Mental illness and homelessness

 As some of you know I'm a huge advocate to get rid of the stigma of mental illness and have family and friends who suffer from various mental illnesses ranging from anxiety to schizophrenia. I have had and met people who suffer from dementia etc. It's not always a pretty path to go down and the suffering that these things can bring is a long and dark road in most cases.

I'd like to address some instances in my home that I feel should be addressed. I know that there are those that choose to live out of housing and I don't judge that. That's the way you want things there are reasons for it I'm sure but I do feel that medical help should be provided and that medication and support should be available to you especially in the cold or super hot months. I realize that this can not all be entirely for free and it's up to you to accept it. However where do we draw the line?

Recently there were two news reports that sparked outrage and caught my attention. The first was that of a homeless man who'd lost his home and reportedly chose to live outside with his things near a place nearby my own home. He wasn't an issue, he'd stop and talk to people, was friendly and didn't spark any circumstances at first until he became violent both shouting or causing disturbance and yelling profanities to one ladies children and at a variety store attacking the clerk. This caused for public outcry that police had to intervene as all they saw and knew at first was that of a homeless man being taken in and having his things confiscated. The issue was that the public saw it as someone's rights being taken without cause. However the cause was the fact that this man, unfortunately and I can clearly see it, has mental health issues. Whatever the cause for the mental illness is besides the point, it should be addressed. He should have support or medication available to him. Does he? No. The thing is also, that frequently people with illnesses like this , know they have such illness, seek out help or if they haven't the government or law says that unless they cause harm to themselves and others they are not at risk and therefore it is their choice and can not be forced to seek medical care.

In the case of my mother it took her throwing and smashing things and not eating to prompt us and the police to do anything at all. Even a family member such as myself could not admit her otherwise. So again when does this cross the line? Personally I think if you are out on the street in hot weather or cold temperatures where you are not able to get the nourishment and safety your body requires there should be shelters or more of them available for those days, and that there should be the availability of that medical help for medication dispensaries etc made available. However I also believe that being or choosing to be out in the cold or the heat without shelter is self harm and that people with this “choice” should actually be taken in. I think that that isn't a choice or should not be.

Why do I also think this? Because especially in the second report,of a young pregnant “teen” (early 20's) with her boyfriend, living out in a city park. This is directly affecting the lives of not only the mother but the child and would be in the best interest of the growing child to be in a safer and healthier environment. Again not to have a job isn't always by choice but other times it has been a choice of how you live. I understand debt, I understand that perhaps due to lack of skill or knowledge that you may not have a job or that perhaps even due to further medical reasons you've sought out help in our disability programs. This all may be factors. But I ask why is there any reason , even if you're separated from each other as a couple for a time, should you choose to live or be forced to live out on the streets? Why is family not helping? Why are there no shelters? Is this a choice or is this a forced circumstance? The health of the mother and child should be priority but it does not seem to be in fact the report almost made it seem from what the couple were saying that it was due to both circumstance and choice as there has been shelters made available for the mother in particular but they choose not to go that route seeing as they would be apart from one another for a time. I understand wanting to stay together but I would find that the better choice than living on the streets/in a city park eating spoiled food.

Nextly I've seen others who have mental illness, getting along nicely or ok in an apartment or being able to sustain and have a worker with a relatively normal life. I've seen them get the medical care and make that choice and do the right things to get them to a point where they have a high quality or a higher quality of life compared to some. I also have come across those that definitely need assistance and are seeing things, talking to “themselves” and could get frustrated or irate. I saw 3 people in one day walking down the street or at a fast food place that were seemingly and unfortunately the stereotype of mental illnesses. Pulling their hair, talking to themselves, unclean. I've seen old people with seemingly no family as well on the bus muttering to themselves and the list goes on. A lot of people toss those that have illness, and yes alcoholism is one illness too as it is an addiction and a “coping” mechanism for those that have other mental illnesses. We toss them away or are too afraid to try to help them seek help and we walk past as if they are nothing. I think that there should be more to help and even I admittedly am at fault of it because of one main factor, that I'm afraid of them. I'm afraid they might lash out and attack as I've been on that end of things before. This is why I think we should have perhaps some kind of special unit to take care of these people. Get them the necessary help. However also those, as we've also noticed that have suicidal thoughts , anxiety and depression, don't seek out help and can't be identified unless they seek help sometimes and they are in greater numbers and we just don't have the medical funding, the facilities and we have a lack of good Samaritan medical practitioners that are willing.

I'd also like to take some time to address another issue I've faced recently with a “friend” of mine. This person claims to have anxiety and other medical issues. Ok I can say I'll give them the benefit of a doubt. However, when you start asking for money, begging on facebook and then take that money people give you and use it for not it's stated intent such as rent, food, medical bills, then I begin to question your illness. It is one thing to complain and say I hurt or I'm going through this. It's another to take advantage. Another thing is on average, most suicidal people who are depressed do not advertise it in social media realms. In fact you may state that you are depressed but you wouldn't state for the whole world to see that you are going to off yourself and need a place home for your pets as you are going to do so. This is what I call not only a cry out for help but a cry out for attention. As soon as I pointed this out to said person, they immediately deleted said post. I also stated that for this person to say that no one has assisted or listened is not true. I and friends have time and time again given money, offered a listening ear and they have chosen to ignore us and or take that money and use it elsewhere than intended and then steal, lie and beg for more funds.

This, this puts those who actually have these issues in a bad light. Not everyone is like this and again fuels more stigma about people who have these legit issues. If you want help, then get help. Take the action. Don't dramatize it. You're making other people who have these issues have difficulty getting the legit help they really require.

Well that's a wrap folks. I welcome all to voice your opinion, within reason, as any and all comments are monitored. By within reason I mean,no profanity and opinion is merely opinion,you have your right to it but do not claim that it is the only way and try to force people into it stating that your opinion = fact. There is a huge difference. Thanks!