Every time I drive around town, I see some poor struggling soul. I'm sure you know what I mean. The woman pushing a ragged stroller filled with odds and ends, or the shirtless man dancing jubilantly and speaking to no one in particular. Are they homeless? I believe the proper term these days uses displaced or unsettled, and yes, they probably are.
I can't help but think of my own kid, R. If we didn't provide the full support of our family to get the help he needs, I feel positive that would be his fate. My wife agrees without question.
It's difficult to care for a person with significant mental health issues. Or, would it be more accurate to say meaningful mental illness? My wife, his mother, has had to leave her career and care for him. It doesn't do it justice as I re-read that last sentence. Not only does she provide for his every waking need, but spends at least a third of her time on the phone, coordinating his care. It's easily a full-time job and I work my two jobs to keep us afloat. We're OK, but we're not thriving or reaching our own financial goals for retirement.
We often remark on how single parents do it. How can one person do all that while also working to keep the family afloat? We are fortunate and it's also important to note that all our kids are official adults. Imagine if we had a young child to care for as well. I shudder just thinking about it.
And so our fellow citizens suffer with those that can't support their loved ones, or are even unwilling. It's not fair. We need more resources to help and not less. Ideally, we want every member of our society to contribute, financially as well as cooperatively.
There are those that insist our population should grow in order for our country to thrive. But what about these forgotten individuals. Shouldn't we help them come back and become thriving members of our society? It's a cracked system and sadly, some of our fellow citizens fall through the foundation, forgotten.
They needed help earlier on. Access to health care, especially mental health care. Often the latter doesn't seem important or critically, until we see the consequences. Yet, it's not too late, but the task becomes more difficult as time passes without intervention.
I've been to those places that offer that mental health lifeline, but they're overrun and understaffed. And now, that critical funding looks as if it will be further squeezed instead of increased. I wish people would care for these living citizens as much as they do for future ones.
My hope is that you read this and think about that the next time you see someone who needs help. And not be so quick to write them off. They're people who need supported and didn't get it, but it's not too late. We can chose to help them individually, or even collectively at the voting booth.
