HJLR Nov/Dec 2018

56 NOV / DEC 2018 I  Healthcare Journal of LITTLE ROCK “People recognize the negative stigma asso- ciated with mental illness and don’t want to be labeled mentally ill or crazy.”Many times, revealing personal struggles with brain dis- orders could negatively affect family rela- tionships, career, education, and life goals. This often leads to feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. “Some people have become demoralized by their mental health issues and believe nothing will help them or they will never get better,” Susman said. The Confess Project is a growing nonprofit created by Little Rock native Lorenzo Lew- is. Lewis created the program after seeing a need for young men of color to acknowl- edge and confront symptoms of depression despite embedded cultural barriers. “Arche- types exists in black communities, especially for blackmen. When social pillars of strength, provider, protector, and others are not met, it can leave devastating psychological effects. Many times, it will manifest as depression and feelings of worthlessness,” Lewis stated at a recent National Alliance for Mental Ill- ness national conference in New Orleans. Stigma shows itself differently in the His- panic community. NAMI’s report on Latino Mental Health describes higher rates of gen- eralized anxiety disorder, major depression, PTSD, and female teen suicides in Latino communities. The study states the Latino community rarely talks about mental health issues, asserting they may not seek treatment because they do not recognize the signs and column Mental Health Luke Kramer Executive Director The STARR Coalition Mental Illness: Strengthening our Response These words were spoken by Kennedy over 55 years ago after signing the Commu- nity Mental Health Act of 1963, only weeks before his assassination. Today, here in our home state of Arkansas, laws and policy have proven, by the systematic dismantling of our mental health safety net, that we have yet to begin to fulfill its promise. Mental illness is a complex condition af- fecting 1 in 4Arkansans—over 700,000 men, women, and children, yet it takes an average of 10 years after the first episode for someone to seek treatment. It is impossible to imagine the same statistics for any other indication. Imagine a loved one having a severe heart attack or a debilitating stroke and waiting 10 years before reaching out to the medical community. As with any physical illness, early interven- tion is key to long-term resilience. Routine checkups from a PCP, openness to discuss mental health in the family, school, or work- place setting, awareness of how symptoms may manifest into behaviors, and reducing social stigma all have the potential to prevent serious impairment, homelessness, suicide, and chronic disruption of life. Dr. David Susman, Clinical psychologist and mental health advocate, identifies sev- eral common reasons that prevent people from procuring mental health services. The first being fear and shame. Dr. Susman states, “The mentally ill need no longer be alien to our affection or beyond the help of our community.” – John F. Kennedy “Mental illness is a complex condition affecting 1 in 4 Arkansans—over 700,000 men, women, and children, yet it takes an average of 10 years after the first episode for someone to seek treatment.”