Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Beyond Firing Rates and Magazine Sizes

America is in horror again over another mass shooting.  The twenty-four hour news channels know the drill. This time it was Newtown, Connecticut; before that, tragedy struck Aurora, Colorado; before that, Tucson and Virginia Tech. Examples go back to the University of Texas sniper in 1966 and beyond. With each event, our nation ponders why did this happen and what could we do to prevent future attacks.


This tragedy has sparked a strong conversation about gun control, but it is important to note that any proposed regulation would likely focus on limiting how fast guns can legally fire and how many bullets can be held in a magazine. If successful, these restrictions would decrease the number of casualties in mass shootings; not prevent the shootings from happening. Gun rights proponents recommend the converse – arm more people to fire back at shooters. Security is important and it is worth considering more school resource officers and other options. But again, this is a reactive strategy meant to limit the scope of the violence.


As someone who works with people who live with mental illness and their families, I hope that our nation can look at the broader solution – not the politically easy answer. People who live with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than to commit violent acts, but it is also a reality that serious mental illness is linked to some of the nation’s worst acts of violence. The tragedy does not stop there. Untreated mental illness also leads to suicide, homelessness, broken families, and a variety of other criminal acts. Dr. Thomas Insel of the National Institute of Mental Health conservatively estimates that total direct and indirect annual costs of mental illness at well over $300 billion.


The only way to truly prevent these tragedies, not just to the scope of the tragedies, is to focus on the mental illnesses at their root. The current process of diagnosing these brain conditions based upon subjective tests and symptom clusters is simply not good enough. It is common practice for a person exhibiting signs of serious mental illness to receive different diagnoses and treatment recommendations from different treatment professionals.  


Our society knows that this is a problem. We blame doctors, psychologists, drug companies, individuals affected by these conditions and their families. But in reality this is a medical technology problem that our country must solve. We must develop methods of diagnosing these brain conditions that are specific and precise. Methods based upon the actual biology and circuitry of the brain – not just clusters of symptoms.  Methods capable of detecting brain conditions well before the person begins experiencing potentially dangerous delusions and hallucinations. Methods capable of guiding treatment decisions.


White House spokesman Jay Carney correctly stated that “no single piece of legislation, no single action will fully address the problem” of mass violence. But the federal government can and must focus resources on the task of developing effective biologically-based diagnostic procedures for serious mental illnesses. There is promising research in blood testing, brain scans, and other screening technology; but our nation does not have a concerted and well-funded effort to move this research beyond the lab and into the hands of clinicians and the desperate families they serve.


America cannot afford to wait for someone else to solve this medical technology problem. As we were reminded again in Newtown, there is simply too much at stake. It’s time for the President and Congress to step up to the challenge. The results will not be quick or easily implemented. It might take five or ten years, but eventually it will lead to a safer America.


Please sign this online petition to tell the White House that it is time to find a better way to identify and treat serious mental illnesses. 
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/launch-coordinated-national-effort-identify-biological-markers-serious-mental-illness-fight-these/6z4w0zvV


Thank you,


Matt Kuntz
Executive Director
NAMI Montana

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Using Online Recovery Resources


By Debra Hoppe

Online resources can be incredibly valuable for your recovery.  There are many websites to look at one being www.namimt.org.  There are several ideas and links that instruct you on how to succeed with your recovery plan.  That is what this series is all about recovery.

Another site is DBT Self Help.  There you will find a vast amount of information that shows you how to use your coping skills and interpret your mindfulness exercises both which are helpful tools in ones recovery plan.
My coping skills happen to be deep breathing and taking a walk.  Also reading and exercising.  They get the endorphins going and that makes me happy which is a stress reducer.  Also listening to music and watching my favorite symphony band play in the park.  They both calm me down and help me to function better.

Since I have bipolar disorder, I access www.bipolar2.com.  It brings up several sites about bipolar and what to expect from having this disorder.  I find that the more you know the better you can deal with the problem at hand.  That is why I stress so much on the recovery plan and what to do to help a person overcome their struggles.  I am struggling with my disorder so I figure I am not alone in this matter.  I just hope that I can help one person and that person helps one person and so on.  I am not an expert, but I do know that I have to tell my story to someone and what better way to do that is by directing them to the things that work for me.

Another site that I have found helpful is www.brainyquotes.com.  There you will find the quote of the day that helps a person with depression.  I find that it helps just about everyone.  It helps me to go hmmmm.  I think about the meaning of them and come up with my own conclusion.  It makes me think about how wonderful this society is to make such a simple website as this that has such an impact on my life.  What a great way to spend just a few moments of your time.

Once again, thank you for your time and I hope you are enjoying this series as much as I am enjoying writing it.  If I can help you in anyway then my goal in life has been a success.  I do have many other goals so my mission is not complete but at least I can say I have done my best at least once in my life.  Thanks again and stay tuned for the 5th part of the series on joining a group.  

What online resources do you take advantage of in your recovery.