[Matka]

Last night I tuned into the Hannity & Colmes show on Fox.
I watched and listened...mouth agape as one of the Hosts Shawn Hannity and one of the Guests a Police detective who last worked on the "Son Of Sam" murders began to throw around the words "whacko's" and "crazzies" in the same sentences as "Depressed" and "suicidal" and I thought...I hope someone in the fiels of mental health jumps on this!! I plan on writing the show as soon as I can not that it will ever bring about an apology. The most disturbing thing they where speaking of was that "the college couldn't have expelled this man (VA Tech Shooter)
because VA has a law prohibitting Colleges from discriminating against students for reasons of mental health. (well lets hope so! and lets hope most states do!)
This ruling in VA the host explained was a result of a Suit brought against a college for suspending a student who was suicidal. They are mixing apples with Crab cakes here! If anyone with any type of mental health issue...particulary depression or anxiety were tobe banned from campus across the country...that would be a lot of folks. Even if people with a history of suicide or suicidal ideation were to be banned from getting in or staying ina college...to even suggest this is ridiculous. You can't screen for the criminally insane! They are not always among the mentally ill. I am so furious with the things said on that show! They lumped all mental illness together and in 2007 got away with using the words Whacko's and Crazzies and mental illness in the same sentences over and over. One guest compared people let out of State Hospitals in the 70's and the Police NOT being able to get a list of those people when the Son of Sam was being looked for with Colleges geting a list of anyone "potentially dangerous" to other students via mental health disclosure?
We need to speak up!
At the least if this man was mentally ill and sought treatment and wasn't recognized then mental health care providers amy have failed HIM.
He was a angry misguided and now getting the ultimate judgement. He can't be killed "again"...much as some people probably wish they could.
But on the issue of his being mentally ill....let us not allow these " Reporters" confuse the public about mental health and the mentally ill versus the crimianlly insane!
Anya

[Maven]

I knew this would happen. I'm not surprised at all. They want to say that anyone with a mental illness is a likely and automatic risk of being dangerous. And some will say, "No, we're not saying that, but we do think the mentally ill should be watched or have their rights restricted, just in case."

It's not just the mentally ill, either. People who write "dark" stuff, horror stuff, depressed stuff, dark fantasy, thrillers, etc., can all be subject to this prejudice and discrimination. We have to stand up, and have people stand up for us, to protect our rights.

[Maven]

I just posted a few minutes ago, but I just saw a thing on the news (Philadelphia's Fox News) with George Mallet (reporter) talking about depressed teenagers and mentioning that the "vast majority" of mentally ill persons aren't dangerous. Then a woman on video said that most mentally ill persons are more likely to be a danger to themselves than to others. At least someone is speaking up.

In our newspaper there is an abundance of criminals being called "bipolar." So the guy that shot the police officer & his wife was identified as "bipolar." Many other crimes being blamed on bipolar so there is such a stigma. They don't mention if the person was off his meds. I don't reveal that I'm bipolar to anyone I don't absolutely have to for fear they will think I'm dangerous.

There is such a stigma that when I went to get an ultrasound on my kidney because my creitine (sp?) level was too high on lithium (at a therapeutic dose) & the doc wanted to rule out any growths on the kidney, the lady who was doing the procedure asked why I was getting it done. I said the I'm having that reaction to some medication & the doc wanted to make sure something else wasn't going on. She asked what medication, & when I said "lithium" her who demeanor changed & she started acting like I needed to be continuously placated (so I wouldn't sit up & strangle her?) & then she practically ran out of the room when she was finished.

Also, when I told my ob/gyn of my dx he also started acting differently & rushed through my exam. And these are medical personnel who should be educated about mental illnesses!

But some good news--the Mental Health America (formerly the Mental Health Assoc.) director in our county has bipolar & is leading seminars for police officers to try to identify when someone has a mental illness & how to approach them. She reveals her dx so the officers can see a person who is functioning at a high level with the disorder & hopes to reduce the stigma.--Suzy

[Direction]

I voted no as its too late...

It should have been done right away - mainstream has already been flooded with completely wrong information and have formed in opinion.

Not that I wish a next time - but I would hope that if anything like this happens again that those with knowledge to correct will step up.

And good for you to make a decision to send a letter. I'm not great at writing - so if you PM an example of what you would send - I too will send something.

[nothemama8]

part of the problem comes from the over educated mental health field telling us that we have the right to refuse mental health care , hell when we're ill or symptamatic we can't always make good choices for ourselves, we need others to intervien for us during these symptomatic times

[SeptemberMorn]

I'm sorry! It's never too late to try and change public opinion, especially when it's thrown around like it always is when someone claims mental illness as an excuse for acting out in a bad way!

Bipolar is a catch-all label when someone commits a crime. My husband was just diagnosed bipolar and he's NEVER done anything even remotely resembling something criminal!

[SeptemberMorn]

I guess I'm guilty in a way. I sure wouldn't want to be in the same roon with Stephen King!!

It still upsets me when words like "whackos" and "crazies" are thrown around as a blanket label!

[SeptemberMorn]

Sure would be great if it was on the Internet! Some of us that feel threatened or sensitive about the subject could possibly defend themselves with the information on that video!

[Maven]

I disagree in part, notthemama. I believe the mentally ill have the right to refuse mental health care, just as the physically ill have the right to refuse physical care. I believe freedom means I can make decisions for myself, even if others disagree, and even if they hurt me. If I'm a danger to someone else, then, I can see forcing someone into care, or taking them out of the general population. I believe the mentally ill are entitled to the same rights as everyone else.

[SeptemberMorn]

Here! Here! I agree with you 100%, Angie!

[nothemama8]

Maven I'm not saying we should lose our rights, just that if I get symptomatic someone out there had better care enough to do something about it and not listen if I say no, our illnesses make us misjudge whats needed

[Maven]

Some mental illnesses make one misjudge. As long as I'm not hurting someone else, no one should have the right to force me to do anything.