Individuals locked in a psychiatric institution, public or private, are often pretty much alone. And patients receive very few visitors.
In the 1960s, there was an active community in Alaska that helped the disabled, including helping individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness.
Volunteers, individuals and groups supplied patients at the Alaska PsychiatricInstitute and other locations with gifts, clothes and services, all in an effort to keepthe less fortunate connected with the community to help in the return home afterdischarge.
I donated gloves for psychiatric patients at API several years ago as Christmaspresents. An individual I knew spent time in API over Christmas. I inquired howher stay was. She replied that API gave her a brand-new pair of gloves. If theywere the same gloves I donated, they cost $2.99 per pair. Negative and positive things that happen to a person in a psychiatric institution can have a big and lasting effect on that person.
If you or your organization can donate to help the disabled, contact locked psychiatric facilities, find out the rules of giving and do what you can.
Dorrance Collins
Mental Health Advocates
Anchorage
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