tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post3526771722345458777..comments2024-03-26T10:03:51.827+13:00Comments on Karl du Fresne: Guest post: Andy Espersen on the treatment of mental illnessKarl du Fresnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-9749791276857532652020-02-18T18:58:48.104+13:002020-02-18T18:58:48.104+13:00Thanks Andy for your tireless efforts to bring the...Thanks Andy for your tireless efforts to bring the plight of those with psychotic illnesses to the attention of policy makers. Your campaign gives me hope that the present politically correct mental health system can be improved to provide better outcomes for both those individuals suffering the devastating effects of a psychotic illness, and their families.<br />My brother was one of the many people you speak in support of and was failed by our current mental health system. Living with a chronic psychotic illness for 30 odd years he was only too familiar with the "revolving door" basis of mental health treatment. Although the hospital care he received during periods of acute ill health was excellent, admission to hospital was in most instances only as a result of coming to the attention of the police after causing a public disturbance. Ongoing support from mental health services in the community was severely lacking and he spent the last few years of his life living in homeless squalor in a van, tent or car. He lost hope that anything would ever improve for him.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796443874814084168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-13258529935342251882020-02-14T18:03:16.198+13:002020-02-14T18:03:16.198+13:00Definitely agree with you especially the final two...Definitely agree with you especially the final two sentences. Far too many distressed mentally ill people are living lives of misery without their basic as human beings being met - their human rights. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14753465162101997924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-91297257744668141822020-02-12T16:15:57.142+13:002020-02-12T16:15:57.142+13:00Well said Andy. Schizophrenics suffer enormously ...Well said Andy. Schizophrenics suffer enormously in today's unenlightened environment. First it is a real struggle to get them diagnosed before any treatment regime can begin. We had to travel to another district to get a younger relative properly diagnosed - the local DHB didn't want to know. Secondly I have observed that while treatment with drugs like Quetiapine can help control their symptoms, any upset (real or imagined) or pressure they may feel such as money worries can become rapidly destabilizing. A place of respite is desperately needed to protect them, and possibly others, from their actions. As for MSD, I have seen little but callous disregard for people with schizophrenia. Of all the sins of neo-liberalism in New Zealand, the 1992 Mental Health Act was perhaps the most cruel. Why does this government continue to sit on its hands while spraying money around like confetti elsewhere, eg the so-called "Provincial Growth Fund"?Trev1https://www.blogger.com/profile/00271717267778957672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-8497798669471865382020-02-10T19:14:52.212+13:002020-02-10T19:14:52.212+13:00I neglected to thank you for committed and continu...I neglected to thank you for committed and continued advocacy after many decades of work in this area.Lindsay Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-32707590590144594752020-02-10T19:08:34.502+13:002020-02-10T19:08:34.502+13:00Thank you for the context. Many believe that corre...Thank you for the context. Many believe that correctional facilities have become de facto asylums. Within the prisons are 'at risk' wings staffed I presume by medical staff but these do not fulfill the pressing need among prisoners. I've heard a prisoner saying how after one spell there, it should be actively avoided and that advice gets shared. He endeavoured to hide symptoms.<br /><br />Building support for the reintroduction of compassionate and long term care for the mentally ill might curry more political favour (unfortunately necessary to achieve change) when broached in these terms: A portion of prison funding should be re-allocated into residential care for the mentally ill.<br /><br />More generally the 1990s goal of ailing individuals being 'supported in the community' has developed into them becoming isolated, lonely, more vulnerable and/or more dangerous in the community.Lindsay Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.com