MHA's Blog: Chiming In

Today marks the 104th anniversary of the founding of Mental Health America. Mental Health America was established by Clifford W. Beers. During his stays in public and private institutions, Beers witnessed and was subjected to horrible abuse. From these experiences, Beers set into motion a reform movement that took shape as Mental Health America. To those who suggested that he found his movement anonymously, Beers responded: "I must fight in the open." View this video about our history: http://bit.ly/10ofaMV.

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Fifty years ago, on February 5, 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent a special message to Congress about the state of mental health.The message marked the first time a President of the United States took specific cognizance of mental illness and mental retardation and stated a national policy. Kennedy called for a bold new approach and emphasized the need to develop preventive programs. His statement contributed to meaningful change in the way Americans view mental health care in the United States.

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Mental Health America's thoughts and prayers are with those who are affected by Hurricane Sandy. Please maintain and protect your health by getting sufficient rest and social support. Some resources that may help:

·     The Disaster Distress Helpline is a national service that offers phone- and text-based crisis counseling and support to people in distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, to help them move forward on the path of recovery. You may reach the Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or by texting "TalkWithUs" to 66746.

·     Mental Health America has several tips on dealing with stress during a national disaster.

·     Dr. Mark Lerner and the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress share 21 things you can do while living through a traumatic experience.

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(We are pleased to publish this guest post by Marilyn Schmitt, Ph.D., on the 75^th anniversary of Recovery International.)

In 1937, a movement began to be shaped that would improve the lives of many thousands of people suffering from mental and nervous disorders.  The movement became a group-based training protocol developed by a Chicago neuropsychiatrist, Abraham Low, M.D.  In the heyday of Freudian psychoanalysis, Low saw his patients in the University of Illinois Psychiatric Research Hospital discharged and returning in a revolving door of relapse.  He began to experiment with tools that would train them to manage their symptoms and develop resistance to the illness.  And he founded an “association of patients,” choosing the word “Recovery” as its name.  Today its name is Recovery International.

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The Washington Post recently ran a story on Sean Duvalol, a homeless Gulf War veteran who called a suicide hotline. He was carrying a note to his family and a homemade gun. The counselor told him to stay put and that help was on the way. Police arrived and took Duvall, who was homeless and unemployed at the time of the incident in June 2011, to a psychiatric facility. He is now being treated for depression and has a job an apartment.  However, he has been charged with four federal counts involving manufacturing and possessing a homemade gun that carry a 40-year prison sentence. Mental Health America last week sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney calling on him to dismiss the charges, which you can read here.

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