I grew up in a country where it was shameful to be labeled as having a mental health disorder. Families in the community hid a family members who was affected by mental health. This meant that they rarely got the help needed to function in society. They were referred to as being mad or crazy. I saw a movie, Patch Adams, when I was 18 years old. That movie made me view people with mental health disorders just like I viewed a person wearing dentures or glasses or using a cane. I saw them as having difficulty with a body part. Something was not working well and they needed an aid or some aids to help them function. Just like dentures help someone chew normally, glasses help them drive a car and a cane helps them to walk, the psychiatric medication in the correct doses will help the person function normally in society. This removed the stigma of mental health conditions for me. I wanted to work for and with these patients. I became a nurse. Initially I worked as a psychiatric nurse, then switched to cardio-pulmonary ICU nursing. I did that for many years and I noticed that all patients, in fact, everyone suffer in various ways from mental health issues. It is the response to stressors or trauma that triggers a diagnose. Many of us don't have a diagnose because we quickly correct our response. Others linger in their mal-adaptive response. This allows them to be evaluated and diagnosed. I eventually returned to mental health nursing and it is such a different field of nursing from many others. In this setting many patients deny that they need help while in most other fields of nursing the patient comes to the facility because they know and recognize the need for help. A psychiatric patient is usually brought in or ordered by law enforcement to get treatment. It is rare for a patient to walk in off the street and request treatment for a psychiatric condition. This means that there are many patients out in society and something that may seem little to you and me will trigger another person to either hurt themselves or hurt others. It is noteworthy that most mental health conditions do not manifest themselves in a person's appearance so the person may be your boss, friend, classmate, neighbor or workmate. They may never exhibit any signs of illness but suddenly something triggers them. Your dog or cat may disappear. Or you or a family member may disappear. If nothing drastic occurs, there is still a marked change. They may hit or break something or someone. This is because the person give no warning that they were ill and you were caught off guard. Trauma real or imagined causes chemicals to be released that can create such a different personality from what is normally known. Most people experience trauma, and have painful memories. Some individuals respond to those memories and experiences in an abnormal way. This knowledge pushes me to be kinder and more patient with people. I avoid blowing my horn when someone is stuck at a green light. I try not to touch anyone from behind. When a conference or meeting is over I look out for persons standing alone. I make an effort to go to such ones, approaching them with a smile. I open the conversation with a viewpoint question. This can spark a response and before you know it, the conversation flows. Any shyness and insecurities are forgotten. My take away is that more persons should be educated about mental health and how we can help others with it. Starting by not stigmatizing them for something they did not ask for. I am in school for my Masters in Nursing Education. I will start the ball rolling with my students. I also write articles on health and diet. This topic has been addressed and I will keep on writing about it. Thank you for this opportunity. Lydia Seales-Fuller

My special character is Tweety Bird, created by Warner Brothers in 1942. I grew up looking at Looney Tunes on Saturday morning. His relationship with Sylvester, the Puddy Tat made him seem vulnerable, gullible and clueless about the cat's plans to eat him. However, every time the cat arranged to make a meal of Tweety, the plans went awry. The cat ends up deep in trouble. What I appreciate is Tweety maintained his trust in the cat, he never lost his innocence. He continued to view the cat as a friend. This scenario makes me think of all the seemingly vulnerable persons out there whom unscrupulous persons attempt to take advantage of. They may seem an easy mark, however, the plotter ends up in trouble not the supposed victim. This cartoon provided me with confidence as I grew up that the innocent has a Supreme protector, God.

In my work as a nurse, I have had patients request another nurse who looks like them to care for them instead of me. Most times the hospital tries to accommodate the patient. You may wonder how I feel about that. I don't take it personal. Putting myself in that patient place helps me to be understanding. If I was in Japan sick and afraid, I would at least feel more comfortable with a nurse who looks like me instead of a Japanese nurse. I may not say it but certainly feel it. Therefore, I accommodate the patient's request in the interest of making them comfortable. There are times when a patient does not say anything, however, you can see that they look concerned when I present myself as the nurse assigned to care for them. Some people actually think when you look like me you are untrained and incompetent. The best thing I can do is to prove them wrong not by saying anything but by being efficient, compassionate and educate them about what I am doing. Nine out of ten times they literally will act surprised, shocked even when I deliver my nursing care to them. I stay in the room and educate them on all the things being done. I ask if there is anything else I can help with when I am done and, I let them know that throughout the night I would be checking on them to be sure they have everything they needed. This accomplishes at least two things: (1). They are well cared for and, (2). They are introduced to the new idea that a black nurse can be competent, knowledgeable and compassionate. I view this as an opportunity to showcase that we should not judge someone on looks.

I am passionate about helping people. This started as a child. My mother had seven children. She would send us to the homes of older, disabled friends to help them clean and tidy their homes. My older brother and sister had the responsibility of shopping for these older friends. I loved writing, therefore, in addition to cleaning and tidying their homes, I would always ask if they had a letter they wanted written. Most would say yes and we would get to writing. Strong friendships were forged between us kids and these older friends. They no longer were just Mommy's friends. I grew older and some of those friends died or required more in-depth personal care that we could not deliver. I always wished to do more for them but I lacked the training needed. Hence, when I left school, I trained in nutrition and became a Nutritionist. I worked in the hospital educating patients on better ways to eat and address health issues. I did enjoy my work , however, I wanted to be more involved in their care. Nine years ago, I finally had the privilege of becoming a registered nurse. Now I am equipped to provided optimum care to all my patients in a comprehensive way. Even after discharge I can check in on them and provide care as needed. The satisfaction I receive when a patient can go home and return to their comfort zone instead of going into a nursing home or a skilled nurse facility is incomparable. I have so many patients sending thanks you cards. I always think that my mom is the one who deserves the thanks. Currently, I am pursuing a higher education level in nursing to increase my ability to help my patients even more.

I am so very happy and all around me are laughing, happy families doing the same as my family. We are all greeting our lost loved ones who have returned from the grave. Now I know that sounds farfetched, however, I am a bible student and the bible is filled with God's promises of a time when no one will feel pain whether emotional or physical. No one will be in fear, be sick, have cause to be angry, and no one will die. The only tears shed would be that of joy as all our desires are fullfilled. Sufficient food, satisfying work, and people living in their own homes that they built is also part of that wonderful future. I was 23 years old when I started learning about this future from the bible, 28 years have past and my goals have remained the same. Goal # 1. To be a citizen of that new world the bible promises. Goal # 2. To help others learn about this and become citizens themselves. Goal # 3. To become and remain, a close friend of God. Goal # 4 To improve my relationship with my family and friends, workmates and neighbors since I can't say I love God whom I can't see and at the same time I have grudges and vendettas against people whom I can see and touch. Goal # 5 To remain hopeful and trust that God will bring about His promised new world. Goal # 6 To keep my focus on that future. To do that my life choices matter. I live my as though that future is tomorrow. I strive to show God thanks for inspiring men to write those promises so that any and all humans can have a bright, positive outlook for the future.

My faith encourages me to be kind, patient and impartial in my delivery of care to a wide variety of patients. Due to my job, I have access to a patient's history. It affects how I view them and it can affect how I provide care. I have to allow God's word to guide me in not judging anyone. This allows me to be the care giver that I am. My patients don't have to ring their bell at night because I strive to put myself in their place just as the bible states. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. This allows the patient to know I will be checking on them throughout the night. If they need anything they should be assured that I will do my best to get it for them. When I get screaming patients who are basically abusive. I try to let the bible's advice guide me: An answer when mild, turns away rage. This has really helped me because so many sick persons are afraid, alone and bewildered. These feelings cause them to lash out at the nearest persons. I usually answer with mildness. Even when the abuse is particularly painful and personal, I will go to the lunch room, yell at the air then get back in the patient 's room with a smile. Some of my colleagues have asked me how I am able to cope. I share my scriptures with them. Two years ago, I changed my career from being a Travel Medical Surgical Registered Nurse to be a Psychiatric Mental Health Registered Nurse. I currently provide care for forensic patients whose history can freeze the warmest of hearts. I am the same person as I was before. Part of my nurse training encouraged us to separate our personal viewpoints and our educational standard of nurse care practice. This way, we would be capable of providing the best nursing care to anyone even criminals. I now work with individuals who have hurt women, children and men due to their mental health disorder. Some of these individuals look 'normal'. So that makes it harder to understand that this person really sick and in need of special care. I have seen the results of applying my education and allowing my faith to influence my delivery of care to the variety of patients that come into my care. I am convinced that this way of care delivery is best. Firstly, it pleases God. Then, you receive job satisfaction when you do the best job you can. Lastly, the response of the patients show that this kind of approach is effective. My goal is to further my education and continue helping my patients by applying my faith and nursing training as a competent and compassionate practitioner.

The girl was in the emergency room at a state- of the-art hospital. She was found at home hanging from a rope by her twin brothers aged 5 years old. They heard the table fall and ran into the room to see their big sister hanging. They screamed and neighbors came running. She survived with a bruised esophagus, rope burns and lacreations to her neck. She was inconsolable. She wanted to die and did not succeed. This is what she told the social worker who was assigned her case. The social worker was skilled with child cases. She was able to piece together the story. The child was being sexually and physically abused by her step-dad. He would threaten her with leaving the family poorer if she talked. He also would beat her for things he knew her brothers did. The day she decided to end her life was the day of her 12th birthday. She was experiencing abuse since age 10. She had just started developing breast and the were painful and he was deliberately hurting her. Ending her life was the best thing she could do in the circumstance. Her mom left home early to sell fresh friuts. She also stayed late to catch those going home from work who wanted to buy fruits. She left the kids in this young girl's care until 830 am when the step father came home. Many times, the child would miss school because of the abuse. The teachers thought she was a truant because when they called home, the stepfather would say she left for school. The social worker gathered a team of culturally sensitive, skilled mental health practitioners for the case. She arranged for a medical exam of the child and for the apprehension of the stepdad. All the child's claims were proven. He was arrested and quickly confessed, claiming that the child came onto him and he was just a man. He was sentenced to a mental health institution for child molesters. She was treated for the damages to her body and mind. Her brothers also received care since they were traumatized by what they saw. The mother was provided with monthly financial assistance and received twice weekly classes for vocational training. All the provisions available to victims of abuse, mental health, and poverty were availed. The individuals who provided care were diligent and helpful as they delivered the necessary care and guidance. Follow up checks were made to ensure that the young girl did not experience a return to that horrible existence. The molester is now much older. He remains in a supervised facility for men with his illness. The young lady is now a social worker helping other children just as she was helped. Her mom is a nurse. Her brothers are both policemen. Homelessness, suicides, molestations, drug abuse and overdoses, poverty stricken families are basically nonexistent in this community. This utopia is not unreasonable or far-fetched. It can be achieved. How? In school, the children black, white and all others must be thought that they are truly related. No one is better than another. That will eliminate a person growing up thinking that someone does not deserve care while another does. Everyone who requires care should be provided with the best care available. In mental health, providers must first recognize any prejudice they have and root it out. You can't be effective and helpful if you are partial. Advocating for both the victim and family including the perpetrator makes the change occur. Remember, that most perpetrators are patients too All require care. This way is effective.