I can't tell you why....

Did anyone know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? Yep. May 01-30 to be precise. Surely we all are aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with it's total barrage of media attention and Pink ribbons everywhere. The celebrity support is stronger than even the powers behind the Aids Awareness. But, mental health, probably with all the stigma attached, seems to be lost in the shuffle, shrouded by fear and misunderstanding. It is thought that 1 in 4 adults are effected in some way. I think it would be impossible for anyone to not know someone or even themselves that are suffering. This statistic is based on adults and does not include the incredible number of children with autism and other disorders and disease. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from our useless wars have left millions of veterans struggling. But what is being done, if so many of us are unaware? Growing up, mental health problems have plagued my family and friends from depression to eating disorders. I had an uncle who was simply locked up in the Traverse City "Mental Hospital", with the key thrown away. There was then and still, 40 years later, not enough awareness and funding. Just trying to find a therapist now is nearly impossible because the case overload has them booked for weeks in advance. Mental illness is more rampant than ever, due to social and economical pressures. Money and insurance--or lack of it is appalling. Even the very best of insurance covers only half of most treatments. The thing that always confounds me that if you do not care for yourself thru basic ways--such as diet and exercise--and have resulting problems, most likely these issues are generally covered 100% minus co pays, etc. You have to be suicidal to be admitted into basic mental health programs- with not much help in between. Anorexia is both scary and usually fatal. Again-crummy insurance coverage. Obviously, I could go on and on. Exact research numbers are hard to obtain. In the book, "Strange Son" by Portia Iverson, I read figures from 1995 that showed that Autism was getting around 5 million a year for research, Alzheimer's--60 million a year, Breast Cancer--600 million, and Aids--900 million a year. I was unable to even find even a spongy number for Bipolar Disorder. One more startling fact, and I will stop my rant. Over 15% of the burden of disease in established market economies-- such as the U.S.- is due to mental illness and suicide. This is more than the disease burden caused by ALL Cancers. Now don't get me wrong--ALL diseases and their research is very important to me. ALL is am asking, is that you reconsider maybe what your "cause" may be and try to be aware of this awful problem. I will be back with a regular and normal, fluffy post soon. Just had to get this in before the end of the week!!! x0 P.S. Go Wings--you are our last hope!!