The Mentally Ill of America: A People in Bondage

The Mentally Ill of America: "A People in Bondage"

by Tom Barresi

The following accounting is a generalization of thought, formulated over the last 24 months in my role as a Mental Health Advocate, and Reformer. While not all people, who are involved with the mentally ill, are "squirrelly"; it is my sad opinion that many are. And thus, I have come to the following belief; in witnessing the tragic, "life-styles" of the Mentally Ill in America:

We, the unfortunate Mentally Ill, are unhappily entombed, by 2 indisputable factors:

We receive a repetitious, and unimaginative method of health care in this country.
We experience a complete refusal on just about everyone's part, of encouraging us to step outside our vacuous, social, and economic boundaries; and grow in a productive and meaningful manner.

While I am certain psychiatry, through favorable legislative backing, (as seen in California) will eventually ease part one of our statement; it is the merciless, emotional, stranglehold placed on the mentally ill by parents, board and care operators, and the relentless organizational administrators that concerns me the most.

After attempting for 2 years, to stimulate 3 "markets" in Mental Health with extensive writings, and web-site contacts, it seemed that the legislative groupings, in both California and in Congress, showed the deepest interest in the over-all, well-being of the Mentally Ill. While their motives for this interest varied greatly, all agreed with me, that honoring the Constitutional Right of "due process", was completely necessary in writing Mental Health Laws, both now and into the future.

The second "market" which I explored, (and my least favorite), centered around the endless proliferation of ineffective, Mental Health Organizations, Associations, Do-It-Yourself Recovery Modes, etc. etc., who are clearly, much more concerned with their "sources" of revenue, (be it public, or private, or governmental); than in rehabilitating the mentally ill. These "body-shops" (as I call them), are interested in only 2 things: cash flow, and in keeping their patient memberships, perpetually uninformed as to current events in Mental Health; so as to administer total control over their "behavior"; thereby making them much less troublesome, in the long run.

The third market, resting at the bottom of this social, and economic cesspool; are the lowly Mentally Ill, themselves. Huddled against their fellowmen in angst, and living in the darkest habitats imaginable; these poor waifs are clearly "kept" by neurotic parents, uncaring board and care operators, and naturally, the money-motivated, organizational types, throughout this country. With their lives "spiced-up" on occasion, by a little contempt, and some discrimination from their mentors; they go on, day after day doing nothing, feeling nothing, and sensing nothing; plainly, existence at its basest form. Unable to share the news of possible internet voting coming their way, or of what local law has benefited their lives of late; these "lemmings" are left to squander their lives aimlessly, at the hand of someone else's control, and financial advantage.

There is an irony in all of this, however, which the Mentally Ill have known for centuries. Mainly, it is by far much more stressful, and much more costly, to be a "Keeper", of the horde, than it is to be "Kept". And it is herein, that justice resides; if indeed there be any justice in this social illusion at all!

Regards,
Tom Barresi
1459 East Lassen Ave. 32
Chico,Ca. 95973
Manic-Depressive since 1966.
University of Maryland (class of '71)

Presidential "Correspondence" between Myself , and Pres. Clinton, of Dec. '00, Entered into William J. Clinton Library, April '01, Arkansas. RE: Civil Rights.

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