B4Stage4

We need to get on the ball with early intervention, so many horrible things happen in a family. Most of it could be avoided if money wasn't the problem.! What kind of society thinks they are great while ignoring the less fortunate to suffer needlessly!!!

My husband and I tried to find help for our 25 year old son for over 7 years. My insurance wouldn't cover a long term program, which he desperately needed. He was arrested on Christmas Day, 2014, after threatening my daughter and me with a machete. I knew it was only a matter of time before something terrible happened. This behavior was happening more and more. His substance abuse and anger were getting worse. I pressed charges in hopes of him getting into a long term program. I went to every one of his hearings. He refused to come. I was allowed to speak and begged the Judge to transfer to him to a mental health facility. His cases would be postponed each time. My son called us every week from jail, then in November 2015, the calls stopped. I spent every spare minute I had, calling the jail, the DA, emailing everyone at the jail that I could find an email address for. I knew something was wrong. Again, I went before the judge and begged for help. My son was finally transferred to the State Hospital in May 2016. He had been in isolation at the for almost 7 months prior to that. That's why the calls stopped. He was diagnosed with Schizophrenia when he got to the hospital. Now he's like an empty shell of himself. I would never have recognized him. His entire body shakes, he rocks side to side, he doesn't shave or shower, he doesn't speak at all. I don't know what the future holds for him. I don't know if he'll ever get well enough to come home or be able to function at all. I question my decision to press charges on him daily. I alway end up with the same answer. He would have died at home or hurt one of us had he not gone to jail. It's heartbreaking to see how far he deteriorated. Had he been able to get the help he needed prior to that, he may have had some chance at life. He didn't belong in jail. He had a mental illness. He was once full of life, laughter, and had the kindest soul of anyone I'd ever known. That boy

My mother has been burdened with severe mental illness and depression my entire life. This illness has stolen a quality life from her that she truly deserves. She's a great person. She will always be my mother, even though she is unable to be the typical mother for me and my siblings. I am who I am because of it, and wouldn't change it, but I'd like to help others get the early detection and treatment needed to avoid them going down the same road we have.

Schools, including public high school, should screen for mental illness as they do for hearing and vision deficits and inform parents of when they detect mental illness. I base this on these facts: the paucity of knowledge about mental illness in the general population, suicide is the second most common cause of death in 24-30 and third most common in 15-24 year olds, the expense of independent psychiatric examinations vs the relatively low cost of computerized screening, and the usual reluctance of teenagers to tell parents their problems.

I realized how angry and self centered my previous message sounded so I would like to clarify. I switched careers mid-life because through personal experience I get immense help from a psychotherapist, but not until age 27. I do get angry about how my clients suffer because they cannot get the treatment they need. The name of this petition is so appropriate, since you cannot get into a hospital if you have had a setback and need stabilization, unless you profess to wanting to kill yourself or others. Along with the need to have more integrated care and specialized facilities, early detection with yearly checkups that include a mental health assessment is essential as is equalizing the importance and respect for the professionals who provide the services. If I had a dime for every time I heard, "those people aren't in it for the money" I could have built my own inpatient trauma center by now where the staff would be well educated and trained and compensated on the same level as those on the physical side of health. It is deplorable that our mental health professionals with a Masters degree $32K a year if they are lucky enough to get a full-time job, when a Network Analyst makes at least 60K with a Masters. If we are going to have quality people attracted to this profession, we need to value the mental health profession - how??? With a respectful salary and benefits!!! I did not know that it was Demi Lovato that started this petition until I read Scott Lambert's comment. I also wish to thank Demi for starting this petition as this is such an important issue. Too many people are dying because we lack prevention or early detection and treatment programs. The body cannot function without the brain - why did we ever think that we should separate physical and mental health - integrated care where you always consider the "whole human - brain included" is essential. My heart goes out to all those who are suffering. Hang in there - it is getting better as we

As my state continues to decrease the mental health budget, instnce of clients needing services continues to rise. In addition, opportunities for employment for students such as myself are not available. Mental health programs in my state need to be revamped and updated. As a 5th year Masters student, my goals is to gain employment in this field to assist those that are in such a dire situation.

I am a licensed professional counselor who had to spend 8-10 years and lots of money on education and internship and I am making half the amount of money that I did when I was a computer professional, for which I had no degree. I have so much more responsibility, must spend much unpaid time to collaborate with parents, teachers, PCP's, CYS, Probation and Parole as well as document every single thing, have to pay for insurance in case I get sued; have mountains of paperwork to prove that I do my job and do not engage in fraud waste or abuse; and constantly spend time educationing myself about how to best help my clients. In community mental health, In PA it is difficult to get full time work because nobody wants to pay for OUR INSURANCE, yet my tax money is paying the bill for most of my clients who are receiving Medicaid or Medicare for FREE. All this for about 40K s year. I must be CRAZY (pun intended). Susan L. Johnson.

Thank you Demi Lovato for this beautiful petition you have commenced in an effort to bridge the gulf between debilitating mental illnesses and moral support. As a conscious experiencer of my bipolar disorder that inhibits normal ideation and behavior, the desire you express to sincerely reach out to those who yearn to anesthetize the mental anguish from within means more than I could have ever asked. Traumatic life experiences or congenital defects can initiate neuroplasticity, which triggers burgeoning sensations of depression and mania, due to a neurochemical imbalance. To those who suffer from Bipolar Disorder, you are not alone. If anyone needs a friend to empathize with, I will reach out to anyone who is willing. It starts with relinquishing whatever self- guilt it must take to maximize your own personal mental health in this brief moment of life we are so privileged to have. Sincerely, Scott Lambert (425) 260- 9974

Depression and Anxiety has impacted my family. Sadly, I was ashamed of it for so many years and then I found out other family members were going through the same thing. That my friends is Stigma.

Yes I am Able To Conctact But I Do Not People When Ever I Feel Bad

This is LONG OVERDUE!

I have a severly mentaly I'll son.He is 31 years old .I have recently been told by caregivers in assisted living where he lives,that he is the worst they have ever seen.He never stops hearing voices.God help him.As of tonite,he is in Oceans in AbileneTx.I have learned to be a warrior for him,because if I don't, no one will. The system in Texas is broken. He needs long-term care,but none available.I would like to speak on his behalf and all the others who don't have a voice of their own anymore.This disease takes everything from them.I am not ashamed of my son's mental illness. I would do anything to help.God Bless.

also including the effect of mental health issues on homelessness and on economy

When I was 15 years old I wish I had gotten the support to know that I could get the help that I needed but unfortunately I didn't have that support and didn't get help till I was 28 years old and although better now at 30 years old I wish I could've gotten the help then every deserves the support and to be able to get the help they need when they feel like they're drowning and don't know what to do

As a trainer of CPS, we believe that the more support given to Peers development the more employable we all become!

#b4stage4 <3

i am suffering with depression, severe anxiety disorders, anorexia nervosa, obssessive compulsive disorders. i have the lowest self esteem. but it is okay. because i am not alone, and you are not either. so let's speak up together.

everyone deserves to feel strong, confident, beautiful, accepted, understood, loved and cared for... every single being is so important and every signature makes me feel so so inspired and hopeful.

You are not alone and I know the feeling, it does not just control your mind, it controls your body and soul. There needs to be more mental health awareness involved on college campuses! I can't stress this enough. Depression and anxiety are serious.

You are not alone and I know the feeling, it does not just control your mind, it controls your body and soul. There needs to be more mental health awareness involved on college campuses! I can't stress this enough. Depression and anxiety are serious.