A mental illness is n o more the fault of the patient than any other medical disorder. Those afflicted with mental illnesses are no different from those with cancer, heart problems or blindness. Mental illness reduces the job opportunities available to those who suffer from it. They often have difficulty in school, and find themselves lagging behind other students, even though many who suffer from mental conditions are intellectually gifted. Yet society tags them with a stigma that sets them apart from others.
Sweeping changes closed many health care institutions, leaving thousands of the mentally ill on the streets and contributing greatly to this country’s homeless problem. Newly developed drugs show progress, but prescribing them is still a crapshoot. It is virtually impossible to determine what will work and what won’t and most have horrific side effects.
Onslow County has experienced its share of suicides stemming from mental illness, including the recent death of a young serviceman who shot himself while struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. Tom Bagosy, a war veteran and the father of two small children, found no comfort or help within the system.
No one asks to be afflicted with a mental disorder; no one deserves to be treated as a pariah because they have one.
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