When Mental Health Struggles Spread Through the Family

When Mental Health Struggles Spread Through the Family

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

The parents trying to navigate the maze of mental healthcare while also trying to work to help pay for the care that winds up not being covered and be there for their other children as well. It’s a lot. All of that stress isn’t good for anyone’s health, mental and physical. Imagine trying to support a child with getting mental healthcare while also needing your own care, or dealing with illnesses.

It’s a mess. I don’t envy parents who find themselves in this position. If you know any parents in this boat, maybe see what they need. Find some way to take a little stress off. Provide a meal or two, run some errands for them, etc. They need it more than they will probably ever admit.

Sharing – Lost in the Storm

Sharing – Lost in the Storm

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

If you’re not familiar with what it can be like to try and get the proper mental health care in the US you should read this story. However, as you do read it, I need you to understand that this story, as hard as it is, actually represents the better side of the Mental Healthcare system. Ash’s parents have some financial means and expertise to help them navigate the system, even if her Mom had to leave her job. Now imagine what this looks like for someone without those things.

Andrew Toles and the LA Dodgers Are Another Case Where This Shouldn’t be What is Necessary

Andrew Toles and the LA Dodgers Are Another Case Where This Shouldn’t be What is Necessary

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

That’s the question we need to ask ourselves. Great, the Dodgers are keeping him under “contract” so he has medical coverage that helps him as an individual. What happens to everyone else in the same boat? Who’s getting them treatment and the coverage to pay for it?

Headlines that Show Us How Bad our Mental Health Systems Are

Headlines that Show Us How Bad our Mental Health Systems Are

ByMikeM Reading Time: 1 minute

Both articles tell the stories of people who can’t get the mental healthcare they need, and both dig into some of the political decisions that have caused this. Both also demonstrate how complicated the issue is and how much damage is being done behind the scenes by some of the same leaders who claim to support mental health.

They don’t. There are a lot of political and industry leaders who benefit from the status quo. Many people are also left behind due to a lack of affordable care. Those patients, their families, loved ones, and society pay the price when mental healthcare is lacking. It doesn’t have to be this way. It will take more than words to fix it.

True Self-Care Is More Difficult Than We Make it Out to Be

True Self-Care Is More Difficult Than We Make it Out to Be

ByMikeM Reading Time: 4 minutes

Yes, I believe in the importance of self-care. I will encourage it for everyone. It helps. But it can only help so much. Until this becomes a society that equally cares about everyone and actively seeks to offer care for everyone, self-care can only go so far. We need to recognize that and spend as much time promoting that as we do self-care.

What Future Do Kids Have If Mental Health Care Bankrupts Their Families?

What Future Do Kids Have If Mental Health Care Bankrupts Their Families?

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

We have to face the fact that, as much as we might not openly admit it, we live in a society where kids with mental illness have very little hope, and we don’t care enough to change that. They, their parents, and their siblings are “others” that we’d rather not be bothered with. Societally, we’d rather they went away than be bothered with figuring out ways to help them.

That’s not good enough.