Tags
bipolar, dumping, homeless, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, schizophrenia], stigma, streets, wellness
The worst thing I have seen when it comes to the treatment of the mentally ill was the video of the Fullerton police beating Kelly Thomas on July 10, 2011. I am not going to post the video here. It is so violent and so disturbing it could cause some people emotional distress to watch it. Kelly had schizophrenia, and the beating resulted in his death.
Last week we had the video (again, I’m not going to post it although it is not violent, but upsetting) of the woman with bipolar disorder left outside of a Baltimore hospital with a hospital gown on in freezing weather. Articles came out discussing the lack of humanity in healthcare.
But who is it that the police and the healthcare system get caught on camera mistreating? The majority of the time, it is someone with a mental illness. Why is it so hard to see our humanity? Why once again are we reading about hospitals “dumping” the mentally ill off at bus stations with a one-way ticket? When those people “dumped” get to their destination, they have no contacts, no family, no way to get the medication and treatment they need. If I were in that situation, I would be as vulnerable as a lost child in an unknown city. Why can’t people say to themselves, “what if this were my mom, aunt, dad, uncle, cousin, sister, brother?”
Why is it so hard for some people to feel compassion and empathy for the mentally ill?
I recently read a study put out in 2008 by the Canadian Medical Association that found that one in four Canadians are fearful of being around someone with a serious mental illness. I saw another study (Canadian) circulating on Facebook (I can’t find it now, so I won’t be able to quote it exactly) that claimed a high percentage of people wouldn’t be friends with someone with a severe mental illness.
I have to ask myself what is serious and what is severe? I frequently read from parents who have a child with schizophrenia that it is “every parent’s nightmare.” I also frequently read that it is the most “dreaded diagnosis.”
How am I supposed to keep my head up or fight the urge to isolate or my lack of motivation (both symptoms of schizophrenia) if people aren’t going to see me as a valuable member of society or as their friend, or even as a fellow human with wants, dreams, desires, etc.?
Sure, you can tell me, it is getting better, those studies were conducted a decade ago, but is it? If those needing treatment the most are “dumped” at bus stations so that they can become “someone else’s problem.” Is that better?
I know, you can tell me, “You are different, Rebecca. You are married. You have a family. You have friends.” But it is precisely those things that I have (a support network) that keep me from being issued one of those bus tickets.
I never want to be a passenger on a bus to a city I don’t know. I never want to be in that bus seat as that passenger, but in a way, I travel with all of those victims because it is our diagnosis that others are responding to and I have that “dreaded diagnosis,” too.
Stigma, it gets in our hearts and in our heads.
Excellent post ❤ .
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Thank you! ❤
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Where I live the bus ticket discharge plan is euphemistically referred to as “repatriation”; often in this scenario the person is shipped back to the province they came from, and social services pays for the bus ticket because they don’t want to keep paying the person monthly social assistance. Not long ago someone at a facility where I work was discharged with a bus ticket to the town where she’d lived briefly prior to being admitted. She didn’t want to go back, but since she had an open file with the mental health team there, her preferences were brushed aside. We are all human, and we should not be treating people this way.
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It’s so depressing.
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Really good post! I have seen those videos also, and they are beyond disturbing. You make so many valuable comments here, and they are so important to think about from your perspective. Specific to comments parents make.
We need to always be careful and mindful of our language as parents. Words can hurt and can damage relationships.
Thank you for this post and the other valuable posts you have made that I have not had a chance to comment on yet.
You’re amazing. Keep up the great educational work you do!
Diana F.
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Thank you, Diana! 🙂
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This is amazing to see someone else’s perspective on living with mental health. Oftentimes we avoid the internet, and hide our illness. Having a community of similar people, is a new way for a fellowship. We face so much isolation, that alone is enough to trigger a relapse.
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Yes, the Internet is a good place to grow a community.
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This is an amazing post. It’s so nice to see someone else’s perspective on living with a mental illness. Often times we avoid the internet, and hide our disability. The isolation is enough to trigger us into another relapse. It’s so essential we come together as a fellowship.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Beautifully said. I had heard about the lady at the bus stop but hadn’t heard of the other lady. It’s so sad. I don’t understand how people can easily forget their humanity or that these people could be them or someone they love. Reblogging. ❤
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It is so depressing.
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Reblogged this on This Bipolar Brat.
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Thank you!
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Very good post Rebecca! I think that is sad,that someone would do that.Send somebody to a place they don’t know.Like I told you,it’s terrible to me.And I’m sure those videos are disturbing.And hard to watch.Keep up the good work for us,my friend.
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Thanks, Michelle!
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What you write about here is something that continually breaks my heart, but the fact that you are writing about it is so important and empowering. My hope is that giving people a real view of mental illness, or any ailment that is perceived with fear, will begin a change in the way people with those ailments are seen and treated. You are effecting change with your writing and in sharing your story and I have to say, I admire that so much. Thank you!
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Thank you so much for your support and kind words.
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I love this post I agree with you on everything and it was very informative.
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Thank you! 🙂
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You’re welcome ❤
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