| Coping
With War in the Homeland |
| War is always difficult but America's war against terrorism
is more complex, confusing and contradictory than any we've
ever had. Osama bin Laden, the man we helped to beat the Russians
who are now our allies against bin Laden, is in Afghanistan,
but his al Qaeda terrorism network is spread throughout the
world in many countries. |
| And, although we have allies, some have signed on with strings
attached and limitations as to how far they will commit themselves
to the war. |
| To further compound the problem, there isn't a circumscribed
battlefield. Instead, the war can be brought to any town and
village anywhere in the world through biological or chemical
means. |
| And the weapons don't have to be delivered by an army of
opponents operating from a formidable armada. With today's
technology, the weapons of war can be as simple and inconspicuous
as a contaminating substance dropped into a community's water
supply or sprayed in the air we breathe. |
| Even the U.S. mail can be used to deliver death. Letters
tainted with anthrax were sent to Senate leader Tom Daschle
and to media offices. For the first time in our nation's history,
the House of Representatives was shut down. |
| To add to the terror of terrorism, Vice President Cheney
warns that this war is unlike any other and "... in a sense,
it may never end. At least not in our lifetime." Despite presidential
appeals to return to normalcy, personal spending is down,
the stock market is in a slump and the national economy is
faltering. |
| The ripple effects of these traumatic events have severe
psychological affects as well. The Washington Post reports
a sharp upsurge in the general population's use of prescription
anti-anxiety and depression drugs. I expect there will be
a corresponding increase in alcoholism and substance abuse.
Thus, the homefront has become the warfront. |
| The nation's mental health is clearly at risk in this multi-faceted
war effort. To get a better understanding of mental health
issues, I attended the 2nd Annual Mental Illness Awareness
Conference, held in Fairfax on Oct. 12. In addition, I contacted
federal and Fairfax County mental health officials to assess
government efforts on the homefront. |
| The Federal Center for Mental Health Services and Substance
Abuse administers funds and grants to Virginia's Department
of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Dr. Brian Flynn,
Assistant Surgeon General, said that following the World Trade
Center and Pentagon attacks, Virginia got an immediate emergency
grant of $575,000 to assess mental health needs and to beef
up services. His agency is now working on $21 million follow-up
grants for national distribution to the states. |
| Planning for the effective use of these federal grants by
Fairfax County is done by Dr. Gary Axelson, mental health
manager for the Mobile Crisis Unit. He explains that the goal
is to attack the problem on a number of fronts, to "take care
of existing clients and new clients resulting from the pressures
of war." |
| Additional crisis counseling will be made available, with
special emphasis being given to multicultural groups. "Muslims
and non-English speaking persons are particularly vulnerable
to anxiety and feelings of isolation," Axelson said. "Older
adults are also more stressed because they're less mobile
and isolated due to their age." |
| Another county mental health official, Dr. Richard Specter,
has found that, while many elderly persons are resilient,
others are more vulnerable and have a harder time coping.
He coordinates teamwork among various county agencies to provide
needed nursing or assisted care to this group. |
| To gauge how well these various public agencies are likely
to attain their goals, it's helpful to turn to the Mental
Health Awareness Conference, where the main theme was to work
together to explore and discuss best practices toward recovery.
|
| Present were consumers (the preferred term for patient or
client), family members, advocates and providers. |
| There's good news and bad news to report. First, the bad.
Robert Simon, president of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill,
spoke on behalf of consumers and their families in criticizing
Virginia's refusal in the past to accept federal grants which
could augment funds to meet the state's mental health needs.
|
| Simon was concerned that state mental health facilities
are overwhelmed and reported that: "As a consequence, persons
with serious mental illnesses are homeless and not receiving
essential medical care." |
| They're often jailed for vagrancy or a minor offense, where,
ironically, they get the necessary medication. They're then
released to the streets where there's no follow-on care. So
the cycle of jailing and premature release is repeated over
and over again. What they need is a regimen to help them maintain
recovery. |
| Now for the good news. As reported above, Virginia is accepting
grants from the Feds and both gubernatorial candidates have
stated their intention to continue doing so. |
| There's also more encouraging news on the political front.
There was an impressive turnout of local movers and shakers
at the Mental Illness Awareness Conference. |
| Present to show their support for mental health programs
were State Sen. Margaret Whipple; Del. Ken Plum; Fairfax County
Board of Supervisors chairman Katherine Hanley, who was presented
with the Mental Health Community Contributor Award; Supervisor
Catherine Hudgins; and School Board member Stu Gibson. Sen.
Janet Howell, a long-time supporter of mental health, was
unable to attend, but she was represented by her chief of
staff, Maggie Luca. |
| Last but not least, I'm happy to report that the bureaucrats
and their agencies are coordinating and working together for
the common good of the consumers. And hats off to the dedicated
clinical and hospital staffs who work day-to-day in the trenches
under severe pressures. |
| This has been pretty heavy stuff and navigating the mental
health maze may be confusing. But not to worry. As reported
in Senior Focus in August, help is as close as a phone call.
|
| Fairfax County's Northwest Center for Community Mental Health
is located right here in Reston. It offers a wide range of
services to all ages. Just call the center at 703-481-4100. |
| I'll also repeat an offer you can't turn down. Readers wishing
to be proactive in the battle against mental health disease
are welcome to volunteer at the Northwest Center. You really
can make a difference. And you'll feel better for helping
others. Norm Howard, recruitment czar of the Advisory Board,
is waiting to hear from you at 703-391-2406. |
| Folks in eastern Loudoun County can get help by phoning
703-729-1970, and those in the Leesburg area should call 703-771-5100
for information on mental health services and volunteer opportunities. |
| I'd like to close this month's column with a personal note.
These are trying times. The pictures of the horrors of the
bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon will haunt
us forever, just as the attack on the pride of our fleet at
Pearl Harbor 60 years ago still haunts us. |
| For the sake of our country, our families and ourselves,
let's strive to stay healthy physically and mentally. Here's
a simple prescription: Eat wisely, exercise and socialize. |
| And don't forget to vote on Nov. 6. It's the patriotic thing
to do. |
| Bill Wohlfeld may be reached by e-mail at billw@observernews.com.
His columns are archived at www.observernews.com. |
