Support, Support, Support!

Two speakers from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) came to our class last week. It was incredible to hear real life stories and I am grateful that they came to speak to us. The presentation is called "In Our Own Voice." The presentation covers Dark Days, Acceptance, Treatment, Coping Skills, and Successes, hopes, and dreams. We watched short movie clips on each of these topics, then the speakers told us about each one of these topics in their own lives. Some of it was very emotional, especially hearing about the "dark days." It was also inspirational because they have been through so much. They both agreed that acceptance was the hardest part, which I think that a lot of people can relate to...it is hard to accept something negative about yourself.
The speakers also said that the best thing was having a good support system. There are so many support groups out there and it is so important to know that someone else is going through similar situations and can really relate.
Something that surprised me was that one of the guys did not receive his medication while he was in jail. I had never thought about this before...but most of the people in jail have a mental illness. It does not seem to make any sense to not give someone medication, it is an illness and needs treatment just like any other illness. Also, jail is not the correct placement. The correct placement would be at a psychiatric hospital where medication is regulated and staff is more qualified which equals better treatment.
In an article (link below) titled "Incarceration is not a Solution to Mental Illness, Heather Barr, an advocate for people with mental illness states, "Prison is a harm, not a treatment...Mentally ill prisoners are frequently victimized and isolated. When they are unable to follow the rules, punishment often takes the form of segregation." The speakers told us that support groups and family and friends were the number one source of treatment and isolation is definitely the opposite!  http://www.prisonpolicy.org/articles/massdissent040100.html 
Through this experience, I now have a better knowledge of what to do as an OTA working with MI. It is important to find activities to fill free time and have a good support system. Also, I feel I also have more empathy since hearing real life stories of the struggles involved with MI.
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