A State of Mental Crisis in America

[williamjackson]

A State of Mental Crisis in America
by William Jackson

The nation asks once again why, why would a young
person that is intelligent, talented, successful, with the
world open to them have the challenges of possible
mental challenges?

The past several years there is a growing concern for
and need to focus on mental illness prevention and
treatment. The educational systems of this nation are
seen as a macrocosm of the communities that
are in constant flux. Trying to address and find solutions
to challenges that at one time were family secrets, kept
locked away in mental institutions, the prison systems of
their communities, mental basements of the mind of
family members, verbal deniability because when
suspicions are raised about potential mental implications
families shutdown and hide.

There are seemingly fewer places to hide from potential
mental breakdowns that our young people are experiencing.
Once thought of as a safe haven where violence would
never happen our educational institutions are now
patrolled by armed security, there are military like drills that
law enforcement agencies are practicing for potential
threats and students are considering carrying weapons
for protection and pro-action not just reaction.

The recent events at Florida State University in Tallahassee
have brought the realities of mental instability and the
potential of violence home for me with my son attending
Florida State in a Master's degree program. Working to
solidify his future with a quality education. The furthest
thing from my mind as I'm sure with thousands of other
parents is the safety of our children on a university campus
and even still in a library. An institution of higher education
and the advancement of knowledge and intellectualism.

Realities hit home fast and the realization that your child
could be hurt or killed is not a after-thought or a late night
nightmare, but a reality early in the morning. As the news
unfolded I'm sure other parents prayed for the safety of
their children and called, texted or used some other forms
of communication to contact their children. Mines was asleep
in his bed when he answered his cell phone, oblivious to the
events that happened in the early morning.
Relieved to hear his words that he was OK and even asking what
happened, I hesitated because as a parent I did not want him to
know that I was scared, parents try to show a foundation of
strength, but at times we feel the helplessness of allowing our
children to grow-up in a world that as we age is not as safe as
we thought it was when we were our children's ages.

As the events leading up to the tragic shooting unfold we will learn
many things about the young person from their family history,
academic and athletic achievements, travels, loves, challenges
and other personal information.
Then diving into their mental states or the events that contributed
to their actions. We must also with sympathy and empathy look at
the challenges that this person had to address and deal with. Was
there support or no support, where family and friend available, what
was their medical history, etc.

The warning signs have been placed before us, but how many are
looking, listening and taking action. Football players with their
concussion issues, military men and women with PTSD, children
that threaten to kill their teachers and children that have
murdered their parents.These are the events in our newspapers,
television news headlines, Social Media events and discussions
at the water cooler and dinner tables.

There needs to be action not just reaction, prison cells are not the
answer, there needs to be more discussion, dialogue, and
engagement. Time to stop being silent about mental challenges
that are giving rise to suicides like Robin Williams and the increase
in deaths and injury.

Get involved and volunteer.
Jacksonville Mental Health in the African American Community
Facebook friend request to JaxMhaac
Like us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/Mhaacjax
RSVP JaxMhaac@gmail.com when you attend each event
Attend meetings this November 22nd 2014
623 Beechwood Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209 at 10:00am

[mbwright]

This is not a strictly black problem.  Mental health is not well understood, treated, nor cared about in general.  My first wife was bipolar, and the symptoms did not manifest until her late 20's, early 30's.  The mind is far more complicated that the heart, lungs, or other parts of the body that are easily diagnosed and treated.

[Rob68]

Unfortunately  you live in the worst  city in the worst state when it come to mental health help

[tufsu1]

Unfortunately  you live in the worst  city in the worst state when it come to mental health help

Please supply some data to back up your assertion.

btw, JCCI held a forum on the topic the other night at WJCT.  For me, it was enlightening and horrifying at the same time.

[williamjackson]

mbwright - this organization is not just for African Americans / Blacks Anyone can attend and contribute..

Rob68 - Recently on NPR the discussion was on Mental Illness in America, Florida was ranked very low
in support and funding. The budgets of the Health Department has been cut each year and their services
are progressively being castrated.
It is unimaginable for our state to cut millions from programs that help thousands that suffer and their
families with the issues of Mental Illness. Organizations like these stand in the gap and make significant
contributions where government both state, federal and local are obviously not contributing nor seem to
care about the general population.   Just my opinion...

tufsu1 - For data I use the study that JCCI did about services and resources for Mental Health in this
nation and in Florida...  I encourage those with interest and a passion to attend this meeting to learn more.

[Scarlettjax]

We are building some momentum in our community to take this issue to the forefront.  Here is a link to the full report:
http://issuu.com/jcci/docs/mhi_report

A good cross-section of the community collaborated on this project, and there are good, do-able recommendations for implementation.  Please get involved.  Having a mentally healthy city should be part of our priorities, as it impacts so many other areas - productivity, criminal justice, homelessness, quality of life...it is way past time to move past the stigma and figure out a way to get quality mental health and substance abuse treatment available to all.

[edjax]

Unfortunately  you live in the worst  city in the worst state when it come to mental health help

Assume you live in Jax. If so, why?  You just seem miserable living here. Maybe time to move on for your own mental health.

[ronchamblin]

Mental health?  WTF is mental health?  Everyone floats through life ... easing into and out of periods of stability -- mental comfort -- and mental pain ... with some of us occasionally approaching the edge.

Reaching the edge, most of us need time ... weeks ... months perhaps, to bring us back from it.  Past the edge is dysfunction, wherein we are considered for a time to be nuts.  Those past the edge endure and sometimes suffer, but because the mind enjoys and seeks understanding and logic, it tends to self-heal ... returning to the norm, although occasionally it is encouraged with medication and counseling.

Those whom we (the normals) consider mentally ill ... and who remain free in the societal wilds occasionally become benchmarks to which we measure our own mental state.  But some of the transients and homeless on the sidewalks are so  defeated by mental illness, they are useless for comparison. 

Some might suggest that the mentally ill, offering themselves for all to observe, gives to the mentally healthy individual the same kind of pleasure that the poor gives to the rich. 

The mentally ill or unstable individual frequently is not aware of living in the condition -- and might become aware of its former existence only after passage of many months or years. 

Considering assistance to the mentally ill, surely the removal of hunger, and the desperation to survive, is beneficial -- thereby allowing for a measure of physical comfort to encourage or facilitate a return to mental comfort and normalcy.