specifically on the liberal left? A notable example is actress Marg Halgenberger, who wished through her twitter account that members of the NRA get shot! Add to that the racist comments made by political exploiter Michael Moore who said, "Calm down white people and put your guns down!" Instead of condemning these useless idiots, and opening the door to a real conversation, we have only silence from Senator Brown's side of the political spectrum.

     Senator Portman said, "He supports a commission to examine and report on the root causes of tragic incidents like the horrific school shootings." My response to him is clear. We do not need a self-serving commission to tell us what is wrong. It is the dismantling of the mental health system that is the main culprit. He also ignores that two of his supporters here in Ohio, Speaker of the House William Batchelder and State Representative Nan Baker are two of the most complicit architects in the destruction of Ohio's Mental Health system. If Senator Portman is serious about correcting the failures, he needs to start by condemning the arrogant behavior of these two individuals, who represent the political right.

     For these political leaders, I do present two solutions, and hopefully, there will some real actions and dialogue, but if history is any indicator, that is highly unlikely to occur.

     Assisted outpatient treatment was the catalyst for the failed deinstitutionalization in the early 1960's. This was the idea that people could be released from long term facilities and have community centers available for them to have their treatment monitored. It bears mentioning that the Democratic party, who ran all branches of government at the time, never supplied these promised facilities, and the patients were eventually left to fend for themselves. This led us down the path to the current crisis in the mental health system, which is increased  homelessness, suicides, and aforementioned tragedies. Though long overdue, it is time for the promises made in the 1960's to be finally realized!

     Next on the agenda should be to modernize the laws regarding civil commitment. Under current statutes, unless the individual is an immediate threat to themselves or others, there is no legal avenue to have them forced into treatment. In the murderous rampage in Tucson Arizona, the perpetrator, Jared Lee Loughner had a history of severe mental illness. Shortly after the killings, it was discovered that his family attempted on more than one occasion, to force him into needed treatment. However, they were unable to do so because the laws allow people like him to walk around in a delusional state. Now Loughner is receiving needed treatment while he is doing a life sentence for the killing of six people, and wounding twelve others. With modern civil commitment laws, it is likely that his parents could have had him in a hospital receiving treatment, thus avoiding this tragedy. Ironically, there has been nothing but silence on this aspect of that tragedy.

     The proposals that I have put forward are ones that have been discussed at length by many advocates, and have been largely ignored by  political leaders. Just imagine what would happen if we did embrace these changes. We would see less homelessness, fewer suicides, less family dysfunction, reduced disability, and yes, we would diminish the likelihood of future tragedies. What a novel idea, real solutions to real problems! When was the last time we witnessed that from this country's political leaders?

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