Mass Psychiatry

Ending the Era of Mass Psychiatry

Marilyn Wedge, Ph.D.

Family therapist, author

The number of Americans who are diagnosed or diagnosable with a serious mental illness has skyrocketed. Social Security claims for disability due to mental illness have also exploded. In 1987, the number was one in 84 Americans, whereas in 2007 it increased to one in 76. In children, the picture looks even bleaker: there was a 35-fold increase in disability claims for mental illness between 1987 and 2007. What is going on? Why are Americans suffering a mental health epidemic that is unique in the developed world?.....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marily...b_876788.html?

There are several reasons, I think. Yes, I know I am not a "professional"... But I too struggled.

1. they can "afford" it. There is not struggle for real survival... so we can struggle with ourselves, our feelings...

2. the current MH model. Which is terribly enabling to unhealthy attitudes and behaviors. It marginalizes the power of human willpower and strenght.

3. yes, the big pharma. Pharmaceutical industry makes up for 10% of world's economy... and it has to run on something. Promoting biological model for something that cannot be measured... well, good business idea.

4. of course better accesibility of to MH services and awarness plays role here...

but tbh... if so many Americans have some issue that they (according to muchly touted medical model) they cannot control and that has control over their thoughts and actions... than they should hand over their superpower spector to some saner country. After all... lack of insight and all. Destructivness in behavior, impulsivness with money, bad relationships...

Maybe the rest of the world is under-diagnosed?

maybe you can make humanitarian intervention... so we are properly diagnosed

or not.

very good question...i could try to ans that. take time though.

The humanitarian intervention would have to start with children and raising them properly, that is not being done, world wide. No, many of them are starving, homeless, some are strapped to bombs, used as human weapons. Oh and girls in many countries are abandoned because it is the male that is preferred. It isn't a sick society, it is a sick human race. Good luck being well adjusted to that.

Oh, and we can't even use the word "evil" to describe some of the ongoing atrosities. That would be only considered something used in a fairy tale or fictional charector. Or maybe a religion uses that word, oh no. Oh, I guess to use that word now is considered to be mentally impotent.

No maybe we should just say that humanity itself is mentally disabled. The new oil is in pharmacuticals to keep people from the severe anxiety of having to think about it, or live it or see it or hear about it. Oh, the magic pill.

Open Eyes

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marily...b_876788.html?

In my unprofessional view, the unethical relationship between Big Pharma, the Food and Drug Administration, lobbyists, Congress, the Administration and the quest for power and money is the source of the dilemma the United States finds itself in regarding the unsatisfactory status of the health of the nation.

Big Pharma calls the shots. They get taxpayer dollars to conduct studies. They selectively report the results. They have such huge profits they can afford to pay hundreds of millions in fines for violating FDA rules and regulations. They have our representatives in their hip pocket with their campaign contributions. They have many professionals in their other hip pocket using various ploys to get funds to doctors to use their products. They pay other pharmaceuticals not to market generics to maintain their market share at the expense of users who could use a price break. They use direct advertising to consumers as propaganda to promote the idea of the instant fix with the appropriate medication.

Worst of all, few are pushing back. I have sent many letters to my Congressional Delegation about what I see as corruption only to get the usual slick response that never leads to action. For me, the solution entails a consumer response of massive proportions in an effort to force necessary changes. Letters to the editors and to Congressmen are perhaps a starting point to organizing citizens who are tired of being bamboozled, hornswoggled and hoodwinked.

My sentiments exactly Byz. I am glad you posted this. I have been considered unpopular for my opinion about the magic pill. Especailly when I express it to those in the field of not only psycology but psychiatry.

I don't want to say that all drugs are bad or ineffective. I do realize that some are helped by certain drugs. But I do have a concern for a promise that a drug will fix a psychological issue and then when it doesn't it is somehow a patient's fault or a patient is not receptive to antidepressants so they must be on some bipolar spectrum. I just cant help but wonder if we are guinea pigs somehow. And I really do feel that I am being bambozzled. I am also very aware of the almost drug dealer process as there are kickbacks to physcians and psychaitrists to promote certain drugs. I have even been quietly told that on the side. Some psychiatrists make a lot of money working for the pharmaceudical companies. And I have no doubt of the political dusting of cash on the side too.

I can't help but to notice the legal actions on some drugs for the terrible effects caused to patients. I was on Darvecet in the hospital, I had undergone life saving surgery, and that drug has been now linked to causing heart failure? And that is the only massive consumer response that I am aware of.

I know of a neighbor who was on an antidepressant and it was causing her to have terrible issues and trying to get off of it was crippling for her, never mind how frightened she was and even incompacitated. I have also talked to others that are on a certain type of antidepressant that is really hard to get off of and it become a life time drug, and it is very expensive. One person told me they were on a medication that was $40 per pill? So basically it was eat or take a pill, or even live in lower conditions for that pill.

I have to admit that when I hear the word psychiatrist I can't help but think legal drug dealer, isn't that awful? Plus to get an appointment that only lasts for maybe 15 minutes it is around $300 to sit across from this legal drug dealer? Oh, I have to say, I just don't know. But then if I do say it, well, then I could be diagnosed as being paranoid.

It is nice to see that there is something being said about my own personal fears or at least concerns.

I almost wonder if the current poor economic condition, even world wide is driven for a purpose.
Human oil, to human control, to lowering the population. I guess that would be insane to think that. But there are so many people diagnosed with depression and anxiety now. It makes one wonder.

Open Eyes

Yup, a good relationshp with your doc!!! Throw out the scrit pad, dump the DSM4!!!!!--Let's all go for a stroll with our pdocs in the 15 minutes we have! Forge a real relationship with the doc!

if only....................oh, how I wish we all would?!

That article is wonderful! Thank you madisgram!!! Refreshing! Oh, and writing to Congress---Byzantine; how great is that in our era of apathy?

VenusHalley--you got a giggle outta me--gonna take over, huh?

Lots more I'd like to say; but I have cotton mouth from my medsoh, so not so!

It is sad that so many things are allowed to be seen as permanent obstacles and not things to learn about and to find ways around.

Depression, for example, can be a great motivator. Why not let that happen instead of drugging at the first and slightest symptom. A person depressed about their relationship might benfefit most from examining that relationship and exploring their own needs and desires. Making changes as a result, could then make the relationship one that is not depressing. Giving a medication doesn't mean that can't happen, but it does take away some of the impetus.

I think it is a pedulum effect. Too few with serious mental issues were undiagnosed. That was recognized and professionals began to diagnose more and the pendulum has now swung to the opposite extreme: too many are too easily diagnosed. Of course, the pharmaceutical companies are not objecting in the least.