A response to well intentioned Mental Health Reform Act of 2015

Aloha.  Here in “paradise” our mental health treatment problem is lack of access to any inpatient mental health/dual diagnosis treatment.  There are at least two major problems, specifically, severe shortage of inpatient treatment services, lack of funding for those services that exist (basically revolving door)  and the courts’ interpretation of laws that defer to pts civil rights not to be treated.   This also serves the Judiciary which would have to finance treatment if the Courts did mandate it.

Our rural location (a neighbor island) has a public hospital that has closed 7 of its behavioral health beds this year due to funding and staff shortages. The remaining beds are only “acute” beds that are open are for the right “type” of mental health acute admission, specifically, those would be available for a normally medication compliant person who knows they need to be stabilized and who won’t cause undue disruption, specifically NOT someone disruptive and actively in need of detox.

Admission even to acute beds is voluntary. State law only permits a 24 hour or 48 hour hold at the most. After that folks can write a letter requesting discharge and return into harm’s way.

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My mental health is always a 100%. I’m use to that, but others around aren’t.  During school one day, I was told that you should treat mental health problems like any other weakness, but how is that fair??  Mental health is NOT a weakness. At 14 years old I told my mum that I wanted to die, and by the age of 15 I had already tried to kill myself four times. By 16 I was cutting, but now at the age of 21, I’m stronger than I was. I’m not going to say that I know longer feel like killing myself because I sometimes feel like everyone would be better off with out me, but I’m not longer ashamed of who I am. I let nobody bring me down. I am me and I don’t hide away from who I am. I wear my scars as a trophy of what I have over come. I am strong, I am proud, I am beautiful, I am me. 

Hi,

I would like to share my mental health history to enable others to seek help and not give up hope. My start of mental health issues started when I was about 17 years old. I had OCD like symptoms and was given medication. I also had anxiety which was treated the same way. Some years later I was told I had attention deficit disorder . By now I was frustrated with all the diagnoses and was frustrated. Some years later while switching meds I spent 16 weeks in 2 mental hospitals.

I became a Christian soon after all this and prayed for relief of symptoms. I haven’t felt better but I try to help others who are struggling with similar conditions. I am recently divorced and have 2 great sons ages 13 and 17.
I am available to help those who need help. I am not a health care professional but I am intuitive and maybe can direct you.

God bless all

Gary kleiner

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This is more of an opinion piece than my story but still worth the read if you ask me. “Evil Among Us: Changing the Mental Health Conversation.”

           As a writer with bipolar disorder I’m always looking for opportunities to change the conversation about mental health in our society. I haven’t necessarily always thought this way though. In fact, prior to my diagnosis I viewed and talked about mental health in the same way many still do today. I never really believed those with mental health issues could bring anything to society. I didn’t think they could contribute like everyone else. I discriminated against those with mental health issues because of the negative stigma and stereotypes I held.

            Now that I’m on the other side I’ve more than realized that was the completely wrong perspective to take on mental health. This being the case I set out to try and clear up this common misconception. I did this by trying to change the conversation about mental health by focusing on what contributions go unnoticed within society from us. Especially when talking about art, music, writing and anything else dealing with creativity. However it seems this conversation somehow always gets lost in the dark dialogue about mental health.

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Hello.  We all can live a great, purposeful life managing Bipolar Condition or any mental health situations. 

The social stigma of mental illness used to bother me to no end…and contribute to my problems!  I’m over that now, but I prefer to call it Bipolar Condition vs. “Disorder”.  I also prefer to discuss Mental Health vs. “Illness”.

My story in general: 

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Poem 21

NO RIGHTS NOW SECTIONED MENTAL HEALTH

I have been Sectioned under the Mental Health Act,

for wanting to seriously Harm my Wife,

having played Online Ouija Boards for the last 6 Weeks.

There was no room in the Local Psychiatric Hospital,

So I spent around 20 Hours in a local Police Station Prison Cell.         

I was lucky my Cell door was open for ages

And somebody sat down by the door.

I then agreed it could be shut, thus saving costs.

“Help, Help, I feel very cloustophobic”

“Taking Your Morning Medication is not Allowed.

Twice I was allowed into the Exercise outdoor area.

The Police looked after me very well saying “You should not be here”. 

3 People immediately Sectioned me Under the Mental Health Act

And the nearest Hospital bed was 200 Miles away.

Imagine the cost of taking me there in an Ambulance!

It is a Private Hospital, but stayed there for free,

75-80% of the Patients are NHS.

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This was originally posted 10/09/2013 at http://bringinghomebebe.tumblr.com

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, so I wanted to take a moment to talk about my panic disorder, which I’ve mentioned in passing a few times in this space.

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This is a note I shared on my personal Facebook page in honor of this week.

Mental Health Awareness Week was established in 1990 by the U.S. Congress in recognition of efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to educate and increase awareness about mental illness. It takes place every year during the first full week of October. During this week, mental health advocates and organizations across the U.S. join together to sponsor a variety of events to promote community outreach and public education concerning mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Examples of activities held during the week include art/music events, educational sessions provided by healthcare professionals, advertising campaigns, health fairs, movie nights, candlelight vigils, and benefit runs.

An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older - about one in four adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in any given year. However, stigma surrounding mental illness is a major barrier that prevents people from seeking the mental health treatment that they need. Programs during Mental Illness Awareness Week are designed to create community awareness and discussion in an effort to put an end to stigma and advocate for treatment and recovery.

In honor of this week I am choosing to share my personal struggles with Bipolar Disorder to all of my friends. Education (in any regard) is important to me so I hope that each of you will take the time to read and listen to what I have to say.

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