Welcome to Mental Health

[Lord DragonsWing]

I've noticed the post on gun control, mental health and other areas that concern the VT massacre.
While we all have the freedom to debate and discuss, I don't think anyone realizes what is going on in the mental health field at this time.
In outpatient homes and general facilities, the news has spread among most clients about VT. I can't speak for other states or areas, but I can for the area I'm nursing in.
The threats against staff has quadrupled by the consumers. Tell me how you'd feel having a mentally ill patient threaten to gun you down when you show up for work?
I had a report of a 45 caliber pistol from a client threatening another client. To hell with patient rights, I rushed in, spread the client, and did a search. I found a toy pistol that looked exactly like a real gun. When I asked the consumer about it, all he told me was "it's a toy."
At this time, we're working at 1/3rd of the staff because most are scared to show up for work. I'm learning what it's like to do with a couple hours of sleep a day and go back to work.
Yet we have to follow the law and give the consumers their rights. Now mind you, these are consumers who are mentally ill. By the court. They deal crack, they threaten staff, the state supports them, the police won't do anything about them and the taxpayer pays for it all.
And those that truly need help? They're influenced by the others. They're like kids following a circus. It's hard to help when they're high on crack and believe everything the dealers tell them.
This is mental health in the states. It's the same as it has always been. Tuck them away and forget about them. Ignore the signs for those who are out and cut the cost to release those who need help. I see it everyday.
You tuck your mentally ill into our tight nit world and forget about them. You never visit. You never send them money. You forget about them.
So they have unlimited sex with each other, spreading diseases. They steal from each other to support their drug habit. And at times, they beat the hell out of each other to get what they want.
Welcome to Mental Health Care from the states.

 

[rgraham666]

Thanks ever so much for lumping me in with the likes of some one like the guy who was responsible for Virginia Tech.

Shrugs. The mentally ill are our equivalent of lepers. By getting ill the way they do they show that they do not act according to the tenents of the faith. Their illness is their sin on display.

And we're as kind to our sinners as the mediaeval world was to theirs.

 

[_Lynn_]

Thanks ever so much for lumping me in with the likes of some one like the guy who was responsible for Virginia Tech.
.

Guess then I am in there too right?

I am offended by that.

 

[3113]

I don't think anyone realizes what is going on in the mental health field at this time.

You're right. I don't think that people in general know what is going on--I do think that people on this forum are more aware, however. As you can see, some AH members know all about it from patient's side--and are rightly offended by the comparison--and plenty of people, like you, are on the healthcare side. Some of us even know that these problems go back to the 80's and Ronald Regan who cut funding for mental health by pretty much opening the doors to facilities and allowing patients to check themselves in and out. I, myself, had a friend who was attacked by a guy who decided to go off his meds. My friend was just walking down the street and this guy attacked him.

Why was it an *option* for this guy to take this meds given the dangerous results of not taking them?

But here's the real point: what good does it do you to preach to the choir here? By all means, tell your story--tell it everywhere you can, spread an e-mail far and wide, most especially to congress folk and lawmakers. And while you're at it, add in rules, laws and actions that you feel must be taken. This is the time to do it, while there is clear evidence that we have to do more, while those in power are ready to take action and make sure that this doesn't happen again.

 

[alltherage]

It is unfair to paint such a damning picture of people with serious mental health issues. I work in a community mental health center and I can tell you that the percentage of mental health clients who become violent directly corresponds to the general public. I have been threatened by clients in the past and what I can generally say is that those threats came as much from fear as any other cause. I agree that people tend to isolate and ignore the chronically mentally ill and in truth I would argue that it is this isolation as much as any other cause which makes treating these folks so difficult.

Before you judge these people so harshly perhaps we should examine how many people among us will seek mental health care in our lifetimes, and add to that the number of us who are taking anti depressant medications, and we might see that the distance between us and them is not nearly so far as we comfortably think.

 

[rgraham666]

Before you judge these people so harshly perhaps we should examine how many people among us will seek mental health care in our lifetimes, and add to that the number of us who are taking anti depressant medications, and we might see that the distance between us and them is not nearly so far as we comfortably think.

To most people's minds, there is a great distance. Indeed, most people regard mental illness not as illness, but as weakness.

And since we worship strength, that makes the mentally ill sinners.

People don't like sinners.

 

[Guest]

To most people's minds, there is a great distance. Indeed, most people regard mental illness not as illness, but as weakness.

And since we worship strength, that makes the mentally ill sinners.

People don't like sinners.

I do.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

What are we supposed to do. I mean, seriously?

 

[_Lynn_]

To most people's minds, there is a great distance. Indeed, most people regard mental illness not as illness, but as weakness.

And since we worship strength, that makes the mentally ill sinners.

People don't like sinners.

This is not a way I see us, exactly, but in following your words~~~~

Then I like sinners.

 

[Dar~]

RG, Lynn, and anyone else. Why let narrow minded generalizations offend you to the point of being angry or even bothered. It;s obviously the opinion of someone undereducated on the realities faced by todays Mental Health patients. Clearly, there are mental Health patients who are violent, but in most cases they are known to be violent. Is it not our job as the "normal ones" to be certain security measures are taken so that guns and other items that may cause harm are not readily available to said patients?

All that said, I am a sufferer of rapid cycling Bi-Polar disorder and if anyone can speak truly of the violence within, it is me. I know first hand what it is like to look into the eyes of a "normal" person and see the fear, dislike, and disgust held for me. When in reality, I am also a victim of my own body and its rages. Thats why medication is there, thats why mental health providers are there. Not to be the ones holding judgment, but the ones providing understanding.

Perhaps, LDW deserved the violent response he got by not being the care giver, but by being the bringer of disgust and the bringer of contempt for those who have uncontrolled brain chemicals.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Incidentally, I was just looking up my insurences mental health benefits, as I fear that I'm coming undone. It's nothing new, but since I've long used the lack of money as an excuse to ignore my issues, I thought I might at least try to open myself up to getting help.

Seeing comments like this, with no hints of compassion or recognition of variation among people, especially coming from a mental health "care" professional, is very disheartening. Makes me want to curl up in a ball for another decade of denial

 

[Just-Legal]

I'm suddenly glad I read this thread AFTER I started my mental health treatment and not before...

*crawls back into her corner*

 

[Stella_Omega]

RG, Lynn, and anyone else. Why let narrow minded generalizations offend you to the point of being angry or even bothered. It;s obviously the opinion of someone undereducated on the realities faced by todays Mental Health patients. Clearly, there are mental Health patients who are violent, but in most cases they are known to be violent. Is it not our job as the "normal ones" to be certain security measures are taken so that guns and other items that may cause harm are not readily available to said patients?

All that said, I am a sufferer of rapid cycling Bi-Polar disorder and if anyone can speak truly of the violence within, it is me. I know first hand what it is like to look into the eyes of a "normal" person and see the fear, dislike, and disgust held for me. When in reality, I am also a victim of my own body and its rages. Thats why medication is there, thats why mental health providers are there. Not to be the ones holding judgment, but the ones providing understanding.

Perhaps, LDW deserved the violent response he got by not being the care giver, but by being the bringer of disgust and the bringer of contempt for those who have uncontrolled brain chemicals.

Perhaps he's a compassionate caregiver trying to work in a system that has no backup, not enough staff-- without enough sleep, as he mentions.

I do not think LDW is blaming the mentally ill clients he cares for. It seems pretty obvious that he's saying- as many columnists are sayingand so many other people are saying- that this country does not offer the ill any recourse. That even when violent patients are recognised as such, the facilities may not be able to deal with them. As in, evidently, the area LDW works.
Why shoot the messenger? so to speak.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Perhaps he's a compassionate caregiver trying to work in a system that has no backup, not enough staff-- without enough sleep, as he mentions.

I do not think LDW is blaming the mentally ill clients he cares for. It seems pretty obvious that he's saying- as many columnists are sayingand so many other people are saying- that this country does not offer the ill any recourse. That even when violent patients are recognised as such, the facilities may not be able to deal with them. As in, evidently, the area LDW works.
Why shoot the messenger? so to speak.

He may be. He's just not doing a great job of showing it. He just seemed to lump all the mentally ill in one basket.

I can definitely understand working in a system that lacks backup and adequate staff, but why rail on the people who can do the least about it?

I know that personally, it made me feel that if I ever take that step of reaching out, and I get labeled in anyway, I'll be lumped in with those who are a direct danger to society. Of course those are just my own issues.

 

[_Lynn_]

RG, Lynn, and anyone else. Why let narrow minded generalizations offend you to the point of being angry or even bothered. It;s obviously the opinion of someone undereducated on the realities faced by todays Mental Health patients. Clearly, there are mental Health patients who are violent, but in most cases they are known to be violent. Is it not our job as the "normal ones" to be certain security measures are taken so that guns and other items that may cause harm are not readily available to said patients?

All that said, I am a sufferer of rapid cycling Bi-Polar disorder and if anyone can speak truly of the violence within, it is me. I know first hand what it is like to look into the eyes of a "normal" person and see the fear, dislike, and disgust held for me. When in reality, I am also a victim of my own body and its rages. Thats why medication is there, thats why mental health providers are there. Not to be the ones holding judgment, but the ones providing understanding.

Perhaps, LDW deserved the violent response he got by not being the care giver, but by being the bringer of disgust and the bringer of contempt for those who have uncontrolled brain chemicals.

I'm not angry. Yes, I too know first hand the looks from so-called "normal" people. I know more first hand as well. Medications, mental health providers, violent patients, under-staffed tired workers.

With that said, I have also learned a lot in the last few years about Myself, due to those same medications, mental health providers......

 

[Stella_Omega]

He may be. He's just not doing a great job of showing it. He just seemed to lump all the mentally ill in one basket.

I can definitely understand working in a system that lacks backup and adequate staff, but why rail on the people who can do the least about it?

I know that personally, it made me feel that if I ever take that step of reaching out, and I get labeled in anyway, I'll be lumped in with those who are a direct danger to society. Of course those are just my own issues.

yeah, I've written a few posts of that nature myself... usually when I haven't had enough sleep...