individual health insurance bipolar
The recent tragedy at Virginia Tech illuminates the colossal failure of government and public policy for all citizens with mental disabilities and are ignored, denied. blurred, blamed and are invisible. The Federal Government must lead in establishing an environment of reality and acceptance of treatment without the stigma of shame ignorant. The problems mind are as legitimate as a cut that required stitches or a heart attack. However, people seeking help for psychological problems are still considered as failures and blamed for not being able to handle their own problems.
We need public education to encourage individuals to seek help when they recognize or feel out of control in a situation where they need guidance, support and advice. Some problems are chemical imbalances and often medications can reduce or stabilize the symptoms of the person if the person taking the medication. That does not always have them because the drugs have unpleasant effects such side that the patient believes that the disease is easier to take than drugs.
Other problems include the location and need not be medicated, but noted to the surface, prepared and determined. The best way is through "talk therapy". There are many modalities that effectively work to educate and empower people to stop repeating patterns and self-destructive behaviors. Being molested as a child is an example. There is no medicine to address the damage and effects continuing negative adult relationships such as trust issues, guilt, shame and sexual confusion and dysfunction. These issues must be resolved by other means.
Medicating a wound just exacerbates the dilemma and not resolve or heal the wound. Neither behavior modification.
The pain is concerned similar. Normally, there is pathological, however, hurts like hell for a long time. The drug is not recommended. Talking about the pain and express pain is a more healthy coping with grief. Knowing what to expect, hot spots and the time is power. Knowing that the immediate pain to heal itself is part of the healing process.
Historically, we as a nation have attached a stigma of shame on the person with a mental problem and the family. I know because in 1956 my father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and instead of going to a hospital and causing embarrassment to his family and he himself was killed 45 years old.
In the decade 1960 began systematically to empty all our psychiatric hospital. They are often less than ideal, but instead of reforming them dumped in the patients on the street. Most homeless people have serious mental health problems and so do most of the inmates in the jail. Today when a person identifies with serious mental problems there is no place to put him or her within a few bed-and certainly not an adequate amount available to the mentally ill. Half of the houses as a substitute in a safe place to be accommodated, but rarely are safe. And the inmates in prison do not receive adequate mental health help prevent recurrence, to return to prison after release.
Then in the 1990s Maintaince organizations (HMO's) appeared on stage and hugged refund short-term therapy with an emphasis on behavior modification and psychotherapy is limited to six or twelve sessions from time to time. All sessions must be approved by the HMO before they would pay. This was the death Knoll effective therapy for the seriously mentally ill.
The modification behavior is basically a band aid type of therapy believe if you change your thoughts to heal any pain or problems from old wounds. Just swept under the carpet and go away. This works for some minor problems and patients that can be adjusted in a very structured form, but is unrealistic for the most seriously injured, some months or even years, the need of therapy. The most seriously disturbed patients can take months to establish trust in your therapist before they even reveal what happened.
States do not have enough money to adequately fund the programs of Community Mental Health. Many people fall between the cracks, even when identified with the mandate to leave the therapy of patients. Mental health professionals are overworked, overwhelmed and underpaid. It's a job high burn with high and back. A patient may begin with a therapist, who is moving and the patient is transferred and has to start from scratch with another person.
Private insurance limits the number of visits paid through reimbursement and co-payments. To closely monitor the number of visits, which are regulated by the staff of the HMO. A mental health professional literally has to beg for additional visits when deemed necessary. In addition, the HMO doctor says they will pay and rarely their regular fees, always less.
Mental health should be a higher priority in this country to prevent innocent people from becoming victims. Any society is responsible for this tragedy. We must demand more education, better treatment and prevention strategies to prevent similar incidents in future.
This system is broken and needs fixing. Now!
About the Author:
This article was written by Nancy O’Connor Ph.D.. She worked as a Psychotherapist for 23 years and was the Director of the Grief and Loss Center in Tucson, Arizona for 12 years . She is the author of the best selling book Letting Go With Love: The Grieving Process and How to Grow Up When You’re grown Up: Achieving Balance in Adulthood. How To Talk To Your Doctor. Her books may be reviewed and purchased at http://www.lamariposapress.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Abysmal State of Mental Health in the United States
