My eyes filled with tears when I read this weekend of Prior Lake Marine Jonathan Schulze, who took his own life as he tried to cope with his return from Iraq. They were tears for Jonathan's family, for this never-ending war, and tears in memory of my brother-in-law, who jumped five stories to his death over seven years ago.
A week ago I attended a hearing at the Humphrey Institute hosted by Congressmen Jim Ramstad (R-Minn) and Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) on a subject we don't talk about very much: mental health. The room was nearly full. We attended in suppport of legislation to insure mental health parity: the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. The good news is this: Congressman Kennedy predicts passage of this bill, one that has languished for years, by June of this year. He expects the President to sign it.
The bill will be too late for some ... those who have been denied insurance coverage for their mental health illnesses. And it won't be enough in itself for servicemen and women like Jonathan Schulze, who, according to news reports, desperately sought treatment from the VA, but was denied due to sorely lacking mental health resources for veterans. But in the end, the biggest victory for these Congressmen and their supporters will be shining light on this issue for others ... for helping to remove the stigma of mental illness so that others will get help.
As Congressman Kennedy noted:
Many of our Iraq veterans are coming back in body, but not in mind. They are still imprisoned. We have millions who are prisoners of post traumatic stress disorder ... just like the children who witness gunshots or see violence in the home. They need to be set free.
I will add others to this list: survivors of child sexual abuse. One of four of the children you know is a victim of child sexual abuse. They, too, bear secrets and shame for years before they understand the nature of their injury. They, too, need years and years of therapy to be set free.
What can we do? We can mobilize in support of the Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity. Go to www.equitycampaign.net. We can speak out about our own experiences as authentic voices ... just as Sen. John Hottinger, Rep. Mindy Greiling and both Congressmen did at the hearing on Monday. Nothing is more moving, more powerful, than a public figure sharing this vulnerability to help others.
If you want to share your story, contact me at ember@visi.com and I'll make sure it gets to the right place to help others.