My brother’s keeper

(8/2022) Most of us know someone with a mental health issue, a family member, a friend, us. Diseases of despair—alcohol, opioids, depression, suicide, and conditions such as head trauma. During the pandemic, most of us had some form of frustration, depression or knew someone who did. Mental health risks are with us and persist, with or without a pandemic, but the last two years tested each of us.

Our school age children suffered from loss of social interaction. But loss is not the whole story of this long term challenge. Two family members had very different experiences with virtual learning. One was in college, one in preschool. Both have had "learning delays". The college student had good grades in class, but failing test scores during grades K-12. In college with virtual learning, they made the dean’s list, including 90 - 100% scores on tests. For them virtual learning was positive because it removed distraction. The preschooler is very outgoing. Once in person learning resumed, they jumped right into the social setting of school. They were happy at home playing with us or on their own or exploring our yard. There were challenges during stay-at-home time, but not everything was an ordeal.

The pandemic shone a light on the everyday challenges of our friends and neighbors. Isolation from the general population affected everyone. Members of the LGBTQ community, and other minority groups, were particularly hard hit. Some people got angrier as they got more isolated.

We all got a lesson in understanding that to survive we have to use what is at hand. One tool always available is sacrifice. We all felt the sacrifices made during the first 2 years of the pandemic. We took a hard hit in our economy and our mental health. Fear of losing control was up. Fear controlled many of us. People got mad at masks, tools that continue to help get us through variants of the coronavirus. Mental health crises were up, particularly depression and suicide. Tolerance for being different is still down.

The 988 Crisis Lifeline began July 16, 2022. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration manages this service. This an emergency phone number for people to call when they are in a mental health crisis or know of a person in crisis. Calling 988 connects the caller to a mental health professional. This gets a person the help they need, without calling 911. This will reduce the calls to the police.

The Crisis Lifeline began as a 10 digit phone number. 988 is easier to remember when you need help.

From the FAQ page:

"Moving to 988 does not mean the 1-800-273-8255 number goes away. After July 16, 2022, using either number will get people to the same services. In the end, 988 is an easier-to-remember way to access a strengthened and expanded network of crisis call centers."

988 was a long time coming.

In the 1980s the Regan Administration decentralized federal funding for mental health support. Each state then had the responsibility to spend the funds on mental health services. States may have their own plans, but it takes a federal government to connect us. Finally, implemented by the Biden Administration in 2022, dialing 988 connects the country.

In general, we draw our political lines as conservative or liberal. A conservative says go it alone, take care of yourself, defend your rights. A liberal says we all have rights, we want to provide support for those in need. Real life happens somewhere in the middle.

We all want to be responsible for ourselves and our family. What happens to us when we are in crisis? What happens when your child has an addiction, or overdoses for the second, third, final time? When was a person who commits gun violence at a point to change paths? Who decides what is a crisis?

We can’t second guess each other before during and after every act gun violence, or drug use. We can learn from the perpetrator’s history and increase access to self help. The response to gun violence is to send "thoughts and prayers" and state the obvious: "it’s mental illness". That means we have identified one problem. We can argue all day about how many problems in our society result in gun violence. We identified one, and that requires action. Congress delivered a bipartisan solution. 988 is a tool for taking some control of one’s own mental health, and stepping in when we see someone in crisis.

Justice is not only about legal repercussions. It's also found in how we organize daily life for the average citizen. Fair wages and affordable housing are foundational to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and our mental health. And it takes tools within reach of each person to keep us feeling stable when cracks show up in our foundation.

Solutions to community problems can be a long time coming. Policies at the local and national level differ in the scope of what they cover.

At the local level, public transportation connects urban and rural areas. Being in a rural area is freeing for some and isolating for others. It’s difficult to access jobs without transportation.

At the national level, we responded to the need for acceptance. The House passed the same sex marriage bill, which has the support of 50 Democratic senators.

We are our brother’s keeper, but none of us come with an owner’s manual. We need tools to take care of ourselves and each other. Building our communities, making them stronger, takes working together, not apart. A national 988 Crisis Hotline is a step in the right direction.

We can take steps to support our neighbors, and make choices about our leadership.

Don’t support politicians who joke about or advocate for violence against anyone.

Do support leaders who solve problems and meet the needs of the many over the wants of the few.

For 988 online information visit www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988

Read other Good Day Good Neighbor's by Dorothea Mordan