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6A – Daily News – Monday, November 29, 2010 Opinion Sobering facts about mental illness D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 A report issued this month by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reveals more than 45 million Americans, about one in five U.S. adults, had some form of mental illness last year, and 11 million had a serious illness. Not being an equal opportunity destroyer, young adults aged 18 to 25 had the highest level of mental illness at 30 percent, while those over 50 had the lowest with less than 15 per- cent. The overall rate of mental ill- ness in America was slightly high- er than the prior year's figure reflecting increasing depression especially among the unemployed. According to the National Institute of Health, Americans are not get- ting the help they need and oppor- tunities to prevent and intervene early are regularly being missed. The consequences for individuals, families and communities are dev- astating as untreated mental ill- nesses often result in disability, substance abuse and related crimes, suicides, lost productivity, and family discord. The data hint at the impact of record unemployment rates, which last year hit a 25-year high, as struggling employers slashed jobs in response to the weak economy. Nearly 15 million Americans had major depression last year, debili- tating 10 percent of the jobless, 7.5 of those not in the job force, 7.3 percent who worked part time and 5.4 percent who worked full time. To make matters worse for many, lost employment also meant loss of health insurance, leaving many of the mentally ill unable to get treatment. According to the report over six million adults last year had a mental health need that went untreated, and over 40 percent said it was because they could not afford treatment. Less than two- thirds of adults aged 18 or older with major depression were treat- ed last year, compared with 71 per- cent the previous year. Being jobless also significantly increased the risk of suicide. Adults who were unemployed last year were more than twice as like- ly to have serious thoughts of sui- cide as people who were fully employed, with 6.6 percent of the unemployed considering suicide, compared with 3.1 percent of those who were working. The sur- vey also found that significantly more women had some form of mental illness than their male counterparts. These sobering statistics under- score the fact that Americans are more stressed than ever with con- cerns of their economic stability, personal security, and their ability to adequately care for themselves and their families. With north state unemployment rates hovering well above the state and national levels we should be especially vigilant that our friends and neighbors showing signs of mental illness and depression are han- dled with compassion and provided the treat- ment necessary to stem its debilitating effects. As one that has suf- fered from mental illness and drug addiction I can personally speak to the insidiousness of the dis- ease and the challenges of recovery. Initially it was friends, a supportive community, and a healthy lifestyle to mitigate problems, maintain hope, and pre- vent relapse. For me this meant Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point necessary to recognize the problem and the impacts it was having on my fam- ily, friends and self. Then I had to stop blaming others for my situa- tion and realize that only by taking personal responsibility could I benefit from treatment. With the help of government and charitable health and social service programs I was able to restore my sobriety and support of my family to com- pletely recover. Through this process I came to realize how important it is have reliable developing new friends, completely changing my sur- roundings, and living authentically by deal- ing with loss and pain by appreciating and expressing my feelings in productive ways. Today I see mistakes as opportunities for improvement, know my feelings are impor- tant when making per- sonal choices and situ- ations to avoid, and am grateful for the wis- dom gained through my disability and recovery. So I say to those of you that feel things are out of control, that are disconnected from loved ones or communities, that use ille- gal substances or alcohol to numb pain or deal with reality - treat- ment is effective, mental health can be restored, and joyous living can be yours by seeking the help you desire and deserve. Richard Mazzucchi can be reached at living-green@att.net. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249;(916) 319-2002;Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramento, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558- 3160; E-mail: governor@gover- nor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893- 8363. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Mont- gomery St., Suite 240, San Fran- cisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Calif goose cooked ‘Brown;’hope for nation Commentary Having opined my way around the local election results, the com- mendable patterns by the over- whelming majority of Tehama County voters in their choices for propositions, state legislative seats, Governor, and the U.S. House and Senate, there’s more to examine. Liberal readers will probably find it unbearable at times, but you can call it "tough love." I write now for the edification of the concerned conservative read- ers, bummed out by what the Cali- fornia electorate hath wrought, while perhaps not fully grasping the monumentally positive politi- cal shift east of the Sierras and Cas- cades. First, with Governor-elect Jerry Brown, you have very little reason for optimism since he is responsible for allowing public sector workers to unionize, the results of which are plain to see in the impending bankruptcy of municipalities up and down the state. Yes, elected officials should have told union negotiators to "pound sand" instead of saddling their citizens with financially unsustainable pension and benefit deals, better than the private sector, often requiring little contribution by the public employees them- selves. Witness the disgusting dis- play of arrogance and intimidation that went on in Redding when union thugs (my highly accurate term given their actions) made threats to local businesses that sup- ported candidates running to force major concessions from the unions over benefits. Regarding Brown, however, some smart observers have described him as having fiscally sound inclinations, and a very bright, knowledgeable and prag- matic wife. He might, just might, have the ability to do the right thing and cut California’s bloated budget and union contracts. He might fight the knee-jerk Democrat playbook of raising taxes while maintaining an unfriendly business climate of mindless regulation, and a playing field slavishly tilted in favor of the lawyers and environmentalists. However, don’t count on it. The voters in the rest of the state gave the legislature the green light to pass budgets, without any Republi- cans on board, by a simple majori- ty. Republicans in Sacramento, for their part, are quite content to tell the Democrats that, since they no longer have to buy off any Repub- lican votes with either goodies, budget restraint or business incen- tives – Democrats now own Cali- fornia’s mess. Another unfortunate reality, for the Sacramento way of governing, is that the election changed the entire game in Washington when it comes to possibly transferring tens of billions of "other people’s money" to bail out the profligate spenders and public employee con- tracts in our state. In the nearly inevitable process of bankruptcy or receivership, made all the more likely by the continued flight of the top earners, entrepreneurs, and businesses to friendlier states, there will be no special deals for unions and public employees, like with the GM bailout that short-changed bondholders to give unions unde- served, unmerited access to tax- payers’ billions. Republicans to California: "You made your own financial mess; now fix it by changing laws, regu- lations and contracts, and cutting the gravy train off for welfare recipients, illegal aliens and spoiled university stu- dents. No bailout for you!" We have Governor Jerry Brown and not Governor Meg Whitman because of massive money spent to define Whitman’s accomplish- ments and resume in the predictable "bash the rich, bash the corpora- tions" style that appeals to the liberal-leaning, dumbed-down elec- torate. Republicans gained: at least 63 House seats, 6 Senators, 7 Gover- nors, about 680 state house seats and around 14 state legislative houses bringing total control of 25 state hous- es. Due to the growing migration of people and producers out of Demo- crat-run states, Republi- cans will control so much of the redistricting that Democrat chances of returning to promi- nence in Washington are very slim. Don That massive money came from unions and trial lawyers and culmi- nated in the sham contro- versy over Whitman’s housekeeper, orchestrat- ed by that reprehensible charlatan-of-a-lawyer (my opin- ion), Gloria Allred. It worked mar- velously and now Democrats’ efforts have left no one else to blame from here on out – there are no games left to play – for the hard choices. Let’s go back to that "monu- mentally positive political shift east of the Sierras and Cascades" (Ore- gon also elected a retread Democ- rat for Governor, and Washington reelected a Senator as dumb as Boxer, Patty Murray). While many conservatives disdain the Califor- nia results, the national tidal wave was such a put down, such a slap, such repudiation against the Obama/Pelosi/Reid liberal agenda (an agenda never voted for in 2006 or 2008) that we can take heart. Polson The way I see it The center/right majority of America is awakened to the existen- tial threat posed to America’s Constitution- al self-governance by the left. Hopefully, as you read this, you know in your gut that you can never ignore those enthralled with using the power of government to force you to accede to their goals and designs on your every action, decision and dollar. Getting, and staying, involved in your local Tea Party Patriots is one way to act on that gut feeling. Incoming Speaker, John Boehner, said it well, "Across the country right now, we are witness- ing a repudiation of Washington, a repudiation of big government, and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the peo- ple." Don Polson has called Red Bluff home since 1988. He can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com.