Maybe not one of my better titles, but I'm going to talk about it anyway. Another shooting incident, rampage, or mass murder has occurred, depending upon your political views and how you want to color it. A veteran took up a firearm and killed people for no apparent reason at the Washington Navy Yard. A location made at least a little bit famous by the show NCIS. I'm a fan of the Veteran's Administration (VA) medical care, but I don't particularly like their press release. The VA released a circle-the-wagons and hide-the-bureaucrats sort of statement that we, I believe, are fully justified in hating. "According to VA records, he[Alexis] never sought an appointment from a mental health specialist." Uh, does one just get up one morning and realize that mental illness has arrived like the flu?
In speaking with a sister I had not seen in many years, I found out that she has suffered two major bouts of depression. I was curious to know how she was first diagnosed, and found similarities with my own experience. At least from two examples the answer is: No, a person does not just get up one morning knowing that mental illness has arrived like a flu bug. Try calling Human Resources or a boss and using that excuse. "Sorry, I can't come in today. Mental illness is going 'round the family this morning. Two kids have come down with it and I'm pretty sure I have too." On the other hand, we have a fear.
This fear is brought on by some old Hollywood movies, more than a few B or C level movies, and the occasional novel (maybe more than occasional). In this scenario, a man or woman (more women in the C movies) arrive at some grim hospital and are given some sort of mental health examination. In the baser movies, the examinees are typically young and attractive women and the examination involves removal of clothing, apparently to check for some sort of mental illness tattoo in private places. The character is diagnosed with a mental illness and locked up forever in the Devil's Hospital for the Persecution of the Lead Character. Unfortunately, there is an historical basis for this sort of novel plot or movie script. Some hospitals and institutions for those judged insane or mentally ill in the past were true horrors, and thus we have this fear.
How do we fix the conflict between the stigma of seeking help for a mental illness, the fear brought on by the old stories, our desire to have a firm diagnosis and get well, bureaucratic blame avoidance techniques, and a citizen's protection from unreasonable search and seizure? From all of that, I can hypothesize without too much fear of disproval that there will not be an easy answer.
For veterans and the VA it is unfortunate that we have another story of a veteran going off to live down. For the VA bureaucracy, they will spend some time doing the bureaucratic blame/spin/avoidance game for a while. For Congress, they can form a committee and call in the VA chief to ask for his top or bottom end as a sacrifice. For all of us, we have many victim's families to pray for and comfort as best we can. Mr. Alexis' mother had perhaps the best reaction, in contrast to the VA bureaucracy, she apologized to the victim's families right away and noted sadly that she could not ask her son, "Why?" Many of us I think can sympathize with that last question. We have done the same in many other shooting incidents. As of yet, no definitive answer is forthcoming.
Due to the stigma or the fear, Mr. Alexis did not know to seek help for mental illness or was afraid of being locked up for it. He may have been ignorant of his condition since to diagnose ones mental illness with the very mental organ that is ill is difficult at best. I sought help from God in prayer. He responded with a piece of an advertisement in my home that said in large, red print, "Get Help!" I got the message and took a mental health status questionnaire into my family doctor. Others have sought opinions from close friends. Very close friends and in private, since mental health questions are not generally received with less than absolute mirth and hilarity in an office or locker room setting. If you broach the question at a party, try to do it after several drinks and use a big, goofy smile. Dr. Phil is another option, but not everyone gets an all-expense paid trip out to New York to meet with him.
Walking up to the VA clinic or a mental health clinic to ask for a mental health evaluation still bears a stigma. Those of us with some experience have worked to eliminate or mitigate it. Shame from those with no understanding (and complete ignorance) does not help those in need to seek out the appropriate help. Be alert for those who might approach you with a quiet, "Can you help me..." Accompany someone to the mental health clinic or professional. If you have overcome the stigma, tell everyone else the visit is for you and the person in need is helping you out. Yes, it is a lie, but imagine that person failing to get help and 'going off' as Mr. Alexis did on Monday.
Love your neighbor as you love yourself, Bucky
yes, asking for help is ridiculously hard...if you can even face the fact that you might need help! and other people really don't help sometimes....just their attitude,words, even their facial expression or body language can make you cringe and crawl right back into that hole you are asking for help to crawl out of....our world would be a much safer and healthier place if the stigma was lost or at least lessened...
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