Ready for My Bark Mitzvah: Reflections on Mental Health

Hello everyone!

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post--I used to be so eager to post that I would make myself wait a few days between posts just to give my readers a break!  Now it seems like I've gone far too long between updates.  I've just been so busy recently with my training that I'm too tired at the end of the day to blog (and Mom is usually fast asleep by the time it occurs to me to blog).  I've been working hard on becoming the SD that my Mom believes I can be, so this summer is just flying by.

First off, I want to say happy third month-iversary to my girl and me!  I can't believe how quickly the time has flown.  I remember stepping off the transport truck and seeing her for the first time and realizing that I finally had a forever home.  Now we're the best of friends and do everything together--we even share a bed!

Last night, I went to Temple for the first time.  The Rabbi told Mom that he would love to have me there, which was very nice of him since under the ADA, he doesn't have to allow that.  My girl and I were so grateful!  It's no surprise though that after all this time, this was only my first time going to temple: my girl doesn't really consider herself Jewish (or at least not as much as the rest of her family...she tells me that it's complicated).  We went last night to see two speakers discuss mental illness in society, which, of course, is super relevant to the both of us!

Studying for my Bark Mitzvah!

Both speakers were highly qualified to speak on the subject.  One, the Rabbi's brother, is a former Senator who actively advocates for mental health, and the other is a USC professor who has struggled with schizophrenia for years and has created an illustrious career for herself at the law school (I got to meet her afterwards and she thought it was awesome that there are SDs for mental illnesses!).  I would love to go on and on about both of their speeches, which were each inspiring in their own right, but for once, I want to keep this short and sweet.  I want to keep this short, because I feel like it'll hit home easier for my readers.  I want to keep this short, because it'll make you see what I feel is truly important about both of the speeches and what I took away from the night at temple (apart from the rising and sitting and singing and all that fun stuff).

So, here are my reflections on mental health, some of which come directly from the speeches and some of which are my own thoughts inspired by the speeches:

• Why is it that we give flowers to patients who have stayed in the hospital for physical illnesses but not mental/psychological illnesses?
• There's a story of a patient who went to the ER with headaches and short-term memory loss.  Upon seeing the patient's medical history of mental illness, the ER wrote off her symptoms as a psychotic episode.  In reality, she had an aneurism.  Stop the stigma against mental illness.
• Forced hospitalization and especially restraint are not the answer.  They can even make the problem worse by leading to more mental illness (like PTSD).  Also, people with mental illness are people, not animals or objects.  They deserve respect and compassion--force shows neither respect nor compassion.
• Let's stop whispering.  Everyone used to whisper the word cancer.  Now people are open about fighting cancer and being survivors.  Why can't this be the same with mental illness?
• Support systems, affirmation, and understanding can change everything.
• We need to stop victim blaming.  Suicide is a symptom, not a choice; it's a result, not an action.
• Mental illness is not failure, just as physical illness is not failure.  Those living with mental illness can lead functional, normal (whatever "normal" actually is) lives, even successful lives.
•  Be the change you wish to see in the world.  This change needs to occur now.

In other news, the ADA recently updated its FAQ section regarding Service Dogs.  I won't go through every question here, but I highly recommend that you take a little time to go onto the website (click here) and learn about the rules regarding Service Dogs.  I would, however, like to focus on one of the questions, number 17.  Unlike the other questions, it has an added little grey box under it that further clarifies the question.  It states that:

"There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certification or registration documents online.  These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal."

Screenshot of Question 17

This is HUGE! As you can read in my rant against fake Service Dogs, I've already noted the problem with these companies that sell SD "certification" for anyone's Fido and how these companies hurt legitimate Service Dog teams.  For a long time, this has been known in the SD community, but no where was it said explicitly that these companies were not legitimate.  Now, finally, the world has a way of seeing that you can't just buy Fido certification, call him a Service Dog, and be okay under the law.  Now, finally, businesses and individuals can see their rights and what does and does not qualify as a Service Dog.  Now, finally, things are stepping in the right direction.

I know I've said it before, but I have to say it again: please, if you know anyone who is trying to pass off their pet as a Service Dog, educate them on the very real damage they do to legitimate Service Dog teams.  Passing off Fido as a Service Dog is the same as buying a wheelchair and getting better access to the rides at Disneyland when you have nothing wrong with you.  It's wrong, it's rude, and it's ungrateful towards the fact that you are healthy and able-bodied.  So please, leave Fido and Fluffy at home and let us, the Service Dogs, protect and care for our handlers in peace.

Tail wags and puppy kisses,
Kelsie Iris


Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html