End mental health stigma
May is mental health month. Everyone knows someone with mental health challenges. Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers can all be affected. It’s time to reduce stigma. If we reduce stigma, we can relieve some emotional agony that contributes to further suffering. That way, more attention can be directed toward effective treatment and prevention.
Mental health treatment and prevention can be life-saving. Reducing stigma can reduce the risk for suicide, which is preventable and painful for all involved. To help reduce stigma, it is important to understand the scope of the problem with stunning, straightforward facts. Mental health conditions are common. One in five is affected. Treatment is effective, but most of those afflicted do not seek help. Why is that? It is because of stigma. What is the stigma? It is a mark of disgrace. It stems from shame. It is unnecessary. It is damaging.
What can you do? Watch your words. Be kind. Watch your actions. Be compassionate. Be stigma free. Take the pledge: #StigmaFree
If you have mental illness, don’t be afraid. If you or your children feel blue, anxious or out of control, see your primary care provider. If you know someone who is struggling with mental health, be brave. Tell them you care and that there is help to make things better.
Be part of the movement to be stigma free. Support those who need us.
Stephen Meister
Vice president-elect
Maine American Academy of Pediatrics
Manchester
Janice Pelletier
President
Maine American Academy of Pediatrics
Orono
O’Neill for state Senate
I’m writing in support of a woman I know who will represent and work incredibly hard for Senate District 7. I’ve known Moira O’Neill since we took a class together, and she has helped me in numerous ways ever since.
I live in Lincolnville. I am a mom, a wife, a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner and the representative for District 96 in the House of Representatives. I have served on the Health and Human Services Committee this past legislative session. As the only nurse on the Health and Human Services Committee and the only nurse in both the House and Senate, it has been very important to bring a nursing perspective to the hard work of the committee and for votes on the floor.
Whenever I needed some insight into incredible complex health issues, it took a only a phone call or email to get some medical or nursing perspectives from O’Neill. She is an expert in health policy, the opioid epidemic and welfare issues. She also is one of smartest and funniest people I know.
O’Neill is accessible, works incredibly hard and has a mind and personality that will listen, be open minded and persevere for her constituents. We need her in the Maine Senate. We need her on the Health and Human Services Committee. We need her for Maine.
When you vote in the upcoming Democratic primary, please vote for O’Neill for your state senator. I regard the people of Maine with the highest respect. O’Neill will do the same.
Christine Burstein
Lincolnville
DHHS should pay for food stamp error
I was totally disgusted to read the May 26 news that thousands of Mainers will be billed for “overfunding of food stamps” made in error by the Department of Health and Human Services. The people receiving food stamps are doing so because they are in dire need. If DHHS has made the error and gave them more than they should have had, why punish those that have received the overage? It was not their fault, and none of them had any idea an error had been made by DHHS.
If they were in need enough to receive food stamps, they more than likely will still be in need. How can they be expected to pay it back? I believe that if DHHS made the error, DHHS needs to be the one to correct it, not those who were innocent victims.
Seems to me that when the government makes an error, the people end up paying. That is not fair.
Christine Guy
Newport