8 A
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER (. 1982
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON
FAMILY
COUNCIL
Edttor'i nolt: The Famlljr Coun
rll consists of a Judge, a piyehla.
trlsl, three clergymen, three editor
and a women'i editor. Each arttclt
li a fummary of a family disagree
ment presented to the Council, The
Council dealt with problem!, major
and minor, encountered by gulo-
anre counselor! and social workers.
Edited by Mrs. Alma Denny. Copy
right by General features Corp.)
Mri. n. F. - I (ell him to
keep it a eecret. People are
cruel.
Steven F. - I don't want to
worry about it coming out
later.
e
Mrs. R, F. - Our ton had a
nervous breakdown at col
lege. Alter emergency treat
ment at the campus clinic, he
was sent home for therapy.
Fortunately the psychother
apist we consulted was able
to get to the root of Steve's
trouble within a few months.
It was his terrible fear of not
making good. Soon he was
able to take extension courses
near home, and last year he
marticul&tcd as a senior in a
small, local college. Holding
down a part-time job, too, he's
in fine shape.
But a problem arise, now in
filling out application blanks
for law school. They ask
about previous illness. Should
we tell the truth?
-
SUvtn F. - I know my
molher'd like , to protect me
from the stigma that still
clings to mental illness. But
I'd better be truthful.
What happens if I meet
someone from the old college
who'll spill the beans? Actual
ly there's nothing to be
ashamed of, nothing to hide.
I became ill and I was cured,
that's ail. In speaking up,
maybe I can show people the
value of good psychiatric
treatment. It put me back on
my feet.
Anyway, when you apply
for admission or for n Job it's
no more than fair to answer
questions honestly. Those in
charge have the right to know
whom they're dealing with.
Up to now, though, I'll ad
mit I've kept mum about the
experience.
The Council! Steven admits
he hasn't put his brave resolve
to the test. Unfortunutely he
will find that public altitudes
are often antiquated where
mental Illness is concerned.
Stigma has not been erased.
Where the (rue nature of a
breakdown is understood, thai
is, among the professionals
and the enlightened, there is
no stigma attached to an ex
menial patient. To these his
condition was the clear result
of pressures, like a water
main explosion. As wilh heart
disease or ulcer, It might
strike anyone whose capacity
for stress is overtaxed.
But on other levels, over
(he lunch pail or around the
water cooler, the old cliche'
may get bandied out Thai's
why, for Steven, It may be
the better part of valor to be
discreet.
Perhaps this country will
some day catch up wilh Eng
land where, thanks to public
education, everything about
mental illness is out In the
open. There, a man stops off
at his menUil hygiene clinic
as casually as at his dentist's
office.
From the fads here, Sleven
was never "Insane." Nor was
he "committed." He was emo
tionally III, disabled by
blocks. Highest bet, in dis
closing his' past illness, lies
in compromise. Answer legal,
confidential forms truthfully
A driver's license application,
for example, inquires about
treatment. Steven's doctor
would back his up with a
statement as to his present
Rood health, and that would
be that. But there's no point
in telling all to 'ellow stu
dents, co - workers, random
acquaintances. The informa
tion may serve no good pur
pose. From Dr. William C. Men-
nuiKcr comes the statement
that, in a broad sense, mental
ililness strikes "one out of
one"! But until our society
understands that, Sleven
should divulge his own back
ground only when It is coiv
structivcly relevant.
Pool Attendance
Said About Average
Continued warm weather
has made attendance at Haw
thorne swimming pool about
average, City Parks and Rec
reation Director Hobert 11a
worlh said Wednesday.
Tuesday's attendance at the
pool, the only one now open,
was 4U9, he said. Labor Day,
the last day that both pools
were open, 54B swimm-rs
were registered. Of those 330
were at Hawthorne and 158
at Jackson.
Hawthorne pool will re
main open through Sept. 9.
APPROVE PLAN
Washington The Sen
ale Agriculture Committee
Wednesday approved the
watershed work plan tor the
middle fork of the Hood river
In Orrgon.
14 NO. CENTRAL
215 EAST MAIN
budget priced
casual campus
handbags
LITTLE TOUCHES TO HERALD
FALL . . . accent a subtle look,
compliment a regal one . . . get
the feeling of fall . . . simulated
leather in black, brown, grey,
red, bone or patent . . . tapestry
and novelty fabrics . . .
2.98
p.i.
(street floor)
tomorrow Mann's reduces
famous No Mend Hosiery for
two wonderful weeks . . save
up to 85 per box . . .
r
FRI. SEPT. 7TH SAT. SEPT. 22
BEAUTIFUL STOCKINGS IN
PROPORTIONED LENGTH
No mend fashion
colors:
Spicy Beige
Golden Beige
Rose Beige
Warm Taupe
SEAMLESS AGILON
FULL FASHIONED DRESS SHEER
FULL FASHIONED WALKING SHEER
Reg Price Sale 3-Pr. Sale
1.65 1.39 4.10
box
(street floor)
SEAMLESS HEEL AND TOE
SEAMLESS WALKING SHEER
Reg Price Sale 3-Pr. Sale
1.50 1.29 3.80
box
FIRST TO MANN'S ... THEN BACK TO SCHOOL...
mm, girls' school
""Ol coats stvled JTS
'JhTl f for com,ort
1 I Km L ... V 1 W
M 1 '! fhr h tmartsxr unnnn arhnn A. I . l
I Tj00sK Tdvurnes iur ran. w . ' V
' 'I 4" ' A. laminated knit wool coats with I K tfj J
I V-" 'f f "5 ft bright pile lining. In red and wheat. j J V vjytf ' '"S;- 0 K
I j"iJLjt - - AT Sites 3 to 6x, and 7 to 14. V Akf.- "If ' tPf I
I k 24 ' 98 lK tfW 1
I ' li ." I .. f v. natural wilh bright orlon pile lining. S . j ' V A .' '"' f f
V , i ' 1T lt' machine washable too. V'"- U '' '-'If W
l If MV JWWfl rH 1
V4 I V (lfA Ccond floor) V. ' lfe - 0l '
1 ""
commuter coats
for campus
Fashion and cozy warmth. Famout
i I GRAFF CALIFORNIA FACHIDNC nr.c.r,.
II I i "-
$ , i a most complete commuter coat line
priced from 14.98 to 29.95.
mail or phone orders
promptly filled ... 773-7484
A. POPLIN COMMUTER-such zestful styling,
so wonderful the fabric. In Zenal treated pop
lin with fleecy pile lining for added warmth.
Matterhorn collar.
25.95
B. SUEDE COMMUTER-kitten-soft Graff Com
muter with the cuddliest Sherpa fleece collar
and cuff treatment. Novel mitten pocket
mjtifs. Expanded vinyl suede, so leather-like
it's incredible.
29.95
(second floor)
"a great store in a great country"