Children...Are They Throwaways?

Artwork of a Juvenile Offender

London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.
Take the key and lock him up, lock him up, lock him up
Take the key and lock him up, my fair lady.
--words from a well-known nursery rhyme.

One legend surrounding this nursery rhyme is that when the bridges of Europe were built, they used to bury a live child in the foundation as a sacrifice for the greater good. Is that what we think we are doing when youth offenders convicted of murder (and not all pulled the actual trigger) are sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole?

In Supreme Court arguments Tuesday, March 20, Justice Anton Scalia said, "I thought modern penalogy has abandoned rehabilitation as a goal and now focuses on punishment. Should I just consult my own preference instead of what seems to be the concensus of the American people?", noting that 39 states have laws that make life without parole (LWOP) the punishment for murder.

However, by striking down the possibility of the death penalty for juvenile offenders in 2010, it made LWOP the automatic sentence for murder. This currently affects 79 people convicted before the age of 14 and more than 2500 convicted before the age of 18.

According to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, children convicted in those states where the most severe penalties are automatically imposed, even when there was no intent to commit murder, become "throwaway children."
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Personally, I find it hard to wrap my head around the idea that a jury cannot even choose to impose a lighter sentence. It becomes an all-or-nothing endeavor--like the child buried at London Bridge.

 If this ruling is declared unconstitutional (a decision is expected by summer) it wouldn't mean that all youth offenders would get parole. It would open the discussion for some who have shown growth in maturity to have a chance to see a light between the prison window bars and believe that someday they could actually experience it.

An interesting survey by an organization called Sentencing Project, which advocates for research and advocacy for reform of LWOP for juveniles, was sent to all prisoners sentenced to life in prison for crimes committed before the age of 18. It reveals some interesting, if not shocking, statistics about these people. They typically are from low socio-economic backgrounds, have little or no parental support, and have witnessed or experienced violence in their own homes or in their neighborhoods. They often took part in their crimes in an attempt to be accepted by peers with little thought or judgment about the consequences.

The respondents didn't say they are innocent. However, they understand that one very bad decision and court systems that often provided little guidance have led them to a place where they cease to exist outside the bars. Is this the message we want to send these kids, the country and the world: We are the land of opportunity, but never second chances?

drawing by Billy Dee

Difficult decisions about life without parole for juveniles

In response to this assignment, I think that it would be hard to make a decision about life without parole for juveniles who have committed murder.

When I first started to read the article, I wondered why anyone would want to put such a young person in jail for life, especially considering the point that was made in the article:  "juveniles have little impuse control or the capability to fully consider or appreciate the lifetime of consequences some of their actions hold."  I wonder how such a young person could understand what he is doing.

As I read more of the article, about the tragedy of the suffering of victims of violence as well as the suffering of their families, I was torn.  I wondered how I would feel in that situation and if I would want to see a murderer released.

My conclusion is that while I do not think that anyone who has committed murder should receive a light sentence, I do not agree that all juveniles who have committed murder should receive life sentences without parole.

My hope is that on Tuesday, when the Supreme Court considers the issue, the justices will carefully weigh all details and reach a decision that is fair for everyone involved.

The following Web site has links to more information.

http://www.criminaljusticecoalition.org/juvenile_justice/brain_development

Getting Informed with NAMI

   This last Monday 3.5.12 we had some amazing speakers from NAMI come to class and tell us their travels down the road of Mental Illness.  Seeing these two fellows on the right path in dealing with their MI was encouraging.  They spoke of the "important components of recovery" which started with the "dark days".
The dark days that go beyond just not feeling like getting out of bed at 5am each morning; it would be considered the days that a persons view on life was going against the grain of LIVING a HEALTHY & BALANCED LIFE.  The days where a person with a MI can not cope with living productively.  Whether it be depression, thoughts of suicide, having delusions or hearing voices, just to name a few; the dark days are the days that can continually breakdown a person from the inside out. 
The next component of recovery is ACCEPTANCE -sitting down whether in a jail cell, a cardboard box in an alley, a  hospital bed or a loved ones living room.  This is the turning point of getting an initial hold on MI and getting help.  It has to come from within to be able to step back and realize that help is needed to start living a healthy, happy life.  This can work best with the support and acceptance of those around a person suffering with MI. 
From there treatment of the MI, communicating with the proper health care providers and loved ones to maintain an appropriate treatment plan.  Once the dark days are in the past somewhat as a reminder, acceptance has set in & a treatment plan is established. Coping skills and reintroducing a healthy lifestyle begins on a daily basis. 
The seed is planted, new growth begins and a new life blossoms.  As a witness these two NAMI speakers told the raw truth of their journey in which much success has been made, hope is maintained and dreams are achieved.  Setbacks are inevitable as we all know; its getting back up and on the right path again that will make all the difference.

My practice as an OTA is greatly influenced with each speaker, living life on "life's" terms, and getting more educated.  My father growing up was a great Dad, a Vietnam Vet and a functioning alcoholic.  Fortunately he found acceptance in his own way and got help.  Yay! Right?  It was not an easy road; it took a lot of help from family, loved ones and professionals at first.  It took a while for each of us to accept that this was a DISEASE not a choice.  The choice comes later, a choice whether or not to accept the MI and get help or not (which of course is easier said than done).  Twenty-five years later Dad hasn't had a drop of alcohol :-)  Practice as an OTA will always require patience and understanding; its getting informed as a professional and a person to better help those with a MI.  AOTA.org has a great report on OT and substance abuse that I have attached here to get more insight on understanding and how to help.  Many persons with MI have a comorbid tendency with alcohol or substance abuse like Dad.  To better help a friend, family member, client it starts by getting informed!

http://www.aota.org/Consumers/consumers/MentalHealth/Drugs/35145.aspx?FT=.pdf

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.
Find Your Local NAMI

Sometimes Silence is Golden--This is Not One of Those Times

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Martin Luther King, Jr

     When you think about mental illness, do you picture the homeless man proselytizing on a street corner or the middle-aged CEO who's company looks to him for important decisions? It could be either one, or both. That's the thing about this brain disorder; it lurks in corners waiting for the next vulnerable person. It doesn't differentiate between age, gender, ethnicity or culture.

lawbloglegalmatch.com

      Richard Weingarten, a member of the Board of Directors for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in Connecticut says, "mental illness touches the deepest part of who we are; our identity, self worth, the inability to communicate, confusion and loss of control. It can happen for no apparent reason and at any time. Every person has a chance of becoming mentally ill."
     His personal story was published in NAMI Advocate Magazine and can be found at http://www.nami.org/ADVTemplate.cfm?tion=Advocate_Magazine&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=136279
     Recently, I had the good fortune to listen to first-hand accounts from two gentlemen who represent NAMI's program "In Our Own Voice", which was designed to put a face on mental illness in an effort to reduce the stigma surrounding it. They described the course of MI from onset to present day.
   At onset and during relapse, which they called the Dark Days, a person is often besieged by  deep depression, feelings of worthlessness, potential suicide attempts and social isolation. It is often accompanied by denial or fear of seeking help. At this stage, the client is often not willing to accept help or participate in any attempts at treatment. Because the Occupational Therapy Profession is client centered and requires willing participation to be successful, there may not be a lot an OTA can do at this stage except be ready to intervene when the client allows.
     The next phase, Acceptance, is when the client admits they need assistance and willingly reaches out for help. This is a critical phase for OTA participation. Working with the client and his family support system to educate them about mental illness and help them know they are not alone by providing information on community resources and support groups is extremely important.
     During the third phase, Treatment, it is essential for the client to be honest with the clinicians he is working with for successful treatment. At a time when he doesn't believe in himself, trusting an OTA's guidance in regaining a meaningful life through self-esteem building, social interaction, and establishing new routines, roles and habits is important. It helps lead to successful Coping Skills. Having a plan to journal or do a walking meditation in times of stress, guilt and self-pity provides a healthy outlet that may help prevent relapses.
     And finally, Successes, Hopes and Dreams is the stage of recovery that allows a client to enjoy setting goals, renewing relationships and achieving a sense of life-purpose.
      By sharing these steps to recovery on a personal level, the gentlemen helped me see the important role  I will have as an OTA. I will do my best now and in the future to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. I will stand up for individuals who feel they have no voice by teaching them measures to renew their confidence as I teach others about the negative impact of their hurtful or dismissive words. I will do my best to help others understand that anyone can be affected by mental illness, yet, with proper support and treatment it can be a fact of life not a life sentence.
     To see others who are living with mental illness and hear pieces of their stories, visit: http://www.michaelnye.org/fineline/photoaudio.html#

Close to home

A blog is supposed to be personal and how you feel, so Imma just write the truth... When I first knew there were speakers from some organization called "NAMI" coming to speak with us the day before spring break, I really didn't think much of it. The day came for the speakers and my mind was definitely on getting out of class and home so I could catch up on sleep and other things. Once the two gentleman began to speak, I quickly realized this presentation was going to be personal for me. In fact, I even tried talking to one of the guys and all I could choke up was how much I could relate to them. I've been where these two guys were talking about, living out of my car, no future, and self-medicating. Many people had given up on me and considered my path in life as leading to prison or an early death. I just did not care about myself or what I was doing to those around me. I tried talking to psychologist, doctors, and taking medicines such as anti-depressants, but I still felt alone in the world and the drugs and alcohol would always win. I was hanging out with those who also only chased the next high and didn't care what would happen in the process. I had several run ends with authority and fortunately, and miraculously, through it all, nothing happened so bad as to ruin my record that would keep me from progressing in my education as an OTA. For some reason my family never gave up on me even with all there friends telling them I was no hope. One of my worst experiences was talking to my mother through a plexi-glass window while in jail. It's hard to know you personally are the reason why someone you love is broken, watching the tears run down her face and I couldn't even hug her...   All I could do was talk through a phone connected to her side. This was also the beginning of a change in my life, one that would eventually straighten me up and get me on the right path. So again, I can relate to the gentleman and I know how important it is to have someone to listen to and support you.

NAMI (http://www.nami.org/) is an excellent program that helps to bring mental illness and education to the public. They are a help group for those who suffer from mental illnesses, as well as a link between the public and those who suffer. They offer local self help groups, support and programs, as well as advocating to the public about how important it is for those affected with mental illnesses to seek treatment. It allows for those affected to get to know others whom are affected and to know that there are people out there that really do care. They also help those with whom have relationships with someone who is mentally ill. Unfortunately, until this presentation, I had no idea this program even existed. I've always heard of programs like AA and NA (http://www.aa.org/ & http://www.na.org/) which are help areas for those with problems from alcohol or narcotics (drugs). I know these programs work and that a lot of people have been helped through them, but they still aren't for everyone. NAMI is more of a well rounded help/education group that extends it's arm to those seeking treatment for more than the guy who can't put down the bottle. If one thinks of the phrase mental illness, they probably think bipolar, schizophrenia, or maybe even autism, yet, one probably does not realize conditions such as depression, suicide, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or even panic disorder are also considered mental illnesses. Unfortunately, a lot of people have already found there selves behind bars before they are diagnosed and begin treatment. It's easy to see that if someone is acting out crazy in a subway station, an officer might take there threats and actions the wrong way and arrest them and not even know they are, or could be, schizophrenic.

This isn't completely about NAMI and getting help, as I am an Occupational Therapy Assistant student and the reason we had NAMI visit was to further our broadening education. It really shows how important it is to to have someone to talk to. As an OTA, I could easily run into someone who has a mental illness, and instead of being 'scared' or classifying them as dangerous or 'crazy', this presentation opens up my mind to the possibilities that this could be a very good person, but is stuck in a bad place. Everyone needs the chance to be heard and to seek treatment. Even if the client is in a prison system, they still deserve to be treated as a human and should expect an OTA to be there to listen and help them. We cannot close ourselves off and must always keep an open mind no matter who we're seeing, or treating. One just never knows what could come out of a good, positive, therapeutic relationship. It's not always going to be easy, and sometimes we might disagree, but as an OTA, and a healthcare employee, we are not there to place judgement or to offer our personal feelings. We must always look out for the best and most affective treatment possible for each of our clients.

Insights into mental illness

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):  "Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning."

While listening to our two guest speakers from the NAMI, I learned about the different steps that they and people in the In Our Own Voice (IOOV) video have gone through in their journey of dealing with mental illness (MI).  These steps include:

1.  Dark days
2.  Acceptance
3.  Treatment
4.  Coping skills
5.  Successes, hopes, and dreams

After sharing about their dark days (Step 1), which included details of their lives that contributed to their diagnoses, they spoke of the difficulty and importance of accepting (Step 2) one's MI as well as the importance of keeping family and friends close in order to have a strong support system and making contact with others who suffer from MI in order to realize that they aren't alone.

It's important for OTAs to help clients by putting them in contact with support groups so that they can meet individuals who have been through similar situations and understand how they feel and can identify with them.

Both men spoke of how it helped them to gain information through research by reading books on MI and searching the Internet.  As they gained more knowledge about their MI, they realized the importance of taking their medications (Step 3).

I can identify with this point.  When I was first diagnosed with epilepsy, I didn't understand it, and the medication made me sleepy so I didn't take it correctly.  It wasn't until four years later when I saw a neurologist that I began to understand the importance of the drugs.

It was the counselor who worked in his office who made realize that I couldn't miss a dose.  I finally understood why because I had the information that explained it and it made sense.

This helps me, as an OTA, see the importance of educating the client and family on the importance of taking prescribed medications and giving them information that allows them to make healthy decisions concerning their diagnoses.

Also, it's important to discuss with them side effects and ways to alleviate them, such as maintaining good physical health and participating in appropriate exercise, which can raise energy levels.

One speaker said that the key to his treatment was being able to open up to a therapist.  OTAs need to create an atmosphere that allows a client to open up by making them feel comfortable and by showing empathy -- for example, we should look them in the eyes and shouldn't be easily distracted when they're talking about their problems.

The speakers talked about coping skills that they use, such as exercising, taking quiet walks, and writing their thoughts in a journal (Step 4).

As an OTA, I would explore with clients hobbies and other activities that they enjoy that can help them as they learn to cope with MI.  One of my goals would be to help clients consider their hopes and dreams for the future and explore ways to achieve them (Step 5).  For example, the speakers work with NAMI and have achieved success in their lives.

The NAMI Web site has a helpful list of conditions that are considered mental illnesses.  You can find the list at:

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness