Change narrative for persons with mental illness

He is in so much pain that he cannot get out of bed. The pain is so severe that he cannot go to work, walk to the bus stop with his children or get up to make a meal.

Except he doesn’t have a debilitating physical injury or illness, he has mental illness. Does that change how we listen or what we do? Unfortunately, the stigma of mental illness remains prevalent and creates barriers to improving the well-being of persons with mental illness.

The pervasiveness of mental illness

The prevalence is undeniable. One in five adults has a mental disorder in any one year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. For children, mental health disorders are the most common childhood disease. According to the Child Mind Institute, there are more children that have had or are having a mental health disorder than the number of children identified with asthma, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS combined. Despite this prevalence, about 80 percent of children identified as having a mental health disorder are unable to access treatment.

We know what impact this can have on the futures of these children. Children and youth with mental health problems have lower educational achievement, greater involvement with the criminal justice system, and fewer stable and longer-term placements in the child welfare system than children with other disabilities. Individuals with a severe mental health disorder die as much as 25 years earlier than those without. When treated, children and youth with mental health problems fare better at home, schools, and in their communities.

Changing the narrative

These children deserve more than survival — they deserve prosperity. As a community, we can do more to make that happen, and steps are being taken. In Davidson County, hundreds of school staff have participated in training to help them identify children with mental health disorders and to promote a nurturing school environment for the well-being of these children.

At Legal Aid Society, we recognize that we can do better, too. We are not mental health professionals, but we strive to be better informed, compassionate legal professionals. We provide legal assistance to improve the well-being of individuals who are facing problems with domestic violence, housing, access to health care, and establishing eligibility for financial stability. In providing assistance, our clients may experience a mental health “emergency” that we need to know how to respond.

In June, 22 members of our staff participated in an eight-hour “Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)” class taught by Centerstone Mental Health Center staff at Nashville School of Law. Knowledge and skills serve us well in navigating an emergency and can potentially prevent a medical emergency through early intervention. MHFA aims to do both: teach members of the public how to respond to a mental health emergency and offer support to someone who appears to be in emotional distress.

We learned how to support a client developing signs and symptoms of a mental illness or emotional crisis by applying a core five-step action plan: Assess for risk of suicide or harm; Listen nonjudgmentally; Give reassurance; Encourage appropriate professional help; Encourage self-help and other support strategies. We also know that this training can help with co-workers, family or friends that need this support.

It will take time and effort but we can change the narrative from survival to prosperity through a community effort to educate ourselves and how we respond. It’s time.

Gary Housepian is the executive director ofLegal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. Legal Aid Society is Tennessee’s largest non-profit law firm and serves 48 counties across Middle Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau. Housepian also served as General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Managing Attorney of Disability Rights Tennessee.