One multiplies quickly to others — Read one man’s story and another man’s experience with a family member living with mental illness.

Stop. Before reading any further, take out a paper and pen and list the number of people you know with mental illness. Doing it mentally works also, but the reality in today’s society is that mental illness touches one in five people, according to the statistics given by Jeremy Babb an Iberia Parish School psychologist who recently spoke at Highland Baptist Church’s workshop on living with mental illness.

In the past the stigma of mental illness was a hushed family relative that no one talked about, a crazy aunt or a loony cousin. Babb said that less than 60 percent of people who live with mental illness get mental health care. Two-thirds of all homeless people are suffering from a serious mental illness and 20 percent of prisoners have a serious mental illness.

“According to Denver Nobles with NAMI in Lafayette, New Iberia is a hot bed, of mental illness. People go about their daily business not knowing the person next to them has a ‘crazy uncle’ or somebody they don’t talk about,” said Mike Moceri, a person living with a mental disorder.

Mental illness is not exclusive to race, socio-economic group or family heritage and it is not predictable. Chris Van Dyke, who spoke at the same meeting as Babb at Highland stated simply that a mental disorder is a malfunctioning of the brain. It is not a character problem or “sin” but it can impact development, especially if untreated or ignored.

Since May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s review some of the diseases associated with mental illness. Some of the classic forms that can affect children or adults are ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicidal behavior, dementia or Alzheimer’s. Are any of these present in your life? You are not alone.

A Person Living with Mental Illness

Mike Moceri is no stranger to The Daily Iberian. He often submits his writing for letters to the editor, an avid writer, musician and person living with mental illness. Moceri said he remembers when leaving the U.S. Navy, one of his roommates slipped him PCP or Phencyclidine, a powerful recreational drug of the 1970s. The affect was devastating and life changing.

According to DrugAbuse.com, in the 1950s, PCP was administered intravenously, as a surgical anesthetic, but it had been in use since the 1920s. Due to a number of unwanted side effects, it fell out of favor as a substance with practical medical use. “Angel Dust” or “Rocket Fuel” are two of the street names used to reference the infamous hallucinogenic, more specifically a dissociative drug, often sought for it’s ability to create the delusion of supreme strength, euphoria and enhanced sexual and social abilities. The National Drug Intelligence Center has estimated that in the US, more than 6 million people 12 years and older have tried PCP at one time in their life.

For Moceri, whether a combination of prior brain disorders or not, the result has become a diagnosis of schizophrenia. At 67 Moceri is aware of the issues he is facing whether or not he’s having a good or bad day.

“Writing is to share what I know and hope to help someone avoid the mistakes I’ve made, cause nobody wants to go through what I’ve gone through even though it has shaped me,” said Moceri.

One of the key things Moceri has learned by experience is that all mental health professionals are not the same. Finding a competent physician is the first challenge. Being different as a child, bullying, experiencing family abuse or alcoholism or drug abuse can affect a child and last throughout their lives. Add a substance to those issues and the affects compound. With a shortage of beds for mentally ill patients in critical need of care, many of those who can be helped are not receiving it.

“If there is anything a mentally ill person needs is independence and a safe place to live. It was intriguing at the Baptist church the other day there was a topic of ‘Meds vs. No Meds,’ ” Moceri said. “In my case there is a brain malfunction caused by PCP. What it’s like is wires that don’t connect, faulty wiring. Medication can bridge that gap.”

He was raised at Epiphany when Robert Wayne Jackson was rector. In his early 20s, he met, married and had two children with Suzanne Bouligny. Their honeymoon was spent with the Jacksons in Arkansas, still a bittersweet memory. The schizophrenia had been recently diagnosed. The subject is still tender for Moceri to discuss. Mark and Lisa, his children now live in California. He still acknowledges the Jacksons, the example they set, for helping him stop smoking and keeping him from turning into an alcoholic.

“I was grateful to be in their (Jackson) family. I had breakdowns in medication,” said Moceri remembering the couple that influenced him and the family who gave him a start as a husband and father. “I had no means or knowledge how to run a household or be a father … Songs about my kids … came … to tell my kids, it’s going to be rough … and I’d rather walk in their shoes (than for them to walk through it).”

For more than 45 years Moceri has suffered from mental illness. For more than 10 years, he has been on a sustaining drug and not had what he calls a psychotic episode. He’s needed medication adjustments, and admits to not living up to his own standards, much less others, but overall, he is a functioning, caring adult that manages to handle his finances and interact with the community. His passion is playing piano wherever someone will allow him to perform.

When he was first diagnosed, Moceri ran around telling people he was schizophrenic, but people react differently. Without understanding, they can predetermine something is “wrong” with a person and shun them. Even with knowledge, learning how each person will react to a given set of circumstances makes for an uneven life plane.

“Making stuff up,” is a common flaw that haunts mental patients. When desired expectations are not met, the imagination can embellish reality. Moceri discussed some of the incidents that have been part of his life.

The underlying cause of his persistence to be accepted with his gifts of music and writing, to be understood, is a dire need to communicate.

“I guess I’m too sensitive and my feelings can get hurt easily,” Moceri said. “I’m not in circulation enough, I haven’t met enough people. I haven’t reached out (except through his arts).”

Guilt and manipulation, perceived wrongs and how to live with the result of someone else’s action due to corruption and malice in the medical field are often stories left untold, or unheard, building even higher walls of separation. The same have often been reported concerning elder care in nursing facilities, but with fewer and fewer mental health residencies, people who can make a difference may never know the full plight of the mentally ill.

Family living with the Mentally Ill

New Iberia City Councilman Marlon Lewis doesn’t think we deal with mental illness like we should. As the primary caregiver of his little brother by six years, he knows. The family of three brothers grew up without a father figure so Lewis has always cared for his brother, Cory, who he believes was prone from birth to have mental issues. Lewis also believes that just one night of reveling — whether drinking or drug use by anyone — can trigger an acute tendency that will affect the rest of his or her lives.

“I have a passion to see mental illness reform because I have a brother who is mentally ill. I have more patience with others with mental illness. It’s not just a passion for the moment, but talking about it continually is passion,” Lewis said.

As a youth, Cory was a bad kid. Then one day, between 12 and 15 years of age, Cory just seemed to mellow, he wasn’t bad anymore. A good looking kid, and talented, Lewis believed his own maturity, responsibility and respect for leadership had rubbed off. Everyone liked Cory and to this day ask about him. For the majority of the last three years he has lived in a mental health facility.

 “Mental illness is like, it tries to take out the whole family. Call it mental illness call it reality, one day I said, ‘You (meaning Lewis) need help. It’s the plight of the mentally ill,” said Lewis. “I am the primary care giver. We face challenges caring and loving for family members. I’m less stressed when he’s in the hospital. When you can see them in an air-conditioned place where they can eat and be safe, you say, ’Thank God.’ ”

Lewis said the vicious cycle for mentally ill is jail, home, a mental hospital or the streets, and the worst of these is jail. Although diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, Cory wasn’t prone to violence. He just did things like walk the streets at night improperly dressed or without awareness of his actions. Once he punched out the front glass window of a store but later explained seeing his own face in the window brought the reaction.

A few friendly patrolmen knew the family and often awakened Lewis in the middle of the night to come pick up his brother; or friends called to say he was out and about, needing to come home. 

“Most people who don’t live with them 24/7 don’t see the problems. They’re not always operating in their illness. They can appear as normal as you and me,” said Lewis. “Until we keep talking about it with passion and less anger, we’ll get more done.”

Lewis said the subject is broad and sometime so little happens, but sometimes people who have been diagnosed can function with a new life.

“Mental illness is progressive and I believe I saw it progress,” said Lewis. “It’s a cycle jail, hospital, jail, streets and somewhere if not careful, is death.” 

That is not the destination Lewis wants to see for anyone.

What’s next?

For more on mental illness join the Iberia Mental Health Initiative from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 at First United Methodist Church Ministries Center, 211 W. St. Peter St. Guest speaker will be Tanya J. Anderson LPC of Promise Family Services. Light refreshments will be served. Anderson also will be facilitating  a new monthly support group at 6 p.m. May 22 as part of the Iberia Mental Health Initiate efforts to provide resources for family caregivers of the mentally ill. The group will focus on coping skills and meet the 4th Tuesday monthly at FUMC Parlor at 119 Jefferson St. Call 944-4171 for details.