Pmann wants to talk mental health

[aussiegeekygal]

Yeah, it's people from countries with social services commenting, nev.

Until I lived here, I had no idea.

They can't even imagine it because social safety is woven into the fabric of almost every other country. America fails so hard.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

There IS help… it just might not be presented to you in the way in which you wish for it to be.

Not here.

America is a cruel fucking place. We toss people aside like they're nothing. I cannot even begin to lay it out, but unless you have money, you're fucked.

 

[Dribble]

There IS help out there for people suffering with mental illness. Unfortunately, it’s just not a black and white illness that can be cured with a pill and a pat on the back. It’s a long, long road and the journey needs constant reassessment. Assisting those with a mental illness needs a huge amount of team work and effort… including the individual suffering. In my experience, many people suffering from mental illness who seek help, have a sense of “well I’m here for help, cure me now”. Many of those people also don’t want, or can’t, put the effort in to help themselves either. The expectation seems to be put on healthcare professionals to fix them, and if the effects aren’t felt immediately, we are seen as “not caring”, or “being useless”.

Mental illness is not my specialty. But I do feel frustrated when I hear that there is no help for those who struggle with mental illness. There IS help… it just might not be presented to you in the way in which you wish for it to be.

I can tell you...when I sought help 35 years ago...I was turned down by every group I contacted. Now...there were a couple groups willing to help 6 weeks....8 weeks in the future. But when I needed it? It wasn't there. It is by luck...a man I had never met...reached out and helped me when no one else...including my family...would help. Sorry...that is my experience

 

[alwaysaway]

I'm not insulting anyone who is in the medical profession. Nor trying to start a fight. But you are...wrong. I will not yield or negotiate, or debate this. It is my experience and the experiences of SO MANY other people I have personally known. You are wrong. There is help for those who can afford it. But many, many cannot. That is all I will say about this. Done.

I’m not wrong, I am stating how things are in my country. I am sorry you do not seem to have the same level of healthcare where you are.

 

[jaF0]

Help for six weeks.

Odd that insurance plans that cover that kind of 'help' do so for .... wait for it ...... six weeks.

Then, magically, it's all better now, seeyalaterbye.

 

[alwaysaway]

I can tell you...when I sought help 35 years ago...I was turned down by every group I contacted. Now...there were a couple groups willing to help 6 weeks....8 weeks in the future. But when I needed it? It wasn't there. It is by luck...a man I had never met...reached out and helped me when no one else...including my family...would help. Sorry...that is my experience

I’m sorry you experienced that, truly. Again, I’m commenting from Australia. We have a (mostly) great healthcare system. At least compared with others.

 

[jaF0]

There is help for those who can afford it.

What you're not understanding is that is not 'help'

No amount of money can 'help' those at a certain level. Money does not change the underlying issues. Talking does not change the underlying issues. Drugs do not change the underlying issues. At a certain point, NOTHING changes the underlying issues.

 

[alwaysaway]

At a certain point, NOTHING changes the underlying issues.

That depends on what the underlying issues are, I believe.

 

[alwaysaway]

As a parent of a young person utilising mental health services both public and private in a country with “good healthcare” I can assure you the mental health system is fucked everywhere.

How so? Saying a system is “fucked” is quite broad. Genuinely interested.

 

[jaF0]

All 'money' does it get you pills that aren't generics and 'doctors' with bigger offices, more shit hanging on their walls and more pronounced accents when they say 'I vould like to explore how you feel about your Mother'.

Short of shock treatments or full frontal lobotomies, there is NOTHING that can effect any real change. People need to stop lying to themselves. If you're in a temporary crappy-assed mood because your favorite TV show got cancelled, you'll probably get over it someday. If you're well and truly fucked in the head like so many all over the world, you won't.

And they ain't no damned 'doctor' or pill gonna change that, no matter how much money you have. Money don't mean shit. Look at the whole KadashitKlan and the 'Ye' beast they unleashed on the world, then tell me how fucking great money is at solving shit.

Money CAUSES problems, not solves them.

 

[NC_Coastal]

Not here.

America is a cruel fucking place. We toss people aside like they're nothing. I cannot even begin to lay it out, but unless you have money, you're fucked.

Sad but true.
(Nice new avatar)

 

[MedicalMuse]

For what it’s worth, mental health services receiving as much attention as healthcare services would help. When we understand they are one and the same, we’ll make headway.
Mental health is grossly underserved. Some issues are due to actual chemical imbalance. Some are due to conditioning. Therapy helps. But the kind of therapy needed to help should start when we teach people how to be parents. Teaching people early in life how to navigate shame and hate, control and perfectionism would go a long way to helping a larger contingent of mental health issues. When we know better, we should do better, instead we spend our time perpetuating the problems that we cause by the way we live and the way we allow people to treat each other.

Access. Treatment. Therapy. Meds when necessary. Support. Kindness. Empathy.

Alright. I’m done.

 

[Nicefella]

For what it’s worth, mental health services receiving as much attention as healthcare services would help. When we understand they are one and the same, we’ll make headway.
Mental health is grossly underserved. Some issues are due to actual chemical imbalance. Some are due to conditioning. Therapy helps. But the kind of therapy needed to help should start when we teach people how to be parents. Teaching people early in life how to navigate shame and hate, control and perfectionism would go a long way to helping a larger contingent of mental health issues. When we know better, we should do better, instead we spend our time perpetuating the problems that we cause by the way we live and the way we allow people to treat each other.

Access. Treatment. Therapy. Meds when necessary. Support. Kindness. Empathy.

Alright. I’m done.

God this is so dead on.

 

[cascadiabound]

I wish I could count the number of patients we felt were actively suicidal but were refused admission to hospital and then told first available therapy appt/in pt admission to mental health facility is 6-12 weeks off.
It's definitely easier to get services if you have money in the US, but the severe lack of available services are an impediment even to those with resources. without insurance people are pretty much fucked.

I wish it was the way alwaysaway characteristizes services in her country. As aussie says... it's hard to believe what a healthcare desert we live in (US) until you or a loved one needs services and everyone kinda shrugs helplessly.

 

[Nicefella]

I also think that the system is built for mental health to be an add-on service versus a required provision like a routine blood check.

 

[Nicefella]

Also. Not to go on and on about this but if you just check to see who is providing counseling services now it’s rarely psychologists. It’s almost entirely MSW professionals. Another way for the insurance cartel to reduce the quality of services to the plebes.

 

[cheekygirl75]

Also. Not to go on and on about this but if you just check to see who is providing counseling services now it’s rarely psychologists. It’s almost entirely MSW professionals. Another way for the insurance cartel to reduce the quality of services to the plebes.

I don't necessarily agree with that... I've had therapy from both licensed psychologists and MSWs, and the latter have been much better, imo. And I would love to do an MSW degree someday myself, so I've looked into them extensively. I'm not sure what a clinical MSW program has that a program for licensed psychologists doesn't. What are the differences that you've seen in qualifications? (My therapy experience is all US based, though I've looked at MSW programs in Canada & the UK as well.)

 

[Nevyn_Black]

I don't necessarily agree with that... I've had therapy from both licensed psychologists and MSWs, and the latter have been much better, imo. And I would love to do an MSW degree someday myself, so I've looked into them extensively. I'm not sure what a clinical MSW program has that a program for licensed psychologists doesn't. What are the differences that you've seen in qualifications? (My therapy experience is all US based, though I've looked at MSW programs in Canada & the UK as well.)

It mostly has to do with the focus of the education Cheeky. A masters in social work focuses on publicly available programs for job training, social support, education, that sort of thing. They DO help people. They DO have at least SOME training in basic psychology and therapeutic practices. However, a PHD in Psychology is almost completely focused on therapy and understanding human behavior. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who understands the physiological and neurpathic side of mental illness.

The truth is, what people like myself need-is all three. A psychologist to talk to about overcoming my conditioned behaviors. A psychiatrist to prescribe meds to help with the chemical imbalances. And the MSW to help me find things like programs that can assist me. But that shit just isnt possible, bot unless I am willing and able to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars to build my own team.

 

[Ssbbw4u1974]

I want to address the issue of mental illness... From my point of view..
I was in the 5th grade when I took pills to try to unlive. I was a little girl who only knew a life of abuse from my psychotic mother. Spent 4 days in the hospital from that..
My teenage years were full of depression, psych wards, Foster homes, etc.
Began self mutilation at 14 and stopped at 22.
I'm diagnosed bipolar2 and borderline personality.
I'm a firm believer in nature vs nurture. I'm sure I'd be different had I had a better upbringing, but that was out of my control.
My sister had schizo-affective, and severe PTSD.
I'm just trying to be the best person I can be, but, me being aware of my mental health is very important to me..
I'm not scared to die, anymore.
But I'll let nature take over for my time of dying.

 

[cheekygirl75]

It mostly has to do with the focus of the education Cheeky. A masters in social work focuses on publicly available programs for job training, social support, education, that sort of thing. They DO help people. They DO have at least SOME training in basic psychology and therapeutic practices. However, a PHD in Psychology is almost completely focused on therapy and understanding human behavior. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who understands the physiological and neurpathic side of mental illness.

The truth is, what people like myself need-is all three. A psychologist to talk to about overcoming my conditioned behaviors. A psychiatrist to prescribe meds to help with the chemical imbalances. And the MSW to help me find things like programs that can assist me. But that shit just isnt possible, bot unless I am willing and able to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars to build my own team.

I still disagree on the differences between a PsyD, which is what most practicing psychologists have from what I can see (a traditional PhD in psychology is more for research) and an MSW. The MSW programs are generally divided between micro & macro social work. What you are talking about is macro social work - looking at the wider environment of a person and what supports can help them. A micro focused MSW is for someone who plans to do one on one or group therapy and is focused on individual behavior and psychology. And a good MSW clinician, like the one I’m extremely fortunate to have found after trying multiple psychologists & other MSWs that I just didn’t click with, goes on to do continuing education in different modalities of therapy.

And yes, I know a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe meds. I’ve been to several of all of these types over the last 20-ish years.

 

[Nevyn_Black]

I still disagree on the differences between a PsyD, which is what most practicing psychologists have from what I can see (a traditional PhD in psychology is more for research) and an MSW. The MSW programs are generally divided between micro & macro social work. What you are talking about is macro social work - looking at the wider environment of a person and what supports can help them. A micro focused MSW is for someone who plans to do one on one or group therapy and is focused on individual behavior and psychology. And a good MSW clinician, like the one I’m extremely fortunate to have found after trying multiple psychologists & other MSWs that I just didn’t click with, goes on to do continuing education in different modalities of therapy.

And yes, I know a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe meds. I’ve been to several of all of these types over the last 20-ish years.

*holds up hands to show I am not armed* I've found that I click better with Psychologists. If you get more from MSW's thats fine. I will depart rather than engage in any sort of debate.

 

[cheekygirl75]

*holds up hands to show I am not armed* I've found that I click better with Psychologists. If you get more from MSW's thats fine. I will depart rather than engage in any sort of debate.

Not trying to debate, just think there are a lot of misconceptions about MSWs. I might be a little overprotective of the field since I really wish I could go back to school for it.

It is clicking with the person, no matter which degree, that’s really to most important though.

 

[jaF0]

Oh goody ... 'Shrooms to the rescue ....

Psychedelic ‘magic mushroom’ drug may ease some depression​

By LINDSEY TANNER2 hours ago
The psychedelic chemical in “magic mushrooms” may ease depression in some hard-to-treat patients, a preliminary study found.
The effects were modest and waned over time but they occurred with a single experimental dose in people who previously had gotten little relief from standard antidepressants.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

Oh goody ... 'Shrooms to the rescue ....

Psychedelic ‘magic mushroom’ drug may ease some depression​

By LINDSEY TANNER2 hours ago
The psychedelic chemical in “magic mushrooms” may ease depression in some hard-to-treat patients, a preliminary study found.
The effects were modest and waned over time but they occurred with a single experimental dose in people who previously had gotten little relief from standard antidepressants.

I'm following this one because I want to try it. My doc wanted to try ketamine but I'm on the fence about it.

I know a lot of recreational shroom users who swear by microdosing. I don't have the balls to try it unsupervised.

 

[Ssbbw4u1974]

Oh goody ... 'Shrooms to the rescue ....

Psychedelic ‘magic mushroom’ drug may ease some depression​

By LINDSEY TANNER2 hours ago
The psychedelic chemical in “magic mushrooms” may ease depression in some hard-to-treat patients, a preliminary study found.
The effects were modest and waned over time but they occurred with a single experimental dose in people who previously had gotten little relief from standard antidepressants.

I've done cubensis shrooms years ago. I had a horrible experience, but I really did too much.. like, ate the shrooms,  AND drank the tea!
I'm very curious about micro dosing...
But I'll stick to my pharmaceuticals and THC