Thank you, Patrick, for the incredible work you have done over the years in the cause of mental health awareness and ending mental health stigma. There is so much which you say that is true about the way families and individuals still won't discuss such matters. The irony being that this contributes to making things worse in the long term. It is indeed shocking and reprehensible that a person with a severe mental illness can be shunned and receive little or no support while a person with a physical illness will much rarely have to endure such deplorable treatment. I trust that with time, education and people speaking out things will improve in the future.
This is such a moving and candid testimony of Patrick Kennedy... Thank you for sharing to help others. Thank you beautiful and brilliant Marie Shriver. You are perfect all by yourself....
@Tilly Divine, need to get your facts straight. First of all Patrick Kennedy is Sen Ted Kennedy's son, David Kennedy was Robert Kennedy's son NOT brothers.. Second of all Patrick Kennedy is 52 years old today. David Kennedy tragically died of overdose in 1984 at the age of 29 years old, today he would be 65 years old if alive, 13 years OLDER than Patrick Kennedy...but hey why let the facts get in the way of a good made up story!
I admire these two so much! I've always loved and had the upmost respect for Maria, and now Patrick! It must have been very hard for the children from their generation to have lived with so much! I grew up during the time they have and know all the stories about their uncle's , the good and the bad and the sad! Much love and respect to them both😘
You are a star Patrick! The truth sets us free. Denial and dysfunction go hand in glove. Sobriety is so liberating. Anything is possible. Peace and serenity to you.
DECEMBER 11th MONDAY 2023 SOUTH PACIFIC SEAS ON AN ISLAND Oh Wow Patrick, what a brave topic for discussion as u put yourself to the world into the shortcomings and limitations of your life. Never easy to do that but the good side of that others around the world will see, hear, also learn by your example.You came out of that dark hole with multiple helps but foremost yourself. You wanted help and wrote a book.Many thanks for sharing of yourself and helping others as well. Maria hugs for your professional interview of your cousin and love and care for others that are going thru their pain and tribulations and there's always a way out if we are to take it. MAY GOD BLESS YOUS AND ALL OF US WARMEST GREETINGS FOR SHARING YOUR CLIPS WITH US SOPH KIA ORANA E KIA MANUIA
So glad you talked about the effects of trauma on school kids. That's such an important issue to address in compassionate ways so that students have a fighting chance in life.
Stigmatized Anonymous. Step One: "We admitted that we are powerless over our birth families. We admitted that we could not manage the consequences of ommissions and commissions that occurred in our early childhood." Thank you for this content. I am really enjoying the book.
Great interview. Huge need for these discussions. God bless you, Patrick and Maria. Trauma and loss is hard to discuss. There are reasons why alcohol and drugs appeal. You have said it beautifully here: Express love not just in words but actions. Respect before judging. God's grace is what we all need. Be merciful and kind to one another. Amen! Now, it seems, I am once again reminded of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. Patrick said something early on about "people are misunderstood "...and I thought of a peice of writing I did called, "My Father". Acknowledging that was part of my motivation to write and "Misunderstood" partly theme. In it I wrote "he has been mistreated and misunderstood". I sent it to him. He said thanks for the Sonnet. Family dynamics is difficult if everyone wants you to do, act and be or say what they think. We all need freedom to speak and be who God made us to be. We are unique in that there is only one of us! Psalm 139. Grateful to God and you in this moment!
"...people dying everyday of silent suicides and overdoses..." -Patrick Kennedy. I am sorry for your loss of Saoirse Kennedy. I wish the best for your family.
My only judgment of you Patrick is you are so very brave. Thank you so much for writing this book. As a woman in recovery, I know the shame, guilt, remorse, sadness, and other emotions that are attached to the disease of addiction and mental illness. I applaud you.
I am writing my own memoir I call Ayesha's story: The SZ Memoirs a memoir about my life from early onset mental illness to now (my mid-late 30s). This is inspiring to say the least!
I spoke to Mr Patrick Kennedy in the North End 9/13/10 for 40 minutes as we passed on the sidewalk. It was a gift. Why individuals/families don't openly speak out or reach out? The resources available are inept screenings & the apathy is emence. America is greatly desensitized and that needs to change first.
THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT ILLNESSES IS THAT PEOPLE GET OVER THEM OR AT LEAST LEARN TO DEAL WITH THEM. NO NEED FOR SHAME BECAUSE EVEN ''HEALTHY'' PEOPLE HAVE ILLNESSES. THAT IS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ABSOLUTE HEALTH OR ABSOLUTE ILLNESS.
I admire the effort - but as a former counselor and daughter of a retired Duke administrator and psychologist - who also have family who suffer from depression (mainly due to a family illness called Gardner's syndrome) - I can say that really -I don't see any improvement in these areas. Once the laws changed in the 70s- I see no improvement. We have mercifully through grit escaped addiction (my Dad and me) - but many have not...and I don't see anything in the "laws" etc. that have made anything easier for our "average" (not wealthy) family. I still cannot afford the help I could use. We have to hear Elizabeth Vargas etc. - and this is great - but for the average person - the vets you mention - I see no improvements coming out of all these great intentions...which has led me to be quite cynical about the power of government to create any meaningful change. I am sorry to be so glib and blunt - I am so fed up with all of this. I am fed up with the wealthy and powerful talking...and talking...and spending....(I know they give generously) - and yet - I see so little change. And I wonder if we need to think in terms of the verse: "there is nothing new under the sun". I am leaning further right all the time.
В день, когда исполнилось мне шестнадцать лет, подарила мама мне вязаный жакет И куда-то в сторону отвела глаза, принесли посылку нам - это от отца. Припев: Ты о нем не подумай плохого, подрастешь - сам поймешь все с годами. Твой отец тебя любит и помнит, хоть давно не живет уже с нами. Вечером на улице мне сказал сосед: "Что же не наденешь ты новый свой жакет? Мать всю ночь работала, чтоб его связать" и тогда я понял, что такое МАТЬ. Припев: Ты о нем не подумай плохого, подрастешь - сам поймешь все с годами. Твой отец тебя любит и помнит, хоть давно не живет уже с нами. Я рукою гладил новый свой жакет, не сказал я матери про ее секрет. Лишь любовь безгрешная, лишь родная мать может так заботливо и так свято лгать. Припев: Ты о нем не подумай плохого, подрастешь - сам поймешь все с годами. Твой отец тебя любит и помнит, хоть давно не живет уже с нами. Читать на сайте: www.gl5.ru/shufutinskij-mikhail-vyazanyj-zhaket.html
matt Andorf unfortunately, we are aging differently. what I meant is that nature isn't nice with some people like her. she can do everything for her face but unfortunately her voice can't be fixed
I disagree, having met Congressman Kennedy at a Democratic Convention in 1988 in Atlanta, I think he resembles his dad, the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy very much, the Irish face comes through easily. Take another look. Thx, Ron
Maria all you have shown us is that you let your anger take over and quickly ended your marriage. What a shame that being a high profile person and the divorce rate being high that you didn't show us that a marriage is worth fighting for. You had a husband that regretted what he did and appears to be sincere in his love for you and the family. What a shame that you put your kids through a divorce instead of teaching them to fight for the opportunity in repairing your marriage.
Linda Lee how can you say “ SHAME ON YOU THAT YOU PUT YOUR KIDS THROUGH DIVORCE “ for one, their children are no longer kids but ADULT. If your in the position or in the shoe of Maria, that your maid is sleeping with your husband in your own house and have child with her, how do you feel? Will you still fix that marriage? Arnold never showed respect to Maria, sleeping with their maid.
