Pressure lawmakers to fund mental health programs

The tragedies in Roanoke, Charleston, and other cities are the tips of the iceberg about a mental health epidemic in South Carolina, Virginia, and America.

There is the need for more education and advocacy about mental health illness nationally. We need to discontinue the stigma that everyone who goes to the mental health clinic is crazy. All of us at times need to talk with someone and ventilate. When a person’s feelings are hurt, that can lead to worsening of the depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.

I trust that all of us will do our part to advocate and request for appropriate funding from our state legislatures and Congress. I believe that this is the time to talk with legislators, politicians and power brokers collectively about funds to increase expeditious services and inpatient beds for those with mental health disease.

The patients may need medications for years in contrast to antibiotics for two weeks for lung or bladder infection. I hope that more people will join organizations for the cause of mental health illness such as National Alliance for Mental Health and local boards of mental health.

Faith communities, parents, and mentors can be of great value in listening to those in need of mental health.

The writer lives in Conway

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Pressure lawmakers to fund mental health programs."