More issues concerning mental health are important in the upcoming election: Restoring the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), mental health care for military personnel, recognition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for returning combat veterans, support for family caregivers to name a few.
Not all of these issues can, or should be legislated, but candidates and the parties should recognize the issues involved. Through that recognition, awareness will increase, and, I think, stigma will decrease.
Stigma can be reduced when high-profile people put a positive light on the issue of mental illness. When these folks, who have a bully pulpit, will stand up and say the discrimination against this group of people needs to stop, the nation will listen.
I don’t think we can legislate every detail of these issues. How do we tell the American public that family members need respite time, and then make it a law for it to happen? How do we make a law that changes people thinking about families dealing with mental illness? Is it possible to have a law that tells Hollywood to quit portraying those suffering with mental illness as murderers? We can’t. We can insist that the candidates address the issues in public.
Both major candidates have publicly addressed the issue of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) 3.4 per 1000 children ages 3 – 10 are affected by ASD. That translates to over 1 million people.
Compare that number to the 1 in 4 Americans (57.7 million) who are affected by a mental illness, as reported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Don’t those people deserve acknowledgment as well?
Sadly, as I looked at the two major candidates positions, only Barack Obama has address any of these issues. (ADA, Veterans). I found nothing on the John McCain website. (I did not review the other candidates due to time constraints.)
This is not an endorsement for any candidate. Instead, it is a call for action.
- Do your own research. Find out if I’ve missed anything. (If I have, please post in the comments for all to see.)
- Write or call the party headquarters and ask, “What is your candidate or parties position on caring for those with mental illness and their families?”
- Write letters to the editor of your local paper, asking the same question.
You can’t make a law to change people’s minds or perceptions. But, you can make a difference by letting people in power know the issue is important and by casting your vote for those who are willing to say the words “mental illness” in public. You can continue to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Your God? (Amos 6:8 NAS)
