Early Intervention

At Judy's house party on Saturday, I met a couple whose daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was in her early twenties. I've written here before about the importance of early intervention. I believe that for children and adolescents, early intervention is so important in their lives. If a child or adolescent has an anxiety disorder, a depressive disorder, or bipolar disorder, for example, early intervention allows the child or adolescent to become self-actualized about the illness, and to learn to manage it.

However, schizophrenia usually doesn't onset until age 19 or so, I'm told. And most people with an onset of this illness don't get treatment for an average of five years. That's why the public education part of this campaign is so important. It is so very important that people who suffer with that mental illness have an idea as to what is happening, and that they be able to find treatment if that is their choice. And it is important to their families, too, who often feel helpless.

Please continue to help us by spreading the word about our campaign. I appreciate every bit of help that we get because I know that we may never get another opportunity like this one. This campaign is ours to win or to lose.

I'll be in Bakersfield at the Beale Library today to speak about the campaign. Hope to see you there.