Preventing Mental Illness?

8 Responses to "Preventing Mental Illness?"

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1. Makes Sense
   Kristen Famiano
   Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 07:42 PM
   I guess it makes sense that people can have a predisposition to mental illnesses. I don't believe that there is a cause and effect long term. There are many different theories and ways to tackle and research topics. Like anything else, it makes sense, but I believe in more of a genetic component. It is very interesting though.
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2. Prevention or preemptive diagnosis?
   Krystal
   Friday, November 16, 2007 at 04:46 AM
   I don't believe prevention is a priority because it does not serve the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, nor most of the researchers themselves (who coincidentally receive their funds from Big Pharma anyway).  What i see occurring is a push to medicate as many people as possible, including children, and so-called "high risk" persons.  So much funding is being pumped into research studies to find a genetic link, and to find ways to screen individuals that otherwise wouldnt seek or need psychiatric therapy. That money could be put to better use by searching for actual cures and using less revolving-door diagnosis techniques. These are self-serving interests, that our a direct result of our passive acceptance of aggressive marketing techniques from corporations whose only aim is profit.  Not enough money and interest is being channeled into more enabling forms of therapy like counseling.  I agree with the statements presented on this website about empowering the individual.  The stigma of being a mental patient is so great, that most do nothing more than take their medications as prescribed, without ever questioning their initial diagnosis. I am no stranger to these phenomena, my mother was diagnosed bipolar in 1973 but has since been treated for schizophrenia.  I may score a 3 or so on the ACE, but i grieve over the loss of my mother's sanity, her wit, her zest for life, that has been stripped from her.  The single parent that was once so strong, is partially missing from me, and is unable to care for me in the way that i need.  My point is, there have been times when I felt so low, so helpless and hopeless, that i turned to a social worker or a counselor for guidance.  But I had to turn down psychiatric referrals, because i know in my mind and in my heart, that I am not mentally ill, nor do i have a chemical imbalance.  But I do know that there are many young people like me that will be misdiagnosed and put on medication.  And that will provide the genetic link. That will be all the proof that is needed. 
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3. Untitled Comment
   G.J. Gregory
   Friday, November 16, 2007 at 03:57 PM

   First, I think Rosalyn Carter is a wonderful person, I would love to meet her.

    

   I have to honestly say I personally have a score of zero.  And for my son who is bipolar 1, he has a score that is maybe a 2.  I don't think I was emotionally abusive as a parent, but my mood swings may have had that effect.   That means just the inherited factor, which is hard to overcome.  

   I am worried about my younger children, if you take into consideration our older bipolar son who lives with us off and on, his siblings would have a score of 3.  Given our genes, that can't bode well.

    

   A great post, thanks for sharing that. 

   
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4. Interesting way to score indicators
   donna
   Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 12:08 PM

   I think it's a bit of cause effect confusion - these would be more signs that there may be mental illness in the family, perhaps undiagnosed/untreated. I don't think they are causes of illness but more indicators. Sexual predation, emotional abuse, etc. are all signs of mental illness to me. But they could be causes as well since they are stressors, and stress leads to the chemical changes that can create metnal illness.

    

   I think health professionals do need ways to be trained and look for indications of these types of conditions occuring. I've rarely had a doctor mention any of these areas beyond a general "how are you feeling"? Perhaps if we could get doctors to include some of these indicators on their health questionairres and such it could lead to better chance of getting help before problems get so bad.

   
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5. ACE study
   Sue
   Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 06:23 PM
   I found the information about the ACE study very interesting.  I have suffered from depression since I was 13 years old and even had a suicide attempt.  I was sexually abused by a family member at age 13.  I also lived with an achoholic parent.   When I was in my 20's and had 2 more suicide attempts ,I finally went to a psychiatrist.  I always thought that the sexual abuse was the reason for the suicide attempts.  I was told by this psychiatrist that  the abuse was very common in some cultures and that was not my problem.  I was only 22 and knew nothing about mental illness. When I was 34 and diagnosed with bipolar by the kindest and most compasionet doctor I have ever had,she(yes a female) apologized for that doctors ignorance.  This doctor explained everything about bipolar illness.  She than told me that I had been hit with a double whammy. First the abuse and then with the bipolar illness.  I would like to have more information about this study. 
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   re: ACE study
   Mary
   Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 08:29 PM

   Sue:

    

   In response to the very intelligent responses to your article:

    

   I am bipolar 1, and the first of my family to be so diagnosed.  I recognized on my own that I definitely needed help and got it.  Looking back, I can see that my dear alcoholic Dad was very likely bipolar, with his rages, depressions and self-hating behavior and speech.  I can now recognized his glorious highs during which I learned some of the most rewarding aspects of music and the arts....

    

   His abusive language was curbed by a strict moral code....his apologies real and heart-felt.  He did not understand what was wrong and used alcohol as a downer to curb his illness.

    

   Somehow, I "got" what raged within him and grieved for him, although I avoided him at times because of fear and helplessness.  He is long gone, but I believe he looks after me even now and smiles at realizing that what nearly destroyed him will not destroy another family member.  I am wide open with family on the subject and we are alert for signs of trouble. 
   My therapist says I am very strong emotionally, despite my illness.  Why that is I cannot imagine, since my mother suffered severe depression and paranoia. 

    

   Individual differences and complex human interaction will ever make a simple way of prevention a daunting task.  I'm glad there are people who are up for the challenge.

    

   Mary

   
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   re: re: ACE study
   Sue
   Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 12:10 AM

   Mary I appreciated your reply to my responce to the ACE study. I am 57 now and have just within the last month gone into therapy to deal with my abuse when I was 13.  The person who assualted me died and I finally feel safe to talk about it. I never wanted to deal with it when the abuser was alive because I was afraid I would get a therapist who would make me face him or talk to him. My worst depressions were when I was between 40 and 55. I had a vagus nerve implant in December 2005.  It worked and I finally have the strength to deal with Suemy past demons. I see a therapist once a week and I really don't know how long it will take me to finally put this issue to rest  Keep in touch  Thanks-

   
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6. Preventing mental illness in Public Health
   SJC
   Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 01:08 PM

   I believe it's a good sign that more attention is placed on preventing mental illness -- I am doing a Public health course in Hong Kong and we hardly talk about preventing mental illness and mental health.  I hope more experts recognise the benefits of putting more resources in building up people's mental resilience than curing patients after they fell ill.

   
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7. good stuff
   Joseph Robillard
   Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 09:24 AM
   I'm so happy that professionals are looking into prevention. I was diagnosed 22 years ago with schizophrenia. I had a lot of problems for about 4 years, but no one looked into causes or recovery, back then it was just managing symptoms with medications. I didn't think much about treatments for a long time after that until I experienced symptoms again about 9 months ago. I'm back in treatment now, but I take a much more proactive stand in my own wellness. I discovered on my own through self analysis and talking with people in similar circumstances as my own that most if not all of us had very troubled child hoods. I made the connection and hope to further research in this area one day. It's really great to see some confirmation of my ideas. TY
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8. Direct Correlation for Myself
   julyangels
   Sunday, December 09, 2007 at 11:42 AM

   I personally find a link between the ACE list and my disease.  I said yes to quite a few. 

   Originally, 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with depression as it correlated with abuse in the home and an abused mother.

   Years later, when I needed intervention again, I was diagnosed as having major-depressive disorder/unipolar depression (clinical depression). 

   I recover, go a couple of years then need intervention again. This time I am diagnosed as also having clinical depression along with Social Anxiety Disorder, and GAD. 

   So, what I see as an original diagnosis 10 years ago has multiplied and manifested into different syndromes throughout years and years.  Now I am diagnosed as Bipolar, which one I'm not sure. 

   I am currently under psychiatric care, and he is trying to determine my correct diagnosis and medications as such.  

   I guess what I am curious about is??  At the original diagnosis, should I have been medicated, appropriately, as not to progress into the many different syndromes, or was it to manifest regardless?

   
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