Ethical and just ways to treat the mentally ill

[Giggly_Giraffe]

What would be the foundation of dealing with the mentally ill persons. How does this differ from what is happening now?

 

[mek42]

There is a wide spectrum of mentally ill people. Do you have a specific subgroup in mind?

 

[InigoMontoya]

I’d state… compassion.

 

[captainrick]

What would be the foundation of dealing with the mentally ill persons. How does this differ from what is happening now?

With what diagnosis? Borderline personality disorder? Bipolar? Schizoaffective? Psychosis? Organic brain syndrome?

In what setting and modalities? Involuntary commitment? Voluntary? Partial hospitalization? Rehab center? Outpatient group therapy? Psychoanalysis?

What age group?

Lots of differences in how people are treated, depending on the factors listed above. It’s a fascinating and complex field, dealing with the human mind.

 

[edwest2]

That’s a very complex subject with a long history. Having been hospitalized myself, experienced a wide range of disorders first-hand, and read about certain things, I don’t think there’s a simple explanation. Improvements in medications in terms of specific effects and lesser side effects is one thing I’ve lived through, but there is nothing very simple here.

The fact that others have dedicated their lives to helping the mentally disturbed has a long history too, but it’s not a pleasant subject for too many to discuss.

All patients have rights.

Best,
Ed

 

[dmftx]

What would be the foundation of dealing with the mentally ill persons. How does this differ from what is happening now?

Yes, COMPASSION and knowledge. The more you know, the better you will be prepared to understand and help them.

Society still sees mental illness as something other than an illness that affects the body (surprise, the brain is part of the body). When you can wrap yourself around that, and see the symptoms in the same way that you would view symptoms of any other illness, then we will all be much more comfortable. People see autism MUCH differently now than they did 10 or 20 years ago. Someone’s I wish we could remove the word “mental”.

 

[redbetta]

I’d say treating them as people. I have had the experience of people looking at every thing I say as a symptom of an illness when I just wanted to have a normal conversation. Does depression or whatnot color the whole person or can you take what they say like anyone else?

 

[Antegin]

Enable the person, do not treat the disease, unless you are the psychiatrist.

Always develop the strengths and support the needs.

Never lie to a psychotic!!! It messes with what little reality orientation they have left.

Always stay calm. In a bad scene they will look for the calm person, and if they don’t find one they’ll panic like every one around us only 10x worse.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

What would be the foundation of dealing with the mentally ill persons. How does this differ from what is happening now?

Mentally ill is very vague. I’m sure that you know people who are “mentally ill” and you don’t even know it.
They should be treated with human dignity, like all people. The question about this differing from what is happening now is vague too. Different psychiatrists/paychologists will use different treatmens, like all physicians. It seems like society doesn’t do well with treating mentally ill with dignity, not those in the field. Not saying there aren’t wackos in the field of mental health, just like there are wackos in like any job field. Lol

 

[DeniseNY]

I don’t have answer, but I guess I’d say a good place to start is to recognize that mental illnesses are just as real, complicated, and deserving of compassion as physical illnesses.

 

[dmftx]

I’d say treating them as people. I have had the experience of people looking at every thing I say as a symptom of an illness when I just wanted to have a normal conversation. Does depression or whatnot color the whole person or can you take what they say like anyone else?

Excellent point I think I have been guilty of that in my heartfelt desire to help. It is too easy to overanalyze words which may make someone feel even.more stigmatized. THANK YOU! You have given me food for contemplation.

 

[pnewton]

Coming from a state that has diverted almost all funds to deal with the mentally ill into other areas, I would say less prison and jail, which is not the primary care facilities for the mentally ill. Raise taxes a little, cut back on teacher raises some, and start actually caring for the mentally ill instead of warehousing them. This is the one area in which Texas is really lacking.

The other solution (that will never happen) is letting the public deal with the mentally ill, as in tolerate them when they hang out at stores, do stupid things, make themselves a nuisance, instead of calling for the cops at the first sign of discomfort.

 

[DaisymaeD]

For your own safety, be EXTREMELY careful around sociopaths and narcissists. The psychiatric community has not found any effective treatment modalities to deal with these problems. Same can be said for pedophilia. Don’t get too close. Pray hard, form them and their victims.

For the safety of other sufferers of mental illness, remember, underneath the delusions and distorted thought processes is a suffering human being, with hopes and dreams just like you. Always treat with courtesy and respect, set firm boundaries, do not feed into delusions.

Sometimes, mental illness that has its roots in dysfunctional family systems presents as manipulative and maladjusted behavior. This isn’t the person’s fault entirely. They had to learn certain behavior and speech patterns in order to survive, and had to tread carefully so so many years–they can’t simply drop these behaviors when they’re adults and “free”. And sometimes, people from dysfunctional families who learned to act “normal” as adults might revert to dysfunctional patterns in times of illness or stress.

Support funding for mental health research/treatment.

Make sure you’re not contributing to crazy-making of your own.

 

[drac16]

Listen to them. They don’t need someone who will tell them things-- they need someone who will listen to them. You can lecture a mentally ill person, but they’ll have heard it all before. Understand their situation by listening to how it affects them-- do not assume you know everything.

I hate to say this, but for the sake of driving the point home, I feel that it’s necessary. The muslim community’s treatment of mentally ill persons is beyond the level of appalling. There is no limit to what you will be accused of; possessed by jinn, being a victim of black magic, weak in faith, stupid, foolish, ignorant, afflicted by Satan, etc. I know because I have been accused of all of the above, because I have depression, anxiety and episodes of psychosis.

It’s in spite of my religiousity-- not because of it. Still, muslims do not listen because, I believe, they don’t have the desire to. No one doubts that you can have issues with your heart, lungs, kidneys and so forth, so why is it impossible to believe that someone has a problem with their brain? it is just another organ.

So, to make a long story short, the most practical and simple thing to do is to not assume that you know everything about someone when you find out that he/she suffers from a mental illness. Do not falsely accuse, because your words can potentially have a more devastating impact on them than you may know.

 

[dmftx]

Listen to them. They don’t need someone who will tell them things-- they need someone who will listen to them. You can lecture a mentally ill person, but they’ll have heard it all before. Understand their situation by listening to how it affects them-- do not assume you know everything.

I hate to say this, but for the sake of driving the point home, I feel that it’s necessary. The muslim community’s treatment of mentally ill persons is beyond the level of appalling. There is no limit to what you will be accused of; possessed by jinn, being a victim of black magic, weak in faith, stupid, foolish, ignorant, afflicted by Satan, etc. I know because I have been accused of all of the above, because I have depression, anxiety and episodes of psychosis.

It’s in spite of my religiousity-- not because of it. Still, muslims do not listen because, I believe, they don’t have the desire to. No one doubts that you can have issues with your heart, lungs, kidneys and so forth, so why is it impossible to believe that someone has a problem with their brain? it is just another organ.

So, to make a long story short, the most practical and simple thing to do is to not assume that you know everything about someone when you find out that he/she suffers from a mental illness. Do not falsely accuse, because your words can potentially have a more devastating impact on them than you may know.

 

[DarkLight]

I’d say treating them as people. I have had the experience of people looking at every thing I say as a symptom of an illness when I just wanted to have a normal conversation. Does depression or whatnot color the whole person or can you take what they say like anyone else?

Very much so. I’ve dealt with worse - dealing with an abusive situation and watching what I said be discounted because I was “mentally ill.”

I think in a lot of cases, not assuming mental illness covers every aspect of the person is a big issue.

 

[Antegin]

Listen to them. They don’t need someone who will tell them things-- they need someone who will listen to them. You can lecture a mentally ill person, but they’ll have heard it all before. Understand their situation by listening to how it affects them-- do not assume you know everything.

I hate to say this, but for the sake of driving the point home, I feel that it’s necessary. The muslim community’s treatment of mentally ill persons is beyond the level of appalling. There is no limit to what you will be accused of; possessed by jinn, being a victim of black magic, weak in faith, stupid, foolish, ignorant, afflicted by Satan, etc. I know because I have been accused of all of the above, because I have depression, anxiety and episodes of psychosis.

It’s in spite of my religiousity-- not because of it. Still, muslims do not listen because, I believe, they don’t have the desire to. No one doubts that you can have issues with your heart, lungs, kidneys and so forth, so why is it impossible to believe that someone has a problem with their brain? it is just another organ.

So, to make a long story short, the most practical and simple thing to do is to not assume that you know everything about someone when you find out that he/she suffers from a mental illness. Do not falsely accuse, because your words can potentially have a more devastating impact on them than you may know.

I have a different experience when psychotic. I need people to be brutally honest with me because I can’t trust my own senses. It is critically important that you don’t feed into my delusions or hallucinations. When I’m psychotic, I’m desperately trying to be sane, agreeing with my insanity is not helping.

In the Catholic Church, I found that in the 80’s, there was poor understanding of mental health issues. Now, priests come out of formation with much more information and sensitivity.

You’re right about assuming. Not every one has the same illness, and even those who have the same illness do not have the same experience. But almost every professional who works with psychotics will agree, do not feed into the psychosis. At the same time, if you are going to challenge someone’s reality orientation, make very sure you are 100% correct.

 

[redbetta]

Excellent point I think I have been guilty of that in my heartfelt desire to help. It is too easy to overanalyze words which may make someone feel even.more stigmatized. THANK YOU! You have given me food for contemplation.

Aw, thanks for the thank you. I needed to hear something like that. When I saw this thread, I recalled a study that I read up on in AP Psychology. I forgot the names of the researchers and the date, but, it is a famous study and I’m sure anyone interest can find it. These researchers wanted to see if people in a mental hospital can distinguish a healthy person among their patients and sent some people to claim that they heard voices in their heads and act normally once admitted. Some of the results were astounding. Some of the other patients noticed that there wasn’t anything wrong with the volunteers in this experiment, but, the doctors and staff read illness into their behavior and they were given medicine and everything.

 

[pnewton]

. But almost every professional who works with psychotics will agree, do not feed into the psychosis. At the same time, if you are going to challenge someone’s reality orientation, make very sure you are 100% correct.

What I try to do is give only the reality what is minimally necessary, in short, direct statements. But mostly, I give eye contact, time and listen, the basic human interactions.