Bestselling Author and Mental Health Advocate
FROM MY FILES FRIDAY – I first published this blog in 2010, but the question is still germane. When do you reveal that you have a mental illness?
WHEN DO YOU GO PUBLIC? May 2010
From the moment I was first contacted by a House subcommittee investigating our failed mental health care system, I have urged its staff to hear testimony from persons with mental illnesses. Rep. Tim Murphy (R.Pa) has conducted two hearings and a public forum, the most recent being held last week.
Yet, the House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee still has not heard from anyone who actually has a mental disorder.
Rep. Murphy risks undercutting his subcommittee’s earlier accomplishments unless he holds another hearing — this one entirely focused on listening to persons with mental disorders.
Rep. Tim Murphy Challenges SAMHSA
Jessie Close called to tell me that Bring Change 2 Mind has released a new public service announcement. Most of you know that BC2M is the stigma fighting non-profit organization launched by Jessie’s sister, the six time Oscar nominee and acclaimed actress, Glenn Close, to help educate the public about mental illnesses.
This is the group’s second public service spot. The speaker who appears in it is Calen Pick, Jessie’s oldest son. Jessie can be seen sitting at a table behind Calen drinking coffee with Megan Pick, who is Calen’s wife.
Calen and Megan are an inspirational couple. Calen has schizophrenia and Megan has a traumatic brain injury that happened when a car that she was driving collided head on with a speeding semi-trailer truck. Glenn appears in the PSA too, of course, lending her considerable star power to it.
Matt Milam, another casualty
FROM MY FILES FRIDAY — This blog post, which I published last year, led to Pat Milam being invited to testify before a congressional subcommittee about the difficulties that families face when trying to help a loved one who has a mental disorder. I’m happy to report that Pat has continued with his advocacy since that hearing in a tireless effort to turn a spotlight on the Health Insurance and Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) and how some doctors use it avoid talking to family members. Partly because of Pat, Rep. Tim Murphy held a community meeting in Pittsburg to further examine HIPAA. At that hearing, Charles and Debi Mahoney described the suicide death of their college age son, Chuck. They said HIPAA kept school officials from telling them information that might have helped save Chuck’s life.
What’s your take on HIPAA? Does it do more harm than good? Should there be an exemption when the patient has a mental disorder? Is it important to protecting the privacy of someone with a mental disorder? Good or bad — please share your story with us.
And thanks Republican Rep. Murphy for continuing to hold hearings about our troubled mental health care system.
A FATHER GRIEVES, NO ONE LISTENED TO THE PARENTS
Pat Milam knows what it is like to bury a child. But it was not a gunman who murdered his son in October 2011. It was America’s failed mental health system, the still-grieving father says.
Want to make a $100 bucks as a writer?
I’m still looking for two additional people to write a blog for me about “a day in the life” of the upcoming NAMI convention. It should be easy. I’m looking for 500 to 800 word blogs about your impressions of the convention based on what you did during a single day. Sorta like one of those “how I spent my summer” essays from junior high school!
Only it needs to be interesting and informative.
I’m only hiring three folks so if you are interested get back to me pronto.
The convention is June 27th to the 30th in San Antonio. I especially want to hear from parents and consumers who are representative of NAMI’s membership, versus journalists, mental health providers, or professional advocacy group members.
Spread the word that I am looking for help.
And thanks!
Pete Earley is the bestselling author of such books as The Hot House and Crazy. When he is not spending time with his family, he tours the globe advocating for mental health reform.
As a former reporter for The Washington Post, Pete uses his journalistic background to take a fair-minded approach to the story all while weaving an interesting tale for the reader.