SHUT UP About Mental Health?

There are many topics in this world people refuse to talk about. Why? Well, usually because it is a foreign concept to them. People are afraid of the unknown so if people are not talking about it, they feel it is not happening. This could not be further from the truth. There are MILLIONS of Americans living with mental illness and yet we do not talk about it. The only time mental health is addressed is after a tragic event such as suicide of a celebrity or a mass shooting when guns get the blame first. Why can’t we talk about it? Why are we ignoring it? I will allow this no more. It is time for these conversations to be had and we will start one right now.

Well, What Is Mental Illness?

First let’s just address the fact it is not contagious. People who have mental illness are not raging lunatics running around ready to infect you like a zombie. Mental illness comes in various forms from simple anxiety to complex illnesses like paranoid schizophrenia. These illnesses have an effect on a person’s brain in the way it alters their mental state. That can be their personality, moods, memory, energy levels, motivation, ambition and the list goes on. More often then not it also has an effect on them physically. Having physical pain, unable to get out of bed or unable to take care of their personal hygiene. Mental illness does not discriminate as it is not just a genetic issue. There are many other factors that can cause mental illness such as stress, loss and abuse. Now knowing the intensity of these illnesses, why are people being shafted? Why is there not enough adequate care? Why are we still punishing the mentally ill for doing a criminal act when our society failed to help them get the recovery they so desperately long for?

Access to Health Care?

We use mental illness as a scapegoat when there is a violent crime committed. “All the warning signs were there, why did nobody do anything” or “He was receiving treatment why did they not do more.” The best I have heard is, “The school knew about his issues. They were addressing them and there was not progress so we stopped intervening.” STOPPED INTERVENING? They gave up. You know what happens when a mentally ill person gives up? They no longer care what happens and a tragic event is the result.

Far too often warning signs are ignored because people are afraid to speak up. Speaking up can save that one person’s life figuratively and literally. Mentally ill cannot always recognize something is not right. Often they are in denial about what is really happening. They are just trying to make it through the day in the best way possible and not let too much “crazy” show.

It is not just ordinary citizens who ignore warning signs. It is also the mental health providers here in the U.S. Yes, I just made a blanket statement, there are plenty who have the time to spend with each patient. More and more, though, there are about 35+ patients that get seen by a psychiatrist each day. If they also see a therapist that therapist can also see close to 20 patients a day if they only allow 30-minute sessions. So how well do these providers really know that person? They only know what the person says because they see a therapist for 30 minutes once a month and the psychiatrist for 15 minutes once every 3 months. So when a patient says they are experiencing a symptom without knowing it is a symptom, the provider should recognize that right? Usually, no. So the issues grow and are left alone because the provider was OVERBOOKED and UNDERSTAFFED. Like I said not enough resources.

Why didn’t someone do more, they ask? Let me give you a scenario. A person goes in as a crisis case (they feel like hurting themselves or others) tells the behavioral worker what they are experiencing. That worker has two options: treat them outpatient or sign them in the hospital. They evaluate the situation to the best of their ability with what resources they have. Often they give medication to calm them down after only speaking with them for an hour. Then have them come back in a month or two for a 15-minute session to see if medication is working. There is NO TESTING done to determine what is what. Why? Today many mental health places are not for profit. So they are limited on what they can actually test for. Sounds awesome, right? This means KEY elements are often missed, giving people wrong diagnoses and medications. Sounds like a lawsuit, right? Nope, because mental illness is not black and white. There are many gray areas that allow for error with no repercussions. This is our current health care system; survival of the fittest.

“They stopped treating my symptoms.” Ever been taking medicine to maintain a health condition like high cholesterol or diabetes? Did you ever suddenly stop the medication (a form of intervention)? What happens? Depending on the severity of your condition, you can die. You start to feel sick, right? Same thing with mental or behavioral health. Whether it is medical intervention or just therapy, stopping an intervention can cause distress, which in the code of ethics is a “No, no.” A provider should avoid causing distress to any patient, especially in behavioral health. With intervention being abruptly stopped depending on the illness and severity, this can trigger many symptoms such as distress. What happens when people are in distress? The brain does not work properly because your flight or fight response has kicked in. So what do you think happens to a mentally ill person? Their brain already does not operate correctly and then compound with distress, you're just asking for a tragic disaster.