For me this is a problem that cuts across political lines. We must understand that mental illness can strike any of us or any member of our families at any time. To continue to abdicate our responsibilities to these people is to potentially consign our loved ones to lives of unnecessary suffering and grinding poverty. Mental illnesses do not discriminate; they affect people of every age, gender, race, religion, or socioeconomic status. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. In the United States, over seven million adults and over five million children and adolescents suffer from a serious, chronic brain disorder. These illnesses have a great impact on society. Four of the top ten leading causes of disability are mental illnesses including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the estimated cost of mental health care is over $150 billion per year. But far more important is the effect untreated mental illness has on the lives of individuals and their loved ones. Peace.
