Something Has to Change
My Anecdotes of Mental Health Care Needs and Presidential Candidates Political Antidotes
My Anecdotes
I wrestled the metal pick out of my fifteen-year-old foster daughter’s hand preventing her from stabbing herself further. I placed her in the lock hold we had been taught in our foster parenting classes while my seventeen year old called 9–1–1. I eased us down to sit on the gravel road as I held her tightly. City police arrived first and informed us they could not help but would call the county patrol before they drove away. The county sheriff showed up next and informed us there was only one county sheriff trained and able to deal with mental health issues and he was on the other side of the county. As the sheriff watched, I sat on the gravel in my skirt, restraining my 220 pound daughter as she head butted my chest and bit my arms. Twenty minutes went by before the one and only “mental health officer” arrived and told us that he could not transport a minor to the mental hospital. I begged, explaining that she had recently jumped out of my car on the highway and it was unsafe for her to ride in my unsecured car. He finally agreed to transport her. I picked my tattered body off the gravel and followed in my car.
Laws must be enacted to train and enable all police to care for those with mental illness and their families.
A loved one has been on medical disability due to mental illness for 25 years. Without medication, he can become violent. Without supervision, he often forgets or simply doesn’t want to take his medicines. Police have been called by family, neighbors, and strangers to come to his aid or prevent him from doing something harmful. Countless times we have been told that there is nothing they can do. Threatening behavior and words are not good enough — they can not legally take him to a hospital unless he actually hurts himself or someone else.
Laws must be enacted to enable police to work in the best interest of those with mental illness and society to prevent harm from happening.
Three years ago, our seven-year-old was admitted to an out-patient psychiatric hospital. Six weeks and thousands of dollars later, she had multiple mental health disorder diagnosis, multiple medications, therapist and psychiatrist appointments. Since then we have spent on average — with solid, reliable insurance — $700 a month on her mental health care needs.
Mental Health Care should be affordable for all, not just the poor and the rich.
A year ago, our daughter spent a week in inpatient treatment. In a metroplex of 7.5 million, there was only one bed available for a child under the age of twelve. She was taken by ambulance from the local children’s hospital to a behavioral health hospital over 60 miles away from our home.
Mental Health Care must be accessible and available to those who need it.
My experiences have shown me that mental health care has been too long ignored by politicians, medical institutions, and the police force. Voting is one way we make our needs known in this country and show what our priorities are. I’m not a one issue voter, but mental health care is pretty high up on my list of priorities. Put your arms out and spin around, no matter where you stand, you will most likely touch someone who has mental health needs because 1 in 4 people in the US suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder.
I researched the two major candidates for president, to see what their stance on the issue of mental health care is. (I also researched the third party candidates, but could not find applicable information.) You get to the reap the benefits of my research. Here are the highlights:
President Trump’s Antidotes
Committed to preventing suicide, drug related death, and imporving mental and behavioral health
Increased Support for Mental and Behavioral Health Needs through Executive Order issued on October 5, 2020
Expand access to medication-assisted treatment
Funding for evidence-based treatment
$425 million in emergency funds for mental health and substance use disorders
Provide Crisis-intervention
Established Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group to facilitate government response to mental health conditions induced by the pandemic
Consider mental and behavioral health of affected populations (minorities, seniors, veterans, children, unemployed, etc)
Examine existing protocols and evidence-based programs that meet at-risk groups needs
Develop a plan of action to submit to the President
Funding for In-Person Treatment and Recovery
Examine current funding
Maximize use of existing agencies by increasing funding
“We’re going to have a very, very robust, level of performance having to do with mental health. We are losing so many great people that can be taken care of if they have proper care.”
Vice President Biden’s Antidotes
Eliminate stigma of those struggling with their mental health
Expand Obamacare
Defined Mental Health Treatment as essential health benefit
Accelerate deployment of telehealth for mental health to rural communities
Ensure VA provides for mental health care
In first 200 days in office publish a comprehensive plan to address suicide in veterans, service members and their families
Increase funding for pediatric mental health
Invest/Fund School Mental Health Professionals to double the number of psychologists, guidance counselors, nurses, social workers, and health professionals employed by schools
“There is no doubt we need a better system of care for the mental health needs of adults and children. As pointed out by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, ‘individuals living with mental illness experience recovery through a combination of community services, medication, peer support, housing, education, employment and other supports.’ We can and must ensure that these services and supports are available.”
Both Trump and Biden seem to care about mental health care policy. But, can President Trump turn his Working Group from a fact-finding government agency into practical support for those facing daily struggles? And, will Vice President Biden turn his passionate rhetoric into reality? That’s yet to be seen, but they are talking about it — and that’s the first step. That leaves me hopeful that when my daughter grows to be an adult there will be readily available, easily affordable care so that she can enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
References
President Trump, Executive Order on Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental-and Behavioral-Health Needs, October 5, 2020, Accessed 10/30/20
Mental Health for Us, (Nonpartisan educational initiative focused on mental health and addiction in national policy). Accesse 10/30/20 https://www.mentalhealthforus.net/candidate/howie-hawkins/
