Mental Illness: A Disease Like Any Other

The headline August 9, 2009 in the New Your Times read: “Mentally Ill Offenders Strain Juvenile System.”  The article goes on to report “Two-thirds of the nation’s juvenile inmates have at least one mental illness, according to surveys.”

I’ve worked in a community mental health center for over 30 years.  Believe me, I’ve personally experienced “strain” in the system because of mental illness.  I was just in the jail this week completing an evaluation on an inmate for about 3rd time in only a couple of years.  He had another drug related felony.

By the time I saw him he had already been through jail detox so the hallucinations and voices had lessened.  But his mental illness, paranoid schizophrenia, was as evident as ever.  During the interview he was constantly scanning the room and on a couple of occasions carried on a brief conversation with a nonexistent person in the corner.

I’m quite sure this inmate will be found competent by the court to stand trial. He’ll be sent to prison … again.  I’d be very surprised if I didn’t see him again in a couple of years.  He’s only 25.

Image source: Andrew Bardwell

The “system” like many individuals, have a challenge in recognizing mental illness and knowing how to deal with it appropriately.  Mental illness is a disease, like any other.  Any organ of the body can get a disease.  When the brain gets a disease we call it a mental illness.

Simply said, a mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and/or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines.   Mental illness is real. Each of us including myself, have a family member suffering from a mental illness of some kind.  No one is immune!

We each have different susceptibilities or vulnerabilities.  I believe we are only “free according to the flesh” (2 Nephi. 2:27).  Some, are born with the genetic predisposition towards mental illness and therefore their freedom to feel, think or act – may be limited.

As Latter-day Saints we seem to be headed in the right direction in understanding and accepting mental illness.  For example Elder Alexander  Morrison wrote: “The truth is that many faithful Latter-day Saints who live the commandments and honor their covenants experience struggles with mental illness… ” (Myths about Mental Illness,” Ensign, Oct 2005).

Recently the LDS Church added “Disability Resource” section at LDS.org.  They list “Mental Illness” as a subsection.  The section begins with “There are many kinds of mental illnesses.  These illnesses affect the way the brain functions.  They can affect thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and the ability to understand information.  Mental illnesses are different from everyday experiences we may have with sadness, feeling upset, or daily problems…”

dr. rick
PRINCIPLE: “Mental Illness” is a disease like any other.

Links for additional information:
•   Mental Illness on LDS.org
•   Mental Illness: In Search of Understanding and Hope, Ensign, Feb 1989