Help available for those with mental illness: Davis

Over 60 million Americans experience a mental health disorder. Chances are you or someone you know is suffering in stigma, shame and silence.

As society continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the numbers increase and we are becoming more sensitive to their needs. It is no longer uncommon to discuss our experiences with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety or depression.

Mental illnesses are usually caused by chemical imbalances in the brain which can often be treated by therapy and medication. Some conditions are triggered by traumatic experiences; others are more gradual in development. Often, these conditions are chronic, requiring lifelong commitment to treatment regimens to ameliorate the causes.

However, institutional systems are rarely responsive to the crises which erupt and family members are rarely adequately prepared to recognize and address the onset of an episode. Nor are we aware of the resources available in the community to assist us in addressing our mental health needs or those of our family members.

Many times, there is resistance to acknowledging the existence of a mental illness. With the stigma and the denial that comes with any kind of illness, it is easy to understand the resistance of many people to accept that this kind of condition exists.

Until the passage of the Affordable Care Act, insurance coverage for mental health services was restricted severely, creating another barrier to treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that three out of 10 Americans suffered from a psychological episode each day, ranging from depression and anxiety to psychotic episodes related to bipolar or schizophrenia.

More and more people are living with depression and clinical anxiety. Stress and hopelessness pepper the realities of many of our lives, as uncertainty and instability increases in our local and national awareness. Many turn to drugs and alcohol to mask the symptoms, to provide a sense of relief.

Mental illness is increasingly pervasive in society; therefore, it is critical that we support our family members who suffer.

Our justice system is filled with those suffering from mental illness. The people working in these institutions craft responses and alternatives to incarceration.

In many cases, that means that the underlying condition must be considered to best serve our community. In others, it means exposing institutional obstacles to those seeking treatment for themselves or their family members.

Partnerships between the mental health community, the El Paso County Public Defenders’ Office and the District Attorney’s Office have developed to address the needs of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system.

The El Paso chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is a force for change in our community. NAMI-El Paso provides weekly classes and support groups to orient consumers and families to coping skills, problem solving techniques, to provide information about the various mental illnesses and medications to treat them and to teach advocacy skills within the mental health system and the community.

A grassroots organization since 1985, NAMI-El Paso provides support, education and advocacy for people living with mental illness and their families, as well as support for consumers of mental health services, family members and mental health professionals.

NAMI-El Paso works to sensitize and equip us in supporting our brothers and sisters suffering from mental illness, advocating for fair and full treatment for consumers of mental health services, and supportive services for their families.

NAMI-El Paso’s webpage (namiep.org) is filled with information. Their program office can be reached at 915-778-5726 for direct services.

Mental illness is a part of our human existence. It’s good to know that there are partnerships and resources available to the community to address the reality.

Ouisa D. Davis is an attorney at law in El Paso. Email Ouisadavis@yahoo.com.