"No-Fault" Organic Brain Disorder

I recently read a guest opinion article in the newspaper by Dr. J.M.R. Reddy, the Director of Psychiatric Services, Behavioral Health Unit at Crittenden Hospital Medical Center in Rochester.  Dr. Reddy makes a very important point in this article. He states, "that those who live with mental illness, those who love them and those who treat them believe that if there was less stigma attached to brain disorders, more people would come forward to help."  He further goes on to say that "mental illnesses are "no-fault" organic brain disorders that cause behavioral changes; they are not defects of character or the absence of moral standards".  He ends his article by making a strong case that if these facts were incorporated into the hearts and minds of American citizens, they would show persons with mental illness, more compassion, and insurance parity would be available just like it is to those who have cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.

I happen to think that Dr. Reddy is on to something.  If you accept the notion, and most scientists do, that mental illness is a brain disorder, then you have to treat it like every other disease.  Unfortunately, it is my experience that if you have a major mental illness you are forced into poverty and marginalized in our society. 

New Passages' role is to help mitigate some of this stigma with programs like community inclusion, which involves clients in their communities as full citizens.  Community inclusion is not piling six adults with serious mental illness in a van and taking them to Meijer shopping.  Community inclusion is taking an older person with mental illness to a senior center so that they can participate fully like everyone else. For me, this is the crux of what we do.  Yes, we provide treatment and medication, but more importantly, we provide a path towards recovery on which consumers can participate in their communities.

It's almost impossible to do what we're trying to do in a vacuum.  We need community support in the form of financial support and community opportunities.  We know that with the right kind of community-based support and treatment, adults with serious illness can function like anyone else.  What do you think?