Observations about Mental Health Care System in America
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| Observations about Mental Health Care System in America |
The Mental health system is a unique
culture. Psychiatry itself is, unlike any other medical specialty. Mental
health is an enclosed system. That means it is a world within a world. The
doctors, therapists, patients, and support workers play roles. It’s a
reciprocal environment. Each player in the system allows the other person the
opportunity to act out his or her role. For example, the Psychiatrist gives you
a diagnosis that has no basis (Yes this does happen from time to time). You,
the patient, having complete faith in the powers of the behavioral health
system, accept this diagnosis as the gospel truth. You eventually start to
notice certain thoughts and behaviors that you think might be an indication of
your alleged disease. You return to your doctor and report these symptoms. Your
Psychiatrist records your observations in your medical file after concurring
with you.. He also inserts his authoritative comments to support his opinion.
Therefore, both parties in the relationship are mutually validated in their
roles.
When one has been
playing the patient role for so long, a person begins to identify himself or
herself as a “psych patient.” That’s who you are. This is the phrase that sums
up who you are. You belong to the mental health system. Soon enough you find
that every activity you engage yourself in is related to your disorder and the
medication your doctor prescribed to suppress it. It’s a sad commentary indeed.
Even more tragic is the situation for the person who fights an intractable flaw
in their character needlessly, treating the diagnosis as the unquestionable
reality. I acknowledge the fact that the unsettling scenario I am painting here
is not true for every psychiatric patient.
The psychiatric patient
eventually learns the advantages of having a mental illness diagnosis. There
are mental health workers, such as case managers who assist the “consumer” in
obtaining a free-living allowance from the Federal government in the form of
Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income in whatever
minimal amount it may be. I will add for comfort that social security
disability benefits are reported (by the government) to run dry in 2016. A
consumer is often entitled to free housing, health care, food assistance, and
much more. Certain disability regulations may even allow the mentally ill
person to bring a pit bull into a residential community where pets are not
allowed. Technically speaking, you could even take it on a commercial airliner.
The reason is simply because your therapist deemed it necessary that you have
an emotional support animal (oops was that a secret?). Don’t get me wrong. There
are undoubtedly those persons whose emotional well-being depends on having a
companion animal. I’m not trying to be disrespectful to those who are
struggling. I am arguing that many people are incentivized by the system to
accept their diagnosis and fulfill their roles.
There are case managers
and outreach workers that will go to court with you, and advocate on your
behalf before the judge when you run afoul of the law. The mentally sick will
receive assistance with all personal matters from them. What a bargain! Go
inform your friends about it as soon as possible. Let the government take care
of you. It makes being a psychiatric patient seem so much more attractive. Why
wouldn’t anyone want a psychiatrist label to them disabled? Again, I’m being
sarcastic to make my point that people, who are improperly labeled with a DSM V
diagnosis, run the risk of becoming dependent on the mental health system for
their needs.
People are encouraged to
give up their motivation and ambition by this type of social support. It
instills the idea that living a marginal existence is sufficient. Personally, I
think that people can achieve greatness for the world and for themselves if
they put in the necessary effort.
Remember this. Once you
get into the mental health system your chances of getting out are slim. There
are a number of reasons for this. Primarily because the Psychiatrist or
Psychologist has you convinced that you have a serious medical problem, which
you can’t handle yourself. We all know that’s ridiculous. Many people manage
their depression and anxiety remarkably well without the use of psychiatric
medications. It's fantastic if Ativan eases your anxiety and improves your
ability to perform. On the other hand, I have seen plenty of people become
addicted to sedatives. These drugs are unsafe. I wouldn’t put your faith in the
safety of the anti-depressants either. I think the pharmaceutical giants are
quick to point that out as a result of the numerous class action lawsuits filed
against them.
Pharmaceutical firms
bear some of the responsibility for this artificial drug reliance. As I was
writing this article, I surfed NAMI’s website (National Alliance for Mental
Illness) and noticed “In Our Own Voice,” a public education program, is funded
by a grant from Eli Lily. This is the pharmaceutical giant that manufactures
psychiatric drugs like Prozac, Zyprexa, and Cymbalta. Without using too much
mental energy, I deduce that Eli Lily's kindness is a marketing stunt meant to
position them as one of the good guys in the mental health industry. and as a
result, boost sales. As I surfaced the Internet, I found that NAMI has been
receiving their fair share of criticism for their questionable association with
pharmaceutical companies. I won't claim that NAMI is unethical or immoral. That
would be too easy. If Ely Lily offered me thousands of dollars, I would have to
seriously consider taking it. Sometimes the decision to cross the line depends
on one’s real life needs. Sometimes it's just about getting a profit. There is
no denying that this kind of corporate misconduct adversely affects the mental
health system and exacerbates the suffering of its consumers. Once more, I am
aware that certain individuals need support from the pharmaceutical industry
and the psychiatric community. The screening process for prescribing these
medications is a big part of the problem. This is a result of the inadequate
procedure for administering these potentially harmful medications in place.
Society itself
contributes to this dysfunctional culture. The public's common mindset is,
"You can do whatever you want with them as long as they are not bothering
us." This provides mental health providers with even more authority to do
as they please. And so the psychiatric patient is stripped of his or her
rights. As I see it, a psychiatric patient is a human being without respect or
dignity. Call what I've said theatrical if you wish.
It might appear like I'm
assuming the victim position and playing the blame game. Allow to clarify the
role of the patient in the mental health system (those like myself). I will be
the first to admit that the informed psychiatric patient is the one who is
primarily responsible for his or her unfortunate situation. We have to accept our
role in the system. It is impossible for someone to put their arm behind your
back and tell you to see a therapy for your anxiety. That is, for the most
part, true. You'll remark to yourself, "It seemed like a good idea at the
time," when you think back on why you did it.
Telling someone about
their mental illness is the worst thing a person with mental illness could
possibly do. As soon as you do, the other person looks at you differently. An
automatic flash goes off in the person’s brain, “Oh God. Here we go. His
illness is acting up.” This attitude is especially noticeable in the face of a
mental health professional, your family members, and closest friends. It’s a
universal reaction. Everything you do will be attributed to your condition from
the minute you disclose your secret. Your purported problem will be compared to
the manner in which you express yourself as a typical human being. If you are
frustrated about something, the people in your life will conclude, “His meds
aren’t working.” When people think you cannot hear them, they will gossip
amongst themselves, “Oh he’s a psych patient. That’s why he looks agitated.
That’s part of his illness.” This attitude is quite common. It comes from a
lack of understanding. How could a person know, unless he or she has personally
experienced it.
If you should attempt to
verbalize your rights as a human being, the mental health provider will proceed
to have you committed to a psychiatric hospital against your will. The patient
may be detained without end until a medical professional determines the patient
has regained consciousness. The mental health providers will have complete
control over you since no one will speak out against them. In Massachusetts,
psychiatric patients must retain a specially trained lawyer to represent them
before a mental health court in order to be released. This is where we are in
2013. The majority of people who are reading this post probably have no idea
how our mental health system operates. We are still in the dark ages.
Observations about Mental Health Care System in
America
Mental Health,
Well-being, & Resilience
A glimpse into public perception of mental health care
in the United States
The U.S. Mental Health Delivery System Infrastructure
Expanding Mental Health care services in America
Barriers to healthcare access among U.S. adults with
mental health challenges
MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE UNITED STATES
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