She is a book lover and motorcycle rider; pro-choice and pro-gun; a former registered Republican-turned-Blue Dog Democrat.
Those are among the features that help make Gabrielle Giffords a one-of-a-kind congresswoman.
~Heather Haddon, New York Post, January 9
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Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I hope she pulls through this and comes out with full brain function and a new appreciation for the fragility of human life.
Argh, I got so irritated yesterday – some doctor on the news was talking about her condition and said that she could respond to commands and recognize people, “some of the things that make us human.” People are human whether they can respond to commands and recognize people or not!
Argh, I got so irritated yesterday – some doctor on the news was talking about her condition and said that she could respond to commands and recognize people, “some of the things that make us human.” People are human whether they can respond to commands and recognize people or not!
Wonder what her stand is on the euthanasia for those who lives are not considered full functioning.
We’re praying for a complete recovery for Ms Giffords and all the other victims of this horrendous crime.
While it seems likely, though such a miracle, that Ms Giffords is going to survive, another welcome miracle would be if the MSM would actually tell the truth about the mentally-ill, Communist manifesto quoting gunman, and not use this tragedy to make pot-shots at conservatism.
Praying too, Michelle!!
It doesn’t matter what her political views were. I just hope she and the other victims survive. And my heart goes out to the families of those that were slain so senselessly by this deranged young man.
Did you know Giffords was Jewish? I hope anti-Semitism wasn’t a factor in the shooting.
Not sure why this nutjob took out his rage on innocent people regardless of their political background, age or race.
We are praying for Ms. Giffords at our house too and are so glad to hear the good reports about her daily. I pray for her full recovery and that she will recognize that she is indeed a miracle. God please become real to her and let her know she how much you love her. I am praying for all of the grieving families and the other victims of this horrible act of violence. We prolifers stand for LIFE, we are against violence inside and outside of the womb.
Good post, Prolifer L. It sickens me that some people are trying to turn this into a political issue — the shooter was liberal, or the shooter was conservative, etc., or Sarah Palin (who I am not a fan of) is somehow responsible. This is ridiculous. He was just a very disturbed young man. Who knows what was going on in his head?
The most important thing is, we’re all members of the human family.
Prayers to the Giffords family, and for everyone who lost a family member. This is a tragedy. I don’t care what anyone’s politics are—this is horrible, and very, very sad. I hope she pulls through.
Phillymiss,
The shooter himself is a secular Jew. But he has also reportedly expressed anti-Semitic views. Talk about self-hating!
Trying to make sense or reason of an irrational mind is an exercise in futility. There is no sense or rationality there. I have to wonder who the geniuses behind closing our state mental hospitals were. There was a time when a person like this could be put in a state hospital, now its almost impossible to commit deranged people.
Yes state hospitals had their bad side, but is it better that mentally ill people eat out of dumpsters, freeze under bridges, or go on killing sprees?
Mary, largely the movement towards de-institutionalization was driven by abuse and other human-rights violations as well as over-crowding in state institutions and there was a time were people, especially women and teens, who didn’t necessarily have a legitimate mental illness, were institutionalized against their will for being too outspoken or as retaliation by angry spouses and crooked professionals. New laws were put in place to protect patient’s human rights, but on the flip side, like you were saying, those with serious mental illness are no longer able to be hospitalized involuntarily beyond a 72 hour crisis evaluation (requirements vary by state) without a judge’s order, which means those who may be too seriously mentall ill may not seek treatment.
Hi Rachel C.
Thank you for the input. I remember the old institutions and indeed there were abuses. We knew a woman put into one such place on the whim of her son, who was determined to get the family money. She spent the remainder of her years on a 50 bed ward. Orphaned or troubled children would be dumped into them. A friend of mine was threatened by her husband with being “put away”. At that time and in that state he could do it.
I think we both agree they went to an extreme, however good the intention. As you point out human rights could be protected and the institutions could have been modernized. We modernize every other type of hospital, why not the state institutions? There is also the question of adults with severe mental and physical challenges who cannot be cared for by elderly parents or siblings. Friends of ours have a severely autistic son that thankfully they could find a group home for. Think of the people who can’t. A friend of mine who is a spec.ed. teacher maintains the state of mental health care in this country is an abomination.
The trend today is towards placing mentally ill persons in community settings, which are staffed by trained personnel, instead of large institutions (an exception is individuals that are mentally ill and violent). On the weekends I work in one of them, a Community Rehabilitation Residence (CRR). The people I work with are fairly high functioning, but they are chronically mentally ill and would have problems living on their own, to say the least. But like most people with mental illness, they are NOT, I repeat, NOT VIOLENT!
Hi phillymiss,
Actually that was the hope when deinstitutionalization started. Pts could be placed in community settings and medicated. The antipsychotic drugs were viewed as the end all/be all. The institutions and all their abuses would forever close. Unfortunately the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Some of the mentally ill do well in this setting. Others need more supervision and direct care. Like some of the poor souls I have seen roaming the streets and eating out of dumpsters. I agree most mentally ill people are not violent, but what of those who cannot be responsible enough to take medication or manage their lives?
What about people who need long term hospitalization, and some do. Are there enough CRRs for those who need them?
Years ago there was a movie starring Valerie Harper as the mother of a teenage girl developing schizophrenia. It was very moving as the family struggled to find help or a facility for their daughter. She had already set the kitchen on fire so she obviously needed continuous supervision. The movie ended with the family putting their names on a 7 year waiting list for a CRR. In the meantime, they had to manage as best they could. A movie yes, but very realistic I am sure.
The woman who stalked David Letterman and was finally killed was schizophrenic, another situation where a mother could not get her daughter the help she needed.
BTW, I commend and thank you for the work you do at the CRR.
Phiilymiss is right and answered your question quite well. The trend is moving towards community inclusion and lest restrictive intervention possible for those witth severe developmental disabilities and serious mental illness, offering treatment options such as in school behavior specialists, charter schools, residential treatment facilities which offer 24 hour care and behavior management (utilitizing small units or cabins on a campus, group homes, and supported independent living for adults, Damar Services is one such example), transitional housing, outpatient treatment through a community mental health clinic, partial hospitalization (day treatment programs), and inpatient crisis management and/or long-term treatment on a psychiatric unit as a last resort. You can learn more about mental illness, advocacy, and treatment options at National Alliance on Mental Illness. I’m more comfortable with privately owned, for-profit and not-for-profit organiazations verses state-run facilities as there seems to be more funding, they’re better run(because they are often run like a business and thus more accountable to donors, stock-holders, parents, and the general public), and there’s better government-oversight/regulation. And I want to echo what Phillymiss said, most with developmental disabilities(including autism) and mental illness are not violent, with the exception of severe cases. I’ve actually written a lot on this issue at my blog and I would invite those who are interested and wish to learn more to visit.
However I would say that our mental health system is in poor shape because there aren’t enough private treatment facilitiess, local community mental health clinics are often under-funded and overwhelmed, and there isn’t enough state funding to provide funding for necessary treatments, housing, and education, for individusls through the department of education, Medicaid waiver, and disability waivers (when private insurance often will not help). *Shakes head* There are no easy answers.
Hi Rachel C. and phillymiss
Actually this move to community care started sometime in the 60’s and early 70’s. I remember when it was a theory and how great it sounded. I also remember when the institutions began closing down. Unfortunately theory does not always keep up with reality as you both so well point out. The lady I mentioned only wound up being shuttled from nursing home to nursing home. Where else could she and so many like her go when the institution that had been her home for years closed?
For many of the mentally ill the institution was their life, their world. Like the prisoner in the “Shawshank Redemption” who did not want to be freed since prison was his life. There were so many factors.
A friend of mine has been in the mental health system for the 40 years I have known her. She is a walking pharmaceutical, in and out of hospitals, sees a therapist every week, ect therapy, etc., etc. She edged toward the possiblity of alternative treatment but went right back, resisting any possiblity of being helped. Then it occured to me Rachel and phillymiss, this is her world, her life. You change this she has nothing else. She doesn’t want to be in control or take responsibility for her life. If a magic wand could cure her tomorrow she would resist it.
I know it seems strange to us but I understand her perspective on this, as I can understand the old convict who does not want to leave prison. In a strange way her life is secure, certain, and safe as it is.
Thank you both for your input. Very helpful and informative.
Interesting conversation, ladies.
Here’s a link to an article from American Thinker that delves into some of the reasoning behind de-institutionalizing mental institutions. This from the point of view of someone who attempted to improve her community but discovered some twisted logic instead.
See, THIS should be what the national conversation should be about: mental illness, awareness, etc.
Not some “Sarah-Palin-needs-to-be-indicted-for crosshairs” crap.
There isn’t a link included in your comment and I would be interested in reading that article. But I do agree, there needs to be conversation on mental illness, etc (although I think what Sarah Palin did was still tacky, in this era of hightened security)
Odd how no one was ever concerned that a movie depicting the assassination of President George Bush would inspire some lunatic to act.
Nor is there much concern for the explicit violence depicted on TV, the movies, and videogames. Somehow this would never inspire a lunatic either.
But Sarah Palin, now that’s someone who truly inspires a lunatic to act.