EDITORIAL

Week shines light on mental illness

Posted 10/7/14

Ebola and enterovirus have captured the public’s attention of late, and rightfully so. The infection of a Rhode Island man with the former, and the death of a local 10-year-old girl who was found …

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EDITORIAL

Week shines light on mental illness

Posted

Ebola and enterovirus have captured the public’s attention of late, and rightfully so. The infection of a Rhode Island man with the former, and the death of a local 10-year-old girl who was found to be carrying the latter, have brought frightening developments around the world closer to home than anyone would like.

Amid those developments, this week serves as an occasion to shine a light on another public health issue, one that is far more widespread but rarely makes headlines.

Mental Illness Awareness Week runs from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11, first formalized in 1990 by the U.S. Congress. It provides a chance to connect members of the community with valuable resources, and to more generally foster a dialogue regarding an issue of immense national importance.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, is a nationwide, grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of the millions affected by mental illness. Figures and studies cited by the organization indicate as many as one in four Americans – nearly 60 million – experience a mental health disorder in any given year.

While a smaller number – roughly one in every 17 Americans – has a serious mental illness, the issue transcends age, race, faith or economic status and touches every corner of our society.

Treatments for mental illness are more available and effective, and connecting those affected with available resources remains at the heart of the mission for NAMI and others in the fight. Also vital is educating the public and professionals – particularly those in the public safety field – about how to identify the symptoms of mental illness and react effectively.

The recent, three-day Crisis Responder Training (CRT) program held at New England Tech helped equip members of the law enforcement community with that knowledge and experience, utilizing role-playing scenarios and expert guidance. Established in 2007 and made possible through grant funding, the program is a collaborative effort between Robin Winslow, a retired police lieutenant from the Coventry Police Department, and Richard Crino, RN, CTR, vice president of acute services at NRI Community Services Inc.

Crino – a military veteran – said the program has provided immense benefits, keeping police personnel and members of the community safer. Hundreds of officers have been trained since the program’s inception.

“With better skills, we’ve had good outcome after good outcome,” he said. “When you give police the tools, they’re excellent at deflating crises.”

Programs like CRT are to be applauded, as are organizations such as NAMI. As federal, state and local budget cuts in recent years have put serious strains on the nation’s mental health system, the work of dedicated advocates, professionals and volunteers has become more needed than ever to ensure those affected by mental illness can get help.

Their work, in turn, relies on our collective support and attention, on our shared insistence that the issue of mental health be one our society takes seriously.

For more on NAMI and Mental Illness Awareness Week, visit www.nami.org.

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