| FOR PETE'S SAKE BY GENE GILBREATH |
WELCOME !
Pete as a person with schizophrenia lived within the confines of his
own mental world. The author explores that world in a critique of the
medical record of those years; 28 years in Evansville State Hospital,
Evansville, Indiana, and 19 more in two nursing homes. When you
have read that chapter of the book, you might ask if that was all there
was to Pete's life. If so, it is not a pleasant one.
The author chose to not leave the reader with just that institutional
picture of his father. Never is one event, even for forty-seven years,
the whole story of ones life. We are much healthier mentally if we see
the big picture of existence.
So the author demonstrated the big picture of Dad's life by the
inclusion of other chapters. Mental health issues are raised in each
segment. One of Gene's speeches is entitled “Our Life, a Segment of
the Ages.” It is based on this concept of life being larger than any one
event.
Mental health issues are raised as the author explores Pete's
ancestry, the childhood of his four children, school days in rural
Sullivan County, Indiana.
A sequel to Pete's journey from Evansville Woodmere to MacaNell and
onto Woodlawn Nursing Home, was his wife Fleda's paying off the
farm, dealing with the mental health system, finally being in court to
defend her actions. Fleda was a part of Pete's story, with a love that
weathered the storm.
And the story doesn't end without hearing about our need to have
something bigger than self to hang onto in tough times, and being
able to survive victoriously with support of community and faith-based
actions.
Pete as a person with schizophrenia lived within the confines of his
own mental world. The author explores that world in a critique of the
medical record of those years; 28 years in Evansville State Hospital,
Evansville, Indiana, and 19 more in two nursing homes. When you
have read that chapter of the book, you might ask if that was all there
was to Pete's life. If so, it is not a pleasant one.
The author chose to not leave the reader with just that institutional
picture of his father. Never is one event, even for forty-seven years,
the whole story of ones life. We are much healthier mentally if we see
the big picture of existence.
So the author demonstrated the big picture of Dad's life by the
inclusion of other chapters. Mental health issues are raised in each
segment. One of Gene's speeches is entitled “Our Life, a Segment of
the Ages.” It is based on this concept of life being larger than any one
event.
Mental health issues are raised as the author explores Pete's
ancestry, the childhood of his four children, school days in rural
Sullivan County, Indiana.
A sequel to Pete's journey from Evansville Woodmere to MacaNell and
onto Woodlawn Nursing Home, was his wife Fleda's paying off the
farm, dealing with the mental health system, finally being in court to
defend her actions. Fleda was a part of Pete's story, with a love that
weathered the storm.
And the story doesn't end without hearing about our need to have
something bigger than self to hang onto in tough times, and being
able to survive victoriously with support of community and faith-based
actions.
Copyright, 2004 Rev 2005 All Rights Reserved
A son reflects on his father's forty-seven year
confinement with mental illness, seeking understanding,
hope, and caring for our mentally ill.
confinement with mental illness, seeking understanding,
hope, and caring for our mentally ill.
CHAPTER SYNOPSIS
CH 1 LAYING OFF A LAND
Setting the stage with general background and finding
hidden treasure in similarities and differences of
Pete's experiences with Rip Van Winkle's lost years.
Setting the stage with general background and finding
hidden treasure in similarities and differences of
Pete's experiences with Rip Van Winkle's lost years.
CH 2 A BACKWARD OUTLOOK
A look at our beginnings and endings, seen and
unseen, our place in that grand scheme, with issues
of mental health using the family's genealogy.
A look at our beginnings and endings, seen and
unseen, our place in that grand scheme, with issues
of mental health using the family's genealogy.
CH 3 FROM GRANDMA'S TO GRADUATION
Notes mental health issues for today as the author
tells his story of growing up in Sullivan County,
Indiana, in the 1930s and 1940s.
Notes mental health issues for today as the author
tells his story of growing up in Sullivan County,
Indiana, in the 1930s and 1940s.
CH 4 SLATE BOARDS TO COMPUTERS
With memories of a supportive school setting, the
author shares ideas about mental health in the
classroom.
With memories of a supportive school setting, the
author shares ideas about mental health in the
classroom.
CH 5 WOODMERE TO WOODLAWN
On the basis of Pete's 47 years of medical records
from Evansville State Hospital and two nursing
homes in Indiana, the author critiques the work of
all those who work with patients.
On the basis of Pete's 47 years of medical records
from Evansville State Hospital and two nursing
homes in Indiana, the author critiques the work of
all those who work with patients.
CH 6 CONFIDENCE AND CENTS
With confidence gained in childhood experiences,
the author's mother, Fleda, managed her affairs
admirably, including court battles regarding her
husband's care.
With confidence gained in childhood experiences,
the author's mother, Fleda, managed her affairs
admirably, including court battles regarding her
husband's care.
CH 7 KNEELING TO DANCE
Pete's family found support in their neighborhood,
understood their limitations and potential,
received and gave in the name of their faith.
Pete's family found support in their neighborhood,
understood their limitations and potential,
received and gave in the name of their faith.
LINGERING QUESTIONS
While there is much improvement over the last
century in mental health delivery, much needs to
be done.
While there is much improvement over the last
century in mental health delivery, much needs to
be done.
TIES THAT BIND THE BOOK TOGETHER
1. The inherent worth of every person,
including persons handicapped in mind
and/or body.
2.Life's Big Picture: Mental health
means seeing ourselves as a segment
of the ages, our ancestry, our life on
earth, and our legacy, all as a whole
event.
3.Facing our limitations: We must seek
the assistance of others and that of a
greater power to find success.
4.Genuine caring about others: May be
an instinct or learned, but a challenge
and saving act for self and for others; a
necessary ingredient in a sane society.
5.Issues of caring then (1948-1995)
are still issues today in any hospital,
nursing home, or mental health facility.
6.The author's purpose: To find hidden
treasure in the loss of his father's
forty-seven years of confinement;
offering a legacy for mental health.
1. The inherent worth of every person,
including persons handicapped in mind
and/or body.
2.Life's Big Picture: Mental health
means seeing ourselves as a segment
of the ages, our ancestry, our life on
earth, and our legacy, all as a whole
event.
3.Facing our limitations: We must seek
the assistance of others and that of a
greater power to find success.
4.Genuine caring about others: May be
an instinct or learned, but a challenge
and saving act for self and for others; a
necessary ingredient in a sane society.
5.Issues of caring then (1948-1995)
are still issues today in any hospital,
nursing home, or mental health facility.
6.The author's purpose: To find hidden
treasure in the loss of his father's
forty-seven years of confinement;
offering a legacy for mental health.
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FROM DAD'S ANCESTRY TO HIS LEGACY
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