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Some Stories are Hard to Hear

5/22/2017

Some stories are hard to tell. Some stories are equally hard to hear, but they need to be shared. How does one begin to share a difficult story of abuse, neglect or the horrors and atrocities of war? It is well documented that people shut down or turn away when stories are too overwhelming. So how do you reach people when they don't want to listen or when words are too much?

Jeanne Hewell-Chambers, the founder of the 70,273 project shares a horrible story in a creative way. Her approach enticed me to learn about more about a difficult subject. I'll share how I learned about the project.

May is mental health awareness month and I recently attended a forum on Mental Health Awareness at the Traverse City governmental building (see earlier blog post). From across the room I spotted an artistic quilt display featuring bright red xx's on a white background with the caption, ""70,273 Project." Intrigued, I made my way to that information table. What I quickly learned was 70,273 was the number of "disabled" persons who were murdered by the Nazi's between 1940 and 1941. Doctors, working for the Nazis, were asked to read case studies about people with disabilities. They were asked to judge whether this person was an asset or detriment to society. Each case was read by three doctors. If two doctors put an X next to the person's file, this meant they were deemed not productive to society and were rounded up and murdered.

Jeanne Hewell-Chambers: writer, stitcher, and storyteller learned of this horrible crime while viewing the film Auschwitz: The Nazis and 'The Final Solution. She decided to share this story by creating Project 70,273. She is collecting a quilt block for each disabled person murdered by the Nazis between 1940-1941. Not only does it share this story in a way that can be heard, it also serves as a loving memorial to those who were murdered.

To learn more about this project and how you can participate, visit the facebook page or website at thebarefootheart.com. And yes please share this story!

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Sharing the Story of Mental Illness

5/10/2017

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May is National Mental Health month and last night I attended a free mental health educational forum called "In Our Own Voices" presented by the Traverse City Human Rights Commission. The evening included the showing of the film “Embracing the Paradox” by Steve Morris followed by people with varied mental health issues sharing their personal stories. Susan Odgers, board member of both the Traverse City Human Rights Commission and Real People Media, facilitated the event. Susan, who has used a wheelchair for the past 41 years, also writes a monthly column about people living with disabilities for the Traverse City Record Eagle. Below is May's article.

Every one of us loves someone living with a mental illness
BY SUSAN ODGERS Local columnist

At the age of three, standing in the hallway outside of her bedroom, I remember hearing my great-grandmother, a tall, big-boned Appalachian woman, moaning from her bed, “Harv, please, another pill.”

My great-grandpa, Harvey, began his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines. By the time I was born, he owned hundreds of acres of farmland and numerous downstate apartment rentals. In our family, no one worked harder nor was wiser than Harvey. Confused, I asked my mother why grandpa wouldn't help great-grandma. In a whispered voice weighted with shame, my mother said “Great-grandma Mina is having one of her spells. Grandpa isn't supposed to give her any more medicine.”

Much later I'd realize that Grandma Mina's suffering was due to a mental illness. It was also one of the few challenges my great-grandfather felt ill-equipped to meet.

I often think of my relatives, where I came from and our particular psychology. I believe that's part of the reason I became a teacher, writer, activist and therapist. The wedding ring I've worn for 35 years was also worn by five generations of women in my mother's family. I'm a part of that circle around my finger; their history is my history.

Jack, my firstborn nephew, was the eldest of four siblings. A sweet, tall blond haired young man, he was a thinker with an eagerness to please. Nearly 20 years ago, as a 17-year-old senior, Jack committed suicide. In a short period of time, several students at his high school also committed suicide; earning it the nickname "Suicide High."

From his younger siblings to his grandparents, I never saw my family in more pain. Jack's death changed us all.

Every one of us loves someone living with a mental illness — military veterans with PTSD, college students with eating disorders and anxiety, older adults with depression, various addictions, schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, children with learning issues and spouses with suicidal ideation. These illnesses impact thinking, mood and behavior. They also can be treated.

Just the other day, my friend, Satya, a family practice resident, was telling me that many physicians know beyond any doubt, that a patient's mental and physical health must be addressed together. To do otherwise is to not treat the whole person.

We live in a region with a former state mental institution, yet many of us know little about our neighbors who lived there. Currently, we worry that people with mental illness are violent, criminal and dangerous. However, according to the American Psychological Association, research doesn't bear this out. By far, the majority of people with mental illness are more likely to be the victims of crime, not the perpetrators. Funding parity for mental health and physical health programs has yet to be achieved. There's much more that we all need to know about mental illness.

Susan Odgers is a 30-year resident of Traverse City and has been using a wheelchair for 41 years. She is a faculty member of Northwestern Michigan College and Grand Valley State University. She can be reached by contacting the Record-Eagle.

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Some Stories are Hard to Hear

Sharing the Story of Mental Illness

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