Show Section ' Tuesday April 27 2004 Pagel The Herald Journal There’s only so much we can do By Trent Wentz X received another phone call last week (they seem to come on a regular basis) from an individual who has a loved one with some significant emotional disorders The individual being spoken of was reported to be talking to someone who wasn’t pfe- sent In addition it was reported that their personal care and hygiene was “terrible” Most disconcerting was that the family member was in the process of severing ties with the rest of the family I was asked to assist in hospitaliz- ing this person or at least in telling ' the family member how to get it done The family member calling appeared to have only a genuine ing interest in getting help for their loved one This is a tough situation for a number of reasons I understand the ' feeling of family when a loved one : doesn't respond normally We want to help them We love them we worry about them and mental illness is so difficult at times to understand ' I have a niece with schizo--' phreriia and I see the worry and heartache her family goes through If is hard for all concerned So what do we do? First just a comment — It is not against the law to be mentally ill! All of us at some timein our lives have at least a brief taste' of depression or anxiety Mental illness cpyers a large continuum of disorders and can stretch from difficulties adjusting to a new job fo major psychotic disorders Just being mentally ill whether slightly or in a large way does not mean any laws are broken nor are any rights of the individual are lost Our laws have attempted to care- fully map a set of rules or guidelines that protect the individual and hjs or her rights People have the right to believe and think as they wish and those individual rights have the of law If this were not the case individuals could be removed' from their society with impunity As it is we have cases all too often where family members take advan- tage usually of an elderly parent and them and their resources! exploit ' The law exists to protect all of us ' So what can be done to assist an indi- -' vidual who is mentally ill? The law does provide that if a person is seen as being a substantial danger to himself or others he can be hospitalized ' even against his will This is done in an Evaluation by mental health officers who are designated as examin- ers for die state The law is carefully developed to avoid abuse of an indi- -' vidual’s rights and at the same time' to provide protection against a per- son harming herself or someone else' This does not however necessarily ': solve the problem When the individ- ual meets the criteria 6f no longer being seen as a danger to sejf or oth- ers he must be released Therefore ' most hospitalizations are of very short ‘duration We don't keep people hospitalized any longer than oecesr ' sary to resolve the danger compo- nent Most people with some form of mental illness are just like you and me they are not a danger to anyone but their quality of life is impaired ' Hopefully concerned family or friends can persuade them to gethelp! We know that a combination of 'good therapy and medications can ' wonders so the hope is that ' when someone is experiencing ' emotional problems they1 will seek ! help and be able to enjoy more satis- Tied lives 'Some of them however may choose not to participate in treatment and as long as they are nbt a danger to themselves or others that is also their right To Alliance The nonprofit orga- nization sponsors medical “expeditions" to needy communities around the world Max and Eva Gyllenskog of Smith--fiel- d last year arranging spent time during-thfor that barge and more than SO volunteers to reach Iquitos Peru on the shores of the Ama- zon River Fqrty of the volunteers were also from Cache Valley It sounds like a contradiction in terms! but Iquitos a city of 500000 is isolated reachable only by river or air Because of poverty its people' lack what residents of developed countries think of as basic healthcare: The original purpose of the Hope Alliance trips to IquitoS was io allow surgeons nurses and technical helpers to wprk with Peruvian and train local health workers US health personnel would staff and supply med-- leal clinics as well as helping in facilities run by the Peruvian government Then a special project came about when Eva Gyllenskog ' began Organizing a vision clinic Contacts in International' Rotary Club and Lions Clubs in both Iquitos and Cache Valley were invaluable "said the Gylleiiskogs The local Lions club in Iquitos set up everything theysaid Alsoone of the Hope Alliance’s principles js to work from a local base '‘We work with the locals and it’s their prtv gram We go in periodically in support of their program” Max said He said the director of Hope Alliance Peru physician Joel Rivera was “incredible” : - R Trent Wentz is director of adult sef: vicesat Bear River Mental Health-- t ' " ! Photos courtesy of Max Gyllenskog Right: Children' of BeWnpose ' Max- i: V V r - ' Valley rasi- -' dents went to Peru recently with the Hope Alliance a 't on-goi- ng : fora photo with volunteer! Gyllenskog of '' Smithfield at ' the dose of the school clinic at San Francisco of Belen About 40 Cache - - er Left: Water taxi as enjoyed here by volun- teers Brooke Lawson Katie Phelps and Jenny Hullinger is an important mode of transportation hi Bel6n a city in the greater Iquitos area! : : read exclaims an overjoyed resident of Iquitos after receiving a pair of glass- es from volunteer Eva Gyllenskog of Smithfield ' ope ranks as important as a barge full of medical supplies in the work of the Hope ' fur-th- "Now I can Bible my again!" By Pat Bohm Trestle features writer on ! Above: Cache Valley folks bring the gift of better sight - pro-tecti- remote Iquitos Peru See PERU on CIO non-prof- it' organization that sponsors medical expe- editions to needy com-: muhities Athletes : With youth CHICAGO f AP) baseball season looming two physician groups are strongly recommending protective eye gear-foyoiing athletes in many orga- nized sports Balls bats rackets and even elbows can cause serious and some- times permanent eye injury and children are particularly susceptible v because of their aggressive playing style and jack of athletic maturity-the AmericatiAcademy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Oph- thalmology say in a joint policy inflii-eriti- al : - : injuries 'in athletes aged 5 to 24' Recommended eye gear ‘includes alonemort:than42000'' ! e lated eye recreation-rwith face guards for base- and helmets sports ' ball batters and base runners and injuries were reported nationwide more than 70percent of them in safety goggles for basketball racket people under age 25 the groups sports and soccer Fashion eyeglass- es are not acceptable the policy 'said' the could reduce Eye protectors “ys- -' While the number of eye injuries risk of significant eye injury in in youth sports is relatively small sports by at least 90 percent' they : said:1 given the number of participants n : The policy lists tennis as a k “the complications and !": ' disability can be great and should sport for eye injury while : : not be taken lightly’’ said Dr David baseball and basketball are high-ris- k and are associated with the most eye Bernhardt of the pediatrics acade- statement--"-- '- Iri20(X) : -- - - moder-ate-ris- long-teri- i: mys-committe- e !' ’ arid fitness (iri 1 sports mcdjcine ' :'H !: '‘Similar to bicycle helmcjsski helmets mputh' guards and other ' interventions this is one more way parents and medical providers can v decrease the risk of injury in sport’’ Bernhardt said “There’s a lot of professional ath- letes'whp wear them so they’re nqt really ‘nerdy glasses"saidDr Joel Brennef also on the pediatrics ' group's committee! March1 The policy appeared in the issue of Pediatrics : - ! |