DEAR DR. GOTT: Many of us have lived the frustration of trying to get help for a mentally ill adult daughter. Because the brain is the dysfunctioning organ in this illness, the person has no insight into the condition and, thus, refuses to help. Most mentally ill people know how to “shape up” when appearing before a judge so it’s difficult to have the person deemed a “danger to themselves or others,” which is the criteria for forced treatment in most states. The tragic part is the fine line between dangerous and non-dangerous and, way too often, the first evidence that would enable this classification causes death or injury to an innocent person or a mentally ill person. I would recommend that parents attend a support group in their area for families of the mentally ill. A good place to start is www.NAMI.org.
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NAMI excellent resource on mental illness
Reader offers helpful website for childhood mental illness
DEAR DR. GOTT: I was delighted to see you mention the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in a recent column. Along that line, please tell your readers about the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, www.bpkids.org. This is a national nonprofit organization that offers a wealth of information and support for families who have children diagnosed with bipolar disorder or who suspect a child has the disorder though not diagnosed.
DEAR READER: Consider it done.
The Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation is, in its words, “a national, parent-led, web-based, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization incorporated in 1999.” The nonprofit also states that its mission is to improve the lives of families raising children and teens living with bipolar disorder and related condition.
Most people don’t realize that mental illness can strike children and teens just as it can adults. As difficult as it may be for an adult to understand and cope with the situation, it may be doubly hard for a child who also has the daily stresses of social, school and family pressures, not to mention the simple act of growing up, which causes immense changes in mood, hormones and more.
Thank you for writing to bring this organization to my attention. Mental illness needs to be brought out of the dark ages and into the light. Sufferers need compassion and understanding just as those with physical illnesses do.
Readers provide more help for schizophrenia
DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column about the family with a daughter/sister with schizophrenia. I agree with the advice that you provided the family: Seek psychiatric help for the daughter/sister. I would also like to add a suggestion: Let the family and all your other readers know about NAMI National.
This is a grassroots organization with a mission to educate, support and advocate for families and consumers. It has more than 200,000 members worldwide. There are NAMI affiliates in all 50 states. For more information, the website is www.nami.org.
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