My name is Sherri and I am a parent of two children: Brad (13) and Matthew (11), with severe emotional disturbance (SED). My oldest son, Brad, has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
He required six psychiatric hospitalizations, had seven assaults, and three school suspensions before he was 12. His first hospitalization was at age six, and was the result of a serious suicide attempt, where he rode his bike in front of a car and was almost hit, stating he wanted "...to go live with Jesus so I can be happy."
Some of his hospital stays were back-to-back, and only for 5-7 days allowed. He sometimes needed more time to stabilize, but other times, the 5-7 days was all he needed to get stabilized and able to maintain at home and school--with community-based services. All levels of care have been (and will be) needed for Brad in dealing with his mental illness.
At different times he has needed different levels of care. I don't know how he would have made it through some very difficult times without all services along the continuum available for him.
I do know that because of the intense treatment, care and follow-up services he has received, we have now gone over two years without a hospitalization, and he is attending middle school. Closing state hospital beds would be disastrous for families needing that acute care, unless there are regional hospitals that can effectively treat both long- and short-term needs.
Funding for the Medicaid SED waiver and community- based services gives the support needed for children and families to remain in their own homes and stay out of hospitals as well as out of the juvenile justice system. the success of community mental health services is evident in the lives of the youth they serve.
An example is of my sons, in particular Brad, who recently received the President's education Award for outstanding Academic Achievement with the support of treatment and care he received from the center in our own community. Additionally, he has been appointed as the first youth member of the Kansas Governor's Mental Health Services Planning Council's Subcommittee on youth Issues. He is an example of how treatment allows individuals to remain in their own homes and communities.
This post is part of The Association of Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc. series The Story is Me.
