If you have spent anytime at all in a hospital or nursing home you know what these two words mean. Basically they mean, drop everything your doing and go immediately to the area (patient) that needs immediate assistance. There is no waiting around. You go!
I personally believe that our country’s mental health system is in a state of Code Blue. I also believe that with all the old and new antidepressant drugs now available to resolve this epidemic, (yes, an epidemic) there are more depressed people now than ever before. It would appear that there would be less depressed persons because of all the medications available, specifically designed to deal with this national mental health emergency of depression.
In 1985 I was able to do something about the emergency when I founded a mutual aid group called Depressed Anonymous. The group is modeled after the successful Alcoholics Anonymous program of recovery. The emphasis was on mutual aid and a group focused solution for those depressed. Persons who came to the group were many times in a Code Blue situation and needed immediate help. Most times they needed the help of other persons depressed who were speaking the same language as they were. In fact, when they did attend meetings they gradually knew that they were not alone and that others were going through the same things as they had experienced. And by attending meetings week after week they felt the strength of hope and began living their life with a renewed sense of purpose and meaning.
The following is Lena’s story and how she began to live a life filled with hope and purpose.
“During my first night in the hospital, a member informed me of a support group known as Depressed Anonymous. I decided to give it a try. By telling me about this wonderful, miraculous, and very spiritual program, this person had not only worked the TWELFTH STEP, but had also given me a key, a key which would open many doors for me. Walking through these doors was like admitting defeat. I was playing first base in a ball game in which I would eventually win. If I struck out, I was back on Step One. By playing ball with a positive attitude, I was allowing my Higher Power to walk the Steps to recovery with me. With the help and the positive sense of fellowship that I enjoyed in the group, I began to understand God’s will for me. With the love, support and true friendship of three faithful members in the group, I began working on my driver’s license, which had been another step toward independence for me. Within a year, I earned my license when two members of the group took me for my road test. A new sunnier life had begun for me. The worst was finally over.”
The account of her recovery is just one of many stories that one can read in the Depressed Anonymous manual (Depressed Anonymous, (3rd ed.) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Ky. Page 113. )
A total of 31 stories, in the Personal Stories section of the book, are powerful testimonies of how members of the DA group who are living out the Steps in their individual and group life. No more Code Blues
For more information about the Personal Stories and Depressed Anonymous literature click into THE DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS PUBLICATIONS BOOKSTORE