Today our family doctor is making a house call. He is also a school board member in our community. His visit is related to a school effort not to treat any of us (although our middle son has another bout with canker sores---again --even though he's on meds for them)...perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone and have him treat my son! Anyway, the reason he's coming is to help us see what we can do to get some mental health education into our school system. The principal puts on a good front saying that he supports our mission, but it has been very clear, lately, that that is not the case. Fortunately, our doctor is also on the curriculum committee, so perhaps he will be able to have some influence. Who knows? All I know is that this is a bigger endeavour than I ever anticipated. I started attending a mental health advocacy network (representatives from different groups...hospitals, agencies, schools) and it's amazing that nothing seems to be getting done. There are many road blocks...mainly funding. It's so frustrating. Our school does have (started this school year) someone from a non-profit agency come into the 10th grade class and speak. I was asked by this group to approach the school to particate in an awareness, prevention walk to call attention to suicide. The principal (as usual..dragged his feet) but were finally able to get the approval. This walk helps fund the free service this alliance provides for the schools. Last night my husband and I were at a friend's house and one of our friends applauded me for getting a speaker into our school this past February to talk about mental health. It was good to hear because I was feeling a bit defeated because the principal obviously didn't like the speaker. I think he didn't like him mainly because it wasn't "his" speaker. This fellow is such a control freak and very insecure I am finding out. But who cares? I am NOT going to let him intimate me. Some people back down to him while others sue him. Anyway........gotta go..