Thanks Joe Scarborough, You Just Set Back The Autism Community About 60 Years

Last Friday morning I woke up and learned about the movie theatre massacre in Aurora.  

Twelve people were killed - including 6 year old, Veronica Moser-Sullivan.  More than 50 people were injured. Among the injured, a pregnant woman.

I've spent the last few days glued to the news, unable to stop watching the coverage.  And the stories are horrific and heartbreaking.

And yesterday, I read this article by Tommy Christopher.  As a parent of a young son with autism, it was devastating to read (and hear) Joe Scarborough's words: 

You have these people that are somewhere, I believe, probably on the autism scale, I don’t know if that’s the case here, but it happens more often than not, people that can walk around in society, that can function on college campuses, can even excel in college campuses, but are socially disconnected. I have a son who has Asperger’s who is loved by everyone in his family and who is wonderful, but it is for those that may not have a loving family and a support group and may be a bit further along on the autism spectrum, an extraordinarily frustrating, terrible challenge day in and day out. and so, I do think, again, I don’t know the specifics about this young man, but we see too many shooters in these type of tragedies bearing the same characteristics mentally.  (Joe Scarborough)

I wonder if he realizes how damaging his words are to the autism community?


He should know the stigma so many children and parents face.

Autism is word so many parents fear.  And Scarborough's statement?  It perpetuates that fear.  His statement is reminiscent of the 1950s when autism was labeled as 'childhood schizophrenia' and the 'Refrigerator Mother' theory.


The year is 2012 and with all of the information out there on autism, there are people who still have no idea what autism is or what it "looks" like.  Ignorant people who will take Joe Scarborough's statement and run with it.

That being said, there is a small part of me that understands where his statement comes from.  And we can all have our speculations.  However, I am not a doctor and neither is Joe Scarborough.  

So for Scarborough to make an "amateur diagnosis" based off of sound bites from people who knew James Holmes, is not only reckless but just as ignorant as 50 Cent's tweet.    

All we know at this point is that we can't understand it; we have no idea whether he had a history of psychiatric illness or had been exhibiting warning signs of a psychotic breakdown. And the amateur diagnoses we've been hearing are painfully misinformed... (Caroline Miller, Child Mind Institute)

Now is not the time to play guess the diagnosis.  This is the time to have a discussion that's long overdue.  The Aurora massacre is the kind of senseless tragedy that gives a nation pause.  It will dominate the the news for weeks. 

But will any real change come of this? 
 

While it was reported that the weapons were purchased legally, I have trouble understanding how a single individual - a civilian - is able to purchase more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition without raising an eyebrow?  How can a civilian be allowed to purchase tear gas?  Somehow, I don't believe this is what the forefathers meant by the right to bear arms.  

As one of my FB friends stated, "It's easier for a person to get a gun in this country, than mental health services."

That's exactly the point I wish Joe Scarborough would have focused on. 


UPDATE:   Since I posted, Joe Scarborough released a statement clarifying his remarks regarding Holmes being on the "autism scale."  

...I suggested that the Aurora tragedy should make Americans focus more on mental health in this country. I also stated that my own experiences raising a son with Aspergers made me keenly aware of how important strong support systems are to those who might otherwise be isolated.

The growing Autism epidemic is a tremendous burden for children, parents and loved ones to endure. My call for increased funding and awareness for Autism and other mental health conditions was meant to support the efforts of those who work every day to improve the lives of Americans impacted. Those suggesting that I was linking all violent behavior to Autism missed my larger point and overlooked the fact that I have a wonderful, loving son with Aspergers. Perhaps I could have made my point more eloquently. (Joe Scarborough)

Hmmmm not really the kind of statement I think the autism community was looking for.   But just don't take my word for it, check out what this guy has to say. 

Wordless Wednesday #SpeakUpForKids

(okay - just a few words)

Mental Health Matters to Latinos #SpeakUpForKids

In case you missed yesterday's blog post - this week is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week and the Child Mind Institute is honoring it's 2nd annual Speak Up For Kids campaign.

And after yesterday's conference and reading through all the materials - I am dedicating this week to help raise awareness and to Speak Up For Kids.

I just want to share some startling mental health facts:

• More than 15 million American children & adolescents have diagnosable psychiatric disorders - more than the number affected by leukemia, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
• Approximately 50% of these kids will never get help. 
• Anxiety Disorders appear to affect girls more than boys.
• Untreated depression is one of the leading causes of teen suicide.
• Some 80% of cases can be readily and successfully treated if kids get help.
• ADHD is the most common psychiatric condition affecting children
• ADHD is diagnosed more frequently in boys than girls
• Children with ADHD drop out of high school 10 times more than other children.
• Untreated, kids with ADHD are more likely to drop out of school, develop a substance abuse problem, or get in trouble with the law.
• It's estimated that learning disorders may impact anywhere from 5 to 20% of all children - as many as 1 in 5 in every classroom.
• Only 64% of students with diagnosed learning disorders graduate from high school.  Their drop out rate is nearly 3 times that of students in the general population
• Working-age adults with learning disorders face higher unemployment rates. 

At yesterday's press conference, we discussed the stigma of mental health.  I believe within the Latino community the stigma and shame of mental health is even greater.

In reading the mental health facts - I wondered how many Latino children went without help they needed.  And I found some startling statistics of my own:   

Suicide attempt rates among Latina high school students in New York have nearly doubled since 2007, reports El Diario/La Prensa. A recent study commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of 9,469 New York high school students found that nearly 15 percent, or one in six, Latina students attempted suicide one or more times in 2009. Significantly higher than African-American women (10.2%) and young Caucasian women (6.2%) (source)

High school drop out rates tend to be higher in cities with high socioeconomic disparities and racial segregation. "Epicenters of the dropout crisis are made up of a combination of traditional big-city districts and large countywide school systems. Many of the latter are home to major urban centers," Education Week reported.  "The New York City public school system, the nation's largest district, serves 1.1 million students and predictably emerges as the leading source of non graduates, with nearly 44,000 students slipping away each year." (source)

I am not saying that the Latina suicide rate or that the NYC drop out rates are all linked to mental health but I definitely believe it's a factor.  Poverty, lack of education/awareness, and social stigma all play into the fact that many individuals go without the help they need to live a productive and happy life. 

I wonder how many of these kids went undiagnosed and untreated. 

I wonder how many parents believed their daughters were just being dramatic or if it was just a phase.

I wonder how many parents believed their child would just "grow out of it."

I wonder how many non graduates were called lazy or stupid.

And I wonder how many parents just didn't know what to look for in their children.  Or if they recognized something was wrong - maybe they just didn't know where to go.  Maybe they thought they couldn't afford help.

One of the great things about the Child Mind Institute is that they really want to help children and families - and they don't want money to get in the way.  For families and children with financial need they offer a sliding scale fee and financial aid. 

I think it's important for us to realize that it's okay to get help.  There is no shame in needing mental health treatment.  The only shame is allowing it to go untreated.

Tonight (Tuesday, May 8) at 7PM ET, the Child Mind Institute (@ChildMindDotOrg) will be hosting a tweet chat in honor of Children's Mental Health Awareness Week on Parenting in the Digital Age.

I'll be participating on tonight's Tweet chat - with bullying moving from the playground to cyberspace - it's critical that parents know how to protect their children.

And on Friday, May 11, at 12PM ET the Child Mind Institute will be hosting a live Speak Up for Kids talk on Facebook in honor of Children's Mental Health Awareness Week.

For more events please visit the Events page on Child Mind Institute - http://www.childmind.org/en/events/