A Mother Committed Herself to Help her Son

Lacey Lipe, a mother in Columbia, S.C. has an exceptionally difficult job. Even after she was forced to quit her day job, her job as a mother had her working over-time. Her strong 18-year-old son, was physically and mentally too much for Lipe to handle, especially on her own. As a single mother to a child with bipolar disorder and autism, she grew afraid of his strength and violent tendencies.

South Carolina has an underfunded state mental health system, that would not help treat Lipe's son. After years of Lipe attempting to receive care for her son, she placed matters into her own hands. She committed herself into a hospital complaining of post-traumatic stress disorder in January, which was a year after her son's house-based services ended. Lipe knew if she committed herself into a hospital, the state authorities would help provide her son with one of the state's residential treatment beds. Lipe knew the only way to have her son committed was if she committed herself first.

This article reveals the severity of the affects that the cuts to mental health budgets have on families who have children with mental illness. In the past two years, mental health budgets have been down $1.8 billion across the country. Lipe, who lives in a state where the mental health budgets have been cut by 23 percent, knew committing herself into a psychiatric ward was her only choice.

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Art Journalist Recovers From Bipolar Disorder

             Bipolar disorder is a mental illness involving episodes of severe mania and depression.  Those who suffer experience excessive mood swings.  According to Mental Health America, over two million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder.  Not only is this disorder extremely distressing and disruptive for those diagnosed, but it is very difficult for their loved ones to deal with as well.  Although there is not a cure for bipolar disorder, it is treatable; it’s been proven that recovery is indeed possible.  New York Time‘s art journalist, Lizzie Simon, proves this notion. 

            According to an article in the Daily Pennsylvania, Simon was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 17.  She recalls suffering episodes of depression, dread, anxiety and even attempted suicide.  However, joining Active Minds, a group that promotes positive conversation about mental health, was a turning point in Simon’s life that empowered her to view her mental illness as a challenge, not a setback.  Active Minds gave her the resilience and compassion she needed to overcome this disorder.

            Simon strongly believes that medications can’t cure shame, loneliness, anger or fear of a limited future.   Instead, she is adamant about mental illness patients being treated with dignity, empathy and respect.  Once imagining the CIA was after her, Simon now uses art as a way to combat her disorder.  Contextualizing and coping with a mental illness is the most powerful way to seek recovery.  Simon is a living inspiration to all those who suffer.  

-Jordan Gutterman