In Spite of Everything

 "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death." --Anne Frank


 In a country that prides itself on being the land of the free and home of the brave, many innocent lives are taken daily by other people. My thoughts and prayers are with the parents, students, and community of Newtown, CT, but there is a much larger issue that tragedies like this bring up...and it's not gun control. 

Did you know it is easier to access guns in America than mental health services? A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder and personality disorder, mental illness can affect a person of any age, race, religion, or socioeconomic background. Just like diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a lowered capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. 

Because of the stigma still attached to receiving help for any kind of mental disorder, most people do not seek help. This is something that has got to change. Medication is not enough, yet in most cases is the only "help" people with mental illness receive. It is proven that medications along with cognitive based therapy is the most effective form of treatment for most mental disorders. It may be scary, but the first step would be to find a professional whom you feel you can connect to to open up about your issues. That person will work with you to tailor a treatment plan specific to you. 7.5 million Americans suffer from mental illness yearly, so whether you are suffering from anxiety or something more serious, know that you are not alone. You are never alone. 

Gun control is an issue that has been on the radar since the tragedy at Columbine, and obviously has heated up in the past 24 hours, and while I will keep my opinions of the second amendment to myself, know this: many states require a mental health evaluation as well as a background check to purchase a gun. An evaluation, and actual help, are two totally different things though. In the state of Connecticut, for example, the public mental health system currently provides coverage for less than 1 in 5 residents with serious mental health problems. Mental health, something that should be very important to everyone, gets pushed to the side and receives little to no funding from a government with an already bloated budget. 

 Encourage people to seek help for anything. Talk to your peers, friends, or family about troubles, and if you are lucky enough to be confided in, give encouragement. It takes a brave person to seek help for any ailment, especially one with a mental illness.There will always be monsters in this world, people who do insane acts for no rhyme or reason. But, it is our duty as not only humans, but Americans to help those around us who may be crying out, most of the time silently. 

Below is the link to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), they have great articles about how to talk about, and deal with tragedies, where to find help and treatment, as well as great discussion groups. www.nami.org