Waupaca County Post

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Advertiser Index
  • Subscribe
  • E-Editions
    • Clintonville Shoppers Guide
    • Clintonville Tribune Gazette
    • New London Buyers Guide
    • New London Press Star
    • Waupaca Buyers Guide
    • Waupaca County Post

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Video
    • Clintonville News
    • Hortonville News
    • Iola-Scandi News
    • Manawa News
    • New London News
    • Waupaca News
    • Wega-Fremont News
    • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Sports
    • Clintonville Sports
    • Iola-Scandy Sports
    • Manawa Sports
    • New London Sports
      • Leagues
      • Sports
      • Park & Rec Activities
    • Waupaca Sports
    • Wega-Fremont Sports
    • Hortonville Sports
    • Outdoor
    • High School Sports Scores
  • Courts
  • Opinion
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Editions
    • Clintonville Shoppers Guide
    • New London Buyers Guide
    • Waupaca Buyers Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Advertiser Index
  • Subscribe
  • E-Editions
    • Clintonville Shoppers Guide
    • Clintonville Tribune Gazette
    • New London Buyers Guide
    • New London Press Star
    • Waupaca Buyers Guide
    • Waupaca County Post

logo

Waupaca County Post

  • Home
  • News
    • Video
    • Clintonville News
    • Hortonville News
    • Iola-Scandi News
    • Manawa News
    • New London News
    • Waupaca News
    • Wega-Fremont News
    • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Sports
    • Clintonville Sports
    • Iola-Scandy Sports
    • Manawa Sports
    • New London Sports
      • Leagues
      • Sports
      • Park & Rec Activities
    • Waupaca Sports
    • Wega-Fremont Sports
    • Hortonville Sports
    • Outdoor
    • High School Sports Scores
  • Courts
  • Opinion
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • E-Editions
    • Clintonville Shoppers Guide
    • New London Buyers Guide
    • Waupaca Buyers Guide
Around Waupaca CountyWaupaca News
Home›News›Around Waupaca County›Removing mental illness’ stigma

Removing mental illness’ stigma

By WaupacaNow
September 29, 2015
2230
0

Psychiatrist speaks about suicide prevention

By Angie Landsverk


Getting rid of the stigma associated with mental illness will help people get the treatment they need.

That was among the messages of Dr. Adam Strassberg when he presented “Mental Health Treatment Without Shame or Blame” on Sept. 21, at Waupaca High School.

He said mental illness is not a moral weakness.

“Mental illness is common. Mental illness is stigmatized. We don’t talk enough about it,” said Strassberg, an outpatient psychiatrist who has a private practice based in Palo Alto, California.

The Waupaca County Suicide Prevention Coaltion sponsored Strassberg’s talk with funding from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc., Ministry Health Care and ThedaCare.

This was the second consecutive year the coalition sponsored a community presentation during National Suicide Prevention Month.

In 2014, there were 10 suicides in Waupaca County. There have been four this year.

Strassberg has been working as a pyschiatrist for about 15 years and is the father of two teenagers.

“Most of my patients are people just like me. They have jobs. They have families. They have mortgages,” Strassberg said.

With about one-half of all mental illness emerging by age 14 and three-quarters by age 21, he stressed the importance of parents talking openly about any treatment they seek instead of talking about in a hushed way.

“Normalize and destigmatize mental illness,” Strassberg said.

His presentation included information about the different causes of mental illness, including biological, environmental, psychological and situational factors.

The two major treatment options are medications and pyschotherapy, he said.

Strassberg said less than half of those who are 18 to 25 seek treatment.

Some say they cannot afford treatment, while others question if it will help or worry about confidentiality.

“A lot of these reasons all relate to stigma,” he said.

Strassberg said Buzz Aldrin, Winston Churchill, Thomas Nash and Lionel Aldridge are among the famous people who have had mental illness.

“Despite so many famous people with mental illness, the media continues to portray mental illness in a negative way,” Strassberg said.

He said it is important to not confuse mental illness with evil.

Strassberg said most people who commit crimes and violent acts are not mentally ill. Rather, those who have mental illness are often the ones who are victimized.

Suicide was also a topic during his presentation.

“One-third of people don’t tell anyone,” he said.

Suicide warning signs include talking about killing oneself, depression, a loss in interests, rage, irritability, engaging in more risky behaviors, acting recklessly. sleeping too much or too little, saying good-bye to people and giving away possessions.

To the parents of teens, he urged them to model taking care of their own mental health.

Strassberg also talked about sleep.

“Teens should sleep more than us,” he said. “They should be sleeping eight hours per night. Teenagers do not get enough sleep.”

Therefore, later school start times are better for that age group, he said.

Physical activity and pets are also important, and he told parents to model tolerance of sexual and gender diversity.
Strassberg also told them to talk directly to their teenaged children about suicide.

“It’s been studied. When you talk with someone openly about suicide, it decreases the risk,” he said.

Striving for at least one family meal per week should be a goal, and he encouraged families to create a “kitchen table culture” in their homes, where everyone sits together to talk and do homework instead of the children going into their bedrooms.

“Balance unstructured versus structured time,” Strassberg said.

In addition, he told parents to not keep guns in their homes.

Realizing many people in the area hunt, he said, “I have to recommend it.”

TagsDr. Adam Strassbergmental healthWaupaca County Suicide Prevention
Previous Article

Triangle Park still has issues

Next Article

Two cars reported stolen by same man

Related articles More from author

  • Waupaca News

    Treating mental illness

    September 10, 2015
    By WaupacaNow
  • Around Waupaca County

    Event series focuses on mental illness

    September 19, 2018
    By Waupaca Now
  • FeaturedNew London News

    New London High School embraces suicide prevention

    October 31, 2018
    By Waupaca Now
  • Around Waupaca County

    Assembly candidates focus on issues

    October 20, 2010
    By WaupacaNow
  • Around Waupaca County

    Teen Serve answers prayers

    July 7, 2010
    By WaupacaNow
  • Waupaca News

    Barrett focuses on jobs, state spending cuts

    July 7, 2010
    By WaupacaNow

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Free WaupacaNow Newsletter

About Us


Waupaca County Post, New London Press Star and Clintonville Tribune-Gazette are published every Thursday by Multi Media Channels. The papers are locally owned, locally operated and locally written. Subscriptions are $59 annually, delivered via U.S. Postal Service.

To subscribe, go www.shopmmclocal.com/product-category/waupacanow-portal or call 715-258-4360

Timeline

  • May 31, 2023

    Waupaca School Board OKs 5% pay increases

  • May 31, 2023

    College Days for Kids at UWSP

  • May 31, 2023

    ‘Made in New London’

  • May 31, 2023

    Goodbye Haberkorn Field

  • May 30, 2023

    Omit, Eunice

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2022 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×