Social Emotional Health

It’s easy to sit in judgement of those with whom we don’t agree, and the current polarized political environment seems to have made it even more acceptable to judge others. I’ve certainly been guilty of doing just that at various times in my life. 

But when I heard the news that Brad Parscale, senior digital adviser for the Trump campaign and former campaign manager, was hospitalized after threatening to harm himself, my knee jerk reaction was of empathy for his family. Let me just say that it is not lost on me that when Parscale’s wife called law enforcement for assistance, officers did not discharge their weapons at the 6’8” white man who had been drinking, had 10 firearms in his possession, and chambered a round into a pistol during a heated exchange with his wife. Instead, they wrestled him to the ground and took him to a hospital for a mental health evaluation under Florida’s Baker Act. Not exactly the same treatment that Daniel Prude, a Black man suffering from a mental health episode, received from law enforcement. But I’ll save that discussion for another blog post. 

The conversation that we need to be having, and one that is way overdue and seems to get no traction in our “pull yourself up by the bootstraps culture,” is that we need to prioritize and invest resources into prevention, as well as treatment for mental health.

I had the exact same reaction when I read news of Kanye West’s possible manic episode at an event in July in South Carolina. Another disclosure: I don’t listen to the 43-year-old rapper’s songs because it is not my taste in music. I don’t watch “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” because reality television of any variety bores me. However, it is my hope that coverage of high-profile individuals suffering from a mental health crisis can lend credibility to the dire need for ending the stigma around mental health issues and the urgent need for systems changes to support emotional health. 

I have to say that I was surprised and encouraged by the statement Fox Sports issued following the “insensitive” comments made by their commentator, Skip Bayless, on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s public admission of seeking help for depression following the death of his brother by suicide. Saying that it was his “humble opinion,” Bayless chided Prescott for talking publicly about a “private issue.” Actually, his opinion was uninformed and perpetuates dangerous stereotypes. 

Fox Sports released a statement that said, “At Fox Sports, we are proud of Dak Prescott for publicly revealing his struggle with depression and mental health. No matter the cause of the struggle, Fox Sports believes Dak showed tremendous courage which is evident in both his leadership on the Dallas Cowboys and in his character off the field. We do not agree with Skip Bayless’ opinion on Undisputed." 

Courage is an appropriate word. It is a word often used to describe persons grappling with physical illnesses and diseases and should be used for those seeking care for mental illness. 

There are volumes of research documenting and illustrating the impact of mental illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 46 million persons over 18 years of age in the U.S. (nearly 1 in 5) were diagnosed with a mental illness in 2017; 42.6% sought services. Of those who received services, 48% were White, compared to 30.6% of Blacks and 32.6% of Hispanics. Inequality (in this case, lack of access to mental health care and insurance) further compounds the problem. Additionally, more women (47.6%) received mental health services than men (34.8%).

The seminal study on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) conducted by Kaiser Permanente’s Health Appraisal Clinic, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1995 to 1997, showed the extent to which the cumulative influence of psychological, as well as physical trauma negatively shaped future social and physical health outcomes. 

Numerous other studies have also shown how ACEs can impact the development of a child’s brain, including impairing the progress of the prefrontal cortex (which controls logical thinking) and hippocampus (memory). ACEs can also cause other areas of the brain to become more active, such as the amygdala, which regulates emotional responses. 

There is also a substantial body of evidence that shows investments in preventing ACEs can have a positive influence on lifelong physical and mental health. One approach that has shown success is universal school-based social emotional learning (SEL) programs. Evaluation of SEL shows these approaches reduce aggression, violent behavior, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and involvement in crime. Additionally, SEL approaches are also associated with improvements in reading, writing, and math proficiency, which improves income potential. 

However, no one program or policy is sufficient to solve the myriad of physical and mental health problems caused by Adverse Childhood Experiences. We need a systems approach to understanding the complex issues and a combination of policies, programs and practices. Sharing “memes” on social media that blame and shame are not the answer; they are disgusting. The same goes for decision makers and others in high-profile positions using their platforms to spout false and uninformed opinions.

If there is anything positive following the news about the emotional health crisis of both Parscale and Kanye, it is that I saw nothing but compassionate posts from my circle of friends who have an abundance of social and emotional intelligence. Isn’t it time we elected officials who possess the same skills?