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I was very compelled this season to speak on individual
mental health and voting. Some people are diagnosed with
various disorders but still able to function being employed,
having families and so forth but it may still be difficult
for them to feel up to the politics. There are some
people diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illnesses
who may “seem” incapacitated to vote, such as traumatic
brain injuries, neurological disorders, autism or down
syndrome which is not an exhaustive list.
Recently, I reached out to some individuals in the local
political arena to ask the questions what, if any
criteria deem an individual the ability to vote or not?
Do they have the ability to understand voting and what
votes are on the ballots? The roundabout answer was
yes, if they are able to complete a ballot even if with the
help of another individual they may vote.
This makes for me a very unquiet mind on this subject
for a few reasons. First, there are many issues that are
important to understand on mental health topics such as
access to care, understanding mental health portions of your
overall health coverage, psychotropic medication coverage
and mental health provider visits.
Second, as many years as I have worked in the mental
health field, not just in the state of Ohio but other states
as well, I have never come across any education for clients,
for patients or those in supervised care such as hospitals
or group homes with a mental health diagnosis on the topic
of voting or understanding how to become a registered voter.
This is just my experience, and maybe it happens in other
states or in other places but I think after 20 years in the
healthcare field I would have at least heard a conversation
or read a journal article.
Unfortunately, voting registration is closed. Take a
mental health moment and think about how mental health
affects your life and the lives of others. Just as we never
know when our physical health may decline, our own mental
health may become in need of assessment. We live in
stressful times. Stress can lead to a variety of mental
health issues. Mental health disorders can also be
hereditary just like diabetes or high blood pressure.
I am in no way a political wizard but I hope that
others will join me for a future evaluation of the need for
taking a look at a stand for voting in mental health. If
all lives matter, and they do, we can do more for those who
need more help in making decisions for the very country in
which they reside.
Bernadette
Graham is a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor,
National Certified Counselor and Certified Grief Recovery
Specialist. Provide feedback or reach out at
graham.bernadette@gmail.com For appointment information
please call 419.409.4929 (Telehealth is available for
ongoing and new clients at this time). In person office
hours will be opening in October. Call today to schedule
your appointment.
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