R.I.P. Scott Kurtis (1970-2009)
From the Chicago Tribune:
The son of former Chicago newsman Bill Kurtis (pictured) was found dead early Monday, July 20, on the Kansas cattle ranch owned by his father, family members said.
Scott Kurtis, 38, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia since his mid-teens, said his stepmother, Donna LaPietra.
Mr. Kurtis was last seen during the day Sunday and may have died late Sunday or early Monday. At the time of his death, Mr. Kurtis was alone in his home on the ranch, LaPietra said.
He was found by his sister, Mary Kristin Kurtis, who lives near the ranch.
Mr. Kurtis’ family is expected to get the results of an autopsy by Thursday, LaPietra said. Mr. Kurtis also suffered heart and thyroid ailments as a result of the schizophrenia, she said.
“It’s a lonely life — it’s a very sad illness,” LaPietra said.
“Quite frankly, there’s not very much anyone can do, so he struggled with that illness and various complications that arise from it,” LaPietra said. “Tragically, Bill and I have known for a while that often … schizophrenics do not live past the age of 40. It was something we always had in the back of our minds, and Scott really struggled.”
For the last 10 years, Scott Kurtis had worked at the ranch in Sedan, LaPietra said.
…
Her stepson often said his dream was to be a truck driver so he could travel and see the country, LaPietra said.
“He loved the road. It was always a battle for us to persuade him that it was better to be on the land than on the road,” LaPietra said. “It was his obsession.”
Full story here.
liz | 9:48 AM | SCHIZOPHRENIA
That is very sad. Schizophrenia is such a cruel and tragic disease. And the treatments, which sometimes work, can be such a burden too. Hope he rests in peace.
Just incredibly sad & unnecessary. It’s not all that surprising that Scott’s stepmother, at least, doesn’t seem terribly surprised herself, given the average number of years taken off the lives of those with serious mental illnesses — let alone those whose mental health problems cause &/or aggravate other medical conditions.
What’s worst of all is the total disconnect between mental health providers & “medical” providers. I can’t the count the blank stares & terrible bits of advice I’ve gotten about my diabetes from shrinks or about my manic-depression from endocrinologists.
RIP indeed.
The most significant change in our nation’s mental health system over the past twenty years is the increase in premature mortality to an average of thirty-two years for persons with serious mental illnesses (1). This continuing tragedy is evidenced in the untimely passing of Scott Kurtis. I share Carter’s sentiment, “Just incredibly sad & unnecessary.”
This issue is being putatively addressed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s “10×10 Campaign” which is supposed to reduce premature mortality by ten years in ten years. Two years ago, SAMHSA and over 80 organizations signed the pledge (2). Sadly, it appears to be like so many earlier mental health initiatives – long on rhetoric but short on that accountability which would allow us to know if anything is being achieved.
The Pledge for Wellness
We envision
A future in which people with mental illnesses pursue optimal health, happiness, recovery, and a full and satisfying life in the community via access to a range of effective services, supports, and resources.
We pledge
To promote wellness for people with mental illnesses by taking action to prevent and reduce early mortality by 10 years over the next 10 year time period.
(1)//psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/57/10/1482
(2)//www.bu.edu/cpr/resources/wellness-summit/pledge.html
“An acre of performance is worth a whole world of promise.” William Dean Howells (1837-1920)
I love listening to Bill Kurtis on A &E. My thoughts are with him and his family, and I hope his son is at peace.
Yet, I would love to know where they got the idea that schizophrenics die before 40.
I agree with Susan. I’m not too familiar with schizophrenia, but I had never heard that typically those afflicted don’t live past forty.
I don’t know the numbers either, but there have been several studies showing that severe mental illnesses tend to reduce longevity *on average.* Much of that has to do with other illnesses (Scott Kurtis’s heart & thyroid conditions as possible examples) that are aggravated by mental illness.
This *does not* mean that people with schizophrenia don’t live past 40, or even *usually* don’t live past 40. Averages are often yanked up or down by outliers. So a big number of people with schizophrenia who die in their 20s would bring down the overall average, even if plenty of others live past 80; on the other hand, a large number of 80-plussers would pull the average upward. Either way, that doesn’t mean that any one person with schizophrenia is more or less likely to die before 40 — or 50, or 60, etc.
“A Beautiful Mind,” Sylvia Nasser’s bio of John Nash (book, not movie), talks a bit about this. Nash has lived a long life & essenially recovered from severe schizophrenia. Nasser makes the point that a substantial percentage of schizophrenics, apparently, can recover fully if they live long enough; unfortunately, suicide rates in younger patients limit the numbers of people who do recover.
I seriously doubt anyone means to suggest people with mental illnesses can’t live long lives or shouldn’t even try. I have both bipolar & juvenile diabetes, & I have no intention of becoming an illustration of a statistical “average.”
But I do think Scott’s story, however he died, points to a serious problem: Our health care system is generally very bad at treating mental & “medical” illnesses *together.*
A study, “Mortality and Medical Comorbidity Among Patients With Serious Mental Illness,” which tracked 20,018 patients admitted to an Ohio public mental hospital found that the average years of potential life lost was 32.0±12.6 years. The study can be found on-line in the October 2006 edition of Psychiatric Services, psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/57/10/1482
I have no ideas about this sickness.
I am very much so sorry of what happien to him may his soul rest in perfect peace until judgement come.
Please I extend my greeting to my grand mother Jean Schodorf the her nephew die at his father ranch in southeast kansas. I am sending this mail from africa west coast ghana at the refugee camp but from liberia.
I have no ideas about this sickness.
I am very much so sorry of what happien to him may his soul rest in perfect peace until judgement come.
Please I extend my greeting to my grand mother Jean Schodorf that her nephew die at his father ranch in southeast kansas. I am sending this mail from africa west coast ghana at the refugee camp but from liberia.
Jul 28 3:27 AM
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