General Chat

Regarding something GranOfOz said on page 4, I remember that I once saw a heartbreaking programme about a group of American girls being treated in an eating disorders clinic.

The thing is, of course, they have medical insurance there and at least one of the girls had no option but to leave the treatment centre because her medical insurance limit had been reached. Because she couldn't pay any more for her treatment, she had to leave - but she wasn't anywhere close to recovery from the eating disorder.

I hope that isn't the situation anywhere else in the world, but it is so sad that the American system works like that - that they will force people who still need help to go home because they can't pay any more. I know we moan about the NHS but at least you can be ill or have a baby or see a doctor without being presented with a huge bill at the end of it.

unless anyone had read anything to the contrary we can only speculate as to whether or not he was diagnosed with psychosis before that awful day. However, I would think it highly likely he was being treated because of the fact that there was mental illness within in his family - two brothers both having committed suicide. Also he was examined by a psychiatrist - at least one -before sentence was passed and it could well be that second opinions were sought. A British psychiatrist tried to explain how his psychosis would have led him to believe he was on the ground floor of the hotel, not the fourth. Sounds strange I know, but psychiatrists have undergone years of training and would not easily have come to the conclusion that he was mentally ill and I am sure they would have had his medical notes from the UK. No doubt it will all come out as time goes on.

as has been said by some sufferes,,,

it can not be seen,,

what may be or was seen *bizzare*behaviour for a long time may not &was not reconised for what it was by those closest to him or perhaps he would not have been in the wrong place at the wrong time,,,,,,,,


its a way of expression as we all do and have said to some ,,,you are/ they are mental/crazy ,!!!,not realising just how right that statement could have been,because some battle with mental illness and strangly find they can cover things up as to appear on the outside stable,,

Ann, you have said we should all keep fighting for treatment etc, or our right to treatment.

I have been trying to get help for my ocd,altho at the beginning I didn't know what it was called, and my depression and despite pushing to see a psychiatrist 14 years ago, never got the right help. He latched on to something that was happening because of my ocd and focussed on that, and then I didn't hear any more from him or the psychotherapist. Some people get Community Psychiatric nurses alloted them or Social Workers, again I was left to fend for myself. I have tracked down people who work with my kind of ocd sufferers but because they are not in my area, they are not allowed to treat me due to funding issues. They recommend another person, and by the time I have tracked them down or tried to, they have moved on to another area. The chap who was helping us set up our support group said he was always there if we needed advice and that he and his other two (women) colleagues who also attended the first group meetings, would continue to be available and would pop in sometimes. We never saw them again and he doesn't answer emails now - I think he too has moved on. Sometimes you aren't strong enough to fight and you end up thinking what is the point?
Tricia Goddard, who used to do the Tricia shows, lives locally and she is a fighter for mental health rights - her husband is or was, C E O of Norwich's MIND and has now set up his own practice but how can most people afford the cost of private consultation? I certainly can't. It is the luck of the draw whether you get the right or any treatment, and if you are a 'difficult' case you can easily slip through the net as they seem to like people they can soon 'cure' rather than any harder cases. There isn't a cure for mental illness, it is a bit like alcoholism but mostly not self inflected. Even if you stop drinking, you are still an alcoholic, if you are prone to depression or worse, you will probably always be prone to it even if medication etc lifts it for the moment, it is more than likely to come back at some stage in life.

Could go on for hours about this, but wouldn't get anyone anywhere!
Good luck to all who are suffering, including the family of that little lad and all who are affected by mental health problems.
Lizxx

Joan, I went to see a doctor about a problem I've had for years I got upset and cried a bit, and then I got a call to go back and see another doctor. She asked me to fill in a questionaire and return it. I did and got sent for again. She told me I was very depressed, I was shocked, as I'd had it years ago and thought I was ok. So I didn't know I had it and no one else did. Problems in the mind are difficult to diagnose unless people are showing signs of acting compleatly and repeatedly out of the "normal"

Hi Liz - I think you sound strong enough to do something about the abysmal lack of mental health services in your area!!!
I think you should make a start with your local MP - give it a go and see what he has to say about it - elections will be around soon

Good idea, Ann. I do know one of them to speak to and he has helped me in the past when I was campaigning for better safety measures at the riverside clubland.
Will keep you posted.
Lizx

Ann..... I agree with you 100%.

I hope the newspaper publish your letter and it will reach as wide an audience as possible.

Jean x.

LIz hi,

Do you know anyone else in your area who could also be sufferer?

Good for you Liz - you sounded like my kind of girl and I was right!! I also think it does you good to focus on something and get your teeth into it - go get em girl - you can do it!!! any advice, come back to the boards - we'll all help you

Ann XX

Ann I think it is just human nature that people put the blame on the father, they see what he did and cannot understand. It is natural for the public to feel for the children.
Hearing of all his mental problems, I think he was right to be found not guilty but I do hope he gets the help he so desperately needs. This tragedy can only make him more susceptable to suicide.
From personal experience I know what it is like when people don't understand when you have a mental health problem, it is something I have lived with for nearly 40 years.
Janet

thank you all for your very positive remarks - those for and against, but I am pleased to see more for than against - it is good to hear both sides whether or not we agree with them. I just want people to have a greater understanding of mental illness, not to be judgemental and above all to be compassionate

n

n

Kay, no one as far as I know. I have been contacted by someone else from these boards who has the same problem as me and we will be exchanging notes, also someone else kindly made contact with a suggested site for me to look at.
Thanks for your support all of you, when I finally get back to my house and get it sorted, there will be a party lol and you will all get an invite.
Lizx

n for Hoff

n

I would be very interested to know what antidepressants he had been taking before he did this terrible thing.

Remember how Panorama exposed that certain SSRIs can caused a significant number of people to become suicidal and act on that? Not to mention the number of mcDonalds shootings apparently fuelled by people on Prozac?

Well, since my sister committed suicide on seroxat, I have felt that the safety of certain antidepressants needs to be reassessed urgently.

I haven't read all the replies to this post (supposed to be working), but with regards to Traceys post, I have to totally agree. I have seen my nearest and dearest change unrecognisably through being on mentioned anti depressants.
I was precribed Prozac when my thyroid went haywire... I never understood why (still a mystery) but was only on it for about 6 months... I knew this 'new' person wasn't me so stopped taking it gradually. I was one of the lucky ones.

So sorry to hear about you sister Tracey. My ex was so close too.

Tina x

Tina, so you're another thyroid sufferer perscribed Prozac!! It seems GPs are overeager to prescribe prozac instead of properly treating the thyroid problem.

Having seen what happened to my sister and my cousin (prescribed prozac after a bout of glandular fever!) I turned down the prozac and am still fighting to get my thyroid problem properly treated. Fortunately I do not suffer from the depression which can be a symptom of a dodgy thyroid.

Anyone with thyroid issues will find this link extremely helpful. Their Forum is very active at the moment following a recent article in the Daily Mail.
http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/

Thank goodness your husband is still here. It IS alarming when a loved-one's personality changes so drastically on antidepressents and SO frustrating for those changes to be blamed on the illness not the medication.