:: John Sawyer's Blog

Jackson's Cure

How do we save a city in the throes of blight? This has been the omnipresent question for the last 20 years facing residents and public officials here in Jackson. And, yet, how successful have we been?

Just ask your neighbors. It seems everyone has a complaint and a suggestion. If only we'd pave our roads, they say. If the rich white folks hadn't left. If the schools were better. Crime needs to be lower. Buildings are in disrepair. The public officials are corrupt or incompetent. The residents are lazy or apathetic.

And the Monday morning quarterbacking continues.

From a distinctly psychological perspective, placing blame seems to assuage our guilt or our pain with what has happened in the city that we love. When I place blame, then I don't have to feel bad about myself. Someone else get's the pleasure of my dumping on them. Suggestions help us to think we're doing something good; that we're contributing in a meaningful way.

So long as its their problem, then we rest on our mighty thrones proffering solutions that the imbeciles just refuse to accept. Ah, its good to know it all.

Jackson's cure is not in the many solutions we can invent nor in the myriad of ways we can find blame. That's all been done.

Jackson will be cured when we all feel - from Madison to inner city Jackson to Clinton to Belhaven - a sense of community attachment. We must feel inextricably linked to the neccessity of the urban community and the success of its people. But, right now we don't. Instead, we feel attachment to our family, our Church, and sometimes our work.

But, what about about our city? We spend 8 hours - or more - at work, countless hours with our family, and a few at our Church. How many hours do we think about and work on our community? Sure, we can say that we pay taxes for other folks to do that, but that answer assuages our sense of responsibility.

They say when one does the same thing over and over again and expects the same results, then that is a marker of insanity. Well, where has blame and the flooding of surface level solutions gotten us over the years? I guess somewhere, but not where we want to be.

Looking inward and feeling attached - bound even - to Jackson may just be our best bet at generating some outward signs of recovery.

Soldier Suicides Soaring in Iraq

This is a blog on the human cost of empire.

We all understand the ubiquitous phrase of supporting the troops. It has become synonymous with American politics and American culture. In fact, if the old adage - put your money where your heart is - means anything, then our federal budget places the military near and dear our heart.

And, yet, with the hundreds of billions of dollars pumping into our military industrial complex to support missions abroad and the current war in Iraq, Americans need to think about the human cost of empire.

And, keep in mind that this is not a polemic against the military or nation building.

When we send young men and women from various backgrounds to violent and perilous environments to defend, fight, and kill all in the name of national defense, what goes on in their psyche, their emotions, and their mind as they fight? Surely, we don't think these men and women are simply cut off - vacuous - from the emotional toll of death, destruction and despair?

Actually, research tells us that returning soldiers have greater risks for suicide, depression, anxiety, intimate partner violence, and so forth. Soldiers engaging in and returning from war - physically wounded or not - suffer mental wounds as well. I think our society tends to only concern itself with the physically wounded and simply expect soldiers to take it - man up if you will.

That attitude of ignoring the psychological is costing us an increasing suicide rate in Iraq by soldiers. In fact, suicide is the leading cause of non-combat death in Iraq and steadily rising. The military is also suggesting that next year could be the highest since it starting keeping records in 1980.

We all can do a little. First, talk to your military friends about how they are doing. Second, encourage them to seek help if they are feeling stressed. After all, its normal. Third, screen all military in Iraq and those coming home for increased mental health problems. Fourth, expand coverage by Insurance companies so the VAs aren't as overwhelmed. Fifth, let down traditional barriers to counseling and wellness.

Again, we must be vigilant about the human emotional cost of war. Unlike physical wounds, it remains unseen and suffered in silence.

Where have the Mississippi Democrats gone?

Mississippi leads the list - or is at the bottom - on many national statistics.

Let's take a look:

We are the poorest and generally have the lowest standard of living.

Our educational system lends many of our young people to opt out of graduation for a life on the streets or perpetual poverty.

We have a dysfunctional healthcare system where there are fewer doctors per 100,000 people than in TAJIKISTAN (182 versus 218) of all places.

Our mental health agencies are having trouble keeping pace with mental illness claims.

Teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases top many national lists.

I could go on, but we get the picture. These issues have traditionally been - and continue to be - where most Americans favor Democrats over Republicans. And, yet, in Mississippi the Democratic Party seems to be fading into the distance well behind the Republican Party.

Just look at the major election cycle in the last 4 years and the current cycle. There has yet to be any major candidate from the Democratic party to compete with the dominance of the Mississippi Republican institution. That begs to question: what is happening with the Mississippi Democrats?

I refuse to believe its solely a function of Republicans dominating in the Southeast. Even Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Virginia, and Louisiana have competitive Democratic organizations. They have electable state officials and money, to boot.

Is there something different about Mississippi? The concern here is not about the State Party, but about the real issue of democracy. Can we have a functioning democracy without a strong second voice? Can Republican politics and Republican ideology really solve all our problems?

Or, do Democrats in Mississippi have something to offer? I think they do. My concern is that the Democrats in Mississippi are soon to become an afterthought - akin to some third party with little relevance leaving many of its vulnerable and poorest constitutients to fend for themselves.

What are your thoughts? Have I been out of the loop - which is possible - with the MS Democratic party? Maybe my good friend Kate Jacobson and others can help me to see what the MS Democrats are doing / planning to compete with the major political machine that is the Mississippi Republican Party.

Also, please no excuses that Mississippians are ignorant or that its the National DNC, etc. What can we do to regain a competive dual party system in Mississippi again?

What Happened to Men?

Recently, the has been a resurgence within academic communities to study men and male behavior. And, when there is a surge to study something in academia, we can be sure that means there are problems brewing and a host of federal dollars in the pipeline.

The problems are with men and the money is coming to study those problems.

Academics
For the past decade, men have been lagging behind women in almost every academic category besides mathematics. Women are graduating high school at higher rates and are attending college more often than men. Women are also more likely to graduate college and have much higher G.P.A's than men.

Starting Early
Early on in life, boys are much more likely to be suspended or expelled throughout middle and high school. Remember the talkative boys in elementary schools who always got punished (that was me!) or the trouble makers getting in fights? It seems that these early experiences are having a greater effect on men that previously thought.

Emotional and Social Problems
Teenage boys and males throughout adulthood, represent a stark contrast to females. Males are more likely to commit suicide (though females attempt more), more likely to develop an addiction, commit a felony such as theft, assault, or murder, abuse their wives and children, sexually exploit children, and commit rape. The list could go on and on.

What to do?
What are your thoughts on the social and emotional health of men? Why are we falling behind and acting on so many heinous ways?

On (NOT) Supporting Our Troops

According to Kimberly Hefling of the AP, our war veterans along with their families are finding it nearly impossible to acquire mental health services.

Tricare, the military health insurance program, has been criticized by the Defense Department's mental health care task force for having "fragmented rules and policies, inadequate oversight, and insufficient reimbursement." With hundreds of thousands of veterans and their family members suffering from mental health struggles throughout the Iraq War, there has been an overwhelming demand for psychological services, but many therapists and psychologists are not approved or reimbursed appropriately by the military's insurance program.

Tricare reimburses therapists at 66% of a standard rate - even if those rates are higher in more expensive cities. This has caused many therapists to refuse to accept Tricare insurance. Those therapists that still accept Tricare are maxed out on clients and veterans are having to drive hours to find nearby therapists.

While active duty soldiers tend to get better coverage, guard and reserve soldiers and their families have to pay 20% out of pocket causing a signficant financial burden. Especially when it takes months process the trauma of war.

Tricare even released a 20 state study showing they have the lowest acceptance rate from practicing psychologists and psychiatrists! This means that mental health practictioners are fleeing from the low rates and red tape of Tricare - who is charged with providing our veterans with health care!

All of this added up means that our soldiers and their families are not receiving the coveted support that we all claim they deserve. We are leaving hundreds of thousands of military men and women high and dry when it comes to taking care of their mental health. When veterans come back home they face a myriad of struggles and those struggles are not limited to the visible battle wounds we see on television. Our veterans suffer from the invisible scars of trauma, depression, panic attacks, substance abuse, and family strife.

Let's support our troops not just with ribbons and rhetoric, but also with dollars and common sense.

Ask our Representatives to hold insurance companies accountable for taking care of not just the physical, but also MENTAL health of our troops and their families.

Please comment if you have any stories, comments, or helpful information.

Also, if you are a military person living nearly USM there is the University Clinic for Family Therapy that provides very low rates to military personnel for individual, couple, and family therapy. Call them at 601.266.5475.

Our Broken (Mental) Health System

I can imagine the appropriations process at the state capitol can probably be likened to a food line at the homeless shelter – long lines and rarely enough food. Philanthropy and the golden rule are put on hold, while interest groups clamor at the gate hollering for more. Folks, only the strongest will survive this game.

Of course, it would only make sense, then, for those who are most vulnerable and most in need to be the worst at playing this game. Those who need the most – often our children and the mentally ill – end up at the end of the line and empty handed.

Mental Health

Admittedly, our health system in this country has seen better days. Candidates and politicians alike are striking chords with voters over the issue of health care. But, our culture tends to treat health from the neck down failing to consider mental health. Why is that? I would not presume to know. But, I guess it’s easier to solve problems that we can see – like broken bones and gun shot wounds. Should we simply wait around for the mental health x-ray? I hope not. Mental health care should also matter.

PTSD

Following the Iraq war, PTSD is wildly prevalent among our soldiers. Many have a long and arduous process following a tour – or 3 – of duty. They face nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, marital and family problems, and the list could continue. A short news search on PTSD produces a bevy of hits citing hundreds of experts and congressional leaders advocating for better veteran mental health care.
Let’s support our troops entirely – not just with guns, but also counseling.

Katrina

Our state veterans are not alone. Mississippi residents following Hurricane Katrina are also enduring one of the largest mental health crises. WLOX-TV and The Sun Herald led with stories this past week on a recent mental health summit illustrating the looming catastrophe. With nearly 50% of south Mississippi children reporting moderate levels of distress and 70% of south Mississippians stating that they would benefit from counseling, I would think that cutbacks in our state mental health programs are shortsighted at best and immoral at worst.

Children

The state has repeatedly failed to act on behalf of our children’s mental health as well. According to an NPR report, the magnolia state has not met federal – or even state – standards on foster care for over ten years. The difficulty has led to a landmark lawsuit by Children’s Rights and increased attention from the national media.

But, those are paltry details to the awful state report indicating that some 84% of children failed to receive a medical exam once in foster placement, 12% were moved 10 or more times, and 20% spend half their lives in state custody. More shocking, the national standard is 12 to 15 children per state caseworker. Some Mississippi counties had 120 children per caseworker!
And, we wonder why our teens are more likely to drop out of school, get pregnant, eat unhealthy, and become drug addicted. There is your answer folks.

Not all Gloom and Doom

National statistics say that most of us will endure a bout of depression or anxiety at some time during our life. Twenty percent of Mississippians will even meet criteria for a mental disorder – that’s one in five. So, we are not talking about a select few. We are talking about our neighbors and friends.

Because of increased action by news agencies, activists, and, ahem, columnists, Governor Barbour fully funded 7 of our mental health centers. Bravo!
But, this is the first time since the facilities were built! That leaves 8 more without full funding – that means the mentally ill go to prisons or are left to their own devices on the streets.

At the end of the day, I know that every agency still needs more money. It’s a fact of life here in the poorest of the poor states.

But, even in our poverty, we cannot forget those who silently battle depression, drug addiction, and post traumatic stress. We cannot forget children who endure pervading family stress. These diseases may not show up on lab tests, but they are an omnipresent stain on our society.

Let’s join hands and fight for those who have no one to speak for them – let’s fully fund our mental health and human services agencies.