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Rally puts focus on mental health

More than 800 people in Colusa County suffer with mental illness. They are not alone.

Barbra Streisand, Donny Osmond, Patty Duke, Jim Carry, Axl Rose, Linda Hamilton, Carrie Fisher, Adam Ant, Dick Cavett and Richard Dreyfuss live with depression, bipolar disorder, mood disorder or post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Their fame often puts mental illness and its treatment in the spotlight, helping to bring about an end to the stigma associated with their conditions.

“There is nothing worse than suffering in silence,” said Diana Arnaud, who is living with post-traumatic stress disorder. “But most people don’t get help. That is the problem with stigma.”

At the eighth annual “Stamp out Stigma” rally Friday, Colusa County residents living with mental illness shared their stories. 

“Because of ignorance, people shy away from people with mental illness,” said Jeanie Irons, who has bipolar disorder. “We are considered weird or weak in character.”

Irons, 52, said she knew something was wrong for 15 years before she finally understood that she needed help.

“Bipolar disorder is one of the hardest to diagnose,” Irons said. “People often have long periods of depression or long periods of mania. I was grateful to finally learn more about my illness.”

In treatment for two years, Irons said going public with mental illness helps erase the stigma associated with the disorder.

“People with mental illness are often characterized as flawed, limited or not measuring up in some way,” she said. “That’s not true. There are 5.7 million people living with mental illness; probably just as many undiagnosed. We first have to educate ourselves so we are not afraid of us. Then we have to educate others.”

Colusa County Behavioral Health Director Curtis Boewer agreed. 

“Some people are afraid to enter our building,” he said. “They see the words ‘behavioral health’ and shy away. They shouldn’t.”

Boewer said people should not be afraid because treating mental illness isn’t much different than treating any disorder.

“Mental illness is a physical illness just like any other,” Boewer said. “The last time I checked, the brain was still a part of the body.”

Boewer believes that only half of the people in Colusa County suffering with a mental disorder seek help. He said programs and treat ment are available for children, youth and adults of all ages.

Programs that lost funding, such as Workforce, Training and Education, are being subsidized by a volunteer staff, according to Valerie Stirling, the WTE coordinator who organized Friday’s event.


Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.

 

 


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Reader's comments




stop hating already!

growup - Jun 11, 2009 09:32:15 AM Remove Comment

 
Anyone who posts viva la raza deserves to have it removed that group is known for being strictly racist and it makes all us other hispanic people look bad we do not want to be associated with you la raza low life

juan - Jun 11, 2009 08:47:04 AM Remove Comment

 
I walked right in there and told each one of them starting at the top how I felt about them including the so called pill pushing doctor You would think they had a desease they were so hesitant to get out of their chair to talk to me and they kept blaming the next person in line above them The place is a disgrace

David Spade - Jun 11, 2009 08:43:06 AM Remove Comment

 
Well if everyone feels this way why doesn't everyone that posts negative comments just go down to there office and tell them how you guys feel instead of posting it on the news paper so they can be humiliated. That is more sick grow to all who posts such negative comments you guys are the ones that should be embarressed.

Miranda - Jun 11, 2009 07:14:20 AM Remove Comment

 
why have a comment section if we can't really comment

whocares - Jun 11, 2009 02:23:03 AM Remove Comment

 
isn't it funny that the paper keeps taking the posts off. I heard it is because this agency pays them a bunch of money for the articles they run. well I am sure somebody printed them all out before they were taken down. Makes me sick that the public can't speak out. i guess your guidelines should say don't right what you really feel unless it is what we want you to feel or we will take it away.

norights - Jun 11, 2009 02:15:12 AM Remove Comment

 
Just like roaches

See ya - Jun 10, 2009 08:50:19 PM Remove Comment

 
We are here to stay!

una \"MEXICANA\" - Jun 10, 2009 04:26:43 PM Remove Comment

 
Que Viva!

otromexicano - Jun 10, 2009 04:22:48 PM Remove Comment

 
QUE VIVA LA RAZA!

unmexicano - Jun 10, 2009 04:22:03 PM Remove Comment

 
your the wrong color for freebies so I am sorry you do not qualify perhaps some false documents would help you or dont check the box that says white

no freebies - Jun 10, 2009 02:41:06 PM Remove Comment

 
where are the freebies, I want some!

want freebies - Jun 10, 2009 11:55:54 AM Remove Comment

 
I am very disappointed and disturbed at the hurtful and destructive comments that the Sun-Herald allows to be posted. The SOS event was designed to bring the community together in the spirit of tolerance and support for all.

Disappointed - Jun 10, 2009 10:52:00 AM Remove Comment

 
your rules are not being followed you sun herald liar liar pants on fire

angry - Jun 10, 2009 10:40:19 AM Remove Comment

 
to life long resident I am a very proud MEXICAN and can teach you my friend to spell

astonished - Jun 10, 2009 10:12:19 AM Remove Comment

 
For all of you crying racism I have a couple of thigns to say I have lived here my whole liefe and have sadly watched as the town and the state for that matter was taken over by legal, but lost illegal mexocans who suck the system dry with the over bereding of children they cant feed and drain our coffers dry with the use of all of the free social programs they have ruined the beauty of the town brought in gangs and drugs where it is not even safe to let your daughter walk down the street because she will get hit on by 10 of them Also too much teen pregnancy and any parent that allows thier daughter to date one of these people needs to be in mental health

Lifelongresident - Jun 10, 2009 10:05:23 AM Remove Comment

 
ok come on now people, we know the coo coo person that is bashing on Behavioral Health Department is obviously really insecure and probably heavy duty herself. And even worse this person is probably a client who sees these girls day to day and wishes to be just like them. Keep your heads up girls, cows or whatever you are called next. This world is full of haters like these miserable people bashing, simply laugh in their faces!

come on now - Jun 10, 2009 10:04:38 AM Remove Comment

 
bi polar is just another catch all fake diagnosese that was invented to put some kind of term to a nut case they cant figure out it is so are in actuality there is probably not 1 single case in this town and after all drs are there to sell whatever drug makes them the most money and could care less about why or who the prescribe it to

wrong - Jun 10, 2009 09:39:10 AM Remove Comment

 
The mexican music and the cows that are at the front desk have to go since when it is wrong to state the obvious truth and want to take back our town from these people who have ruined it The place is a dump which counseler to do choose the child molester or the ex gang banger

sick of - Jun 10, 2009 09:33:36 AM Remove Comment

 
I dont like listening to the mexican music and listening to the foul language the girls in the office are using also in spanish needs to stop.

me - Jun 10, 2009 08:43:55 AM Remove Comment

 



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