Mental health group holds conference in Monterey
The National Alliance on Mental Illness hosted a mental health conference in Monterey’s Hyatt Regency on Friday.
The conference aims at informing and educating people about mental illness and how to help family and friends who suffer from disorders.
Among the people streaming through the hallway at the conference was mental health consumer Mia Jackson, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
“I was 19 and found that I was really spacey and really absent-minded at times. And I had a nervous breakdown about 19 or 20 and I knew something then was a little different about me,” said Jackson. “And then I took some medication and got it regulated and I’ve been up and (well) ever since.”
NAMI says one in four American adults face a mental health issue in a given year, which equals to about 60 million people.
Jackson’s story and others are why NAMI exists and puts on conferences to help educate and assist.
“It’s an opportunity for us to educate other people who are impacted by mental illness on a daily basis. About how they can help, how they can share resources, and how we can all become part of a team,” said Jessica Cruz, the chief executive officer of NAMI California.
Mental health statistics are prompting law enforcement leaders to require extra training for officers in case they face someone with an illness.
Police confrontations involving the mentally ill are all too common and sometimes result in deadly outcomes.
In October 2016, a Santa Cruz police officer shot a mentally ill man – 32-year-old Sean Arlt – in a clash at a home on Chace Street. The officer was cleared in the shooting, but Arlt did not survive.
Santa Cruz Police already train their officer in how they respond to people with mental disorders. NAMI also helps train police in de-escalation techniques.
“We have a 40 hour training that we participate in with our law enforcement called Crisis Intervention Training,” said Cruz “There are specific policies and how-tos for officers on how to handle certain situations, how you de-escalate a situation.”
It is resources like these that aim to make the world more understanding. And for people with mental illness, it is also about understanding the help is out there.
“I’d say definitely speak up and say exactly how you feel and what you feel and don’t let the stigma that stands hold you back or tear you from getting help,” said Jackson.
The California Healthcare Almanac says about half of adults and two-thirds of children with a mental health need in the state do not get treatment.
