If you've never dealt with severe mental
illness; if you haven't sought care for someone and seen it denied -- even with
the best of medical coverage; if you've never watched as the once-joyful life
of a child, partner, spouse, parent or friend was ravaged by such a curse, then
concepts like "mental health parity" and "outpatient assisted
treatment" may have little relevance to you. But that may only be for now.
One in every hundred people suffers from Schizophrenia.
Bipolar disorder affects 2-3% of the world's population. One in four persons in
the world will be affected by some kind of mental health condition or
neurological disorder at some point in their lives.
Should serious mental illness manifest before a child turns 18, parents should insist on care. However, around that time more serious forms of mental illness tend to become evident -- and denial is often a symptom. Families of persons with mental illness who are over 18 years of age can find themselves shut out of major treatment decisions. They may not even be told the diagnosis. Often they are treated like interlopers in the lives of their own young adult children.
We should listen to persons with mental illness, their families, and it is important to seek second and even third opinions in order to protect their rights. We should also question candidates for high public office. Are they current on serious mental health issues? Do they have a strategy for repairing a desperately inadequate mental health system? Or are they dodging the issue?
Article Courtesy of http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-reardon/like-it-or-not-mental-hea_b_8491712.html
Should serious mental illness manifest before a child turns 18, parents should insist on care. However, around that time more serious forms of mental illness tend to become evident -- and denial is often a symptom. Families of persons with mental illness who are over 18 years of age can find themselves shut out of major treatment decisions. They may not even be told the diagnosis. Often they are treated like interlopers in the lives of their own young adult children.
We should listen to persons with mental illness, their families, and it is important to seek second and even third opinions in order to protect their rights. We should also question candidates for high public office. Are they current on serious mental health issues? Do they have a strategy for repairing a desperately inadequate mental health system? Or are they dodging the issue?
Article Courtesy of http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-reardon/like-it-or-not-mental-hea_b_8491712.html
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