whats your views on mental health?

Question

Because it is not seen like a broken arm/leg, and because you cant see it do you sometimes wonder if the person really has one.

Answer 1

I suffer with mental illness, and yes- its defiantly there.

With me you can see it when i'm ill

i look pale, i have no energy so i sleep a lot, don't clean the house, i don't wash or sometimes eat.. i have trouble thinking clearly because my thoughts seem to disappear..

or- i rush around, insult people when i don't mean to, don't sleep, wear bright clothes, talk about my weird ideas really fast, start new projects, can't speak because my thoughts are rushing round in my head and i cant organise them...

oh and just to sort some things out: like nearly all ill people im not a danger to anyone except myself and we don't all need medicating.

but mental ill health does exist.. and its awful.. i'd much rather break my arm.. i'd rather lose my arm to be brutily honest.

Answer 2

Well first of all to comment on what an a responder to this question said it is like this first of all mental health is not something that people should come out the closet about, because of the stigma that comes with it. Mental illness is one of the most common types of prejudice next to racism, sexism, and transgender/gay prejudice. So sadly it would be nice if people could be more open with their issues but unfortunately they can't because of the cruel treatment they will get from others. So mental illness like being gay, or transgender should be hidden. So when people talk about being treated badly because they told people they were gay or have a mental health problem I go I do not feel sorry for them because I even have my own personal problems, and I would rather act like I am fine, and pretend there is nothing wrong then tell people I have a problem so I could be made fun of, ostracized, and just isolated from society. So if you have a mental health problem like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or whatever. Hide it, Hide it, Hide it. Also to the contrary of what another responder said you can keep whatever illness you have in check without meds you just must work much harder at self-control then other people.

Answer 3

My mum's an approved social worker and she's manager at a community mental health practise. The trouble is not that the illness can't be identified - it's just that the NHS / Trusts just don't have the funding to supply the staff for the work that needs to be done. The area my mum works in has 3 social workers who have each got between 40-75 case loads (they should have about 20) but again there's no available funds to supply more staff.
Consequently many people out there don't get the support they require.

Answer 4

I know that mental health is a lot of times overdone. There are probably a lot more people who are diagnosed as bipolar than who actually are.

However, the fact is, there's a stigma to having a mental illness, and if you honestly have one, you need to get it treated. I have depression. To me, it's as bad as other more physical illnesses I have/have had. To treat it, I take medicine and adjust my lifestyle in whatever ways I can.

When you look at the mental health profession as a whole and label it "not really health issues" or something like that, you make it difficult for people who really do need help to be willing to get it.

I don't have diabetes. But if I met someone who did have it, I would not ask them why they are on insulin. It's obvious. They have diabetes, so they take insulin.

But for some reason, people who are uneducated, or who don't know about my personal situation, seem to feel it's appropriate to tell me that I should get off my Zoloft and instead take a bubble bath, eat chocolate, or "just cheer up," as though I didn't try those things before I realized I needed help outside of the usual "cheering up" stuff.

It's embarrassing to some, annoying to others, so a lot of people are in denial and don't get help, because either they believe the stigma, or they don't want to have to deal with others who believe it.

Answer 5

The 'big problem' with having a 'mental health disorder' is that most people think that means the person is 'insane' ... and that's not at all the 'reality' of the situation. I have a friend who has 'bipolar disorder' who is quite 'sane' as long as she has her medications ... but who can go 'totally nuts' and needs to spend time in the hospital if her 'meds' get 'out of whack' or she can't take them. I have PTSD, which is a different kind of 'mental health disorder' ... and while I don't have most of the 'really bad' symptoms, like 'hallucinating' and 'rage' I can't take 'really big crowds' and I prefer being 'totally alone' or just with my husband and maybe one or two other 'close friends.' I 'can't take' them because I go into 'crisis mode' (I used to be a crisis counselor who went to the places that the person in crisis was) and I'm 'on guard' and can't 'relax and have fun' as most people can. I don't take any medication for the PTSD, and in fact, the drugs usually given for the 'symptoms' make me suicidal. If my friend and I were 'walking down the street' you wouldn't be able to 'tell us' from any 'normal' people ... but there are some people with mental health disorders that are 'visible' because they 'act out' in public. You can't really 'tell for sure' if that person is 'insane' or just 'unstable' ... but if you treat everyone with 'respect' and are 'nice to them' then you'll be going a 'good long way' to making your life and the life of everyone you meet 'a bit better than it was before' ... and that is what I try to do, every day. Sometimes, because I am 'nice' to really 'rough' looking people, or to the homeless, they can 'smile' and feel a bit better about themselves ... and that, I think, is 'more important' than 'just wondering' whether a person is 'really crazy' or 'just pretending to be crazy.'

Answer 6

Hello Oddjob. My view on mental illnesses is that they are real. Western culture and medicine have made us always think about things we can see (ex: broken legs). Eastern medicine is more opened to see human and spirit as a whole. That is why acupuncture and yoga exist. Mental illnesses are caused by a real and serious imbalance in brain neurotrasmiters. Symptoms are real. I suffer from Depression and Anxiety (an suffered from panic attacks years ago). My symptoms were really strong. It was hard going to work. Thank to the medicines I was able to improve the quality of my life. If you have a friend or relative who suffer from a mental illness (OCD, Epilepsy, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, Panic attacks) be [e-mail]

Answer 7

Unfortunately there is a stigma attached to mental health problems, so people don't seek help when they need it. Most people at some point in their lives will have mental health problems, so I am sure there are a lot of undiagnosed people walking around and unless they pose a danger to themselves or others they won't get the treatment they need. Contrary to someone else's post, they don't always need meds - sometimes changes in diet can reverse a condition; after all we are what we eat!

Answer 8

Being someone who has ocd, depression and agoraphobia I can find that people sometimes question if i am truly ill or just making it up, but those people are normally not the medically train people. I do also question my own mental health and wonder if what i am feeling is any different to what other people are feeling and the only difference is how i handle it.

Answer 9

we seven siblings all understand mental illness.

our mother suffers from that since last 12 years and has torn the family apart. she does not understand what she says and does and us supporting her have to stay strong and support her. it is so hard and most of the time we *** home in tears. only the one who suffers truly know what happens and how it effects everyone. it would really easy if one admits to the problem. there is so much help out there but with the laws we can not take control unless the ill except they are ill and the never say they suffer from mental illness. it is a very hard time in life. we all need support and help and need to talk to others

Answer 10

I've had mental illness all my life thro' the many traumas which have occured since my childhood, you may not have need of a plaster but then you cannot feign mental illness, as a true professional will soon be able to tell by your mood swings if your faking it even if you try to behave normally, mental illness has its own way of showing itself in an individual, even on 250mg of happy pills it will show.