The recent high profile mass shootings by improperly treated individuals with psychiatric disorders highlights the nationwide problem of the lack of availability of quality psychiatric care. In a land of tolerance and plenty, how can this happen? The answer is layered, yet simple.
In the 60’s it was felt Psychiatric Hospitals were “warehousing” patients and the community mental health movement was born, closing most hospitals. Shortly after this happened, all the budgets were cut, and the patients simply fended for themselves with one 15 minute visit every three months. The death rate soared. In most clinics now, you see the Psychiatrist once a year.
Psychiatric illnesses are the only ones that we blame the patient. My patients are repeatedly told by family and the comunity as a whole to “buck up” or “snap out of it”. Imagine telling this to a person with cancer or a broken leg! These illness are genetically determined biological disorders effecting the deepest part of the brain. You can’t snap out of it!
We are also blind to things that are “experience near”, that could touch us deeply. A person psychotic or profoundly depressed remind us at a deep feeling level of our own struggles and insecurities. We don’t want to feel it, so we look away.
Psychiatric disorders are among the most treatable in all of medicine. It takes time, money and energy to succeed. Perhaps we should stop ignoring this issue!
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