posted February 25, 2011 11:18 PM            

If you have a perspective, a theory, an article, experience, diagnosis of any kind of mental health issue, please feel free to add.

posted February 25, 2011 11:36 PM            

* Mental illnesses are serious medical illnesses. They cannot be overcome through "will power" and are not related to a person's "character" or intelligence. Mental illness falls along a continuum of severity. Even though mental illness is widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion-about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 Americans-who live with a serious mental illness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that One in four adults-approximately 57.7 million Americans-experience a mental health disorder in a given year
* The U.S. Surgeon General reports that 10 percent of children and adolescents in the United States suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that cause significant functional impairment in their day-to-day lives at home, in school and with peers.
* The World Health Organization has reported that four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the US and other developed countries are mental disorders. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.
* Mental illness usually strike individuals in the prime of their lives, often during adolescence and young adulthood. All ages are susceptible, but the young and the old are especially vulnerable.
* Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives; The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.
* The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and supports.
* With appropriate effective medication and a wide range of services tailored to their needs, most people who live with serious mental illnesses can significantly reduce the impact of their illness and find a satisfying measure of achievement and independence. A key concept is to develop expertise in developing strategies to manage the illness process.
* Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; By ensuring access to the treatment and recovery supports that are proven effective, recovery is accelerated and the further harm related to the course of illness is minimized.
* Stigma erodes confidence that mental disorders are real, treatable health conditions. We have allowed stigma and a now unwarranted sense of hopelessness to erect attitudinal, structural and financial barriers to effective treatment and recovery. It is time to take these barriers down.

posted February 25, 2011 11:59 PM            

* Thomas Matoke, 33, is tied to his bed by his mother
* Despite countless hospital visits, there is little health care they can afford
* Kenya spends less than 1% of its health budget on mental health
* Doctor: We have perfected the system of hiding our friends and loved ones away from sight
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/25/kenya.forgotten.health/index.html?hpt=C1

Editor's note: Across Kenya, millions of mentally disabled people are hidden away: locked up and forgotten, often by families who can't get them proper treatment. Watch "World's Untold Stories" on Saturday and Sunday.

Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- The tin shack looks like any other in a patch of small plots on the dusty outskirts of Nairobi. It's the haunting sound that grabs you, the awful moaning and cries coming from within.

It's Thomas Matoke's home. But it's more like a cell. Matoke, 33, is tied to a steel bedframe with a piece of blue rope. He's surrounded by pools of his urine, his mattress soiled and ripped to shreds.

His moans are interrupted when he chews his hand or the bedframe. He can't speak to tell his mother what he wants or feels. He's alone in his world of screams and agony.

He's been like this for 30 years.

Matoke got ill when he was a toddler and lost much of his high-level functioning. So his mother ties him up to prevent him from running away or hurting himself.

Countless trips to doctors and hospitals haven't helped him. And poverty means there isn't much medical help his family can afford.

"His siblings ask whether we wronged God, because we are really suffering," said his mom, Milkah Moraa. "I can't even hang his clothes outside because of the stink. The neighbors complain."

Shunned by the community, Moraa does what little she can to ease his agony. Her life is consumed by trying to take care of her sick son.

But Matoke is not alone.

There are an estimated 3 million, mostly poor, Kenyans living with intellectual and mental disabilities, according to NGO and United Nations figures.

As part of a special investigation, CNN found that families are struggling to cope with their loved ones, receiving little help from the state and facing massive stigma from society.

CNN's team filmed families locking up their loved ones, children discarded by institutions, cases of suspected sexual abuse. Kenya faces an epidemic of neglect.

"It is such a huge problem," said Edah Maina, head of the Kenya Society for the Mentally Handicapped. "If somebody would understand the extent it is huge, then I think someone can begin to act."

But often, Maina and her charity are the only ones acting. Scores of cases of neglect and abuse flood their office every day: autistic children chained in chicken coops, epileptic adults sealed in filthy shacks, daughters raped by their fathers. They are overwhelmed.

Dr. Frank Njenga, president of the African Association of Psychiatrists and a leading expert in the field, believes the scale is "catastrophic."

"We as a people have perfected the system of hiding our friends, relatives and other loved ones who have intellectual disability away from sight," Njenga said. "Out of sight, out of mind, no funding, neglected completely."

He says that the greatest neglect comes from the Kenyan government.

How teenager Kennedy survives

The Kenyan government spends less than 1% of its health budget on mental health, though its own figures show that one-quarter of all patients going to hospitals or clinics complain of mental health issues.

And the Health and Medical Services ministries have been plagued by a series of corruption scandals in recent years.

More than $3 billion in public money was stolen in 2009, according to the Kenyan Ministry of Finance. This could have funded the entire ministry responsible for mental health -- for 10 years.

The minister of medical services, Anyang Nyong'o, says mental health is a high priority, but it needs more funding from his central government.

"It is definitely starved of resources, and that is not because we want to intentionally starve mental health; that is because the resource base as we have for running health services is very narrow," he said.

"The policy is very clear," Njenga said. "Mental health services are a priority in this country. The practice is also clear. They are not."

Whatever the cause, it is ordinary Kenyan families who suffer. And often, it's mothers who toil alone. Thomas Matoke's father has been absent for most of the past 30 years. Moraa says Matoke's condition pushed him out.

"For how long will I carry this burden?" she asked. "Since I got married, I have not had joy the way other people have joy. I have tried to encourage myself and think 'God help me, because I have carried this burden for a long time.' "

They have been chased away from village after village by angry, fearful neighbors. And soon, she fears, they will have to move away from this place as well.

When the weather is good, she takes Thomas from his makeshift cell and ties him to an acacia tree outside. If she lets him go, he runs off. What she most wants is a place where he can get proper care.

posted February 26, 2011 08:51 AM            

What defines borderline personality disorder — and makes it so explosive — is the sufferers' inability to calibrate their feelings and behavior. When faced with an event that makes them depressed or angry, they often become inconsolable or enraged. Such problems may be exacerbated by impulsive behaviors: overeating or substance abuse; suicide attempts; intentional self-injury. (The methods of self-harm that borderlines choose can be gruesomely creative. One psychologist told me of a woman who used fingernail clippers to pull off slivers of her skin."

posted February 26, 2011 08:53 AM            

These people know what they're doing, and they take pleasure in it...

That's why I believe in BPD, because I have seen it up close and personal.

posted February 26, 2011 08:54 AM            

If someone is mentally ill or suffering from abuse, they have to get to the point of accepting responsibility so that they can get better.

Almost never will someone's caring and enabling lead someone to get better and stop hurting themselves and others. The sick person has to do that for themselves.

posted February 26, 2011 08:56 AM            

This guy seems to be a very down to earth psychologist. On this page he responds to a self-proclaimed sociopath, who writes:

My question is quite short. It is simply: Is there actually any way I can help myself? To explain, I am a sociopath.

I am twenty years old, living in England. I had a normal upbringing in a good household. It dawned upon me quite suddenly when I was at the funeral of someone 'close' to me (a man I definitely respected and liked) and I noticed that as everyone was sad, I felt nothing. I didn't feel anything evil, but simply nothing. Looking back on it, I basically faked being sad (in a kind of stoical way because I couldn't cry) because it felt like that is how I should be.

I was reminded of a program on Anti-Social Personality Disorder I'd seen a bit of, and I did some research online. I am by no means a fool and it did not take me very long to diagnose myself as a sociopath; the evidence was quite resounding.

These were the things that apparently makes up a sociopath that I immediately identified with:

I am a compulsive liar, a proficient thief, a good manipulator and actor with a sharp tongue, people regularly call me arrogant, I dislike authority, I am constantly compulsive, I used to terrorise my animals as a child. The best one I read was 'may actually state that their goal is to rule the world', something I've done many a time. There were others, but you get it.

Anyway, all I can find is help for people dealing with sociopaths, most of which starts and ends with 'get away from him and stay away'. I've also noticed phrases similar to 'a sociopath cannot be helped because he never wants to be helped because he always feels self-righteous'.

But given that sociopaths are meant to often be of high intelligence, and I am by no means stupid, I do not think that the above quote can be correct, because it suggests that sociopaths are always so self-righteous that they are naive to what they actually are.

However I, alone, have identified what I am and I understand that I have a complete lack of empathy, and have never loved another human. It's funny to think that I've only just realised I am a sociopath, yet stating that I have never loved in my entire life sounds like something that would be hard to miss. I'm not sure I can describe in words what I thought of myself before I had this online epiphany, but needless to say, this realisation has changed how I think of myself and the world; It's like I'm having an internal philosophical breakdown.

I am undecided whether being a sociopath is a good thing or a bad thing, given that I don't believe I've experienced the 'normal' way of things. However, all I am wondering is if there is a way that a sociopath can 'learn to love', or at least to change at all, or am I destined to pretty much not care what happens to anyone else for the rest of my life?

I am truly intrigued to see the response, if I get one.

Thank you,

David.

posted February 26, 2011 08:59 AM            

I believe in these issues because I have experienced them first hand. I don't believe Bipolar, schizophrenia, Multiple Personality Disorder, BPD, and ASPD is a creation of drug companies. I think these are real disorders.

I also think there's nothing wrong in admitting that these are real, and nothing shameful about it...

posted February 26, 2011 09:00 AM            

I Hate You, Don't Leave Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hufG9WxJZno&feature=related

posted February 26, 2011 09:01 AM            

We're having an open discussion over here about mental illness... seems Cognitive Behavior Therapy works, from what one member says.

The stigma about mental illness is not so intimidating once it's brought out into the open. There seem to be some good treatment options for those suffering with chronic mental problems...

posted February 26, 2011 09:07 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by rajji:
PS on a side note i wanted to go through your love and war topic..but before i could i couldnt find it at all..did it get lost in a glitch? im not being nosy but just wanted to know if you dont mind my asking...
I experienced it once while posting in another forum fortunately it had only 2posts but yours had a whopping 88posts.
so was curious.

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posted February 26, 2011 09:08 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by rajji:
The solutions are teaching people how to get their needs met, how to behave, and using whatever powers of enforcement are needed to force people to respect the rights of others. These are the tasks of education and law enforcement, not medicine or therapy

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You cannot unlearn a person from gaining positive emotion from maladaptive behavior. People will do what works, like Randall said somewhere else around here...

There is no incentive for BPD and ASPD's to rehabilitate, because they are often able to control their environment very well.

posted February 26, 2011 09:10 AM            

While it makes sense superficially, I would argue that people are more dynamic than that. But, that is my inclination, also being a person who places a pretty high value on philosophy and God...

Even though, I don't want to get into a Behaviorism/vs. other theory debate, I'll offer up these really interesting perspectives on a page on Behaviorism, and you guys can feel free to argue them:

# Rod Land posted the following on February 6, 2010 at 10:12 pm.

Behaviourism and B.F. Skinner have been my bete noir in teaching and education for 60 years now. The idea and the practice of treating human kids like dogs or pigeons with reinforcement (gold stars) is fundamentally demeaning and revolting. Much of our semi-autistic behaviour (ASDs & Asperger’s syndrome) in the workplace can be put down to Skinner and behaviourism. I think most people have woken up to how limited and damaging it is, but its legacy is legion and it needs to be continually debunked and opposed if we are ever to grow beyond its wretched consequences! Just my view and opinion, of course – just like every reply and everything ever uttered is just the view/opinion of the viewer/opiner! Roll on constructivism and sanity.

And,

falma dugasa posted the following on January 13, 2010 at 5:34 am.

Behaviorists discount mental power of human beings and they also ignore individual differences in learning. as to me behaviorists’ theories give adequate explanation for simple learning and techniques and principles derived from such theories are of paramount importance in psycotherapy,education, medicine,…..in dealing with maladaptive behaviors. the theories provide us with rich insight of adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. they are applicable in all aspects human life.

quote:

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Some people really do not subscribe to any of the mental illnesses as having been anything BUT learned behaviour that has eventually caused pyhsiological, psychological, temporary or permanent damage.

Does your sister think that she is mentally ill? That is really the crucial question because I acted out when I was a teen and people wondered whether I was ill, and I can tell you, I very nearly believed them.

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I am not sure whether or not, currently, during therapy, my sister believes she is "mentally ill".

For me, the idea of believing or disbelief is inconsequential, as it is obvious by her self-management or lack thereof, that there's a serious problem.

I am not sold on the idea of behaviorism, and by your posturing I suspect you are tending to believe people who "believe they are mentally ill, are (because they believe it)"...?

posted February 26, 2011 09:11 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by PlutoSquared:

Randall said it was a glitch, and then when he tried to post on it, it completely disappeared.

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posted February 26, 2011 09:23 AM            

quote:

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PlutoSquared, Cheshire Kat's comments on the Love and War thread about having a happy relationship after a mental illness diagnosis were very insightful...where's that thread?

Also, a diagnosis doesn't necessarily mean anything. A lot of people are never in a position to get diagnosed, even though they exhibit the same behavior.

As I said on another thread I think, I'm glad I've never been diagnosed with a mental illness, because I think a diagnosis like that would just make me feel despairing and ashamed...would make it harder, not easier, to get help.

I do find it interesting to talk about which behaviors would be classified as symptoms of mental illness, which would be classified as abusive towards others, and why.

I didn't mean to make this an unsafe place to talk about this stuff. I just don't like it when threads that raise those issues in a way that might help me or others get shut down.

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