Spotlight put on mental health after Carrie Fisher's tragic death

Dec. 31--With the global spotlight focused on the passing of "Star Wars" icon Carrie Fisher this week, the spotlight also shines on Fisher's lifelong battle with mental illness.

Fisher died Tuesday at the age of 60, a day after going into cardiac arrest on a flight from the United Kingdom to Los Angeles.

Fisher was one of the first to bring her battle and recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, and mental illness, to the forefront of the public eye. With her passing, she has shown others there is hope for those who suffer from similar afflictions.

In Aiken County, there is help for residents seeking treatment for addiction, alcoholism and mental illness.

Jeff Waddell, director of adult outpatient services at Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Services at 1135 Gregg Highway in Aiken, said there are programs and treatment options available for anyone suffering from mental illness that don't require waiting two months for an appointment.

"We offer treatment on a walk-in basis where we evaluate a patient to see if they are actually suffering from a mental illness, and get them in front of a doctor in three to five days as opposed to waiting up to two months to see a psychiatrist," he said.

The agency also offers a peer support program, where people who suffer from mental illness can get counseling from others who also suffer from disease, but are farther along in a treatment program, Waddell said.

"In a broad spectrum kind of way, it's a lot like AA," he said. "It is very effective."

About 75 percent of those who suffer from mental illness also suffer from some form of drug addiction, Waddell said.

"One often leads to the other," he said. "People are looking for an escape from their condition and turn to drugs and alcohol to get high."

Lisa Tindal, executive director with Mental Health America of Aiken County, said mental illness should be treated as a medical condition.

"The families I've met and the clients we serve have taught me that mental illness is a condition of the brain in need of treatment, understanding and acceptance," she said.

The Mental Health America campaign B4stage4 strives to raise awareness of mental illness before it reaches critical stages, like finding cancer, diabetes or heart disease early, "before stage four," Tindal said.

Treatment begins with prevention, much like when people are in the first stage of those diseases -- and have a persistent cough, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar -- efforts are undertaken immediately to reverse these symptoms, according to B4stage4 campaign documents.

"I agree with the campaign focus to recognize mental illness early and to accept it as a medical condition that is treatable," Tindal said. "We have to talk about the difficult things."

For more information about the B4Stage4 mental health awareness campaign, visit the Mental Health America website at www.mentalhealthamerica.net.

Dan Brown is the city government reporter for the Aiken Standard.

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