History with a Twist
According to CantonRep.com Special Projects Editor Todd Porter, “The odds would say to bet against her. The odds would be wrong.”
Election results, 2017.
Election Day, November 7, 2017, is a day that history was made in Canton, Ohio. I received the most votes in a six-candidate race and I am the first African American to be elected to Canton City Council at Large. The journey was spectacular with the assistance of committed volunteers that dedicated time and resources to complete traditional campaign strategies and more. However, the campaign was all but traditional.
Other candidates had long term name recognition from their own extended time dedicated to public service or that of their parents. While many who know about me believe that I have accomplished great things despite adversity; few are privy to the depth of the traumatic and emotional adversity I faced as the daughter of a woman with severe mental illnesses.
My mother was diagnosed with manic depression/schizophrenia when I was 13 years old. When I was 16, she attacked me with scissors during a schizophrenic rage. As a result, courts ordered no contact between us and I was placed with my paternal grandmother. As an adult, I still have flashbacks and fear of my mother. Yet, during the campaign, I experienced incomparable fear and pain when I received a call from a public employee in another jurisdiction that found my mom staying in a vacant house with no utilities. Along with my family, I worked with local mental health and law enforcement agencies to help my mom. She was hospitalized, received treatment, eventually released to live on her own… and the cycle continues. It’s a constant battle.
I have learned to name and own every last bit of my story through prayer and faith in God. It has resulted in an explosion of grace and healing from the most unimaginable experiences that haunt me. When a person is living with a serious mental illness, her family and friends also are impacted in unforgettable ways
Here are five suggestions that can help family and friends with mentally ill loved ones
Educate yourself about the illness/illnesses. Knowing their diagnosis can help you research information, learn what to expect, and figure out how to help them. It may also help you learn how to recognize when they are not taking their proper medications or if the dosage is wrong.
Maintain current contact information for local mental health and law enforcement resources. This is crucial when you or your loved ones’ safety is at stake.
Have realistic expectations. The person you care about may never be able to accomplish certain things. While it’s natural to want them to do more or to be more, their illness is at play in everything they do.
Reach out for support, even for, especially for yourself. It’s okay to go to counseling. You need to heal so that you can live your best life.
Work closely with your loved one's treatment team. This will help you to know how to best help them, and know exactly what you should expect from them.
If you or someone you know would like more information about mental health resources in the contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org.