THE FACES OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Sometimes It Wears a Mask

What would make a 28-year-old  pilot, lock the door of the cabin barring the other pilot from entering, and crash the plane taking not only his own life, but that of 149 others?

What would cause a Public Relations powerhouse - who is also a licensed clinical therapist - orchestrate major events with top celebrities, only to come home and cry afterwards? 

What would cause a Wellesley-educated, author, and political insider  miss the signals of her daughter's issues with depression - even though she had previously experienced her own? 

And what would cause a 15 year girl - the victim of a vicious beat down  in a fast food restaurant captured on camera and splashed across newspapers, TV and computer screens - proudly declare that she is "Famous," now? 

The common denominator here is a reflection of the range of complex mental illness issues that affect a variety of people in a variety of different ways. The symptoms often go undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or hidden.   

News of the crash of Germanwings Flight 4U 9525, killing all aboard was horrific enough without the unsettling revelation that the co-pilot, Andras Lubitz, deliberately crashed the plane. 

According to French newspaper, La Parisian, Lubitz had been diagnosed with depression in 2009, exhibited suicidal tendencies and had been treated with anti-psychotic drugs. He clearly kept his illness well-hidden - investigators later found torn up "doctor's notes" in the trash in his home. Notes that apparently never made it to his work supervision to keep him out of the cockpit that day.

Recently I attended an event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, in Harlem, hosted by public radio station WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez - "Breaking Point: New York's Mental Health Crisis."  Participants included health care professionals and advocates who are fighting against the stigma of mental illness as well as improved treatment options for those affected.

Among the speakers was New York City's First Lady Chirlane McCray. She spoke candidly and passionately about issues involving depression in her own life and that of her family -- her parents dealt with depression and her daughter is currently receiving counseling. Ms McCray told of her depression in her teen years and how she used marijuana and alcohol  to try to cope with it. She also spoke of missing signals in her daughter's behavior: "I thought, well my daughter is a teenager, she's just rebelling -- that's what teens do...My advice to parents is if you feel something isn't right, trust your instincts."

Another speaker was PR entrepreneur  Terrie Williams, who has represented a long list of stellar clients such as: Eddie Murphy, Janet Jackson, Master P, the NBA and the late attorney, Johnnie Cochran. Terrie has long shared her issues with the severe depression she sunk into years ago. Thankfully she emerged from it to become a major force in mental health advocacy. Her book, "Black Pain - It Only Looks Like We're Not Hurting," focuses on what she calls the "mask," that many depressed individuals wear to hide their pain. 

She spoke with emotion about coordinating public relations events with major celebrities only to "come home and  cry." It escalated to a point where she would not leave her apartment, severing contacts even with close friends, until one day some friends came to get her and encourage her to seek counseling. 

She went to a therapist and after a few minutes of seeing Terrie in tears, the therapist said, "You are clinically depressed."

Yet despite being armed with an MSW degree and being a  licensed clinical therapist, Terrie  said: "I didn't have the language to describe how I felt..." As part of her mental health advocacy Terrie has also written "Stay Strong" Simple Life Lessons for Teens," aimed at helping teens cope with the difficult, emotionally stressful, teen years. She has also addressed The United Nations' World  Mental Health Day and serves on the NCAA Mental Health Task Force.

As for (I won't use her name and make her even more "famous"!) the 15 year-old victim of a group assault in Brooklyn McDonald's, her response was to post: "EVERYONE like IM Famous now," on her Facebook page the next day along with a selfie showing off her remarkably unscarred face. I don't know anything about her background or medical history - but her bizarre reaction to being pummeled by a group in full view of bystanders who offered no help - cries out for some professional help. 

According to Mental Health America, a leading community-based advocacy organization, 19 million Americans suffer from clinical depression. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to have it, and those with a family history are at higher risk. African-Americans also tend to be more susceptible. There are many groups and individuals working to treat mental health and advocate for those affected. But the biggest battle may be around the stigma of mental illness. No one wants to believe that they are "losing their mind" or my "mother is acting crazy."  And how, we wonder, is depression different from the normal "blues" that we all get from time to time.

Here are some signs and symptoms of depression:

• persistent sad, anxious or "empty feelings
• feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• irritability, restlessness 
• loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable - including sex   
• difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• insomnia, early-morning wakefulness or excessive sleeping
• overeating, or appetite loss
• thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
• aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

So the face of mental illness could be that of a major city's  First Lady, PR mogul, airline pilot - or the 15 year old who thinks getting beaten up at McDonald's makes her famous. 

Or it could be your face or the face of someone you love. Getting help is the first step - it could mean the difference between disaster and making a positive difference in your life and the lives of others.

IN DEFENSE OF NATIONWIDE
Why Child Safety Should Not Be Off On Super Bowl Sunday 

The impassioned outcry over the Nationwide Insurance Super Bowl ad - which apparently dampened the spirits of the chicken wing eating, Bud-guzzling, Katy Perry ogling TV audience, has gone from excessive to infuriating.

The amped up rage has almost equaled the calls for Seahawks' Coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russel Wilson to be publicly shamed in the town square (which I totally understand this being a sporting event). 

If you have not seen it (welcome back from Antarctica) the ad depicts a fair-haired suburban looking, white youngster. At first it seems that he is having  typical adolescent fantasies: riding his bike beside his dog, getting a sloppy, albeit unwanted, kiss from a "girl" on the school bus, and finally hang gliding  through the air. It ends with him saying words to the affect of: "I'll never be able to do these things because I'm dead." Then  woman's voice over talks about how accidents kill more children than almost anything else will.

Shame on Nationwide?

No! shame on the media bashing by the likes of (for openers) The morning news show trio -"Today Show," "Good Morning America," and "CBS This Morning." Oh what a downer! they all nodded and momentarily lost their Colgate smiles when discussing the "best and worst Super Bowl Ads." 

Sorry - for the buzz kill - but did you news folks see the NFL's ad on domestic violence? Didn't that ruin your Bud buzz just a bit? The one about the woman dialing 911 within earshot of her potential (or actual) abuser and pretending she is ordering a pizza? It ends with the 911 operator telling her that the police are on the way as the camera pans a room in disarray where perhaps a struggle or assault has occurred.  A well done ad. Albeit a weak NFL reaction to their own  issues of domestic violence and the broader issue of allowing ads in the Super Bowl and every other game that objectify and portray women in a stereotypical, often degrading manner.   

I have worked in PR and advertising for decades. I have also taught at such major institutions as the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. And I have been in some of those rooms when people make decisions about what goes public in campaigns and commercials. I was not privy to what the Nationwide people were thinking in their rooms or what they really wanted the ad to achieve. But if  -- as they have said -- it was to "create a conversation" about the serious issue of accidental deaths among children, then that is not only acceptable, it is admirable. That "conversation" is a worthy one - every bit as much as the domestic violence one is. Even if for 48 seconds it dampens your Katy Perry "spectacular half time" thrill.  

In 2010 - the most recent statistics of deaths from children ages 0 - 19: Per 100,00, the number of deaths from "unintended injury" is 8,694. Many, if not most, of these deaths of young people were preventable.      

Homicide?: 2,808 per 100,000. Suicide?: 1,933. Both more widely covered by the news media. 

But to me, by far the most compelling statistic is how many times (or how few) the kings of TV morning news and their 24/7 counterparts have covered he issue of rates of accidental deaths of children over the past year.

Maybe they will after the furor of deflatgate and Bruce Jenner's "transition" settles down.

8,694 dead in 2010. Is it an accident that it is not a major news story?