Mental Illness

[ScoopD (aka: Pam)]

my opinion is we over analyze everything..     sometimes simple is better...  the ole take a deep breath and count to 10 is what works for me.   if someone is truly mentally ill amd not competant, their problem is not suddenly discovered upon arrival to death row...    also, think about this, they sit in a 9 x 9 cell 23 hours a day for how many YEARS? That alone would make a sane person insane...   swift justice and less analyzing..     works for me..

[frankenstien]

Research and study up on acting.

Face the Facts of Mental Illness

 

No. of Americans Suffering from Mental Illness
·    As many as 80 percent of people suffering from mental illnesses can effectively return to normal, productive lives if they receive appropriate treatment.

·    During any one-year period, up to 50 million Americans, more than 22 percent, suffer from a clearly diagnosable mental disorder involving a degree of incapacity that interferes with employment, attendance at school or daily life.

 

Cost of Mental Illness to Society
·    The direct costs of support and medical treatment of mental illnesses total $55.4 billion a year.

·    The indirect costs, such as lost employment, reduced productivity, criminal activity, vehicular accidents and social welfare programs increase the total cost of mental and substance abuse disorders to more than $273 billion a year.

 

Efficacy of Treatment for Mental Disorders
·    Medications relieve acute symptoms of schizophrenia in 80 percent of cases, but only about half of all people with schizophrenia seek treatment.

·    With therapy, 80 to 90 percent of the people suffering from depressive disorders can get better, but fewer than one-third of those suffering seek treatment.

·    Refinements of lithium carbonate, used in treating manic-depressive (bipolar) disorder, have led to an estimated annual savings of $8 billion in treatment costs and lost productivity associated with bipolar disorder.

·    Studies of psychotherapy by the National Institute of Mental Health have shown it to be very effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

 

Statistics gathered from the American Psychiatric Association’s web site: www.psych.org.

[Cynthia]

Mental is Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man WHICH he won and academy award for.  Mental is Sean Penn in I Am Sam which he was nominated for an academy award for.  Imagine that! ACTING as if you have a mental illness.
Mental is not rolling with your homies on Friday then killing three people on Saturday.  Mental is not mud riding on Sunday morning and killing your mom when you get home because she didn't wash your favorite underwear.

[Cynthia]

Research and study up on acting.

Face the Facts of Mental Illness

 

No. of Americans Suffering from Mental Illness
·    As many as 80 percent of people suffering from mental illnesses can effectively return to normal, productive lives if they receive appropriate treatment.

·    During any one-year period, up to 50 million Americans, more than 22 percent, suffer from a clearly diagnosable mental disorder involving a degree of incapacity that interferes with employment, attendance at school or daily life.

 

Cost of Mental Illness to Society
·    The direct costs of support and medical treatment of mental illnesses total $55.4 billion a year.

·    The indirect costs, such as lost employment, reduced productivity, criminal activity, vehicular accidents and social welfare programs increase the total cost of mental and substance abuse disorders to more than $273 billion a year.

 

Efficacy of Treatment for Mental Disorders
·    Medications relieve acute symptoms of schizophrenia in 80 percent of cases, but only about half of all people with schizophrenia seek treatment.

·    With therapy, 80 to 90 percent of the people suffering from depressive disorders can get better, but fewer than one-third of those suffering seek treatment.

·    Refinements of lithium carbonate, used in treating manic-depressive (bipolar) disorder, have led to an estimated annual savings of $8 billion in treatment costs and lost productivity associated with bipolar disorder.

·    Studies of psychotherapy by the National Institute of Mental Health have shown it to be very effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

 

Statistics gathered from the American Psychiatric Association’s web site: www.psych.org.

Where's that yawning smilie someone used.  More statistics from people paid to say what someone wants them to say.  Where was mental illness 20 years ago?  Mental people then were locked up in insane asylums.  People who had alot of bills, made bad decisions, and were lazy dealt with it back then. People were too busy living their life back then to sit and think about how horrible they had it.  If people would get off their asses and go to work, go to the zoo, visit friends, paint a picture, TAKE a picture, get a pet, feel the rain on their face and stop sitting around in dark rooms feeling sorry for themselves, they would be a hell of a lot better. People back 20 years ago  didn't run to the doc to get medication.  That's why people in this country can't get good medical care.  People want to run to the doctor everytime they get a twinge of sadness or a pain in their back.

[frankenstien]

Research and study up on acting.

Face the Facts of Mental Illness

 

No. of Americans Suffering from Mental Illness
·    As many as 80 percent of people suffering from mental illnesses can effectively return to normal, productive lives if they receive appropriate treatment.

·    During any one-year period, up to 50 million Americans, more than 22 percent, suffer from a clearly diagnosable mental disorder involving a degree of incapacity that interferes with employment, attendance at school or daily life.

 

Cost of Mental Illness to Society
·    The direct costs of support and medical treatment of mental illnesses total $55.4 billion a year.

·    The indirect costs, such as lost employment, reduced productivity, criminal activity, vehicular accidents and social welfare programs increase the total cost of mental and substance abuse disorders to more than $273 billion a year.

 

Efficacy of Treatment for Mental Disorders
·    Medications relieve acute symptoms of schizophrenia in 80 percent of cases, but only about half of all people with schizophrenia seek treatment.

·    With therapy, 80 to 90 percent of the people suffering from depressive disorders can get better, but fewer than one-third of those suffering seek treatment.

·    Refinements of lithium carbonate, used in treating manic-depressive (bipolar) disorder, have led to an estimated annual savings of $8 billion in treatment costs and lost productivity associated with bipolar disorder.

·    Studies of psychotherapy by the National Institute of Mental Health have shown it to be very effective in treating mild to moderate depression.

 

Statistics gathered from the American Psychiatric Association’s web site: www.psych.org.

Where's that yawning smilie someone used.  More statistics from people paid to say what someone wants them to say.  Where was mental illness 20 years ago?  Mental people then were locked up in insane asylums.  People who had alot of bills, made bad decisions, and were lazy dealt with it back then. People were too busy living their life back then to sit and think about how horrible they had it.  If people would get off their asses and go to work, go to the zoo, visit friends, paint a picture, TAKE a picture, get a pet, feel the rain on their face and stop sitting around in dark rooms feeling sorry for themselves, they would be a hell of a lot better. People back 20 years ago  didn't run to the doc to get medication.  That's why people in this country can't get good medical care.  People want to run to the doctor everytime they get a twinge of sadness or a pain in their back.

Do you suffer from any form of mental illness? 

[Cynthia]

Was diagnosed, yes.  Then, I realized why I was so sad all the time. I sat around feeling sorry for myself for this and for that.  Then, I decided I was better than that and life was too short and too good.  So what did I do? I got off my ass and did something with my time more than sit in dark dreary rooms and moping around.  I started planting flowers, taking photos, seeing the world in different lights and surroundings. I laughed more at stupid things. I got out and went places.  I called old friends and caught up with what they have been doing since school.  I realized there are people out there that depend on me...that need me.  I realized that I was worth something and instead of saying poor poor me, what can people do for me, I did for myself.  It was me who got myself in that situation and I was the only one to get myself out.
So with that, if I can do it...ANYONE can do it. They just have to get off the pity wagon and realize no one is going to kiss their ass just because they are sad and depressed.  AND I realized no matter what happens, someone out there has it worse.

Do I still have "moments"? Hell yea, who doesn't.  Birthdays, Christmas, anniversary of mama's murder.  yea, I still have moments but I have my moment to cry and say poor poor me then it's over and I do what I have to do.

[Cynthia]

Let me add this.
NOT ONCE did I ever want to commit murder, suicide or any crime at all, for that matter. 

[Henrik - Sweden]

You cannot put all kind of mental problems together. Suffering from a depression hasn't much in common with sliding into a heavy psychosis. A heavy phobia about crowds and people, that make you unable to leave your house can't be compared to schizofrenia. Just two examples... In some cases it may be right that positive thinking and the "I'm taking responsibility over my own life - no one else can do that"-approach can cure you or at least make you able to function well despite of your problems. In other cases nothing but medical treatment and/or therapy will help, because the disease is caused by factors that is outside the person's own control.

Even among prisoners that are not living under the constant threat of being executed mental problems are very common. Of course the prison environment is a contributing factor here and yes - it's their own fault that they have to live in such an environment. But ADHD f.e. isn't a syndrome that you can blame on the patient.

This comes from a study performed in a prison in Utah:
"One hundred two inmates were interviewed and tested to determine epidemiological rates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression in an adult male prison population. The Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Rating Scale, and four measures to assess childhood and adult ADHD were completed. The two disorders were diagnosed independently. Diagnosable ADHD was found to occur in 25.5 percent of the inmates, and major depression occurred in 25.5 percent of the inmates. A significant relationship between ADHD and depression was found to exist (p < .001). Having identified a major mental health problem in the prison population, implications include a need for further diagnosis and treatment of these disorders within a prison setting. The relationship between depression and ADHD also needs further examination."

If you don't care about the persons that are inside prisons now you should at least give a thougt about the thousand and thousand of young (mostly) men who don't receive proper help and support through the schools and social system. Many of them will be tomorrow's criminals and we will have to pay for them in all sorts of ways. To give them some more money now will probably be a great investment later on. But of course: We can always say that they have their own free choice and are capable of behave well if they just decide to. And pay the price later instead...

I don't know what is most naive of this opinion or the idea that there really aren't any mental problems that cannot be handled by the individual himself if he really wants to.

[Jeff1857]

Good post Henrik. I guess our government can expect that check from Sweden any day now huh?

[frankenstien]

Was diagnosed, yes.  Then, I realized why I was so sad all the time. I sat around feeling sorry for myself for this and for that.  Then, I decided I was better than that and life was too short and too good.  So what did I do? I got off my ass and did something with my time more than sit in dark dreary rooms and moping around.  I started planting flowers, taking photos, seeing the world in different lights and surroundings. I laughed more at stupid things. I got out and went places.  I called old friends and caught up with what they have been doing since school.  I realized there are people out there that depend on me...that need me.  I realized that I was worth something and instead of saying poor poor me, what can people do for me, I did for myself.  It was me who got myself in that situation and I was the only one to get myself out.
So with that, if I can do it...ANYONE can do it. They just have to get off the pity wagon and realize no one is going to kiss their ass just because they are sad and depressed.  AND I realized no matter what happens, someone out there has it worse.

Do I still have "moments"? Hell yea, who doesn't.  Birthdays, Christmas, anniversary of mama's murder.  yea, I still have moments but I have my moment to cry and say poor poor me then it's over and I do what I have to do.

That is called "depression".  simple depression that people go through when they are going through some hard times is different from "mental illness".   Mental Illness is a CHEMICAL imbalance in the brain like diabetes is a chemical imbalance.  With medication to put that chemical back into the brain and with therapy one can leave a decent, normal life.  That doesn't mean there won't be problems, set backs. Some times they may need to be hospitalized when the medications need to be adjusted. 

Please do not compare true mental illness to normal depression that people go through at times during their lives. 

[frankenstien]

You cannot put all kind of mental problems together. Suffering from a depression hasn't much in common with sliding into a heavy psychosis. A heavy phobia about crowds and people, that make you unable to leave your house can't be compared to schizofrenia. Just two examples... In some cases it may be right that positive thinking and the "I'm taking responsibility over my own life - no one else can do that"-approach can cure you or at least make you able to function well despite of your problems. In other cases nothing but medical treatment and/or therapy will help, because the disease is caused by factors that is outside the person's own control.

Even among prisoners that are not living under the constant threat of being executed mental problems are very common. Of course the prison environment is a contributing factor here and yes - it's their own fault that they have to live in such an environment. But ADHD f.e. isn't a syndrome that you can blame on the patient.

This comes from a study performed in a prison in Utah:
"One hundred two inmates were interviewed and tested to determine epidemiological rates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression in an adult male prison population. The Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Rating Scale, and four measures to assess childhood and adult ADHD were completed. The two disorders were diagnosed independently. Diagnosable ADHD was found to occur in 25.5 percent of the inmates, and major depression occurred in 25.5 percent of the inmates. A significant relationship between ADHD and depression was found to exist (p < .001). Having identified a major mental health problem in the prison population, implications include a need for further diagnosis and treatment of these disorders within a prison setting. The relationship between depression and ADHD also needs further examination."

If you don't care about the persons that are inside prisons now you should at least give a thougt about the thousand and thousand of young (mostly) men who don't receive proper help and support through the schools and social system. Many of them will be tomorrow's criminals and we will have to pay for them in all sorts of ways. To give them some more money now will probably be a great investment later on. But of course: We can always say that they have their own free choice and are capable of behave well if they just decide to. And pay the price later instead...

I don't know what is most naive of this opinion or the idea that there really aren't any mental problems that cannot be handled by the individual himself if he really wants to.

A very awesome post.  You get a + for this one.

[Henrik - Sweden]

Reply to Grandmother of Brandon:

Although it may seem a good idea in the interest of public safety to sentence mentally ill criminals to "life without parole in a mental institution" I do see big problems.

Any legal system that is really worth to be called a legal system (thus leaving aside f.e. the "legal system" in Germany during WW2 or the one in Iraq during Saddam Hussein) is based on the idea that crimes can only occure when someone were acting with intention or by negligence. It does not necessarily mean that the crime itself must have been intentionally. If you drink 1 litre of scotch whisky and go berserk after that, you will be held responsible. Because even if you couldn't control yourself during the intoxication it was caused by a voluntary action.

If there is neither intention, nor negligence, then it's not a crime. If you accidentally pushed someone in a crowd and he fell so bad that he later died - you wouldn't be held responsible. It would of course be the same if you pushing him was the result of a sudden physical illness - f.e. an epileptic attack. Because intention demands capability of controlling your own actions. And illnesses are illnesses - no matter if they are physical or mental (in reality of course no sharp line can be drawn between this two). So the only logical answer is that actions performed in a state when the person's grasp over reality and/or controll of his free will (pretty much the same) is lost shall not end up in a court. Your system is the right one, while Sweden's strange idea of prosecuting people already confirmed incompetent to stand trial and then sentence them to mental treatment is the wrong one and not something you should use as an example.

But the problem of what can happen if this kind of persons is released back into society and become sick again is of course still there. So what can be done? Whether we like it or not I can't see any other basic solution than that questions of health and need of treatment must be left to the experts. Because keeping a person that has recovered in a hospital can't be regarded as anything but a punishment. And since we found him unable to take responsibility for his actions earlier - on what grounds is the punishment distributed? But we can increase demands on what standards must be met before someone can be released from treatment. We can decide that f.e 5 psychiatrists undependently of each other must come to the same decision. And since we know that most of this cases will require constant medication, we can decide that this persons must take their medicine under supervision. We can do drugtests very often (because we know that drugs can often be a huge risk if taken by this kind of people). Any violation to this rules or any sign of mental instability - then we will send them back to the hospital.

Does this reduce the risk of new violent crimes down to zero? No it does not. But I would say that as long we have their medication under control the risk will be very low. Because the reason why this kind of people slid into new psychosis is mostly because they've stopped taking their meds'. And in reality we have to live with risks anyway. Because most of this kind of "maniac crimes" are committed by persons not known by the police before or known only for minor crimes.

The worst cases also will remain incarcerated in mental institutions. I think your country isn't different from mine there. And here it's a fact that we have a number of people who have been incarcerated for 35-40 years, despite of the fact that the system was far too liberal during the 70:s and 80:s. As a comparision the life sentenced prisoner who has been locked up for the longest time got his sentence back in 1982 (I know that doesn't sound much to an american   but until the beginning of the 90:s most lifetimers got paroled after 8-10 years served)

[Granny B]

Joy said, "That is called "depression".  simple depression that people go through when they are going through some hard times is different from "mental illness".   Mental Illness is a CHEMICAL imbalance in the brain like diabetes is a chemical imbalance.  With medication to put that chemical back into the brain and with therapy one can leave a decent, normal life.  That doesn't mean there won't be problems, set backs. Some times they may need to be hospitalized when the medications need to be adjusted."

Joy, you are right about the difference of regular depression from death of a family member or money or relationship problems which are much different than depression from chemical imbalances in the brain.

Real deep depression can be caused by an actual chemical imbalance in the brain.  Drugs are used to restore that balance for depressed people.  Unfortunately, depressed people on the drugs, get to feeling better and think their problem is solved, then they get off the medication too soon and the depression returns.  I had that same problem for over 10 years on anti-depressants.  I kept thinking I was cured, when I got to feeling better then, I'd get off the meds and sink into the morass of depression again.  It was the most horrible of times, especially while trying to raise 3 small children, who depend on you.

Real depression is like being chained in the bottom of a deep well with black all around you, looking up and seeing a little light at the opening, but it is too far away to reach.  The antidepression meds let you gradually climb back out of that well as long as you stay on them.  But take away the meds, and you sink back out of sight very quickly.  

And believe me, Cynthia, when I tell you that when I was down in depths of depression, there was no pulling myself up by my bootstraps like you did and talking myself out of it. I tried that more than once, but a chemical imbalance is a no win situation.  It took returning to the medication each time to get to the point where I could function normally or even feel like a person.

I have learned that this chemical imbalance for depression runs in my family.  Depression was the first thing the doctor listed on my father's death certificate.  I have a problem with it and Julie has problems with it.  Both of my sons have on occasion had some problems with depression also, but not to the extent, Julie and I have experienced.

Some people and doctors equate depression with mental illness.  It is a mental illness, but it is treatable by antidepressants.

Grandmother of Brandon

[frankenstien]

Real depression is like being chained in the bottom of a deep well with black all around you, looking up and seeing a little light at the opening, but it is too far away to reach.  The antidepression meds let you gradually climb back out of that well as long as you stay on them.  But take away the meds, and you sink back out of sight very quickly.  

Grandmother of Brandon

My depression is like being in a big swirling water hole.  I just keep going round and round and getting closer to the bottom and try to get a hold of something but can't.  I call it my black whirlpool.  It took me years to realize that I have to stay on my medicine.  Every time I would get off of my meds, it would take 1 to 2 months to start down my hole. 

I think some of my reluctance to stay on meds was because of the stigma of someone with "mental illness".  However, the problems I have  are from the abuse I received as a child and genetic factors.   Not a good mix........ But I have dealt well with it and speak about it as much as I can to people to try and help people understand more about what mental illness is.  Some times though I feel I'm just talking to myself.......

[Cynthia]

Was diagnosed, yes.  Then, I realized why I was so sad all the time. I sat around feeling sorry for myself for this and for that.  Then, I decided I was better than that and life was too short and too good.  So what did I do? I got off my ass and did something with my time more than sit in dark dreary rooms and moping around.  I started planting flowers, taking photos, seeing the world in different lights and surroundings. I laughed more at stupid things. I got out and went places.  I called old friends and caught up with what they have been doing since school.  I realized there are people out there that depend on me...that need me.  I realized that I was worth something and instead of saying poor poor me, what can people do for me, I did for myself.  It was me who got myself in that situation and I was the only one to get myself out.
So with that, if I can do it...ANYONE can do it. They just have to get off the pity wagon and realize no one is going to kiss their ass just because they are sad and depressed.  AND I realized no matter what happens, someone out there has it worse.

Do I still have "moments"? Hell yea, who doesn't.  Birthdays, Christmas, anniversary of mama's murder.  yea, I still have moments but I have my moment to cry and say poor poor me then it's over and I do what I have to do.

That is called "depression".  simple depression that people go through when they are going through some hard times is different from "mental illness".   Mental Illness is a CHEMICAL imbalance in the brain like diabetes is a chemical imbalance.  With medication to put that chemical back into the brain and with therapy one can leave a decent, normal life.  That doesn't mean there won't be problems, set backs. Some times they may need to be hospitalized when the medications need to be adjusted. 

Please do not compare true mental illness to normal depression that people go through at times during their lives. 

Wasn't diagnosed as "depression" .  When did you become a doctor and diagnose stuff just be reading?