I posted the blog entry below on the Jared Lee Loughner Shootings in Arizona earlier yesterday morning. ( I suggest you read that posting first.) I can’t believe the response. I’ve received hundreds of comments from people who said they were feeling the same way and there must be something we can do to bring light to the mental illness part of this situation. I’d like to say something up front- what Jared did is terrible- and terrible is too light of a word in this situation. But, he is ill. He could be one of us or someone we love. I work with many families in my coaching business where the children do unsafe and life threatening behaviors. I am not saying they are dangerous like Jared Loughner, but there is a part of this in everyone with paranoid psychsos.
When my former parnter Ivan was in the hospital in a massive manic/psychotic episode, I used to look at him and think, “Who is this person? It doesn’t look like him. His eyes are wild. He suspects I’ve done something wrong. He won’t eat the food in case it is poisoned. He doesn’t trust the staff and he believes someone is trying to shoot me. I often said he looked like a wild animal. No matter what you feel on this topic, there is no doubt that we have to make sure that the brain disorder side of the issues is discuessed just as much as his terrible behavior. There can be two sides to any situation. Talking about his brain doesn’t mean it makes what he did any less awful, it just opens a dialogue for the people of the US to understand at least a part of why this might have happened.
As parents, partners, brothers, sisters, grandparents, teachers, health care professionals and those in the media, we MUST see both sides and report things honestly. Please speak out in any way you can- we are NOT making excuses. Nothing excuses what he did- especially for the loved ones- but we can possibly shine some light on how his brain was thinking.
Here is my hope: I know the country is behind the victims of Jared’s terrible crime. I am too. I can’t imagine losing a loved one in that way. But my fervent hope is that Jared and his family be treated with compassion and understanding regarding his illness. Justice will be done for the crime victims- let’s hope that justice for a very mentally ill man can be done as well.
Look at these pictures and tell me what you think. This is Jared when younger and then his mug shot from this week.
Julie, I totally agree. It is very hard to get and keep going adequate mental illness help and follow up cares! While we need to advocate that Very Much the truth is that those getting it often function extremely well balanced an can maintain adequate abilities at least tofunction in society and many rise above adequate to productive creative excellent people with families careers and voices in society that make a difference! It is important to anyone with a illness-and family an friends whom know others-to voice your concerns whatever position in life you are in to your congressmen an women-and consider voluntary efforts self help groups to community and church resources! I know as a nurse an healtcare worker an patient as well- that Often non-compliance to available care Is just as big a factor! Educating those around you whatever position in life an whatever influence mental illness has had -is extremely valuable and a gift you give yourself-an others. Its time patients-family-friends those that have overcome-and those that treat such conditins speak up and share without shame. I’m not saying that everyone that has a mental challenge or illness will ever act in the way this recent person did so! But in reality it TAKES a lot of support-education about an illness-humility to get help an Keep getting it-even when a treatment takes Time an trial an error to Find! Its sad but the greatest help someone can often gain is from knowing they are not alone-an others have overcome!
Libery
I agreed with you, Julie. Me too, after seeing the news I found myself sitting at home worrying about when will my loved one’s name going to pop up on the headline news someday? But what else can I do besides waiting for such kind of tragedy to happen in my family? My loved one is not well enough to know he is sick and needs help. At the same time, he is not sick enough for his family member to make any medical/health care decision for him, and his doctor simply would just tell us- the family member to back off and let him be. So as I read these kind of sad news, I couldn’t help but getting more frustrated, knowing my loved one fits all the mental-illness profiles of Jared Lee Loughner, yet there’s nothing else I can do but taking the advice of the professionals– just let him be.
I don’t think armchair diagnosis will further the cause of mental health. We only know what the media reports, not what Loughner may or may not have discussed with his family, physicians and educators. However, what we do know is that he was repeatedly called on his behavior in society and advised to seek help. When he chose to disregard this advice, he assumed full responsibility for his actions. When he is in prison serving time for his crimes, perhaps he will get some medical and therapeutic help for whatever issues contributed to these actions.
I agree is it worrisome that the publicity surrounding his bizarre behavior will exacerbate the stigma of mental illness. Reading accounts of Loughner’s digression from a pretty normal middle school kid to an anti-social outcast, I see disturbing parallels. Why didn’t his family get involved? What did the school system do, other than make him an outcast? Where were social services? The “system” failed to put a safety net under a falling young man. That is inexcusable and tragic.
It is also disturbing that legislative action could be taken to restrict the rights of those with mental illness. I am 100% FOR gun control, but when gun control is restricted to prohibiting people with a history of mental health issues (post-partum depression? OCD?) from buying a gun, it becomes the worst kind of discrimination. No one should have access to automatic weapons. Period. These are the real issues to be aware of and speak out against.
Julie, I agree with you. As you know I’m no longer the supporter of my loved one as he ended his life two and a half years ago. I continue to attend SOS (Survivors of Suicide Loss)and participate in local mental health organizations here in Birmingham, AL. Our leader, a mental health doctor with at least four titles behind her name is quite an advocate for mental health and has been successful in helping Birmingham and the state lead the way for conquoring stigmatism and educating the public about mental illness and those who support loved ones and friends with it.
I write today to let you know that there is hope; more attention is being given to mental health than ever before. It’s certainly not enough, but we have the hope that those students and health care workers we survivors talk to in our panel discussions at the U of Al in B’ham about our loved one and their behavior will continue to give them the hands on education they are seeking in order to become more hands on mental healthcare professionals rather than textbook only. I couldn’t help my loved one, but I’m doing everything in my power to see that he didn’t die in vain. He was a very sick man.
Yes, this man was wrong in what he did and I truly believe the system failed him. It will never change as long as people don’t want to be vocal about it. Julie, I’m so grateful for your blog and the posts. Your books and those of you with mental illness who are willing to share your experiences and feelings help those of us who want so desperately to help will never know how much it has meant to us to gain a greater level of understanding. Things will change when enough people make enough of the right kind of noise in the right places. I’m so sad for all the people involved in this whole tragic event. Surely, help for mental health will come of it instead of political finger pointing. This is a time for everyone to come together and work toward a solution. God bless you Julie and everyone reading this post. Paula
I agree with everyone here; the mug shot photo of Jared is downright scary — look at his eyes — frightening. Why did he shave his head? He looks clearly “out of his mind” for lack of a better expression. In fact, at first glance, I thought it was someone with monster make-up from a scary movie! Seriously. Whenever there’s an incident like this, I hope people realize that mental illness needs much more attention in this country in terms of providing help and resources and SOMEHOW ensuring people get that help. As the mother of a 21 y/o bipolar son, I always worry about his stability if he stops taking his meds. I am forever hoping that an implant of meds will be available at some point to ensure long-term compliance. I don’t believe taking meds should be a choice if NOT taking them means you are putting yourself and potentially others at risk of harm.