The Southwest Virginia Behavioral Health Board recognizes and acknowledges that the events of April 16 were tragic and had atremendous impact of loss and hurt not only for the families andfriends of the victims killed and injured, and all Virginia Techstudents and employees, but the region and nation. The board wouldlike to offer its deepest condolences to the families and friends ofthe victims in this tragedy.
Doubtless, this incident may potentially lead to far-reachingchanges in Virginia's public mental health system. We need to beaware of an increase in the false belief by some of the public thatall people with mental illnesses are violent, and therefore need tobe closely monitored and even institutionalized.
Study after study shows that people with mental illness are nomore violent or potentially violent than anyone else. More often thannot, they are the victims rather than the perpetrators of violence.As a result of the media focus on this tragedy, there seems to be agreater sense of depression, fear and anxiety among people withmental illness. There is fear of a backlash that could lead tolegislation that may criminalize and discriminate against peoplewith mental illness.
Two federal groups have proposed recommendations for the treatmentof mental illnesses -- the federal government's Substance Abuse andMental Health Services Administration and President Bush's NewFreedom Commission on Mental Health. The commission states:'Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live,work, learn and participate fully in their communities. For someindividuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling andproductive life despite a disability. For others, recovery impliesthe reduction or complete remission of symptoms. Science has shownthat having hope plays an integral role in an individual's recovery.'
In the past two years in Virginia, the mental health system hasstarted moving forward by including new recovery-oriented approachesthat have been positively received by mental health consumers andservice providers. These recovery processes give people with mentalillness a sense of choice in their treatment and the understandingthat recovery is happening now for others and can happen for them.
The recovery movement that is taking place in the Virginia mentalhealth system is the single greatest process that can empowerconsumers. For example, Southwest Virginia has implemented theWellness Recovery Action Plan, Leadership Education and AdvocacyProgram, local and regional consumer empowerment and recoverycouncils, Program of Assertive Community Treatment teams, crisisstabilization programs and the employment of consumers as peersupport providers.
These programs, with traditional counseling and medicationmanagement, are excellent tools for people with mental illness intheir recovery. The Southwest Virginia Behavioral Health Board,mental health care providers, family members and consumers recognizethat a major challenge facing people with mental illness is the riskof social isolation. The process of recovering from mental illnesscenters on breaking down social isolation and restoring a person'ssocial connectedness. This process can work only when we all cometogether as consumers, family members, mental health care providersand the community.
Any new legislation that may come as a result of the April 16tragedy should enhance the options for voluntary participation inmental health treatment. New legislation that focuses only oncoercive interventions can result in people with mental illnessbecoming even more isolated to avoid these consequences, and thus notreceiving effective treatment. Through expanded partnerships,resources and thoughtful leadership, the public mental health systemin Virginia can strengthen its mission to embrace people with mentalillness in a recovery environment of support and hope.
The Southwest Virginia Behavioral Health Board is composed of 14voting members. Executive directors from six community servicesboards and two state facilities constitute eight of these members.The other six voting members are people who use state and localmental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services(consumers) and their family members. The board helps to makepolicies for the community services boards and state facilities inthe 17 counties and four cities of far Southwest Virginia.
For more information on mental health and recovery, visitsamhsa.gov or mentalhealthcommission.gov or contact your localcommunity services board.
McClaskey is chairwoman and Moore is vice chairwoman of theSouthwest Virginia Behavioral Health Board.
