Never in a million years did I believe I would have to experience the discrimination that comes hand in hand when a person has had a "serious" mental heath scare.
Most glaringly it happened when I had my second major melt down.
One nurse told me that It was unlikely I would EVER get home from hospital. Don't think you are EVER getting out of here $$$$$. I was a mess, sure but nowhere near like 9/10 of the people she saw. And it was a ONE off incident. She had no idea what drugs I had taken. ONE short episode. It was a break down exacerbated by alcohol and coming hastily off my meds while under the pressure of looming homelessness.
I plan to write a letter to the NMC or Scottish Health Ombudsman. Its too late to get compensation as it was years ago now.
The same nurse in question would make jokes out In the open in front of her patients that "it was all going down in the funny farm today" and laugh "someone might call panorama on us"

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman SPSO. Ammendment. I am exaggerating.
I have emailed care opinion scotland instead.

A second nurse had a full blown rant at me. She said that "people like you on disability shouldn't be so arrogant" . And I explained to her that I was not on disability. I had a job and possibility of a career and a mortgage before I had the beakdown that landed me in the hosital. And she blind ignored me. And said "people on disibility don't own houses, they have council houses." I am not on disability. It was ME who left my fiance. It was my life that was a mess. Yes I was very depressed. But my life could be fixed.

[Deejay14]

I think most humans have experienced some type of discrimination in their life.

[*Laurie*]

Many years ago I faced discrimination for being on government healthcare (Medicaid). That was not about a mental health condition, I had gone to the ER for a kidney infection. A cranky old nurse sneered at me and made some nasty remark to another nurse about me being on Medicaid. Back then I was ashamed (I was 25 years old). Today? Ha! I'm 30 years older. I would call her out on it, get her stinking name, and report her ASAP. She would be ashamed for the day she was born.

So far the only obvious discrimination regarding mental illness I have faced is, unfortunately, from my own daughter. I truly believe that she means well, but it annoys me when she tells me I need to speak with my pdoc because I am "having symptoms". Usually this happens when I disagree with her

Balth, do you remember her name? I think it's still worth reporting her even if it's only to show her she can't behave in that way

Originally Posted by whispershadow

Balth, do you remember her name? I think it's still worth reporting her even if it's only to show her she can't behave in that way

Yes I know the two nurses and their full names. Without witnesses to back up my claims it will most likely fall on deaf ears. And since I am diagnosed with a condition, I probably stand more chance of marrying Harry Styles than being believed!

It's all very unfortunate. I know how it is like to be discriminated...


I do not know whether for my behavior or not, or for my appearance for that matter, the boys and girls I "hung out" (going a few yards here and there while near tuition center, sometimes me as a pillion rider and my manipulative friend driving the two-wheeler) always laughed at me and called me a very discriminating character's name. Then referenced to the movie by telling me to "see [my] eyes" and calm down... very rude, like I chose to grow up in a dysfunctional family.

I wonder when discrimination on the basis of people's disabilities will stop.

It's hard to live like this. I torment myself because I cannot drive, and my parents have to drop me and out of my college, I am studying for a degree.... it's not my fault, nobody except me tells me that.

People are too stupid to understand science. Those ****ers should burn in hell. I wanted to be a doctor and save lives. The lives of very people who mock me. The lives of the commoners. It was my and still is, dream to study medicine. The odds are against me because I have nerve damage in my arms and legs. So I doubt I can be a good doctor.


But hey, look, I am a retard. So why shouldn't stones be pelted at me?

[Firecrystal]

Originally Posted by Balthascar810

Yes I know the two nurses and their full names. Without witnesses to back up my claims it will most likely fall on deaf ears. And since I am diagnosed with a condition, I probably stand more chance of marrying Harry Styles than being believed!

You must still report it. Well if they don't believe you, then they would also be in the wrong for discriminating against you. Just because you have a mental illness, it doesn't mean you should be ignored.

Originally Posted by Firecrystal

You must still report it. Well if they don't believe you, then they would also be in the wrong for discriminating against you. Just because you have a mental illness, it doesn't mean you should be ignored.

I emailed care opinion online which deals with feedback concerning the nhs. They asked me to clarify which hospital. Let's see what happens. Just hope for the best.

[Albatross2008]

I've seen medical personnel change their attitudes toward me once they hear that I have a psychiatric history. I come in with severe stomach pain. At first they're helpful and sympathetic. Then they find "depression/anxiety" on my record. After that, they become much less sympathetic. I'm told I'm having a panic attack and I need to calm down. I'm put on the back burner and pretty much ignored while they take care of everybody else first. When it turns out I have gastroenteritis, they're still looking at me sideways.

It seems like once you have a mental health diagnosis, everything that's going on with you has to be something psychiatric. You're never presumed to be physically ill ever again.

It's because we still don't know enough about mental illness... sometimes the causes are unknown. It's very easy to mix up anxiety's or depression's physical symptoms with some other conditions... as most psychiatric conditions affect us physically, it may not be easy to catch enteritis so doctors assume mental illness is the cause of physical pain, which frankly is probable.


However unfortunate it may be.

Originally Posted by Arbie

I've seen medical personnel change their attitudes toward me once they hear that I have a psychiatric history. I come in with severe stomach pain. At first they're helpful and sympathetic. Then they find "depression/anxiety" on my record. After that, they become much less sympathetic. I'm told I'm having a panic attack and I need to calm down. I'm put on the back burner and pretty much ignored while they take care of everybody else first. When it turns out I have gastroenteritis, they're still looking at me sideways.

It seems like once you have a mental health diagnosis, everything that's going on with you has to be something psychiatric. You're never presumed to be physically ill ever again.

In my case the doctors decided that my AP med was too high and was dampening my mood so it was cut almost in half.
I knew that I was in for a rough ride and that I would have to be patient and wait it out. I had a constant fever for over three months. I sweated like a maniac all day. I passed out and lived home alone and I had crippling migraines with blurry vision. I experienced itching all over my body and by luck my hay fever tablets quelled it. I purchased my own diazepam that settled the fever for a short spell barely two hours. So I knew it was my brain and body dealing with the ket withdrawal. I went to the doctor and I explained my situation. My temperature was indeed very high and my pulse was much quicker than "My normal" He gave me one ibuprofen and a paracetamol and condescendingly said " ah there you go,feeling all better? Now how many paracetamol a day are you allowed to take?"
I felt like saying one: I can read the packet and two: pain killers don't do much when you take psych meds high enough to a kill a thorough bred stallion!
Apparently I had a virus. The only times in my life I.have ever had a virus is coincidentally when I have been in hospital. And the ward has a 100% cleanliness record hitting you right in the face when you go to reception. I won't rant, I am tired of being angry and being treated like I am ignorant and dumb. Mental illness does not discriminate.

[bpforever1]

I experienced discrimination about my mental illness every day in medical school because I was exhibiting signs of akathisia, pill-rolling, drooling, parkinsonism, and other problems stemming from taking too much medication. I also was known as Hannibal Lecter because of my symptoms. I tell you, discrimination in my medical school was rampant. Today, I don't exhibit such symptoms and don't need to ask for accommodations. I am fine and feel fine. I am glad to have left the medical field because of my experiences in medical school. And, I am doing well now despite all of it and have no regrets about my life. I think because I was discriminated based on my apparent symptoms and my diagnosis, I've become a more empathetic and understanding about others who face similar situations. Nothing in life is an accident. There is a reason for my experiences. And, if nothing else, these experiences made me who I am today.

Originally Posted by Balthascar810

In my case the doctors decided that my AP med was too high and was dampening my mood so it was cut almost in half.
I knew that I was in for a rough ride and that I would have to be patient and wait it out. I had a constant fever for over three months. I sweated like a maniac all day. I passed out and lived home alone and I had crippling migraines with blurry vision. I experienced itching all over my body and by luck my hay fever tablets quelled it. I purchased my own diazepam that settled the fever for a short spell barely two hours. So I knew it was my brain and body dealing with the ket withdrawal. I went to the doctor and I explained my situation. My temperature was indeed very high and my pulse was much quicker than "My normal" He gave me one ibuprofen and a paracetamol and condescendingly said " ah there you go,feeling all better? Now how many paracetamol a day are you allowed to take?"
I felt like saying one: I can read the packet and two: pain killers don't do much when you take psych meds high enough to a kill a thorough bred stallion!
Apparently I had a virus. The only times in my life I.have ever had a virus is coincidentally when I have been in hospital. And the ward has a 100% cleanliness record hitting you right in the face when you go to reception. I won't rant, I am tired of being angry and being treated like I am ignorant and dumb. Mental illness does not discriminate.

To clarify I caught a virus IN hospital while treatment for my "suicidal ideation" . I picked it up in the hospital. This is not uncommon.
The second time I may have indeed caught another virus because I was in for a short spell and they cut the AP in half then . But I know it was withdrawal. The doctors deny that the modern A-typical drugs have withdrawal effects. Where in America it is probably a different story.

[mugwort2]

I recall about ten years ago I asked about higher education for me. It was at a general meeting on furthering one's education. The woman looked directly at me and told me since I was suffering from a mental illness higher education was out of the question. To the member who posted of her experience with the two nurses I wish you well in getting some kind of justice. Wishing I could be more of help to you.

[Gus1234U]

who hasn't ~! ?? i finally have a doc who leave the Psych stuff out of the equation,, i think i'm in luv.....

[Deejay14]

You are right, Gus!

[WishfulThinker66]

On numerous occasions I have had to sit there and quietly listen while some complete nimcompoop rails against people on assistance. When I have spoken up and suggested in the case of the mentally ill having at times no choice I have had some of these people respond with saying they are either faking it or geing lazy. All people have emotional difficulties they tend to say. These people need to learn to suck it up and deal with it.

Infuriating. A few times I have felt the strength to speak up and point out I am one very such person but for the most part I clam up and keep my infuriating anger to myself.

Yes, to some degree I've experienced discrimination, typically from healthcare workers, concerning my issues with anxiety and depression.

Though I'm not sure this counts as discrimination, I once had a psychiatrist call me weak after admitting myself to a psych unit when I was feeling suicidal. This was a long time ago but it stuck with me. He literally said that "only weak people admit themselves to psych units", which made me wonder why on earth he was working as an inpatient psychiatrist.

The worst part is that most of the time, people mean well and don't intend to discriminate against me, but they do.

They put down my aspirations and goals but it's done under the guise of "not wanting me to stress myself out" not "end up back in the hospital" etc etc etc