Britney bipolar? You think?

Let's see. Spending money like it grows on trees? Check. Self medicating? Check. Hyper sexuality? Check. No clear concept of cause and effect? Check. Erratic behavior? Please. But is it just typical spoiled celebrity business as usual? Publicity stunts? Come on folks, I know that is takes at least nine years and six doctors for the average sufferer to be diagnosed, but this chick sounds classic.

So now that we've thoroughly enjoyed the continuing saga of Britney, her many adventures with her famous friends, her eclectic wardrobe or lack of it, her marriages and their fiery finales, her babies and parenting predicaments - perhaps we should consider the 26 year old woman who is spiraling out of control while everyone gets a giggle or makes a buck at her expense. This is a tragedy. And while everyone seems to have their nose plastered against the window to watch, why isn't anyone doing anything to help this girl?

I'm sure not blaming her family because I know well enough that once a child is "legal" there isn't a damn thing that parents can do with regard to getting someone treatment beyond suggesting it. And I'm pretty sure that one of Brit's symptoms is a startling lack of insight into her own illness - so she's not about to check herself into any hospital any time soon. But you'd think that the folks who hold her contracts might have a little influence by threatening to pull the plug on the money machine. But wait... they make even more money if her antics keep her in the news!

I've had a hard time with this one, often finding myself more contemptuous than sympathetic even though her behavior smells like full blown mania from here. After a lot of soul searching, I came to the conclusion that most of the people I know with bipolar disorder have to fight to be treated and are constantly at war with the insurance company or the VA or Social Security. They have few choices with regard to health providers and are nearly always struggling to pay for medications. They are under or unemployed and live with their parents or in low income housing. Some are homeless. Britney has every available option for treatment, but that doesn't make her less sick. In fact, it probably makes it worse - insulating her from reality and providing her with loads of enablers who profit from her pain.

People afflicted with bipolar disorder and untreated are disabled. In fact the World Health Organization considers them as disabled as paraplegics. Without proper treatment, Britney is not going to get better and is likely to end her life, by accident or with intent. I suppose that would be the Hollywood ending, but it would be such a waste. Those boys deserve their mother. Their mother deserves treatment.

(Ed. note: NAMI weighs in on Britney and the media here.)

Local Schools to get Mental Health Professionals

MOUNT VERNON — For some students, a school counselor can be a refuge from bullies or an open ear to vent about family troubles. But sometimes the school counselor is not enough. Starting in January, schools all across Skagit County will have a helping hand for students who might need mental health counseling.

Mount Vernon elementary schools had a taste of what it was like, with one mental health professional for the entire district. In January, the district will again have a mental health professional in schools, with two more by the end of 2008. In all, districts across the county will have 101/2 mental health professionals by the end of 2008, said Maile Keli’ipio-Acoba, director for Skagit County Human Services. It might take longer to find qualified people, she said.

“Mental health professionals are very hard to find,” Keli’ipio-Acoba said.

Finding enough within the one-year time frame might be hard, she said, but she hopes every kindergarten through eighth-grade school in the county can have someone on whom students can call. The professionals are funded by a 0.1 percent county sales and use tax for mental health. Catholic Community Services administers the program. This year’s program is projected to cost about $300,000.

Kevin Schwitter, school counselor for Washington Elementary in Mount Vernon, said his school had a mental health professional there for a half-day per week last year. Even in that short a time, students and families benefited.

“It gave them a chance to receive services that would have been difficult for them to get any other way,” Schwitter said. “This is a way to get more kids the services they need.”
Children who are on Medicaid often have trouble finding mental health counselors unless they have severe mental issues, Schwitter said.

Jean Champagne, director of special and support services for the Mount Vernon School District, said schools notify parents and get their permission before serving a child with mental health needs. “Mental health issues can really throw a wrench in kids’ ability to learn and behave well,” she said. The need in Skagit County is great, Champagne said.

Two organizations in the county have one child psychologist each, she said. After that, the next closest psychologist is in Bellingham. There are other barriers to access, especially income, that many families cannot surmount, she said.

Bill Cheney, a school psychologist for the Mount Vernon School District, said early mental health counseling can stave off future problems.“Some special education is about mental health issues that have gone untreated,” he said.

Having mental health professionals treat children in their own schools removes transportation issues as well as any stigma of going to a psychologist’s office, he said.
“We want them to be successful as a whole child,” Cheney said.

Thanks to Kate Martin of the Skagit Valley Herald for this article.