I was glad to see the editorial in the Arizona Daily Star this morning;Tucson’s MentalHealth System Needs Shoring Up.

http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_a1372367-3bd9-5f49-8ea7-91fb0d25e4df.html

Local pyschiatric beds are commonly filled, but I wasn’t aware that psychiatric beds in our prison system are also filled.  Hummmmmm, I wonder what’s going on? Is it possible that we’re starting to see the results of continued budget slashes to mental health care in our state?  Or, is it because more people are becoming mentally ill? I think it’s the former.

Let’s look at some statistics.  One in four families are effected by mental illness in a given year and at least 10% of the population lives with a serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder.  If Tucson’s population is one million, then that’s 100,000 people right here in the Old Pueblo.  Some are being successfully treated and some are not.  Many are in denial about their illnesses and don’t know about the high success rates of treatment – sometimes as high as 90%  do achieve mental health recovery.  But, not without proper treatment that can include medication, therapy and a strong support system.

Last time I checked there weren’t that many psychiatric beds in Tucson.  Even with the new psychiatric crisis hospital opening soon there won’t be new beds as it will only replace the currently existing beds at UPH.  Without more funding I don’t see any growth for new tratment facilites, but unfortuanately I do see growth in the prison facilities.  It seems like that’s one of the few areas of growth in our state.  Some legislators in Phoenix have stated that it’s time for families and loved ones to “step up” and take care of those struggling with menta illness. I wish it were that simple.

But, I’m glad to see that the Arizona Daily Star is initiating this dialogue.  Hopefully some inovative solutions will come about…….and they won’t cost anything!

It’s been a horrible five days. I doubt anyone in the community has not been effected by the tragedy of last Saturday.  Personally, I have had moments of intense grief, not just because I knew some of the victims, but because of my personal losses due to mental illness. Some of the images and stories have sent me back to that time of pain and anguish. We still don’t know that the carnage was caused by a young man suffering from a serious mental illness, but all signs are pointing in that direction. The pain being experienced by the parents and families of the victims and of the accused shooter have to be excruciating.

As I did back in 2005 after my son died, I am trying to refocus my energy on healing, positive thoughts.  We all agree that negative rhetoric and threats of violence have increased over the last several years and I think we all can agree it’s not the direction we want to go in.  Like previous National tragedies, there is a collective sadness in our country today and I  hope that we can embrace this united energy to refocus and march forward into a more compassionate, tolerant society that appreciates each other’s differences and has empathy for those that are our most vulnerable.

As I watch President Obama speak this evening, I will be thinking of the beautiful lives lost and the potential for a new beginning for our country.  Learning about the “Angels” that will be present at the funerals give me hope.  See more information on them at:  http://www.tucsonmemorial.org/help.html

There is an excellent article on healthy grieving that I think can help at

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100268947&GT1=31009

A listing of online resources to assist in dealing with the tragedy in Tucson has been posted on the CPSA website and is on the SAMHSA website.

Did you know Arizona is ranked third in the nation for teen suicide?  We are first in the nation when it comes to teen suicide by firearms! Recently there has been an upswing in news stories regarding bullying, intolerance and cruelty linked to teen suicides. The statistics are shocking…….. Our kids are important and we need to do what we can to stop the trend.

Undiagnosed depression is the number one cause of suicide, yet few people know what the symtoms are and even fewer seek treatment.  Each year nearly 26,400 teens in Arizona attempt suicide…….and that number reflects only the attempts that end up in an emergency rooms and/or require treatment by a professional! Many times the family is able to do something to treat the effects of the attempt (induce vomiting, CPR, etc.) without anyone outside the home ever being notified.

Education and awareness is crucial and O.P.T.I.O.N.S. (Offering Parents and Teens Information on Needless Suicide) is a free depression education and suicide prevention program offered to Arizona high schools by Mental Health America of Arizona. The successful educational program has been operating in the Phoenix area for several years and it is now available in Southern Arizona. When evaluated, 85%  of the students said the program provided helpful information on clinical depression and were able to identify at least 5 of the symptoms, and 90% felt that schools need a program like this.

Mental Health America of Arizona (MHAAZ) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing leadership to address the full range of mental health, illness and wellness issues in Arizona. We are dedicated to improving care, treatment and recovery for people with all types of mental illness through support services, education and advocacy.

For more information or to schedule presentations in your child’s school, please contact Susan Moreno at:  smoreno@mhaarizona.org

Recent articles on teen depression and suicide:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/childrens-health/articles/2010/10/04/adhd-depression-and-suicide-how-parents-can-keep-children-safe.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-harold-koplewicz/gay-teen-suicide_b_760093.html