To begin to explain mental health history I need to provide a brief history lesson.
In WWII our brave service men returned shell shocked and suffer from severe combat fatigue. The stigma of Marijuana was used as a racist tool of the wealthy and corrupt elite class to control and demonize Black Americans. The American service men and women returned with no access to mental health treatment and thus self medicated with alcohol. The controling and negative effcts of alcohol caused many otherwise great American heros men to become violent and abusive. These folks are part of the generation coined "The Greatest Generation." Please note; I consider these brave men and women just that. As America progressed access to more modern and humane treatment also advanced. The atmosphere and culture of American society theb began to change.
Next we move to the "Baby Boomers." Think about those born in the late 1940's who then grew up during the 60's and 70's. These men and women changed society for the better in countless ways. Looking back as an gen x / gen y man I feel these were the folks that laid the foundation of modern society. They opened thier mind with psychotropic drugs and canibis. They loved, fought, and cared for each other, and the common goal of bettering society. Those who were not drafted often obtained higher education and protested against violence in Vietnam as well as racial acceptance. The brave heros who served in The Vietnam War came back with what we now know as PTSD. President Richard Nixon a polarizing but ultimately good leader pulled us out of the disaster that was the Vietnam War. Nixon wasalso corrupt and made some mistakes. One significant error was that he closed public Mental Hospitals. Severely ill patients were left penniless on the streets. The majority of the folks discharged are now dead, in prison, or homeless. With good odds some recovered enough to live a "normal life."
Today we have Iraq and Afghanistan vets suffering from PTSD amoung other physical and mental issues. America is now a mostly trigger happy mental Health system where teens and children are over diagnosed and over-medicated. Adults too are "pilling" with an RX drug crisis in full swing. Americans are now using or dependentent on severe psycotropic meds. Many of the meds carry a blackbox warning that can have potential side effects of suicidal thoughts or actions. This is evident with many of the violent shootings that have been commonplace in our society.
In my opinion there are some ways to get this under control:
1. Children need to be monitored and have the chance to recieve counseling as they grow up through our public and private schools.
2. We need to put the RX pad away and develop our children to cope with life issues. We also need to eat better and ensure excercise, all while discouraging bullying.
These are Simple things that could easily be done could have big impacts.
Please take the time to think about and discuss these ideas and the accurate history I've recounted here.
As Americans we will always win the fight! Let's END STIGMA and make America healthy again!
-Anonymous
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