If we consider that the words "adequate" and "proper" are largely synonymous, can we say, "Ninety-percent of Chinese sufferers from depression and eighty-eight percent of American sufferers from depression fail to get proper treatment? The math, A) Fifty-seven percent of Americans suffering from depression receive treatment and B) Only twenty-one percent of American's receiving treatment receive adequate treatment. (1) A times B = 11.97 % of Americans are receiving adequate treatment for depression. Conversely, 88.03% of Americans do not receive adequate treatment for depression.

Moreover, if inadequate treatment yields outcomes no better or worse then no treatment then the outcomes would also be similar.

1) Excerpted from "Dealing with Depression", NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, October 3, 2003. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june03/depression_06-18.html, available in streaming video.

"57 percent of people with serious depression received treatment. But it's often inadequate. Only 21 percent received treatment considered adequate for their condition....." and "[Adequate treatment] In the case of medication it meant that you received medication for at least a month and that you had four visits with a physician during that time or sometime during the course of the depression. In the case of psychotherapy, it was at least eight sessions of 30 minutes' duration. That was considered adequate."

Letter to the Editor,

Hello America, Where Ever Your Are,

Like all too many times before, now in the case of the VA Tech shooting, which apparently could have been avoided, THE MH SYSTEM FAILED, once again;
• Failing the needs of Cho the client;
• Failing the community;
• Failing those who were shot and killed
• Failing those who are left to grieve.

Right away the Governor of VA wanted to close a loop whole as to how firearms could be purchased, while neglecting to find out why Cho’s MH services were left unserved.

The system failed miserably when Sylvia Seegrist pleaded for help, with none made available.
Failed miserably when Andrew Goldstein, living in N.Y. pleaded for treatment, and was turned away;
Failed in June/July 2005 when Michael J. Rafferty, a resident of Drexel Hill, PA was denied proper MH services because as the doctor said, *....concluded Rafferty was untreatable*. Sad, the doctor hadn’t taken into account the reasons Michael behaved as he had was as a result of the symptoms of his diagnosis. And how many others have I not mentioned who’s dire needs where left unattended b/c of a fragmented, and broken MH system

And now we have 33 people, including Cho, dead b/c the VA MH system failed.

When does this STOP?? When are we going to eliminate our own fragmentation, and band together and demand that we not be deprived services...Not be the scapegoat?? .

We are more likely to be the victims of crime, then the perpetrator of crime. But then why are we always held solely responsible when our behaviors go awry, when engrossed in the symptoms of our MI, because we are deprived of the very services that would address our issues??

The dismal failures continues... And we, those of us having the diagnosis’s continue to be held solely responsible... And what about our Families? And the MH Professionals who do it right??

Let’s put them into jails... In prisons...
Force them into treatment against there will...
It’s so expedient...

So much easier to hold the victims of the illnesses responsible, then to hold those who are, responsible for there inactions...!!!

Oh, Yes, and must we not to forget... We must not hold the failing system responsible... After all it’s so much easier to hold those having the illnesses solely responsible... It’s so much easier...

Besides it sells more newspapers...

Ronald L. Berman, President
Delaware Valley DMDA, Inc., responsible for the operation of
DBSA Delaware Valley
-- meeting at: Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment,
Ford and Monument Roads, lower level --
Home/Office:
802 South Avenue
Secane PA 19018
Phone: 610 604 0727
E-mail: R.Berman5@verizon.net