Why are people uncomfortable talking about mental health?

Nurses Disabilities

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buckeyecass08

21 Posts

I respect all of you who strive to work with a disability (mental or physical) because in today's world most people just sit back and collect the SSI/SSDI check. I have consumers who could work if they tried, but their parents put them on a check at an early age and they don't see the point in trying to earn a living when they get by on the free money. There are people who truly cannot hold a job with their disability, I understand that and am not dissing them in anyway. I just see the cycle of parents being on disability and then their kids and grandkids are as well. It makes me sad to see people not try to make their lives better. Again, I see the struggle of mental illness every day and it does take a strong person to go to work and continue to live your life on your terms and the terms of the illness! Keep up the good work!! You probably don't hear it enough, but you are an inspiration to others with disabilities!!

It has had a stigma for thousands of years across cultures. Because it can be unpredictable and scary. The pt is not in control of his/her thoughts in a "bootstrap" society.The associations with it are also scary to most people. Because people have seen a "crazy" lady dressed in rags screaming at the wall pushing a shopping cart filled with trash. Or all the criminals who,once they commit awful crimes, are labeled mentally ill UNLESS there is some religion or political group the media can pin the crime on.....Also after reading your last post, as a pt it would make me uncomfortable because it stays with you forever and such a diagnosis can affect future employement, etc (as can a physical illness ).

anotherone, the thing that bothers me more than the diagnosis staying with me forever is that a Board Order (thus the diagnosis in the order) cannot be revised/changed or taken down if someone gets a different diagnosis. So, even though I went from a diagnosis of Major Depression to Bipolar I to Borderline Personality Disorder, if I found a different psychiatrist and they said "no, it's ___________, not this" or "there's nothing wrong with you"; it would not matter. It's probably why I "own up" to the BPD diagnosis.

Anyway, that's for another day. I think I am floored at the fact no one even talks about how to maintain good mental health in general--with or without a psych diagnosis. May is actually Mental Health month in general, not mental illness month. Obviously, it falls under that category, but it is more of general well being.

buckeye, I feel as though people should have to do something for the check. I think just giving them it perpetuates the depression or whatever other mental health issue they have as they have nothing to get up and do, they have nothing (job wise) that they are proud of, they usually lack certain job skills, etc. Sitting around gets old after a while. I personally want to have a good career; maybe sometime down the line, get married; and a while from now, have kids. I want to be able to do better than barely getting by on a SSDI check.

RNperdiem, RN

4,592 Posts

The stigma is nothing new. The old psych hospital in my town has a graveyard with no names. People lived and died in that place and were buried with only their medical record number on their stone.

Once people figured that there is a genetic link to mental illness, people with certain traits were hidden. Members of a family didn't want to get a reputation for mental problems; they would become disadvantaged in the marriage market. A mentally ill family member would be enough to taint the rest of the family with the stigma.

That is probably why those graves have no name.

That's sad about the burial plots with only the medical record number. I feel like in the decades (and centuries) that have past, we should have gotten over this big fear of mental illness. It seems like with physical health, more education does the world good; but, with mental health, the more people know about it, we are still getting nowhere. A big part of my disclosure (and perhaps many other peoples disclosure) is to give hope to people who want to be productive members of society that have mental health issues. But, instead of people saying "oh, yeah, people who have mental health issues are doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, real estate agents, etc. and they are not scary people"; it becomes "stay away from him/her", even after you do something good with your life. It's like it backfires and it's something that for whatever reason, just doesn't change. No amount of education changes it. We are still living in the dark ages as far as the stigma and knowledge about mental illness.

I think if we are going to stay like that, then perhaps we should focus on mental well being and prevention (there's a certain degree of prevention in the triggers and environmental factors that precipitate mental illness). We do very little in that regard. I know I asked someone about mental health nurses in public health and they said perhaps try the community service board. I was thinking more of the prevention part--teaching coping skills, stress management techniques, etc. We do very little in preventing mental health issues, yet once you have a diagnosis, you are up the creek without a paddle.

Just my two cents.

DoGoodThenGo

4,129 Posts

The stigma is nothing new. The old psych hospital in my town has a graveyard with no names. People lived and died in that place and were buried with only their medical record number on their stone.

Once people figured that there is a genetic link to mental illness, people with certain traits were hidden. Members of a family didn't want to get a reputation for mental problems; they would become disadvantaged in the marriage market. A mentally ill family member would be enough to taint the rest of the family with the stigma.

That is probably why those graves have no name.

Ohh yes! Bad blood (as it was called) could scupper potential offers of marriage and or lower one's "price" on the market. However there was "crazy" vs "eccentric" and or some cultural variations.

Then you have Miss. Julia Sugarbaker's take on things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3KQgulBzh0

sneeds

134 Posts

Mental health is not like physical health. You can't see the root of the problem most of the time. Therefore, there is no physical fix like other physical ailments diagnosed with labs and scans. It's behavioral. This leaves little to control in terms of medical management. Therein lies the fear and lack of research. So when bizarre behavior happens outside of our explanation and control as nurses, even as physicians, with little diagnostic tools except for questionnaires, few scans and blood tests... There's a special place in what we may all call God and Heaven for those afflicted and those whom are caregivers for people afflicted. There needs to be a support specialty for caregivers too. As a sidebar, I will say that I get very disappointed when my colleagues treat mental illness clients with lack of compassion. Sometimes behaviour is humourous but there's a line (in cases of nurse not knowing hx). These folks need added nursing care so as not to be neglected.

sneeds

134 Posts

I do not mean to excuse actions that hurt others as being a special place. I'm coming from a place where maybe we healthcare members & insurance companies can help more family's recognize signs and also encourage everyone to press change to help families and communities prevent tragedies. I meant no disrespect to the numerous tragedies that occur from individuals whom have problems. It will be a good place and time in our society when we can recognize and help individuals and their families before tragedies occur. It's difficult to post on this subject when you see how many families are trying their best and succeeding and others are not so successful or communities are devastated by actions. I didn't mean any disrespect.

leslie :-D

11,191 Posts

i believe people fear what they don't know or understand.

and so, mental illness and death are 2 concepts that remain intimidating to most people.

of course there are resultant offsprings of such a basic theory, but at its core, we fear what we do not understand.

a lot more education and support would do wonders in ameliorating the stigma that frequently accompanies the aversions that we create in ignorance.

leslie

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I respect all of you who strive to work with a disability (mental or physical) because in today's world most people just sit back and collect the SSI/SSDI check. I have consumers who could work if they tried, but their parents put them on a check at an early age and they don't see the point in trying to earn a living when they get by on the free money. There are people who truly cannot hold a job with their disability, I understand that and am not dissing them in anyway. I just see the cycle of parents being on disability and then their kids and grandkids are as well. It makes me sad to see people not try to make their lives better. Again, I see the struggle of mental illness every day and it does take a strong person to go to work and continue to live your life on your terms and the terms of the illness! Keep up the good work!! You probably don't hear it enough, but you are an inspiration to others with disabilities!!

I have had several well-meaning folks suggest applying for SSDI after my recent job loss, which was directly a result of a mixed bipolar episode coupled with severe anxiety, but I refuse to do so and my psychiatrist is equally adamant about not certifying me as "disabled". He says that in his experience, 100% of the patients he's signed papers for have gotten WORSE. Who needs that??

There's a big difference between having a disability, as I do, and being disabled. And while I may need to modify my schedule and change to a job with fewer distractions, as long as I can work, I will work. :yes:

sgrondahl

16 Posts

Didn't our President just sign the "no pre-exisiting conditions" law?

sgrondahl

16 Posts

I was going to say the same thing. Talking about mental health is akin to people talk about death. Most people are not comfortable talking about either subject.

It's a fear thing.

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