Breaking Silence To Heal The Sick

[breaking medbot's security protocol to access blog function] . . . just figures. Christie was disallowed from the Republican debate right after making one of the few truly presidential speeches he's ever made.

About mental illness?

[double take] Uh, right. I forgot you were listening. Social stigma are always the enemy of positive, pragmatic leadership. I'm recalling some input I got from Herr D for a quick review of the issue. Context check module?

On.

Blog function?

On.

 [approximate recreation] So, Herr D, why did you volunteer with the mentally ill?

[ccm: excerpts from chat dating back to 2013]
I had a relative with a condition. My relative was a good person and deserved more help than was available. Volunteering was something  I could do to make up the slack. 

What did you learn while volunteering? You're not one to single-task.

Every job IS for learning. I learned that mental illness can  be improved just by socializing with consumers without showing obvious fear. 

 . . . and that's important in recent history.

That became important at Virginia Tech. I never found out how many of us signed the document we submitted to that office in West Eggleston Hall, where the Housing office was located at that time. It would have been more than a dozen but less than fifty. We told them in '93 that moving to a keycard system  or other non-personalized system would be a bad thing. 

 So you made a difference?

Unfortunately, the guy who presented the document for us was told that we had an obvious conflict of interest and wouldn't be listened to. The student security jobs that were being eliminated were ours to lose. 

 I'm sorry you didn't feel like you accomplished anything. I don't guess you have any proof of this?

Not proof, exactly. Just every competent clinician would say that live security from a peer group might have made a difference. --And my shirts. We wore these blue uniform t-shirts that said "UUSA" for University Union of Student Activities. If we'd been wrong, there'd be a bullet hole in one of mine, maybe. Because we'd been sure that criminal or insane acts would be partially prevented by live security in ways that machines can't. Anyhow, following the Tech shooting, no one would've been interested in a bunch of alumni blurting out 'we told you so,' and it wouldn't have helped bring anyone back. 

No. This isn't the only thing you've done related to this issue, is it?

No. After the Columbine shooting I sent a letter to the White House. It suggested that any incident of a minor's shooting spree or  similar crime be followed by two things: investigation of the minor's history for the possibility of child abuse, and, if discovered, that the abusers be charged with reckless endangerment of the public at large.

Well, that makes sense. Did it result in anything?

 I have to say the reply was underwhelming. They promised me an autographed picture of the president. It never came, so . . . 
 [ccm: context maintained--100%]

Yuck. People don't seem to want to talk about it, do anything about it, nothing. I must say, I'm pleased with Herr D's efforts and disappointed with the general lack of responsibility and action taken by the public and its leaders.

Shelob, what are you doing?

You aren't supposed to be blogging. medbot will need a workup. 

This isn't a blog entry! Half this was written by Herr D over a year ago! I just formulated six conversations into one maintaining original context of each part. Oh, order the workup. Health is important. Blog function off--[end transmission]