We all have read about the worsening shape of the American economy these days. It seems like it is the lead story on every news channel, the lead in every paper, and all over the internet. And in fact, it certainly should be. Our government sees fit to bailout out one industry or another, an endless number of failing companies, but not much help to the proverbial “little guy.”
I hear about these bailouts that will be paid for by our grand children and our great grand children and I wonder whether or not some of these companies should not just be left to fail. If these companies have unsuccessful business models, do they not deserve to fail?
But what matters most is how it affects us, our neighbors, and those we care about. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the bad economic news is affecting many central ohio families in a very negative way that many of us may not think about. The rates of domestic violence and suicide is apparentely on the increase in our area.
Calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline steadily increased 18 percent from October 2007 to last month. Calls from Ohio went up 20 percent during the same period.
Mental health experts warn us that financial stress at home can lead to these increases. They suggest:
• Exercise: It relieves stress and keeps people from shopping and drinking.
• Communicate: Talk about your issues with your support circle. Don’t be embarrassed.
• Seek professional help: If your insurance won’t cover counseling services, look for professionals who work on a sliding fee scale. Also, consider using mental-health students as potential counselors.
When we are with our families this week for Thanksgiving, we should all take some time to think about these families and ways in which we might be able to help.
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