Month: February 2017

Hearing what Council Member Brown has had to say in regard to political action has mainly confirmed what I already know to be true. A lot of change that may be necessary does not necessarily get funded by the state and federal government, even when it is agreed upon as being necessary by almost everyone. This is the biggest concern with my issue. What Brown said about the subway system that the city needs oddly made me think of mental health. Nearly everyone in the Council can agree upon the fact that Columbus is in need of a subway-type service, but the funding necessary for it just is not there yet. This is exactly my concern with mental illness. Nearly everyone can recognize that it is an issue, however, the means necessary to implement any policy are restricted from the lack of funding given by the federal and state government.

My biggest takeaway from this discussion was the means in which a single person can best spark change in the eyes of Council Member Brown. She said that the best way to get the attention of local government is to directly call the representatives and talk to them. This is something that I had already expected, but I was surprised at how much confidence Brown had in this means for change. Our Council Members and representatives really are here to serve the community (in most cases), and so it is up to the community to bring forth the issues it sees as the most necessary to attend to. I think personally I may consider doing research on the representatives of Columbus and even Ohio, and to call those people and talk to them about mental health and the needs that must be addressed.

Politics and governance impact my issue because often times politics determine the availability of care and funding for mental health. In addition, laws and regulations enforce the specifics of what is not allowed in terms of mental health care. In the media, we generally do not hear very much about the standing of candidates on mental health. According to Mental Health in America, mental health crosses lines. It does not matter if someone is conservative or liberal; the need for mental health awareness and assistance is widespread. Mental illness does not care if a person is a democrat or a republican; it will effect whomever it chooses. According to an article posted by NBC News, many of the 2016 presidential candidates, both republican and democratic, agree on the fact that mental health is an issue that does not seem to get the attention it deserves.

Unfortunately, with such little national attention focused upon mental health, it is often up to local government and communities to make a difference. Local governments must act in order to make care more readily available. Many of the movements that are occurring in this field are occurring through various nonprofit organizations. Although this is a great thing, there is a dire need for political action. I wish I could discuss all the ways that politicians and local governments are removing mental health stigmas and making care more readily available, but really that does not appear to be the reality. If people really want to make political action or get involved with the issue, they have to make it obvious that they care. If the people of the United States show that mental health is a huge problem, then the politicians that run the government will have to put forth more effort in order to meet those demands.

I would argue that, in the case of mental health, it does not matter incredibly much who we vote for; nearly everyone agrees that mental health is an issue. However, this may not always be the case, and it is important to find out each candidate’s view before casting your vote to elect them. Mental health may not seem like a political issue, but it certainly is. Sadly, there are many challenges to political action. For example, it would be extremely difficult to get any major legislation passed in the national government due to the harsh process that each bill must be put through. In addition, if someone wanted to run for office at the local level, it would require serious dedication and, yes, even money. In order to get elected, people have to know you, and in order for people to know you, you have to campaign. The best way to get involved with my issue is to start small. Raising awareness, sending letters to the local government, and paying attention to views on mental health are all ways that a person can get involved. When viewing mental health through a political lens, it is most important to consider just how each issue can be operationalized into law or policy.

The Ted Talk I found is titled, “Bringing Peace to the Minds of Afghanistan”, and deals mental health in the case of a foreign country. This Ted Talk can be found at the following web address: https://www.ted.com/talks/inge_missmahl_brings_peace_to_the_minds_of_afghanistan#t-286298 My major takeaway from this was the enormity of the possibilities in helping those who suffer from mental illness. The fact that Missmahl was able to develop serious change in the world is the very definition of what my project is for this semester. Although it is unlikely that I will be provided funding to kick off a training of mental health professionals to serve in Afghanistan, I am pleased to see that someone somewhere is really making a difference.

Works Cited
“Mental Health in America – Election Year: Mental Health and Politics.” Mental Health America. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/mental-health-america-election-year-mental-health-and-politics>.
Witkin, Rachel. “Where the 2016 Candidates Stand on Mental Health Issues.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 24 Feb. 2016. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/where-2016-candidates-stand-mental-health-issues-n524826>.