16 Comments
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Christopher Mahan's avatar

Make a country where people can work one job and support a entire family, including children, elders, and have a life they can be proud of.

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docpatti's avatar

Try helping her.

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Rose Anne Everson's avatar

So vote for candidates whose words and deeds support a society "where people can work one job and support an entire family, including children, elders," to live a life all Americans can be proud of.

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David W. Friedman's avatar

As a teenager in the 1970s I suffered from a severe mental health crisis that affected my attendance at school for several years. I ended up in Family Court and institutionalized. I spent decades on various medications and was finally diagnosed correctly when I was 45 years old with bipolar disorder type II. It still took years to perfect the correct medications and dosages, but I was able to hold a job longer than six months and live a fuller life.

I fully support your bill and hope it passes.

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Joel Kirschenstein's avatar

Destroy Hamas yes !

Kill children NO!

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docpatti's avatar

This comment makes little sense as a response to Katie Porter’s post. I think being a congress person is a hard job, especially these days. She’s one who stays focused and works hard. They don’t just wave a wand and Hamas disappears. There are many people in the world, including people like me who think your comment “Kill children NO” is just plain stupid.

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Deborah Woodbury's avatar

Bad Therapy - Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up by Abigail Shrier

Reading this right now & being the parent of a recent high school graduate it's message rings true. The for profit mental health industry is out of control & irresponsibility overdiagnosing, over medicating & creating more problems as a self-fulfilling prophecy that what we need is more medications & more mental health services. It needs to stop. Talk therapy & medications to treat mental health have an appropriate use & place, but the way we're using them in our society is creating more problems that more medications & more therapy won't solve.

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Francene Shed's avatar

So many talented and dedicated people who work for our kids in public education are overworked and underpaid. It’s time and past time for someone to notice and start working on it! And I am glad you noticed! Best Wishes and thank you for all you do. (Love your Whiteboard too). I would vote for you if I lived in your state. PS: love to all who are experiencing unbelievable ly difficult weather issues.

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

Thank you, Rep. Porter. This is so important. I am a mom and activist in AZ where teen suicide numbers are incredibly high. A group of us moms were able to get a bill passed a few years back that would educate teachers on suicide ideation. Some other related bills have passed since, but I saw up close how difficult it was to get something passed with the make up of our House and Senate in AZ. Lots of denial and lack of empathy on the part of many R’s. I applaud you for bringing this to the attention of these old guys who just don’t get it. Keep at it! Our kids’ lives depend on your empathy and tenacity! I have so much gratitude for you!

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docpatti's avatar

Hey, Katie. Thank you for how much you care, your focus, and the flow of good ideas that you champion to make a difference. I used to manage presenter selections for the Capitol Coaches Conference and was President-Elect of the International Coach Federation for the DC Metro. Coaches are trained in what is basically cognitive behavioral therapy. The Hidden Roots of Coaching, or whatever the title was, Leni Wildflower’s book, explains the theory and practice. She founded the evidence-based coaching program at Fielding. Coaches are a huge untapped resource in the U.S. The field of “medicine” is fragmented, e.g., dental work is not covered by regular health insurance, nor are they part of the AMA. Coaching is a form of mental health care; it’s focused on positive development, not pathology. Humans need to develop; we’re not doing so well with understanding complex situations and working collaboratively to solve problems and meet our needs. It’s unfortunate, because there are plenty of really smart and creative people, like you, coming up with ideas. Anyway, teenagers need to make consequential decisions and it can be scary to set off “on your own.” For situations like David Friedman mentioned, we need people with advanced training in the treatment of severe mental health disorders. But a lot of kids are doing pretty well, they’re just anxious and working out who they are and who they want to become. That’s important stuff, and a coach could help. Coaches may do pro bono work to complete some of the service hours they need to stay accredited by the ICF, so there may be a volunteer pool. But for sure there are trained coaches who could make a difference in schools with kids who need support.

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docpatti's avatar

Quick note; I’m tired. I think about this a lot, the mental health needs of American youth. I believe there is an untapped resource: trained coaches. I’ll write another reply tomorrow.

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Derrick hall's avatar

Stop medicating children with SSRIs and pharmaceutical drugs, then perhaps we wouldn't have so many depressed and suicidal children and adults

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David W. Friedman's avatar

Those medications are giving after diagnosis.

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Reine's avatar

Thank you for the reader.

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John Harris's avatar

Not Rich Enuff . .

At least The Zuck had the Grace to apologize . .

for inflicting Frowns leading to Suicides

and no doubt will do much better

making sure Tracking Down by Meta

is more considerately . .like a Concerned Parent . .applied

Yet for an EE-Lon like . ..# in Leather Jacket with Fur Collar . .classic Tough Guy performance

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