| Larry Hayes has finally taken mental illness out of the | | | | programs. One area that really sparked a fire in me |
| closet and set a blueprint into place that will help | | | | was many children going into foster homes and the |
| millions of families and individuals with mental illness | | | | juvenile system are not given assessments to see if |
| get the help they need. From his own experiences, | | | | something might be causing their problems. Do their |
| Mr. Hayes shares ways in which each of us can | | | | parents even get help? |
| reduce the stigma of having a mental illness with | | | | Having grown up in, married to, and worked for the |
| excellent examples and ideas of how to set up | | | | military, we are now seeing more and more soldiers |
| programs/services to help regain dignity. | | | | return from war with post traumatic stress |
| As Mr. Hayes states, throughout history treatment | | | | syndrome and our system is overloaded and those |
| of, and regard for individuals with mental illness, has | | | | who need help are not getting it. Not to mention |
| changed dramatically. The problem I see as I read | | | | Vietnam Vets. |
| this book is that many do not understand mental | | | | Each chapter is filled with examples of how our |
| illness and many professionals, including medical staff, | | | | mentally ill are getting passed over, and what |
| do not care to know. With today's medical and | | | | individuals and professionals can do to help--even |
| psychology businesses it is about herding people | | | | from the smallest event, learn to know what |
| through the system as fast as they can. The | | | | resources are in your town--to writing grants and |
| problem is, with some types of mental illness you | | | | getting the government to provide more funding. |
| can't do that. Some individuals need long-term | | | | There are many ideas given in each chapter on what |
| therapy, medication and community support. | | | | you or I can do. Mr. Hayes has given excellent |
| His first chapter discusses how mental illness is not | | | | information on mental illness and enlightened |
| caused by mothers but mental illness can be fostered | | | | everyone. He does it in a compassionate and sincere |
| through things like postpartum depression, abuse, | | | | way. After reading this book, which I think is a must |
| neglect and environment. He suggests that more | | | | for everyone, it should spark a fire in you-- after all, |
| professionals need to have better training in the area | | | | one day it could be you or someone you love. |
| of mental illness to include medical, psychology, | | | | As a Psychology and Nursing instructor at two |
| childcare workers and town administrators. It takes | | | | colleges, "Mental Illness and Your Town" by Larry |
| little time to set up these awareness training | | | | Hayes is a must read and have for all my students. |