The month of May brings so many things to celebrate: better weather, May flowers, Mother's Day, Nurses' Week. But on a more sober note, did you know that it's also Mental Health Awareness Month?
Most people don't. That's because mental health is still considered something of a taboo subject in our society, even though 1 in 4 Americans has a diagnosable mental disorder and/or cares about someone who does. We don't like to talk about it because there is such a negative stigma attached; it's as if we keep quiet, "it" won't happen to us. But psychiatric illness is no respecter of income level, personal attributes or social status, and it can strike at any time during one's lifespan.
So if your last exposure to mental health issues was during your psych rotation in nursing school, get educated. Visit reliable websites such as Psych Central for the latest research. Read scholarly articles on mental health topics in nursing journals. Better yet, talk (and listen!) to someone you know who lives with depression, OCD, bipolar, or other mental illnesses. You will learn that people with MI can have full and satisfying lives, and that we're just like you---we work hard, love our families, and do our best to play by the rules even though our disorder(s) may make it difficult at times.
I hope to see lots of responses to this thread. The dialogue needs to go beyond the latest mass shooting and/or what to do with the vast number of mentally ill homeless people. The issues are much more complex, and nobody knows that better than those who struggle with MI, not only in May but every day of the year.
mental health is becoming an overkill subject. Its an excuse to be special. We are still in the victorian age here in the New World and there is a time and place to discuss your MENTAL health problem, similar to admitting your GAY. Me? who cares, I am on the job to work, not tell you about my depression or gayness. Develop some couth and manners, And its not on the job. And being this is primarily a female profession, I am sure I will be chastized. Over the years, I have developed a thick skin in this field. Its the NofK that bothers me more than fellow staff.
Specializes in ER/Critical Care/Accrediation/PI/Quality.
Sorry to hear this. You may be interested in an 8 hour educational course called Youth Mental First Aid. It is geared for those working with adolescents and young adults. Google mhfa usa for more information.
But what I am getting at is DONT brag about your mental Illness..just because AWARENESS is the big thing these day, a lot of people still wont or cant accept someone bragging about their mental illness. Whether depression/bipolar etc. Just ENjoy your life, work, running, and other activities. Sometimes Less is better. I am not against Big Pharma. They are a necessary evil, but when being prescribed, ask for a generic version. The Patent period, is when these boys make their money...such as Valeant.
thats the USA honey..not up north. Adolescents/YA are the hardest ones, because of the hormonal changes they go through as their body/,mind is changing. But no one explains that part. A lot of bad info on the wild wild internet.
But what I am getting at is DONT brag about your mental Illness..just because AWARENESS is the big thing these day, a lot of people still wont or cant accept someone bragging about their mental illness. Whether depression/bipolar etc. Just ENjoy your life, work, running, and other activities. Sometimes Less is better. I am not against Big Pharma. They are a necessary evil, but when being prescribed, ask for a generic version. The Patent period, is when these boys make their money...such as Valeant.
Finding a rare safe place where you can discuss dealing with mental illness is bragging about it. Yep.
People like this exist in day to day life, and are the reason I shan't be sharing my own labels on AN.
No wait: I do have one. NotAllWhoWandeRN, CBROS (corned beef reuben on sourdough)
I'll bet you a dollar that none of these ladies and gents posting here discuss their mental health at work... or at school... or at any social function. Why? Because of that word that keeps coming up, over and over again: stigma.
I've yet to see anyone brag about it. Never have I observed such a scenario in the break room:
Person #1: "Whew! I sure do feel manic. I was up all night and didn't sleep a wink, and I keep seeing things out of the corner of my eye. I can't wait to ask my psychiatrist to increase my lithium dosage!"
Person #2: "Well, I've been so depressed lately that I've been having a tough time even getting off the couch! My psychiatrist decided to increase my Abilify dosage by 15mg. I can't wait to feel shaky, and my eyelid even twitches!"
Person #1: "I cleaned every room in the house last night, including the attic, *and* I keep hearing things too. *I'm* going to ask my psych to increase my lithium dosage by 300mg -- take them apples! Blood work, here I come!"
Yeah, most of those "special" people? You'd never know they had a mental illness. Co-workers, even friends and family ... We take these meds to make it go away, thanks very much.
But you know what? It's never such thing as an "overkill" subject. Not even close. Like NotAllWhoWandeRN stated, finding a rare safe place where one can discuss dealing with mental illness ain't the same as bragging about it.
you need to realize that not everyone is accepting of Mental Illness! Lets get our collective heads out of the sand. It will be awhile before its dinner or coffee clique conversaion. Discussing it at round table for certain mental illness..sitting in a chair and talking like AA. Turns out to be a whine fest. My illness is worse then yours. Welcome to the internet. thanks for the input. As before, most are not ready to tell the boss or fellow worker in broad day light.I have a mental illness or 'i am special'.. gag!!
mental health is becoming an overkill subject. Its an excuse to be special. We are still in the victorian age here in the New World and there is a time and place to discuss your MENTAL health problem, similar to admitting your GAY. Me? who cares, I am on the job to work, not tell you about my depression or gayness. Develop some couth and manners, And its not on the job. And being this is primarily a female profession, I am sure I will be chastized. Over the years, I have developed a thick skin in this field. Its the NofK that bothers me more than fellow staff.
Pretty sure the chastisement has nothing to do with you being male, but rather the level of ignorance displayed, as evidenced by posts like these.
you need to realize that not everyone is accepting of Mental Illness! Lets get our collective heads out of the sand. It will be awhile before its dinner or coffee clique conversaion. Discussing it at round table for certain mental illness..sitting in a chair and talking like AA. Turns out to be a whine fest. My illness is worse then yours. Welcome to the internet. thanks for the input. As before, most are not ready to tell the boss or fellow worker in broad day light.I have a mental illness or 'i am special'.. gag!!
Okey dokey ...
I think pretty much everyone on this thread not only realizes but agrees that not everyone is accepting of mental illness. That's, um, kinda the point.
Most people wouldn't want to tell the boss they have a mental illness. Just like they wouldn't want to tell the boss they have high blood pressure or diabetes. It isn't their business. I'm by nature an intensely private person IRL; I don't even like to friend people on FB that are co-workers. Certainly not having a heart to heart with my boss.
Your attitude of what people with mental illness are like ... I'm so tired from studying tonight so I'm hoping your posts are jokes (I'm telling myself they are). How many people with mental illness do you know personally? How many are "bragging?" I personally know ... none, and I'm a full-fledged member of the "Bat **** Crazy" club (with "bragging" rights if I felt the need to, umm, brag). The people that I do know that are fighting their own battles just want to fade into the woodwork.
mental health is becoming an overkill subject. Its an excuse to be special. We are still in the victorian age here in the New World and there is a time and place to discuss your MENTAL health problem, similar to admitting your GAY. Me? who cares, I am on the job to work, not tell you about my depression or gayness. Develop some couth and manners, And its not on the job. And being this is primarily a female profession, I am sure I will be chastized. Over the years, I have developed a thick skin in this field. Its the NofK that bothers me more than fellow staff.
As far as I can see, I'm not clocked in. If I chose to talk to my friends on a public message board about this, that's up to me.
You can always change the channel.
Or you can comment.
And then I can change the channel.
(And it's "you're gay" not "your". Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
But what I am getting at is DONT brag about your mental Illness..just because AWARENESS is the big thing these day, a lot of people still wont or cant accept someone bragging about their mental illness. Whether depression/bipolar etc. Just ENjoy your life, work, running, and other activities. Sometimes Less is better. I am not against Big Pharma. They are a necessary evil, but when being prescribed, ask for a generic version. The Patent period, is when these boys make their money...such as Valeant.
I think pretty much everyone on this thread not only realizes but agrees that not everyone is accepting of mental illness. That's, um, kinda the point.
Most people wouldn't want to tell the boss they have a mental illness. Just like they wouldn't want to tell the boss they have high blood pressure or diabetes. It isn't their business. I'm by nature an intensely private person IRL; I don't even like to friend people on FB that are co-workers. Certainly not having a heart to heart with my boss.
Your attitude of what people with mental illness are like ... I'm so tired from studying tonight so I'm hoping your posts are jokes (I'm telling myself they are). How many people with mental illness do you know personally? How many are "bragging?" I personally know ... none, and I'm a full-fledged member of the "Bat **** Crazy" club (with "bragging" rights if I felt the need to, umm, brag). The people that I do know that are fighting their own battles just want to fade into the woodwork.
So who are these mythical beings you speak of?
Mentally ill American women...honey.
Anyone who goes into a Mentally Ill Awareness thread and starts bashing the people supporting it, in an oh so grammatically poor way, may be 2 shots short of a load himself.
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Roy Hanson
211 Posts
mental health is becoming an overkill subject. Its an excuse to be special. We are still in the victorian age here in the New World and there is a time and place to discuss your MENTAL health problem, similar to admitting your GAY. Me? who cares, I am on the job to work, not tell you about my depression or gayness. Develop some couth and manners, And its not on the job. And being this is primarily a female profession, I am sure I will be chastized. Over the years, I have developed a thick skin in this field. Its the NofK that bothers me more than fellow staff.