January 16, 2011
I want to give kudos to CNN’s Candy Crowley for shifting the discussion of the Tucson shooting tragedy to where it belongs: mental illness. State of the Union with Candy Crowley was the only major Sunday program (so far as I could find) that dedicated the whole show to the real cause of the shooting last week in Arizona. Other Sunday programs touched on the subject at times, but none of the others gave this issue the attention it desperately needs.
Part of the problem is that mental illness is so difficult to diagnose; someone’s depression might be a symptom of bipolar disorder or it may be a common symptom of life in general. It’s even harder to tell with adolescents, a time when symptoms can first appear. But how are we to determine if a teenager is just ridden with social angst and behaving the way teens do, or if their behavior is an early warning sign of schizophrenia or some other pathological disorder?
Another problem is the horrific lack of understanding about mental diseases, and consequently there is misinformation and social stigma attached. Most people have a better understanding of diabetes or heart disease than they do of brain illnesses; when someone is acting strangely or inappropriately, it’s natural to think that person is making a choice to behave in that manner. The difficulty comes with discerning if that individual really is making those choices or if there is something biological that is causing those actions without the individual knowing what they are doing is wrong or inappropriate.
If a person is diagnosed and/or treated for a mental illness, correct or not, there is a stigma attached that will give them lifelong problems being socially accepted, finding a job, having relationships, getting into the military, or do much of anything without being suspected of “snapping” at any time. In fact, a majority of those with mental illness are NOT violent, but the few who are violent get the most attention, which just feeds the stigma.
The final problem I will mention here (though certainly there are more that must be touched upon) is America’s inadequate health system — of which mental illness is a tremendous part. The physical health of a society is important to its growth and success, and the mental health of individuals within that society can have a larger impact over a wider area (as we’ve seen in Tucson and elsewhere) if it is ignored.
It is vitally important that Americans are taught the truth about mental disorders, that the associated stigma is banished, and that our health system makes these mental diseases just as much of a priority as other physical maladies (heart disease, cancers, diabetes, etc.). If you have read this, please take time to learn and understand these mental diseases so we can be on the road to a stronger country.
Recommended reading:
“What if he were your kid?” by Joshua Coleman
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Description of Illnesses
Public Education Program – Mental Health America
