In response to my last post about budget cuts in the Department of Mental Health, antiextremeism responding comparing DMH with Department of Public, along with Kern County's statistics of West Nile Virus.

Antiextremenism correctly pointed out that KC had the large number of  human case in 2007 at 140. None reported yet this year. The state of California has had no human deaths due to WNV.

When comparisons are looked at, considering population of about 660,000 in Kern County, 140 may not be extreme.

Let's look at mental illness. I'm not going to consider those served by some mental health agencies for substance abuse or emotional problems, like grief. I want to focus strictly on mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, OCD, major depression, etc.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that up to 25% of the population of the United States might be affected by mental illness in some way. That figure includes family members who are caring for someone with a mental illness. So, let's just say that less than half that number might actually be diagnosable with a mental illness.

(I know my words "might" and "maybe" could cause some to give pause. However, mental illnesses are not easily diagnosed, and many sufferers are never diagnosed or treated.)

Given that percentage, Kern County might have as many as 50,000 people with a mental illness. I think it might be closer to 30,000 -- but that's a personal opinion. Further, not all those diagnosed with a mental illness are treated through DMH. Again, there are no statistics on those being served by private professionals, or out of county. But let's just say, 10,000 people could be served by DMH.

Besides the number of people served by DMH as compared to those with West Nile Virus, the length of the illness and the potential of relapse is different. According to the Center for Di ease Control about 80 percent of people with WNV never show symptoms. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/d...)

A serious and persistent mental illness is for a lifetime - relapse is only a day away.

Yes, antiextremeism, there are more employees at DMH, but the need is also greater.

One day last week my husband and I were chatting with some administrators from Kern County's Department of Mental Health. Like these managers, we are concerned about the budgets cuts hitting mental health systems, public and private, and the effects on our loved one.

One person told us it cost Kern County about $10,000 to treat a person with mental illness. It costs the state about $83,000 to incarcirate that same person. Often when mental health funds are cut, folks move from treatment to jail.

One such major cut came from the state. The governor blue-penciled funds for the homeless mentally ill. Funds that help them to have housing while they start their recovery treatment. If a mental health consumer is not ready for integration into the community, s/he may be back on the streets - homeless.

The sheriff of Los Angles County stated last year that about 50% of the inmates in the county's jails were on psychiatric medication. Meaning, many of them probably arrived at the jail when in the throes of a pschotic episode or self-medicating with illegal drugs.

Mental health is being considered an option rather than a need in our state. But do the math. The cuts made in DMH will not offset the cost in other areas, like the prison system.

I want accountability for my tax dollar and this doesn't seem to be cost-effective budgeting.

larger view

My world was in Texas for a week. Part of the time in Amarillo, part in Austin.

Austin is a pretty, upscale city -- really trendy. It could, also, be called the Silcon Valley of the south. Given that the citizens of Austin appear to be on the cutting edge, I was surprised at what I saw on trash collection day.

This photo is only one. What you can't really see is, in addition to the lawn chair and wooden shelf, the old hockey stick and metal frame sticking out of the bin. Austin provides a two foot by two foot recycle bin  for paper and cardboard. Signs are posted around the neighborhood that glass is no longer accepted for recycling.

I asked my daughter if all the stuff goes to the landfill. She didn't know. It's put out; it's taken away. So, I did a quick look on the Internet. Austin has tons of recycling rules. However, nowhere did I find out what happens to the recylable and other items that shouldn't languish in a landfill.

Maybe Kern County is more cutting edge with its active recycling programs.

 I feel fortunate to have a family support group. It took nearly five years to find out if there was any kind of support for families.

So, often family members are met at the door with a stop sign. It has improved some in the past couple of years, but HIPPA laws often prevent family members of adults from taking an active part in their loved ones recovery. Even when release of information permission is granted, professionals can be reluctant to include family members.

Studies have shown that when family members are an active part of the team, recovery is faster and relapse is milder.

So, I have two questions today:

1) Where do you get support?

2) Are you able to be an active part of your loved ones recovery team?

I thought it might be good to give you some details about our situation.

My son is 26. He was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and paranoia when he was 21. He was diagnosed in a military hospital, but the diagnosis has been confirmed by other doctors as well. (Please no comments about military service and mental illness. In his case, the two are unrelated.)

He became symptomatic when he was 13. My husband and I can point to one incident and say, "That was the beginning." We had no clue to his radically changed  behavior and no one we sought help from ever mentioned the possiblity of a mental illness. What a difference in our lives it would have been to have an earlier diagnosis.

When he was initially disagnosed, he went to a psychologist because he was under orders to do so. Once discharged, though, he said he could handle it himself. It wasn't until last year that he sought treatment.

He has noticed the change in his life. He has taken the first steps on the road to recovery. The road to recovering from a mental illness is not easy, and it is so different from any other illness. Some people are able to navigate the journey with few difficulties. For others it is a continuous up and down roller coaster of relapses and re-starts. 

We have already seen some relapse and re-start. It's our hope that he won't become discouraged and quit the journey.

Thanks to those who responded.

It's interesting how many people know someone who has a mental illness. But, like that proverbial elephant, no one wants to mention it. Why?

Fear, I believe is the main reason. Fear of the unknown. Fear of not being believed. Fear of being criticized.

As a mom, I've heard even doctors tell me that I'm the cause of my son's mental illness. One psychologist, after my son's stay at a hospital, told me if I would just get out of his life, he would be fine. I can't tell you how many professionals still believe that these particular brain disease have their roots in childhood abuse.

Do you have fears about the topic of mental illness?

This morning my world is calm; it's not always that way. You see we have a family member who suffers with a serious mental illness.

Our son was diagnosed in 2001. Each one of us had our own notion of what that diagnosis meant.

I thought he could be "fixed" with the right doctor and the right medication. That's easier said than done. One reason is my son thought he could "handle" it on his own. My husband thought if he would just "straighten up" all would be well. His siblings thought he, as the baby of the family, was spoiled.

Each of us was acting on myths of mental illness. Although science has made great strides in understanding these brain disorders, that information rarely makes it into the public. Even in our enlightened society, mental illness is stigmatized by old-fashioned thinking, wives tales, and myths.

What is it you believe about mental illness (schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, OCD, etc.)?