Statement of Michael J. Fitzpatrick
Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI mourns the passing of U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a true champion for individuals and families affected by serious mental illness. This is a profound loss for the NAMI family.
We do not have to struggle to remember what Senator Kennedy accomplished in seeking to improve the lives of millions of Americans. The real challenge would be to try to recall what he didn’t do. His idealism moved the country. His pragmatism and ability to work with liberals and conservatives alike enacted legislation.
Read the rest here.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Lopez, the author and Los Angeles Times columnist who is portrayed by actor Robert Downey Jr. in the film "The Soloist," was the guest speaker at UTT
Lopez Details How One Man Helped Him Reconnect With His Work
By STEWART SMITH
Staff Writer
Steve Lopez encouraged several hundred incoming freshmen at the University of Texas at Tyler to develop a passion that would define their lives.
Lopez, the author and Los Angeles Times columnist who is portrayed by actor Robert Downey Jr. in the film "The Soloist," was the guest speaker at the freshmen convocation held in the R. Don Cowan Performing Arts Center on Tuesday morning.
Beginning in February 2005, Lopez began writing a series of columns about a homeless man he saw playing a two-stringed violin on Los Angeles' Skid Row. What was initially a piece about a "violin man," exploded into something much larger, igniting what Lopez describes as an unlikely friendship as well as a shifting his point of view regarding the city's homeless population.
While the columns, book and feature film have provided Lopez with national recognition, he considers the real gift to be the day he met Nathaniel Anthony Ayers. The meeting launched a friendship, and Ayers gave Lopez a new perspective.
Early on in his life, Ayers was a promising, naturally talented musician studying at The Juilliard School in New York City. However, a mental breakdown and schizophrenia left him reduced to living on the streets, crushing cockroaches and keeping sticks to ward off rats at night. His musical talent remains, however, despite often not being able to tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined.
Encountering Ayers, Lopez said his eyes were opened to the lack of attention society pays to those with mental illness.
"We wouldn't let 7,000 people crush cockroaches and go to sleep on the pavement of any city if they had cancer, if they had muscular dystrophy. It's OK because it's mental illness and we don't want to deal with it and we haven't through the decades and we've never come to grips with that. But that's not acceptable either, and Mr. Ayers has shown us why," Lopez said. "He's made it clear that those people are not strangers, they are our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, and that we can do better. I was never a giver. And I found so many rewards, probably in part because of the great challenges. It was a gift the day I met Mr. Ayers."
Lopez said Ayers has progressed. He no longer refuses assistance for housing and has begun to talk about his mental illness, thanks in part to watching the film, "The Soloist," Lopez said.
During his brief time at Juilliard, Ayers was a classmate of world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. However, because of Ayers' perseverance, Lopez said he considers his friend to be more successful in life than Ma.
"They were launched from the same stage at the same time, which one though, really has been more successful? It's obvious Yo-Yo Ma became an international icon. Few people in the history of classical music have had commercial success like he has, but Nathaniel wakes up every day fighting demons, trying to distinguish between the real and the imagined," Lopez said.
"And each and every day he gets through that with his belief in music. And he clears a space and whether he plays the cello or the piano or the violin or the string bass or the flute, trumpet or French horn, he finds peace and it is because he has this passion that nothing can defeat. Few people in this world ever find this passion. I hope that you find it at UT Tyler. I hope you find something in your life that gives you purpose. Nathaniel's got it. And, to me in some ways, given his challenges, he is the more successful of the two when you look at Yo-Yo Ma and Nathaniel Ayers."
Lopez said his passion continues to be writing, thanks to Ayers.
"I think he reconnected me with column writing. I had done it for so long. I thought maybe I should try something else with the last years of my working life," he said. "But I think Nathaniel reminded me how much I enjoy doing this. I feel privileged all over again to have a stage. And that's more precious to me now, having gotten the chance to write about Nathaniel and do so in ways that might be helpful to educate people on public policy issues. So it's as if that longtime passion had been rekindled by him."
By STEWART SMITH
Staff Writer
Steve Lopez encouraged several hundred incoming freshmen at the University of Texas at Tyler to develop a passion that would define their lives.
Lopez, the author and Los Angeles Times columnist who is portrayed by actor Robert Downey Jr. in the film "The Soloist," was the guest speaker at the freshmen convocation held in the R. Don Cowan Performing Arts Center on Tuesday morning.
Beginning in February 2005, Lopez began writing a series of columns about a homeless man he saw playing a two-stringed violin on Los Angeles' Skid Row. What was initially a piece about a "violin man," exploded into something much larger, igniting what Lopez describes as an unlikely friendship as well as a shifting his point of view regarding the city's homeless population.
While the columns, book and feature film have provided Lopez with national recognition, he considers the real gift to be the day he met Nathaniel Anthony Ayers. The meeting launched a friendship, and Ayers gave Lopez a new perspective.
Early on in his life, Ayers was a promising, naturally talented musician studying at The Juilliard School in New York City. However, a mental breakdown and schizophrenia left him reduced to living on the streets, crushing cockroaches and keeping sticks to ward off rats at night. His musical talent remains, however, despite often not being able to tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined.
Encountering Ayers, Lopez said his eyes were opened to the lack of attention society pays to those with mental illness.
"We wouldn't let 7,000 people crush cockroaches and go to sleep on the pavement of any city if they had cancer, if they had muscular dystrophy. It's OK because it's mental illness and we don't want to deal with it and we haven't through the decades and we've never come to grips with that. But that's not acceptable either, and Mr. Ayers has shown us why," Lopez said. "He's made it clear that those people are not strangers, they are our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, and that we can do better. I was never a giver. And I found so many rewards, probably in part because of the great challenges. It was a gift the day I met Mr. Ayers."
Lopez said Ayers has progressed. He no longer refuses assistance for housing and has begun to talk about his mental illness, thanks in part to watching the film, "The Soloist," Lopez said.
During his brief time at Juilliard, Ayers was a classmate of world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. However, because of Ayers' perseverance, Lopez said he considers his friend to be more successful in life than Ma.
"They were launched from the same stage at the same time, which one though, really has been more successful? It's obvious Yo-Yo Ma became an international icon. Few people in the history of classical music have had commercial success like he has, but Nathaniel wakes up every day fighting demons, trying to distinguish between the real and the imagined," Lopez said.
"And each and every day he gets through that with his belief in music. And he clears a space and whether he plays the cello or the piano or the violin or the string bass or the flute, trumpet or French horn, he finds peace and it is because he has this passion that nothing can defeat. Few people in this world ever find this passion. I hope that you find it at UT Tyler. I hope you find something in your life that gives you purpose. Nathaniel's got it. And, to me in some ways, given his challenges, he is the more successful of the two when you look at Yo-Yo Ma and Nathaniel Ayers."
Lopez said his passion continues to be writing, thanks to Ayers.
"I think he reconnected me with column writing. I had done it for so long. I thought maybe I should try something else with the last years of my working life," he said. "But I think Nathaniel reminded me how much I enjoy doing this. I feel privileged all over again to have a stage. And that's more precious to me now, having gotten the chance to write about Nathaniel and do so in ways that might be helpful to educate people on public policy issues. So it's as if that longtime passion had been rekindled by him."
Monday, August 17, 2009
'Schizo' - The Movie Launched To Counter Negative Stereotypes
Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma campaign, launches two provocative films aimed at challenging the stigma surrounding mental health head on. Both films are launched as an exclusive YouGov poll reveals that more than a third of the public believe people diagnosed with schizophrenia are likely to be violent. The reality is that people are as likely to be struck by lightning as to be harmed by a stranger with a mental illness. Research also shows that support from friends and family helps people with mental illness get better, faster and for longer. People going through it say that the stigma and shame can be worse than the illness itself.
President Obama Addresses Mental Health Care at New Hampshire Town Hall Meeting
President Obama Addresses Mental Health Care at New Hampshire Town Hall Meeting
August 12, 2009
President Obama shared his vision for health care reform—and stressed his support of mental health parity—at a New Hampshire town hall meeting on Aug. 11.
Linda Becher, an audience member, specifically asked the president about access to mental health care and its impact on society. The president acknowledged the seriousness of mental illnesses and the reality that many existing insurance policies do not cover them on the same terms as physical illnesses. President Obama also expressed his desire to include mental health care as part of health care reform.
Watch President Obama speak about mental health care at 48:43 or read the transcript below.
Q Hello, Mr. President. My name is Linda Becher (ph). I'm from Portsmouth and I have proudly taught at this high school for 37 years…I've been lucky enough to have very good health care coverage and my concerns currently are for those who do not. And I guess my question is if every American who needed it has access to good mental health care, what do you think the impact would be on our society?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you raise the -- (applause) -- you know, mental health has always been undervalued in the health insurance market. And what we now know is, is that somebody who has severe depression has a more debilitating and dangerous illness than somebody who's got a broken leg. But a broken leg, nobody argues that's covered. Severe depression, unfortunately, oftentimes isn't even under existing insurance policies.
So I think -- I've been a strong believer in mental health parity, recognizing that those are serious illnesses. (Applause.) And I would like to see a mental health component as part of a package that people are covered under, under our plan. Okay? (Applause.)
August 12, 2009
President Obama shared his vision for health care reform—and stressed his support of mental health parity—at a New Hampshire town hall meeting on Aug. 11.
Linda Becher, an audience member, specifically asked the president about access to mental health care and its impact on society. The president acknowledged the seriousness of mental illnesses and the reality that many existing insurance policies do not cover them on the same terms as physical illnesses. President Obama also expressed his desire to include mental health care as part of health care reform.
Watch President Obama speak about mental health care at 48:43 or read the transcript below.
Q Hello, Mr. President. My name is Linda Becher (ph). I'm from Portsmouth and I have proudly taught at this high school for 37 years…I've been lucky enough to have very good health care coverage and my concerns currently are for those who do not. And I guess my question is if every American who needed it has access to good mental health care, what do you think the impact would be on our society?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you raise the -- (applause) -- you know, mental health has always been undervalued in the health insurance market. And what we now know is, is that somebody who has severe depression has a more debilitating and dangerous illness than somebody who's got a broken leg. But a broken leg, nobody argues that's covered. Severe depression, unfortunately, oftentimes isn't even under existing insurance policies.
So I think -- I've been a strong believer in mental health parity, recognizing that those are serious illnesses. (Applause.) And I would like to see a mental health component as part of a package that people are covered under, under our plan. Okay? (Applause.)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
MTV Network Opportunity
MTV Networks casting director is "currently working on a new documentary series about young people living with a mental illness.
They are specifically looking for 18-25 year-olds living in the continental U.S. who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, such as OCD, bi-polar disorder, depression or schizophrenia. They should be open and honest about sharing the ups and down of living with this disease, including the effect it has on their family and friendships, any side effects from medications, any therapies they're engaging in, any challenges they take on in their academic and/or professional lives, etc. They should have a willingness to share the daily battles they encounter and a desire to raise awareness and tolerance of their illness with their audience of peers.
If you know someone who may be a great candidate for this show, please have them contact me directly - and please forward this email along to anyone you feel may be helpful."
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Linda Whitten Stalters
240-423-9432
SARDAA
They are specifically looking for 18-25 year-olds living in the continental U.S. who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, such as OCD, bi-polar disorder, depression or schizophrenia. They should be open and honest about sharing the ups and down of living with this disease, including the effect it has on their family and friendships, any side effects from medications, any therapies they're engaging in, any challenges they take on in their academic and/or professional lives, etc. They should have a willingness to share the daily battles they encounter and a desire to raise awareness and tolerance of their illness with their audience of peers.
If you know someone who may be a great candidate for this show, please have them contact me directly - and please forward this email along to anyone you feel may be helpful."
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Linda Whitten Stalters
240-423-9432
SARDAA
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Video on Anosognosia (Lack of Insight) on Mental Illness
Scope of the Problem
Poor and partial-adherence to treatment presents staggering obstacles to recovery. It is associated with a poorer course of illness, increased involuntary hospitalizations, suicide, poorer subsequent response to treatment, estrangement and discord with caregivers and providers, criminal behavior, and failure to reach optimal levels of recovery. In light of the tremendous advances made in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the tragedy of both untreated, and inadequately treated, mental illness is compounded. The urgency to implement strategies that optimize adherence and recovery has never been greater.
Non-adherence rates in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder continue to hover around 50% while partial adherence rates are even higher (75%). Considering that millions of people either flat out refuse to participate in treatment, or if they do, practice only partial-adherence, the "real-world" effectiveness of both the older, and more promising newer treatments, is abysmal.
Deficits in insight (a.k.a. "anosognosia" see DSM IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association Press, 2000, page 304) are very common. Not surprisingly, anosognosia predicts poor and partial-adherence. After all, who would want to take medication for an illness they did not believe they had? Research shows that poor insight is among the top predictors of poor adherence, far more predictive than the person's experience of side effects. Although recent innovations in drugs used to treat these disorders have addressed many of the limitations of traditional antipsychotic medications (e.g., severity of side effects, aspects of cognitive dysfunction), they still do not deal with the problem of poor adherence to treatment.
For more, click here.
For slide show, click here.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Local support available for families, friends affected by mental illness (Longview)
From the Longview News Journal
East Texas families that include members with brain disorders or mental illness may all too often feel they are alone in their quest to understand and deal with the challenges.
But Paula Hendrix says support, educational opportunities and information are available locally.
"There is help out there for people with mental illness and their families," said Hendrix, president of the National Alliance on Mental Health, Greater Longview chapter. The group is a nonprofit volunteer network of families and providers working to improve the quality of life for people affected by severe disorders, she said.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Minds On The Edge
MINDS ON THE EDGE: Facing Mental Illness is a multi-platform media project that explores severe mental illness in America.
The centerpiece of the project is a television program that will air on PBS stations in October 2009. This video component is part of a national initiative that includes an extensive web site and an ambitious strategy to engage citizens, professionals in many fields, and policy makers at all levels of government. The goal is to advance consensus about how to improve the kinds of support and treatment available for people with mental illness.
MIAW Teleconference: Tuesday, August 18, 2:00 PM ET
MIAW Teleconference: Tuesday, August 18, 2:00 PM ET
On Tuesday, August 18, the Center for Leadership Development and NAMI Communications team will hold a teleconference on Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 4-10), focusing on opportunities for community events around Minds on the Edge Facing Mental Illness, the PBS program that premieres in October 2009.
MIAW is the launch pad for Minds on the Edge events extending into 2010. More than 50 interviews with NAMI members from last month's national convention currently can be viewed on the Minds on the Edge Web site. Teleconference presenters:
Liz Smith, CLD director
Kristin Fellows, Minds on the Edge national outreach coordinator
Leah Matteson, NAMI Vermont president
Call-in information: 1-888-858-6021 access code: 861117#.
Please contact Christine Armstrong with any questions: via e-mail or 703-312-7893. Those who RSVP by email in advance will receive background materials shortly before the conference.
On Tuesday, August 18, the Center for Leadership Development and NAMI Communications team will hold a teleconference on Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 4-10), focusing on opportunities for community events around Minds on the Edge Facing Mental Illness, the PBS program that premieres in October 2009.
MIAW is the launch pad for Minds on the Edge events extending into 2010. More than 50 interviews with NAMI members from last month's national convention currently can be viewed on the Minds on the Edge Web site. Teleconference presenters:
Liz Smith, CLD director
Kristin Fellows, Minds on the Edge national outreach coordinator
Leah Matteson, NAMI Vermont president
Call-in information: 1-888-858-6021 access code: 861117#.
Please contact Christine Armstrong with any questions: via e-mail or 703-312-7893. Those who RSVP by email in advance will receive background materials shortly before the conference.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Depression Stigmatized on Local Radio Station - Update
From: Valerie Holcomb [mailto:vholcomb@andrewscenter.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 10:41 AM
To: garthmaier@ktbb.com
Subject: Talkback question regarding the rise in the use of antidepressants - Action Requested
To: Garth Maier, KTBB Program Director, garthmaier@ktbb.com
CC: NAMI members and other mental health advocates
Mr. Maier,
I am glad that you choose at times to discuss mental health issues and include these issues in your Talk Back section. However, I must admonish you for supporting, or at least, not tempering some of the cynical remarks about depression and the use of antidepressants. Whether reflective of your beliefs or callers’ statements, you made a statement that depression is a result of a lack of religion, poor moral character, and family break up, among other issues. Hopefully I am mistaken in what I heard you say, but, either way, to a listener suffering from symptoms of depression, possibly suicidal, these statements can be crippling in the effort to get help. Depression, or any mental illness, is just as serious as diabetes or heart disease. If you were to suggest that a person’s reliance on medication for the treatment of diabetes to be a character flaw, this comment would be outright irresponsible. Your radio show is so impressionable, and I cringe to think that someone on the verge of getting help might have heard the things that were said and feel that they are defective and should just get over it.
I did make attempts to call in my comments so that listeners with depression and other mental illnesses would know that there is someone to support them, but was cut off. Nonetheless, I am sending this cc’d to fellow mental health advocates for whom I encourage to let you know what they think about the issue. There should be more efforts to fight the stigma of mental illness, and less cynicism about it for the sake of entertainment. I look forward to your response and would like to post it to our website.
Sincerely, Valerie Holcomb, NAMI Tyler Board Member
Greetings and I thank you for your comments.
When I add statements during the Morning Talk Back subject, it is almost always a review of comments already made by callers to generate more discussion. In other words, "Why are so many Americans on Anti-Depressants?...lack of religion, breakdown of the family...etc." The suggested reasons were comments already advanced by listeners.
On a complete personal level, I am a reader of the Bible, which speaks frankly about various mental illnesses cured by the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, to me (personally), all discussion ends here. Mental illness is a fact. It is treated in the Bible just the same as physical infirmities. Again, to me, all debate ends here!
Respectfully,
Garth Maier
To Mr. Maier and all my NAMI associates,
I very much agree with Robin Peyson and Valerie Holcomb about your very harmful comments regarding persons that live with Depression. We all enjoy the right to free speech and think that in fairness an opportunity should be afforded to Ms. Holcomb to respond to you and your radio audience. I do not know the format of your program but about 15 years ago there was a fellow here in Dallas that had an afternoon radio talk show that said some terrible things about persons that lived with Mental Illnesses and the Homeless. After several calls to him, his producer and the station manager I was given the opportunity to be on a subsequent broadcast and discuss the comments with him and his call in audience.
Please consider this.
Thanks.
Mike Katz
Dallas
I have no idea why Ms. Holcomb passed her comments on to so many people who did not hear the program. Her comments to not accurately represent the morning news format or my statements. Nevertheless, I have explained the format to her and my personal feelings. I stand by the "Talk Back" format and the basis for the programming.
Respectfully,
Garth Maier
The format offers your chance to voice your opinion "on the air."
Your e-mail was sent out to people who don't even listen to the radio station.
The subject matter, by the way, was "depression," and not necessarily "mental illness" (a word never used).
There is a difference. To continue this discussion by e-mail is fruitless.
Respectfully,
Garth Maier
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 10:41 AM
To: garthmaier@ktbb.com
Subject: Talkback question regarding the rise in the use of antidepressants - Action Requested
To: Garth Maier, KTBB Program Director, garthmaier@ktbb.com
CC: NAMI members and other mental health advocates
Mr. Maier,
I am glad that you choose at times to discuss mental health issues and include these issues in your Talk Back section. However, I must admonish you for supporting, or at least, not tempering some of the cynical remarks about depression and the use of antidepressants. Whether reflective of your beliefs or callers’ statements, you made a statement that depression is a result of a lack of religion, poor moral character, and family break up, among other issues. Hopefully I am mistaken in what I heard you say, but, either way, to a listener suffering from symptoms of depression, possibly suicidal, these statements can be crippling in the effort to get help. Depression, or any mental illness, is just as serious as diabetes or heart disease. If you were to suggest that a person’s reliance on medication for the treatment of diabetes to be a character flaw, this comment would be outright irresponsible. Your radio show is so impressionable, and I cringe to think that someone on the verge of getting help might have heard the things that were said and feel that they are defective and should just get over it.
I did make attempts to call in my comments so that listeners with depression and other mental illnesses would know that there is someone to support them, but was cut off. Nonetheless, I am sending this cc’d to fellow mental health advocates for whom I encourage to let you know what they think about the issue. There should be more efforts to fight the stigma of mental illness, and less cynicism about it for the sake of entertainment. I look forward to your response and would like to post it to our website.
Sincerely, Valerie Holcomb, NAMI Tyler Board Member
I didn’t hear the show nor the comments so do not have all the facts on which to base a decision.
I can and will say I deal with mental illness on a regular basis in my the family law court. It is horrible to say the jails are the primary provider of mental health services. That is because untreated mental illness leads to self-medication with illegal drugs and/or alcohol which leads to criminal behavior. Drug addiction is taking a huge toll on our community.
I also see a huge impact in the CPS (child protective services dockets.) There is such a lack of services not only for parents but for children. We know from research that children who suffer trauma have a change in brain chemistry similar to many mental illnesses. Because the chemicals in the brain can over produce in trauma, the brain can be injured permanently much as a brain injury from a car wreck or other physical trauma. This is progressive and ultimately, as I have on my caseload, children become permanently mentally ill. I am currently working with mental health providers to try to do something to prevent this in children who are in foster care. The moves traumatize children additionally.
Mental illness is difficult because it is stigmatized. It is often chronic, like some cancers, heart conditions, diabetes, and other chronic physical ailments. With proper treatment, people’s brain chemicals can be rearranged to their proper functioning levels.
I am currently working with Dr. Karyn Purvis at TCU on attachment disorder in children. She has done a great deal of research on the brain chemical components in children who have been traumatized and I recommend her work.
If you have questions, please call me or e-mail me.
Judge Carole Clark
321st District Court
Greetings and I thank you for your comments.
When I add statements during the Morning Talk Back subject, it is almost always a review of comments already made by callers to generate more discussion. In other words, "Why are so many Americans on Anti-Depressants?...lack of religion, breakdown of the family...etc." The suggested reasons were comments already advanced by listeners.
On a complete personal level, I am a reader of the Bible, which speaks frankly about various mental illnesses cured by the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, to me (personally), all discussion ends here. Mental illness is a fact. It is treated in the Bible just the same as physical infirmities. Again, to me, all debate ends here!
Respectfully,
Garth Maier
Mr. Maier,
I share Ms. Holcomb’s point of view. Statements to the effect that depression is the result of a lack of religion, poor moral character, family break up’s, or other similar explanations, have no basis, as the science and research clearly show. Furthermore, it continues the stigma and spread of misinformation. To take this position, when one in every four adults will experience mental illness, is irresponsible.
President George W. Bush issued the Presidents New Freedom Commission Report on Mental Illness and this report speaks directly to how this country can best address mental illness and the devastating toll it takes on those who suffer from these illnesses.
The link to this report is below.
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Public_Policy/New_Freedom_Commission/Default1169.htm
Please consider changing your approach on this issue during your show and providing your listeners with accurate information.
Thank you.
Robin Peyson
Executive Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness Texas
(512) 693-2000
To Mr. Maier and all my NAMI associates,
I very much agree with Robin Peyson and Valerie Holcomb about your very harmful comments regarding persons that live with Depression. We all enjoy the right to free speech and think that in fairness an opportunity should be afforded to Ms. Holcomb to respond to you and your radio audience. I do not know the format of your program but about 15 years ago there was a fellow here in Dallas that had an afternoon radio talk show that said some terrible things about persons that lived with Mental Illnesses and the Homeless. After several calls to him, his producer and the station manager I was given the opportunity to be on a subsequent broadcast and discuss the comments with him and his call in audience.
Please consider this.
Thanks.
Mike Katz
Dallas
My feelings are directly in sympathy with Valerie's. It could not have been said it better, so I will not even try. I am sure that there are many out here who agree with her passion, information and impassioned statements. Here is a strong supporter.
Sunny Davidson
I have no idea why Ms. Holcomb passed her comments on to so many people who did not hear the program. Her comments to not accurately represent the morning news format or my statements. Nevertheless, I have explained the format to her and my personal feelings. I stand by the "Talk Back" format and the basis for the programming.
Respectfully,
Garth Maier
Mr. Maier,
In response to your previous comment,
Your morning news segment solicits opinions. I merely provided mine and encouraged others to do so, as well. I am familiar with your format because I have been listening since the digital TV conversion. I have not upgraded my TV in my bedroom.
I appreciate your loyalty to the format of your radio station and I do not offer an opinion about changing that; in fact, if you have an audio archive that I can provide a link to yesterday morning's broadcast I will put that on the NAMI website for anyone to hear.
I've re-read my email and do not see anything inaccurate or skewed, but I welcome your comment on this. My purpose is simple - to decrease the stigma of mental illness.
I suspect you underestimate the power of your words. It is irrelevant who generated the stigmatizing comments on your program; you supported and perpetuated them by stating these same "choices" repeatedly and with emphasis, thereby, implicating a forced choice response. This is a common technique used in arguments and debates to furtively elicit a desired response from the other party. The "choices" you repeatedly stated were only subtly different - lack of faith, breakdown of family (the two that standout in my mind) - all imply character flaws. Mental illness is not a character flaw and responsible solicitation of comments should not encourage the same through implied force choice.
What if you were to offer a genuinely alternate "choice" by saying, "or is it an increase in awareness?" With the power of your words, by offering a mitigating choice, you can educe change in the stigma.
I could go on with this analysis or just come out and ask that, when it comes to mental illness, will you do more to temper stigmatizing comments? I do not see how complying with this request could be considered incongruent with the current format. Do you have any other suggestions how to accomplish this?
Thanks for your consideration in this matter, VH
The format offers your chance to voice your opinion "on the air."
Your e-mail was sent out to people who don't even listen to the radio station.
The subject matter, by the way, was "depression," and not necessarily "mental illness" (a word never used).
There is a difference. To continue this discussion by e-mail is fruitless.
Respectfully,
Garth Maier
Dear Mr. Maier,
Regarding your recent Talk Back program on Depression and Medication, I would appreciate your reading on the air Ms. Valerie Holcomb's message which she sent to you after not being able to actually speak during your program. Her message is valid and one which would be of help to your listeners -- to us all. I appreciate the fact that you have a program which allows listeners to express themselves and hopefully would actually serve to the betterment of our community.
Thank you for your consideration to my request.
Because I care,
Janet Helgesen
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