(June 16, 2016) My worldview has been shaped by mental illness. I personally escaped “the beast” of severe mental illness until my adulthood. Not all of my relatives could say the same thing.
I breezed along nicely from 0-41, but when my child was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness the resulting stress led me into a downward spiral. After almost five years of getting little sleep and numerous emergencies with my child, I had a psychotic break in 1996. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder while on vacation out of town.
I’ve been dealing with this illness for 20 years now, and the barriers have been different at different times. The hard and harsh truth is, after all this time, I still face barriers to treatment. Even though I thoroughly understand myself, getting the rest of the world to understand the fact that mental illnesses are just that – illnesses – is difficult.
Among the barriers I’ve personally experienced are lack of insurance, lack of coverage for counseling, waiting times for appointments of over two months, lack of appropriately trained hospital personnel, abusive medical people, abusive cops, inappropriate placement in an isolation cell at the county jail, lack of wrap-around help after the crisis has passed, and exorbitant prices for the "good meds.’ Luckily, I have been able to stabilize, but others may not be so lucky. There are no clear pathways out of “being disabled with a mental illness” for many reasons – lack of funding for facilities, personnel, treatments that work, and research into curing these debilitating illnesses.
But, in my opinion, the biggest hurdle yet for helping people get treatment, or staying in treatment, is the way society reacts to people with these illnesses. That is why everyone must help to eliminate the stigma against us. When you see or hear something, say something – whether online or in person. Call the media out when they sensationalize, demonize or otherwise dehumanize us. Embrace those within your reach who may have a mental illness. It could mean the literal difference between life and death for that one person you know.
I presently work with the Dane County Health Department on a team helping people get their lives back together after a mental health and/or substance abuse crisis. I now work to ensure others don't encounter the same barriers to treatment that I did. You’d be surprised at what a difference one person can make.
DOROTHY HAWKINS
DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN
(Photo: Vanessa/Flickr)
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