Mental Health Awareness Month – Let’s Also Recognize the Caregiver
Since 1949 May has been Mental Health Awareness Month. I can safely say that the perception and reaction to mental health has changed exponentially since 1949, but it hasn’t been a swift transformation. Our healthcare system has slowly begun to recognize that mental illness can be treated and that there are answers to enable folks live productive lives. Historically, there was a huge lack of facilities and trained providers to treat the mentally ill. I remember actively advocating, 25 years ago, for insurance companies to increase, or in some instances just to start, the coverage of mental disorders. It was seen as a huge cost, fraught by fraud and abuse, that would skyrocket premiums. In some cases, it took more stringent government laws and regulations to force the coverage of patients with mental illness. We are doing much better now to cover the costs. But one of the biggest barriers to overcome was the stigma toward mental illness.
As a bombardier on a B-52, I sat on alert with planes armed with nuclear weapons. I was screened and periodically monitored to ensure that I was mentally capable of working with and controlling these weapons. It was very bad form - and even detrimental to your career - if you told anyone you were feeling stressed, felt anxious, or were experiencing any mental health challenges. Now I do recognize the importance of only allowing mentally healthy people around weapons of any nature but I also know that the stigma of mental illness prevented some people from getting help that might have quickly resolve a mental problem. I believe it probably allowed some people with serious mental problems to go undetected for longer periods of time. While the stigma has been reduced, it is still hard for people, especially men, to admit to, or even talk about, a personal mental health challenge.
It seems to me that mental illness is like cancer, from the point of view that we all know someone close to us who has the illness. My experience has led me to have a great deal of empathy for those who become caregivers for a loved one who is stricken with mental illness. I’ve seen the frustration in even getting an accurate diagnosis, let alone a treatment program that gives the patient a path to some sort of normalcy. It also seems like it is often a long and expensive process. It shows we still have a long way to go in our journey to effectively deal with mental illness.
I’ve often championed the caregiver when I write or discuss our healthcare system because they often go unrecognized and don’t get the financial help and education on how to best care for their loved ones. Being a caregiver for those with a mental illness is especially difficult and can be a very long and expensive process. For eight years there has been caregiver legislation proposed that would help reduce that financial burden. It was estimated that in 2023 family caregivers provided over $600 billion of unpaid care. It was also estimated that in 2021 that the average out-of-pocket costs for family caregivers was $7,242 a year. One bill that has been re-introduced in March was the Credit for Caring Act, which would give up to a $5,000 tax credit for working family
caregivers. It seems like a no brainer to encourage more people to give care by allowing this tax credit. This act would in a small way recognize and offer some reimbursement for the time and money caregivers sacrifice when they offer this heartfelt care. We should encourage our lawmakers to get behind this bi-partisan bill.
As I always try to do in my blogs, I want to offer some information and maybe some help as we focus on mental health this month. I found an excellent guide about how a person can open a dialogue and help a loved one that seems to be experiencing some mental health issues.
IDENTIFY AN APPROPRIATE TIME AND PLACE. Consider a private setting with limited distractions, such as at home or on a walk.
EXPRESS CONCERNS AND BE DIRECT. Ask how they are feeling and describe the reasons for your concern.
ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FEELINGS AND LISTEN. Listen openly, actively, and without judgement.
OFFER TO HELP. Provide reassurance that mental disorders are treatable. Help them locate and connect to treatment services.
BE PATIENT. Recognize that helping your loved one doesn’t happen overnight. Continue reaching out with offers to listen and help.
This guidance also offered some help with things you can say to begin the dialogue with someone you want to help. You can say things like:
“I’ve been worried about you. Can we talk? If not, who are you comfortable talking to?”
“I see you’re going through something. How can I best support you?”
“I care about you and am here to listen. Do you want to talk about what’s been going on?”
“I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately. How can I help?”
This can be the first step in helping a loved one who might be having a mental health problem. I found these helps and other information on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website.
Take some time this month to recognize the importance of helping and supporting people who are involved in caring for those with mental illness and encourage our government to recognize and assist those who care for their loved ones with mental illness.
Best, Thair