Jim Woster: There’s No Stigma in Getting Help for Your Mental Health
In early summer of 1968, my Dad, age 56, was diagnosed with “stomach cancer.” June 20 of that year, a surgeon at Hennepin General Hospital in Minneapolis, who had served in World War II with Dad’s close friend and physician in Chamberlain, Dr. L.W. Holland, performed an “exploratory surgery.” Two months later, we buried Hank Woster.
I will always remember the post-surgical conversation between Dad and the surgeon, in which Dad was informed that it was bad, really nothing that could be done and his professional best guess was, “two to six months.” After a long pause, Dad asked if there was anything they might try and the response was, “Well, Henry, they are conducting research on a procedure called chemotherapy at Mayo. If you wish, I’ll do some checking. However, with the advancement of your cancer, I don’t think it will help.”
Just think about how far the treatment of cancer and so many other diseases have advanced in just 50 years. Finally, in the past 25 years or so, we are beginning to be able to say the same about afflictions of the mind and emotions.
Respect, Dignity and World-Class Behavioral Health Care
Behavioral health care has been an evolution over the decades. About 20 years ago, Avera leaders decided to lead the way toward exceptional, world-class care in an environment of respect and dignity.
What happened since then, beginning with the opening of the Avera Behavioral Health Hospital 15 years ago, has truly been something to behold. Options for care are many, from the outpatient setting to partial hospitalization to inpatient care in specialized units for adults, seniors, adolescents and children. One of the latest additions is residential addiction care for adults and most recently, adolescents.
Depression and suicide are now open and public topics of conversation. This last fall, Avera launched its Ask the Question campaign to bring awareness to the difficult topic of suicide, and how to have a meaningful conversation with someone you’re concerned about.
My Personal Journey
An integral part of those conversations is the simple but terribly important fact that no one is immune to behavioral health afflictions and that included the “old cattle guy.”
It was about 4:30 on a Monday morning in Feb of 1978 and I was beginning my daily routine of market broadcasts for the Sioux Falls Stockyards, with the first step being a large coffee to go from the 7-11 convenience store at Cliff Avenue and 6th Street.
I had been going awfully hard that winter, with the previous week being a prime example. Speeches in Mitchell and Sheldon, Iowa, plus a Saturday evening charity auction in Sioux Falls. Tired? You bet but what the heck, a healthy 38-year-old man, working at the world’s largest livestock market should have no problem with a schedule like that. Wrong!
Returning to the car, I suddenly began to experience a feeling I had never known before. Clamminess, tight in the chest, a bit shaky, plus a feeling that I might break down and cry. After a few minutes of this horrible weirdness, I knew there was no way I could tend to radio and television tasks so I headed for home.
Without a lot of detail, a visit to Dr. Volan followed by several medications and a few days off resulted in a tepid return to work and the underlying fear that it might happen again. It did not, but it really opened the door in my mind, especially during the ‘80s, to the fact that problems of the mind have no barriers. Very importantly, if that person who is struggling with a behavioral health issue asks for help, help is there and getting better by the month.
There are many avenues of assistance, but because of my familiarity with and affection for agriculture, I will give you the Avera Farm and Rural Stress Hotline at 800-691-4336.
Never forget, where there is help there is hope and hope is where “feeling better” begins. No one need be alone in that journey.
Also Read
This is a guest column written by Jim Woster, friend of Avera.
