Reach Out Online

  Recently at a public city council business meeting a comment was made for all to hear, by a council person suggesting a citizen during the Privilege of the Floor had mental health issues.

As the council person was interviewed by a local newspaper the following day he divulged private information gathered while working in the District Attorney's office concerning the citizen again, leaving the impression he had mental health issues and he had dealt with him extensively.

During this citizen’s presentation at the meeting it never dawned on me he may have a mental health issue. I was so surprised at the comment made by the city councilman. I couldn’t figure it out. Then when I read this city official’s comments in the paper the following day it all made sense.

It is disheartening to learn that some of the mental health advocacy groups and others in the mental health field in the capital district are not touching this with a ten foot pole. They may see it as a political issue due to the political climate in the city and not one focused on the rights of a person who may or may not have a mental health issue.

One local group indicated they have to move on to other issues with their organization. Really saddens me. To let this go just continues the circle of stigma. The impression left about this event just continues the myth that those with mental health issues are tied in with the criminal justice system and this is not a accurate portrayal.

Maybe these actions and statements made by a leader in the legislative body of the city and also as a DA employee are so connected with politics in the city that basically the politics is more important and impacting then the rights of those of us living with mental illness and all that comes with it.

If this issue is not important enough to take a stand on then what is their advocacy organization’s purpose? I looked at their national organization’s website and find this…in regards to the national organization’ stand on stigma this is their stand.

 “is a network of dedicated advocates across the country and around the world who seek to fight inaccurate and hurtful representations of mental illness”

The stigma attached to mental health is all consuming. For those of us battling an illness we live with the horrors of symptoms, the side effects of medications that sometimes are so bad that sometimes we rather have the symptoms of the illness back.

We have to live with the reality of possibly not being hired if it is known we have a illness.

We have to live with the reality we can and will be shunned by others once it is disclosed.

We have to live with the shame some of our families show us. We live with the shame and internal stigma we ourselves hold.

So many times people think of those of us experiencing mental health issues as having character defects when in fact it is an organic brain disorder. As a result of this disorder we may have been stunted in our formative years and have to attend intensive counseling.

As a result of having a mental illness and before we are aware we are battling a mental illness we may turn to alcohol to quell the symptoms. A chemical that is a depressant. It was amazing to find out as I became educated about having a mental illness and was prescribed medications and attended therapy that the abuse of alcohol stopped. 16 years sober now.

It will be interesting to see if anyone speaks up at the next City Council meeting voicing their concerns about the suggestion this presenter has mental health issues. He may or he may not. I don't care which. I am outraged at the insinuation, the suggestion being made. It is one that I am all to familiar with the ramifications of, seeing it first hand, living it, knowing the stigma attached.

I am outraged and infuriated when as a District Attorney employee the man used private internal information gathered in his work to insinuate again this citizen had mental health issues.

It is a reality that many folks are so wrapped up with their own needs and issues that they don't find this such an impacting occurrence.

When their son or daughter returns home from fighting overseas and they are no longer the person they once knew. When their son or daughter is experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Major Depression and needs mental health intervention or God forbid they commit suicide they will then have the time to make this an issue worth addressing.