OR Lege: Time to deliver the goods

Carla Axtman

This morning, I learned some new stuff about my state senator.

Chris Lehman, OPB:

You wouldn't guess it by seeing her. But Oregon State Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward has multiple sclerosis. She controls it pretty well with medication. A lot of people know about it around the capitol. But there's something about the Senator that none of her colleagues knew. At least, until a committee hearing on mental health in early April.

The Democratic lawmaker told her colleagues, onlookers and everyone watching the capitol video feed that she suffers from major depression. And has for the last 15 years.

Wow.

First of all, what a double whammy that must be. It's tough for me to put myself in the shoes of someone who is afflicted with multiple sclerosis. I do understand depression, having suffered through it after the birth of my second child. I deeply admire Senator Steiner-Hayward's willingness to talk about these things. They're deeply personal and in the case of depression, can come with some stigma that's tough to shake. It takes a ton of courage to have this discussion.

In addition, there's been an ongoing discussion about how we don't need more gun laws in Oregon. That instead, we need a vast investment in mental health services in order to identify and treat those suffering from mental illness before they get access to guns and commit violent acts.

Seems like this is an opportunity for all those folks to step up and support efforts by Senator Steiner-Hayward and others, by demanding full funding and further, being willing to push through revenue increases to get us there.

By Carla Axtman May 30, 2013