News from Ocean Mental Health Services, Inc

"Welcome to the Neighborhood"

by Gioia Ackermann

When people with a mental illness move into the neighborhood, stigma moves in with them. There is no welcome wagon. No one rings the bell or brings a tray of cookies. "For Sale" signs start popping up on neighbors' lawns. Like all other prejudices, stigma towards people with a mental illness is fueled by fear and lack of knowledge and understanding. This is intensified by concern about harm to one's family or loss of property value. Much is publicized about crimes committed by those with mental illness that are untreated and have no supports in place. Nothing is heard of those who are quietly working hard to be accepted and improve the quality of their lives; those under doctor's care, who are taking their medication, attending programs and availing themselves of all the supports put in place for them. This population must work hard to overcome stigma, and prove they can be good neighbors. I find this to be ironic, since we all know of a relative, neighbor, spouse, friend or coworker who is accepted in the community, suffering from unchecked and untreated mental illness. This should be the real cause for fear.

As a Caseworker in a home which uses the supportive housing model, my job is to facilitate and support five individuals in their transition to independent living, and to serve as a bridge between these clients and the community that is so often reluctant to embrace them. I work in an attractive home on a quiet street which is well kept and well managed. To the unfamiliar it may be "The House Where They Live". Step inside, and you will find a warm home with five people who are someone's sons and daughters, a mother, a brother, a sister, a niece, a nephew, aunts and uncles, a girlfriend, someone's best friend, all now living together and calling themselves, "family." Like any family, they laugh and cry together, watch T.V., play Wii. They support and comfort each other through hard times or the death of a family member. They cook together and share household chores. They must work to incorporate their individual personalities into one cohesive unit. In this house they do it well. Their diagnosis may be bipolar, obsessive compulsive, schizoaffective, paranoid schizophrenic. This is not who they are - it is what they are struggling to overcome. The challenge comes in helping these individuals assimilate into the community.

To read more about the ways OceanMHS strives to help these individuals, please read Welcome to the Neighborhood in its entirety, written by Gioia Ackermann, Case Manager, OceanMHS Supportive Housing.