Nation’s Care of Mentally Ill

The article (March 20) on the nation’s care of the mentally ill touched me very personally. I have been involved in mental health since my son’s diagnosis of schizophrenia five years ago. I am appalled at the lack of treatment and community services available. There is a void of meaningful day programs and appropriate residential settings. If given adequate support systems and a decent environment, I feel the recovering individual can grow and become a contributing member of society.

Yes, the current level of funding is inadequate. However, I commend California for the creation of a task force headed by Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) that studied the needs of the mentally ill in California for two years. Meaningful legislation has been written and a portion has been enacted with dollars allocated to address the homeless mentally ill and those “at risk” of being homeless. This funding must continue to develop a “continuum of care” which will raise the quality of life, dignity, and a positive future for our family members.

In Los Angeles, the Department of Mental Health and its director, Roberto Quiroz, are listening to the needs of the families and those individuals recovering from mental illness--a long overdue but very positive step. Equally important, however, is the education of the general public about mental illness. The stigma and myths that surround schizophrenia and manic depression create more barriers to community care than lack of funds or improper application of those funds.

Families need to speak out and demand appropriate services for those who are unable to speak for themselves. The community needs to accept responsibility for their well being and start to support activity centers and home-like residences for this population. Public support will grow when we reduce the stigma, when we can attract the “Betty Fords” and “Rock Hudsons” to speak up and draw attention to this problem. One out of every four families is affected; 1% of our population.

A beginning has been made. The task force has defined the problem, legislation has been written. Now we need to fund those recommendations and bring about the changes to move California from 42nd in the nation in serving the mentally ill to a model state. The ball is rolling--let’s keep it going.

SUSAN DEMPSAY

Los Angeles