Posted by: Natasha Lyles 10/1/2007
Below is my response to CBS regarding their recent story of the
Rebecca Riley case.
Most parents do not enter lightly into the decision to use
medication. In many cases, it is the last resort. Parents must weigh
the benefits of the medication against the fear of the side effects.
For many children, they could not function day to day without the
medications they take.
The right medication combination can make the difference between
functioning or not, and in some cases life or death. However,
medication alone is not the total treatment plan for a bipolar child
or any child with a mental illness. It requires therapy, and the
right accommodations.
Because we live in a fallible society, this adds even more to the
burden that parents bear when dealing with a child with mental
illness. The parents are expected to learn to be health experts,
education experts, and an overall super parent. Due to the reports
of skepticism in the diagnosis of bipolar and the clearly divided
medical community parents feel even more turmoil
and isolation.
In addition to the problems parents already face, there is the issue
of irresponsible reporting from the media. Is there a problem?
Absolutely, and that is why parents are urging for further research.
If my child had cancer or any other life threatening disease no one
would question if I should give my child the medication to survive
or not. In fact, I would be frowned upon for not getting my child
the help he needs. Due to this irresponsible reporting you add to
the stigma that is already associated with mental illness,
furthermore you discourage parents from seeking what they need the
most and that is support. If parents do not seek help and support
for their children the results can be devastating.
