[NYAPRS Enews] Rosenthal: Let's Focus on Campus Mental Health, Stigma Not Forced Treatment

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Former Classmate Of Rep. Giffords Shares Personal Memories

By Liz Benjamin  Capitol Tonight  Albany, NY

Since last weekend's deadly shooting in Arizona that claimed six lives,
and left 14 wounded - including a vibrant, young Congresswoman - people
have been trying to understand how something so heinous, so senseless
could happen.

It appeared that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was specifically
targeted by the gunman, prompting some to surmise the attack was
politically motivated. That touched off a national debate about the
tenor of rhetoric in this country and whether it has become too
divisive... whether imagery like targets over Congressional districts,
for example, inspired the violent behavior.

But as more information about the accused gunman became public, it
seemed less likely that a political agenda motivated his grizzly
actions... And more likely that he suffers from an untreated - perhaps
undiagnosed - mental illness. Harvey Rosenthal brings a unique
perspective to this conversation. He is a mental health parity advocate
who has a mental illness. He also has a personal connection to
Congresswoman Giffords.

Rosenthal is the executive director of the New York Association of
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. He is also a former classmate of
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and he joined Liz Benjamin Thursday
from Florida where he is away on vacation.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04cXyroRB8c&feature=player_embedded 

------------------

Tucson Tragedy

Channel 13 Tampa, Florida

January 13, 2011

 

In Thursday's In Depth report, mental health expert Harvey Rosenthal
talks about his encounter with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and signs someone
needs help.


VIDEO STORIES

In Depth: Mental health expert Harvey Rosenthal  
<http://www.cfnews13.com/video?clip=http://static.baynews9.com/newsvideo
/bn9/web_video/In_Depth_Tucson_113.f4v> 

In Thursday's In Depth report, mental health expert Harvey Rosenthal
said most often incidents like the shootings in Tucson, Arizona cannot
be predicted.

"You can, however, find out what could've been done for (Jared Loughner)
and his family in the schools and in the system," he said.

Loughner, 22, is accused of killing six people and wounding 13 in a
shooting rampage that federal authorities allege was an assassination
attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Rosenthal, who has spent 35 years in the mental health industry, said
one of the things that could be learned from the shooting is there needs
to be more done in colleges in regards to mental health.

"From everything we're reading about and learning, (Loughner) really was
putting out a lot of warning signs in the schools," Rosenthal said.
"Rather than provide the kind of triage and access to treatment and
support, they excluded him from school and told him to come back with a
letter. That just doesn't do it."

Documents released indicate Loughner's behavior on the campus of a
community college grew increasingly erratic, menacing and even
delusional.

But Rosenthal, who has a bipolar condition, said not everyone with
mental illness is dangerous.

"The public, generally, unfortunately, really sees us as violent, lock
up the crazies, what should've been done. Frankly, it's important to
know that we grieve equally," he said. "People with mental illnesses are
being out on trial unfairly. We're 11 times more likely to to be victims
of violence, not perpetrators."

According to the American Psychiatric Association, some warning signs a
person is having mental difficulties and could become violent include:
hostility, history of violent behavior, paranoid delusions, command
hallucinations or hearing voices and recreational drug use.

Rosenthal said some of the more subtle warning signs include: difficulty
relating to people, periods of isolation, withdrawn, and preoccupation
with topics and a disruption in social roles.

"If you're unable to work, a lapse in school or work," he said.

He said one thing people can do is to reach out and show compassion.

Rosenthal had actually met Rep. Giffords while at school.

"I found her to be then and now a committed, dedicated, very bright,
very talented person," he said, "who had had a long standing commitment
to our community, as well."

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/january/194061/In-Depth:-Menta
l-illness-and-Tucson-tragedy

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