October 10, 2004
Inside
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“Success occurs when preparation meets opportunity.”
■ Kerry & Bush Interviews—p.4-7 ■ Congressional Candidates—p.10-14 ■ Charlie Awards—p.18
— Dr. Roy Grizzard Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mpls. MN Permit No. 4766
Volume 15, Number 10
Minnesota’s Disability
Community Newspaper
October 10, 2004
MENTAL ILLNESS FALLING INCREASES THROUGH ON COLLEGE THE CRACKS CAMPUSES by Sharon Rolenc
by Lance H. Hegland
T
he number of students enrolled at the University of Minnesota who experience significant mental illness seems to be increasing, according to Dr. Gary Christenson, the Director of the Mental Health Clinic at the University’s Boynton Health Service. He provided the information as part of an article written by Charlene Dick and published in the September 8th edition of The Minnesota Daily, the independent student-produced newspaper originating from the U’s Twin Cities campus. The article states that the number of students registered for the 2003-2004 school year who experience a psychiatric disability is up 22% over 1998-1999. Does that mean people get mental illness by going to college?!? Although college does cause some to feel a lot of stress and anxiety, the answer is “NO! College does not cause mental illness!” The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), with the support of Abbott Laboratories, hopes to debunk this and other myths about mental illness during Mental Illness Awareness Week. The Week, which began October 3, will be marked by various activities held throughout the country. According to the NAMI website, “This year’s theme, ‘Unity through Diversity’, reflects the hope and real possibility of reclaimed lives in all communities across the country and encapsulates the true spirit and essence of NAMI while reflecting
all forms of difference.” What is mental illness anyway? How can someone tell if they have one? NAMI considers mental illness to include such things as bipolar, major depressive, obsessivecompulsive, panic and anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity, and other severe and persistent disorders that affect the brain. The symptoms of such disorders vary widely, from tiredness, loss of interest, difficulty concentrating, long-lasting sadness, extreme pessimism, increased hostility, paranoia, to the most extreme: suicide. Because these illnesses are generally biologically-based brain disorders, they are nearly impossible to detect when looking at someone; they’re often considered “invisible” or “hidden” disabilities. They affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. They are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, lack of intelligence, or poor upbringing. Furthermore, they cannot be overcome through “willpower.” Still, mental illnesses are treatable! Most people with mental illness can control their symptoms through the use of medication, just like other disorders such as diabetes. Some people may also use supportive counseling, self-help groups, assistance with housing, vocational rehabilitation, income assistance, and other community services in order to achieve their highest level of recovery. But until a person is
diagnosed and receives treatment, these illnesses can profoundly disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, moods, ability to relate to others, and capacity for coping with the demands of life, such as college. So, if college does not cause mental illness, why is the number of people who are attending college and experiencing such illnesses increasing? NAMI points out that depression and other major illnesses first become apparent during a person’s college years. Students must contend with new surroundings, people, classes, and other various stresses. The pressures of college life, combined with biological factors, have made mental illness on college campuses an increasingly common concern. An estimated 27% of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness. Every year thousands of college students struggle alone with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder. Because awareness of mental illnesses has increased in recent years, more people have been diagnosed and treated, which has allowed them to more effectively deal with their symptoms and lead a more active life — including going to college. The following are ways those experiencing mental illness can make the most of educational experiences: College - cont. on p. 7
T
ed Bittle didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. He didn’t see the suicide bomber sneak up on him. On April 10, 2003, on his first day in Baghdad, Navy Corpsman Ted Bittle and the Marine unit he was working with were clearing a bunker across the street from the stadium where authorities suspected Saddam Hussein was hiding. Ted bore the brunt of the suicide bomb. The shrapnel broke the corpsman’s right eye socket, collapsed his sinus cavity, and he sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result. However, his TBI wasn’t discovered until several months later. After rebuilding his face and caring for his physical injuries, the military sent Ted home on convalescent leave. Thankful to be alive, Ted was happy to be home with his wife Denise and his son Ari, who was seven months old at the time. His symptoms never went away, Ted experienced ongoing pain, chronic fatigue, depression, syncope and seizure-like activity, imbalance, problems with his right leg, and violent mood swings. As a combat medic, Ted was well-versed in medicine, but didn’t put together that he had a brain injury. He struggled to find answers to his ongoing challenges. His anger often got in the way of getting medical personnel to attend to his needs. “I wasn’t communicating right or effectively. Every crack that
Ted Bittle and family was available to slip through, I slipped through,” said Ted. “We traveled several times from New York to [Bethesda Naval Hospital] to see the doctors. They were trying to figure out what could possibly be bothersome to the point where Ted was having seizures. He was forgetful and was having facial pain. After seeing a number of doctors, it wasn’t until November or December that we received the diagnosis of traumatic brain injury,” said Denise. Because of the delay in diagnosis and Ted’s struggles with military paperwork, the couple is currently fighting to rework his disability status. He is unable to work, and gets easily frustrated with day-to-day tasks.
“I would have rather lost my hand than the stuff from my brain. Things I used to do with ease, now I go at and go at, but I can’t make it happen. It’s like solving a puzzle I’ve solved a hundred times before, but now I can’t figure out where the pieces go. That’s my life,” said Ted. One of the toughest transitions for Ted has been going from the person who provides help, to the one who needs help. He has a long military history, serving with the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. He saw active duty at the Pentagon during Desert Storm, and his service to the community didn’t end between wars. In the mid nineties, he obtained a degree in Psychology, and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). His last Bittle - cont. on p. 16