Barbara J. Hamby

Horrible Secrets

There is very little information in the media about the terrible way our civilized society treats its mentally ill members. Our newspaper this week has been very depressing to me personally. First, I learned that a mental health facility already in progress might be abandoned. A group I lunched with on Monday talked about this and wondered why Junction City had been chosen for the location. Since the major mental health facility for the state is in Salem, it would seem more appropriate to have it located farther east or south, but we don’t have the background information to support our opinion.

It’s apparent that budget cuts by the state are vital, but it seems as if two of the choices make little sense. Cutting mental health treatment and education seem to be the worst of possible alternatives.

Cutting either or both of those resources could result in making an already existing situation worse. Our jails are full of mentally ill and poorly educated people now.

Mentally ill people are assaulted and some killed by police who are justifiably acting in the interest of the public. We are all endangered by potentially violent mentally ill persons who walk our streets every day.

One argument for abandoning the new facility at Junction City is the possibility that, if built, it could not be staffed. We’ve already seen that happen with a newly built and unoccupied jail. What a shame. We seem to have a dearth of adequate long range planning.

I surely don’t have the answers. But additional attention by the media can possibly keep the questions visible to people who do.

The most personally depressing article appeared in this morning’s newspaper. A highly respected nurse and teacher, a secret hoarder, committed suicide and took eleven of her seventy animals with her in her cluttered, filthy home. I have a relative who is a hoarder and the same age as the deceased nurse. Apparently the nurse-hoarder’s compassion for her animals and her compulsions finally overwhelmed her.

She, like most hoarders I’ve heard about, would not ask for nor accept help, nor even admit her problem. That is the saddest part of their situation. Help is out there. I can’t see a way to help my relative who claims to want to change, but not know how, and has rarely accepted any advice proffered. I’ve had to detach myself somewhat for the sake of my own health.

At least we have bright warm sunshine today. It may get too warm before long, but I’m enjoying it now.

0 Comment(s) about this entry.  |  Permalink