mental health.....?

Question

do u think doctors seem to 'fob off' patients who are feeling depressed or have mental health issues? what do u feel about the genral attitude twowards mental health in this country??

Answer 1

I think that like most other patients and through no fault of their own, they don't have long enough consultations to do their job properly. It isn't feasible to give good quality healthcare with a consultation less than about an hour long for initial interview and usually around half an hour for follow-ups.

Concerning the rest of the country, it seems that the people who are likely to come into contact with people generally understood as being diagnosable with mental health problems are insufficiently informed, for example the police, people working in education, council workers, you name it really.

Answer 2

I think from your profile you're in the UK - so that's the perspective I'm answering from. I think there is a very real problem that mental health and illness is not well understood and can't be researched in the strictly scientific, "double-blind controlled trials" way that has become fashionable in medicine. As a result, treatment of mental health problems is seen as rather woolly and imprecise (which it is, but that shouldn't be a judgement against it) and so is the first service to get cuts when savings have to be made. As the NHS is reeling under the pressure of ever more expensive new drugs and new procedures, and it seems that paying more tax to fund the NHS properly isn't an option (none of the three main parties subscribe it to now that the Lib Dems have said they wouldn't raise income tax levels), there just isn't enough money around.

And so - yes, doctors fob people off because there isn't any proper treatment out there. Medication is all they have on offer - and medication is only effective in any real sense if it is used to enable people to manage while they engage with psychotherapy. And what doesn't exist on the NHS is anywhere near adequate numbers of psychotherapists. The army of CBT practitioners which the government is wanting will be completely unable to deal with the real issues that are coming through the door of every GP's surgery. And the GPs, for the most part, have no realistic training in mental health issues and are nervous of the whole buisness (though there are a few excellent ones around).

It's really a tragedy, because if there was enough good psychotherapy available, not only would many individuals be leading vastly more fulfilled and happy lives, but their families (partners and children) and friends would be having a better time too. Too many kids end up with mental health problems of their own because the adults they live with are in a bad way.

I think the attitude towards mental health issues in the UK is a LOT better than it was 30 years ago - but that doesn't mean it is anything like OK. 30 years ago, some of the attitudes were barbaric. Now, they're just poor.

EDIT: I do love your avatar!!

Answer 3

My GP has been very understanding and has supported and helped me for many years. I know when I see him that I will be allowed the time that I need and I have never felt rushed by him or not listened to.

However, as I now work in mental health, I realise that I am very lucky with my GP. I have accompanied clients on appointments and it amazes me to find the difference from one Dr to the next.

Unfortunately it all depends on the individual Dr and how well informed and interested they are in mental health. I always say to clients that it is worth seeing a different GP in the practice if it is at all possible, because having one that know his/her stuff is much better for them.

In general I feel that people seem to think that attitudes towards mental health has improved, but in practice it doesn't always appear to be the case.

I would say that it is more widely discussed, and people try to be more understanding, but fear and stigma still surround this topic and until there is more education, information and positive media coverage sadly things aren't likely to change an awful lot.

I am also rather cynical about large organisations who claim to be more informed and have policies in place to protect people who suffer from a mental illness. Again, in practice, this seems to me to be more of a paper exercise that avoids them being accused of treating the 'mentally ill' person differently.

Managers need to be aware of the signs of mental distress and know how to deal with it, often attempts by them to help just make things worse for the person suffering.

So again, in my opinion, there needs to be more education.

Hope this answers your question.

Answer 4

Mental health is a very difficult area for many people. Unlike general problems where you can see the problem and can treat the problem (eg broken leg). Mental Health you can't see the problem. Symptoms are so wide that people can mistaken them for other things.

People do not like things they do not understand. Many people do not know how the brain works and so are very scared about anything to do with it. The media doesn't help either. They portray mental health as a Frankenstein monster.

So I think if you are unsure about something, research into it until you are more comfortable with it. This includes Mental health.

Good Luck

Answer 5

yes it is very hard for them not to have a baldie what to do and to know that they cant help with the resources they have so we get fobbed off to the streets or to prison.

When the budgets get cut for mental health -wages dont suffer so we are rediagnosed and suddenly dont have sever and enduring illness but magickally turn out to all this time really to have had personality disorders which cant be 'treated' so can be ignored.
Vulnerable people are bullied daily without anyone really knowing becasue no one wants to know. Sometimes I cannot believe what I actually see.

I feel sick about the disrespect and disempowering dismissal of suffering.

Answer 6

i'm a therapist. I ought to declare many people do no longer totally understand psychological ailments, even some clinically determined persons. that's no distinctive that a universal scientific ailment, however the component of situation is interior the recommendations. lots of my customers be afflicted by severe psychological ailments and have been dedicated to state psychological hospitals, and the main elementary ailments I handle are schizophrenia and bipolar affliction. ahead of being committed, lots of my customers have not have been given any concept how ill they are growing to be. The ailment has taken over. It’s particularly fairly unhappy.

Answer 7

On the contrary, a lot of GPs seem to dish out antidepressants to some patients who are simply "fed-up".

Answer 8

mental health issues don't have quite the same stigma that they had 40 years ago, so it's getting a little better. my doctor helped me alot, but I know of others who don't help.

Answer 9

My doctor was very good with me when I had serve postnatal depression with my youngest son although he never pretended that he knew exactly what I was going through he was very understaning and made sure I got the right help.

Answer 10

I don't think they listen to great...and diagnosed people to quickly before actually studing the issues of that person.