Mental Health
I’d like to talk about something more serious today. In the face of recent events, the topic of those that suffer mental health issues has popped up again. For those that have to live with it, be it a loved one or someone you’re taking care of, it’s a hard situation. Those that don’t have to deal with it will never fully understand how frustrating it can be.
I do not suffer from any psychiatric disorders, but there are those in my family circle that do and trying to get help for them can be anything but easy. First, if you suffer from mental issues, you don’t lose your rights and freedoms. That might sound fine, but when you throw in the fact that you also get to choose when to take your meds… or not, it gets a little scary. You might feel fine one day and so you decide not to take any, but the next day might be rough so you could take as many as you think you’ll need. Do don’t have to go to the doctors if you don’t want, you don’t have to do anything. Not only that, but there isn’t any real place for you to receive the help you may need. If you end up in the hospital, they’ll keep your for a few days, check your meds and make sure you’re on the right ones. Then it’s out you go back in to the world.
It’s expected that the family will provide the care they need, but the family doesn’t have the training to provide what’s needed most times. The only time when authorities can intervene is when they become a threat to others or themselves. And usually, by that point it’s too late.
I don’t know what the answers are. No one can make them go, take or see anyone they don’t want too. I think that if you don’t have the mental capacity to dole out your medication, then someone needs to do it, but what do I know. I do know that anyone with mental disorders still hold all the cards and I don’t see a fix to this in sight. Know this though, the next time you read about a tragedy where the main culprit suffered from metal issues. They probably weren’t getting the help they needed and if they did have it available to them, they didn’t even have to take it if they didn’t want it. Isn’t that a scary thought.
Play Asia
January 10th, 2013 at 5:44 am
Blame the folks who decided to close the looney bins, I s’pose. :/
January 16th, 2013 at 8:50 am
Last year, a member of my family was institutionalized…. No one in my immediate family, but someone with whom I was close as a child. She went nuts (over a period of time), and eventually drove cross country with friends, pets, and a baby in tow. The fallout was surreal. She was put in one of the few remaining ‘looney bins,’ and, while she was in, she was taking medication and getting help. Unfortunately, once she was out, she was left to her own devices (much like you described)….. Her parents tried to get legal control of her, but to no avail. She ended up being put back in, and even after this maintained legal autonomy. Inane…
It amazes me to no end that we don’t have a system in place to deal with people who need psychological help (you know my view on healthcare). Both from a selfish standpoint (I’d rather not be affected by others’ problems) and from an altruistic standpoint (these people need help) it makes sense to try to treat their disorders. The fact that we allow people whose diagnosis is an indication of irrationality make decisions about their own care is just fucking stupid (pardon the language, but I feel very strongly about this).
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