Without medical assistance, my son won't survive in this world.
Currently me and my husband help him manage his activities of daily living. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2019 at the age of 23. Thankfully, at this juncture, Invega Sustenna and Depakote keep him stable to the point where he can work part-time. Also, with guidance and direction from loved ones, he can function. By function, I mean open some mail, pay some bills, shower, drive to work, and have cohesive, coherent conversations with people.
Any other aspects of life aren't part of his repertoire. Things such as having friends and being involved with the social aspects of life beyond those things I mentioned above don't occur. I hope someday that changes, but the medication he takes has side effects.
More research and less stigma associated with brain disorders is long overdue.
My son didn't take illicit drugs, he's not an alcoholic, and he wasn't abused. He developed a disorder in a major organ; His brain! He deserves treatment and respect. Our family needs our community to be supportive of him and of us; his caregivers, without stigma.
Each story is shared by someone impacted by untreated SMI,
lightly edited for clarity, never for meaning.
Do you have an ask? If you were sitting down with your legislator, how would you ask them to help you?
Please don't take away Medicaid, and please put funds towards research for serious brain disorders.
