In the Wake of Virginia Tech

>-------- Original Message --------
>Subject: [NYAPRS Enews] In the Wake of Virginia Tech Tragedy: Calls to
>Action, Media Responsibility
>Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:59:56 -0400
>From: Harvey Rosenthal <harveyr@nyaprs.org>
>Reply-To: HarveyR@nyaprs.org
>To: <nyaprs@kilakwa.net>
>
>NYAPRS Note: Following are two very timely pieces by NYAPRS Board member
>Steve Miccio and Marcie Granahan, executive director of our national
>organization, the United State Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
>
>
>
>A Call to Action
>
>By Steve Miccio, executive director PEOPLe, Inc.; immediate Past
>President, NYAPRS
>
>
>
>Whenever there is a tragedy of any kind that involves the loss of people
>it is extremely painful and I can't express enough sympathy for the
>families, students, colleagues and friends at Virginia Tech. I only hope
>that they find comfort in one another and in the joyful memories of
>their loved ones. This not only affects the people directly connected to
>the incident, it has affected all of us and right now we need to be
>cognizant that this event has traumatized a nation.
>
>
>
>The unfortunate outcome of this tragedy will no doubt take aim at the
>mental health community as it so often does when someone has a history
>of mental illness prior to such a tragic event. As professionals and
>people that use mental health services, we must be prepared to address
>this fallout in a respectful and proactive manner.
>
>
>
>We will most likely see the media report stories on mental illness and
>hear overgeneralizations concerning perceived "dangers" of mental
>illness. We will here stories blaming the mental health professionals
>for not protecting the community and we will be witness to the anger and
>fear from people in our communities surrounding mental illness. These
>reactions should not impede our progress of developing a recovery-based
>mental health system. We have been witness to media persecution for too
>long and it has resulted in increased fear and discrimination.
>
>
>
>As we are confronted with the stigma, fear and blame we must assure
>people that there are literally millions of people being successfully
>treated for mental illness each year in our country. It is important to
>note that the majority of people with mental illness are our neighbors,
>friends and relatives and that mental illness should not be equated with
>violence.
>
>
>
>Now is the time to stress the reality that people can and do recover
>from mental illness with proper supports and treatment. We should
>intelligently educate and infuse our knowledge of recovery into the
>media and within our communities and discuss how important it is for
>individuals to reach out for help. It's time to tell families and
>friends to support one another in getting help and treatment rather than
>ignoring a problem. This should be our time to illustrate the fact that
>it is acceptable to talk about mental illness or mental health in our
>schools and communities so that people can begin to understand that
>there are choices, hope and options for a better quality of life.
>
>
>
>This is not the time to fade quietly into the background and wait for
>the storm to blow over. It may not feel comfortable, but if we don't
>address and educate our communities with a strong factual and supportive
>voice we will witness the destruction of the wonderful work that we have
>been doing in promoting better recovery outcomes for all of the people
>we serve.
>
>
>
>This is the time that we must embrace the opportunity and teach while at
>the same time help a community to heal. Please find your voice and get
>out and educate your community about the work that you do and talk about
>where the mental health field is going to ensure that all people are
>treated with respect in an effective and efficient recovery-based mental
>health system.
>
>
>
>Steve Miccio
>
>PEOPLe, Inc.
>
>
>
>-------------
>
>
>
>United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Concerned Media
>Coverage Of Virginia Tech Shootings Will Increase Stigma
>
>
>
>Linthicum, MD. - April 18, 2007 - The U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation
>Association (USPRA) wishes to express its deepest sympathies to the
>family, friends and classmates of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute
>shooting victims. As details surrounding the shootings continue to
>unfold, USPRA has become increasingly more concerned that the media's
>focus on the killer's mental illness will lead the public to believe
>that all persons will mental illness are potentially violent. Public
>perceptions that violence is strongly associated with mental illness are
>fueled by graphic media reports of violent crimes.
>
>
>
>Studies have shown that it is incredibly rare for someone with a mental
>illness to commit gross acts of violence, especially on such a scale as
>the Virginia Tech shootings. Violence is no more prevalent among
>individuals with mental illness than the general public, and often are
>more likely the victims of violence than the perpetrators. Along with
>its continued disapproval of media portrayals of mental illness, USPRA
>is concerned that the focus on the student shooter's possible mental
>illness will cause many students with mental illnesses on college
>campuses to not seek mental health services or be treated with suspicion
>as potential murderers, leading to their further isolation and
>discrimination.
>
>
>
>"USPRA is disheartened that the media continues to play to people's
>misperceptions by painting mental illness as evil and something to
>fear," said Marcie Granahan, CAE, chief executive officer of USPRA. "For
>thirty years, we have been working to break down the barriers and stigma
>associated with severe mental illness. Along with our members, we have
>developed the practice of psychiatric rehabilitation that leads to
>recovery and provides hope. Our hearts go out to the family and friends
>of the 32 victims and also to those of the suspected shooter. This
>incident underscores the need for quality campus mental health services
>and psychiatric rehabilitation support for college students with mental
>illnesses."
>
>
>
>Psychiatric rehabilitation professionals have conducted research on the
>experiences of college students with mental illnesses and have created
>state-of-the-art rehabilitation interventions to support these students
>to maximize their success and full inclusion. Mark Salzer, Ph.D., from
>the University of Pennsylvania Collaborative on Community Integration,
>recently conducted a survey where he found that college students with
>mental illnesses feel more alienated from other students and their
>campuses compared to the general college student. "The response to
>college students with mental illnesses should be to embrace and support
>them, rather than further alienate them by greatly overemphasizing any
>supposed inclination toward violence," stated Dr. Salzer.
>
>
>
>It is the hope of USPRA that the nation may learn from the Virginia Tech
>shootings that all individuals, college students included, have the
>right to necessary and appropriate mental health and rehabilitation
>services, and should be treated with dignity and respect, not with fear
>and shame. The continued portrayal of mental illness as a cause or
>precursor for violent acts is stigmatizing and discriminatory to a
>vulnerable population. In the wake of such a national tragedy receiving
>world-wide media coverage, USPRA urges all media networks to avoid over
>generalizations about the link between mental illness and violence.
>
>

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