Elise, “can you pay for it”, now that is what it all seems to boil down to isn’t it? For the record, that is the most arrogant, pompous, insensitive, uncaring, callous comment that anyone could ever have replied with.

I may have multiple mental disorders, but I am by no means STUPID!

In my lifetime I have been the head of a checking account dept at a bank (5 yrs), and been the lead trainer of a 125+ person dept at a major securities firm (10 yrs) … and had to work my way up the corporate ladder to reach each of those positions.

But due to mental disabilities my brain can no longer function at the high, over-achiever, work-aholic, stress level that it takes to obtain employment that will allow for frivolities such as rent, utilities, and food; much less $50+ per hour for “psychosocial” or “cognitive” therapy.

My disabilities caused me to lose EVERYTHING … my home, my belongings, my family, my friends. I have spent almost 3 years medicated, but homeless, and searching for the help I need.

I would give my right arm for “psychosoical” or “cognitive” therapy.

I do have “peers”, and there are a “group” of us, and we do try to “support” each other as best we can. But 1) even if there were peer support groups available nearby, I would 2) still have to have the ability to get to them and back again.

As far as “Nutritional Supplements” are concerned, I can’t even keep anemia under control … if I cannot get enough nutrition for my physical health how do you suggest I find the nutrition for my mental health? Should I eat more spinach? Can I buy it with food stamps? Can I cook it on YOUR STOVE?

So, again I say:

I know I’m mentally ill & I take my medications … but I can’t get anyone to do anything else to help me towards recovery. What is wrong with this picture?????????

Elise, In a PERFECT world one might say, “Stabilizing the patient with medication that works is the main treatment option.� In the real world, I view this as a very naive statement. More often then not, patients are abused by rude staff, and/or handed a misdiagnosis that leads to medication errors, which leads to excessive involuntary confinement. (In fact, forensic psychiatry makes the claim as a defense in court “Psychiatry is not an exact science.�) It’s not by accident that nearly every county hospital has an oversight agency that is the Department of Patients Rights. Why the need for a Patients Rights Department if the mentally ill population is served with good “treatment?� That sad fact is, more often then not, it is mistreatment and the Department of Patients Rights has a hard time keeping up with the mistreatment complaints.

Another sad fact, civil laws that allow involuntary treatment makes the assumption that “treatment� is what the patient is going to get, when the reality of the situation is that the patient is getting “mistreatment.� Perhaps this is why one won’t find the word “treatment� legally defined within California W&I code, Title 9, Title 22 or Civil code. I would imagine that law suites would pile up in reference to patients not getting “treatment.�

Kathi Stringer
A Director for the California Network of Mental Health Clients

But you are right, there are huge barriers to getting well. What is available is one question, and can you pay for it is another.

Kathi Stringer
A Director for the California Network of Mental Health Clients
http://www.californiaclients.org