I could not be more devastated by the news of Robin Williams death. A wonderful, talented, creative, funny person who gave so much of himself in everything he did. In the hours following his death I am haunted by the fact that he was in a rehab facility this summer, this very summer.... Haunted because I know from our own experiences with harris that very little time and attention is placed on the mental health piece in rehabilitation programs. Obviously I did not know Robin Willams, but I know what it was like to live with someone whose mind moved at warped speed, thinking so fast that to live within that body had to be exhausting. It was for harris. I pray that the time has come for us to say enough. Proper treatment protocols that are integrated and comprehensive addressing both the mental health and addiction components must be the norm. Aftercare must involve continued therapy and medication monitoring (if medication is prescribed). From a 7/2014 article from The Huffington Post regarding Robin Williams recently checking into rehab: Its [addiction] -- not caused by anything, its just there, he said in a 2006 interview [with Diane Sawyer]. It waits. It lays in wait for the time when you think, Its fine now, Im OK. Then, the next thing you know, its not OK. Then you realize, Where am I? I didnt realize I was in Cleveland. He admitted he once thought he could handle addiction on his own. But you cant. Thats the bottom line, he said. You really think you can, then you realize, I need help, and thats the word ... Its hard admitting it, then once youve done that, its real easy. Curious to me is that Robin Williams doesnt mention his well-documented struggle with bi-polar disorder as the cause of his addiction. From everything that I have learned about co-occurring disorders, mental illness, and addiction, I am praying that we as a nation finally begin to understand that with 70% of addicts suffering from mental illness THERE IS A CAUSE TO THEIR ADDICTION, IT IS CAUSED BY UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES! When people with COD go to rehab, unfortunately their mental health needs are often not met. Please, please, please lets start making some real changes to the treatment protocols, as well as early intervention at the first sign of behaviors outside the norm (before substance use even begins)! I also have to say that the other thought that popped into my head was: Well har, things just got a heck of a lot more interesting up there, hope you guys are having fun! xoxo, stephanie PLEASE SHARE THIS, SO MANY DONT UNDERSTAND!!!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 02:19:12 +0000
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