"Milk" and the Twinkie Defense

The minute Milk came out in the movie theaters on November 4, 2008 I knew this film would be important. The Oscars beat me to the recognition.

I really wanted to go see Milk before writing this blog. Really, I did. But the fact of the matter is that I'm cheap and only watch movies that are available at my local 99 cent video rental store, Video 95. I need only wait a few more months to get at it. I just don't want to come in late in the conversation.

Through I've learned that in times of recession to embrace this financial responsible side of myself. I also trust National Public Radio's (NPR) accounting and know enough about suicide to feel comfortable talking on this issue.

My mom passed by suicide in 1977 in New York City. I can only imagine what it must have been like for her. Dan White's suicide was a few years later after serving time in jail for murdering Harvey Milk and George Moscone. Two big cities. Same difficult time period for mental health. We still lack the kind of mental health support where recognition could work hand in hand with prevention, saving someone driven to their breaking point.

Do we even care?

Granted, I am not here to excuse White's wrong doing. However, I am here to reproach how a man can be driven to the edge and no help be available to pull him back from it.

Suicide has a funny way of leaving an indelible mark.

The sad part is there are probably those that feel justified in calling it a righteous exit. I beg to differ. The truth of the matter is that true living also means facing the music and living in the flesh life's lessons however painful they be.

White lost the opportunity to see the error of his ways.

I can now only dream of what an advocate he could have been had he given himself that opportunity.

Happy Valentine's Day?

Wishing You...

The Afterw@rd wishes everyone a lovely Valentine's weekend. We relish and advocate for the day of love to be everyday. We hope that everyone would have a valentine. Even those who are hardest to love.

Love With Imperfection

I always wonder about the depths of unconditional love. It's easy to throw the word "unconditional" around as it relates to an instant, a single specific event in time. For believers, God so loved us unconditionally He so gave His only begotten son. Or in general, talk about the love a parent feels the first time they see their new born child.

However, no one really talks about seasoned, time-sustaining love. This is the love that exists that moves beyond the instant, which evolves over time, despite our imperfections. Can you love your child, your partner, your friend, your co-worker knowing they may be depressed, hyper-active, dysfunctional, or insert your favorite mental disorder here? It's not to say that we support or endorse inappropriate behavior, rather it's an opportunity for us to understand and address the root cause of challenging behaviors, to learn how to love in a deeper more constructive way.

It's a struggle loving through challenge, recognizing that every time we point out, four fingers point in. Do we become better for it? If so, how?

Here I am learning to love with imperfection, trying to find out.

The Afterw@rd

Bicentennial Celebrations!

Today we celebrate President Lincoln's bicentennial birthday. We also celebrate the 200th birthday of another great character in U.S. history, writer Edgar Allan Poe. Distinguished individuals that have left their imprint on U.S. history.

What do both of these great men have in common? Mental disorders. It is widely known that Mr. Lincoln suffered from depression and Poe experienced manic episodes and often medicated his bipolar behavior with alcohol. (Not too unlike, Michael Phelps!)

While much has changed over the last 200 years, the stigma of mental disorders remains. It's not to say we have remained stagnant. Some progress has been made. We have increased our understanding of some mental disorders but much still remains to be done and understood. However, it's frustrating to know that treatment options are simply not as well understood, and when used only work for 50% of people who bother to get diagnosed.

What to do?

Education raises awareness, but does it tear down the stigma? We must stand firm in the belief that everyone with an mental disorder can have lasting impact when given the opportunity. Lincoln and Poe are a testament to that fact.

The Afterw@rd