Thanks catjudo. I did not know that he discussed this in the past. No it doesn't really matter whether he suffered depression or bi-polar disorder. I was just seeking information and clarification because admittedly I dont read or watch much on celebrities personal life.
Also bi-polar can be much harder to treat than major depression because patients often find the side effects of medications that treat bi-polar disorder takes their personality away and they feel a flat affect, so they quit taking them. I wondered if that was the case here.
His death makes me want to do something along the lines of public awareness. I have lost loved ones to suicide and have always been active in promoting awareness. That is until I was struck by it. Now I dont feel like I can make a difference. I do speak at a local suicide awareness fund raiser/walk once a year, but am sorry to say that it makes me feel a little bit like a hypocrite because I speak from my own experience but only as a professional and it seems generic to me.
Bloomin is so right, even with money, there is not adequate relief for mental illness.
Not that this applies in this case, but I do believe another problem with our system is a legal aspect. If one is feeling suicidal and tells someone, a mental hygiene order can be done, the person picked up, and put in a lock down facility for a min. or 72 hours. Those places are often horrible, at least here where I live in the US. They are put on some meds and the hospital stay is generally short (crisis unit), and they are released when they tell the psychiatrist that they no longer have those thoughts, or they just said that. They are given a list of treatment to follow after their release, only to find out that these resources are not available at this time, their insurance does not cover the order, theres a waiting list, or any of many other loopholes. It is like a punishment when the person needs to be treated with some compassion and dignity.
Where I live, the local crisis unit has very strict dress policy for safety reasons,(no belts, shoe laces, draw strings, etc), but also no caffiene or tobacco use. The place is dirty and below standard. The beds are about 80 yrs old. They come in every 15 minutes all night long and shine a light in your face to document how patient if and how patient is sleeping and then reset alarm in room as proof they checked. This is due to staff that has neglected to do room checks and patients being sexually assaulted. They lack any real treatment. They have groups but get no individual counseling, there are no activities, no outside or exercise, and many are afraid of other patients.
We had one man that told dr he was still suicidal and homicidal and they sent him home anyway because of insurance. He went and killed his 3 daughters and wife, then to his mothers and killed her and a brother.
I clearly understand that measures need to be taken to prevent the suicide, but often the person will not share the next time, they just do it.
Also bi-polar can be much harder to treat than major depression because patients often find the side effects of medications that treat bi-polar disorder takes their personality away and they feel a flat affect, so they quit taking them. I wondered if that was the case here.
His death makes me want to do something along the lines of public awareness. I have lost loved ones to suicide and have always been active in promoting awareness. That is until I was struck by it. Now I dont feel like I can make a difference. I do speak at a local suicide awareness fund raiser/walk once a year, but am sorry to say that it makes me feel a little bit like a hypocrite because I speak from my own experience but only as a professional and it seems generic to me.
Bloomin is so right, even with money, there is not adequate relief for mental illness.
Not that this applies in this case, but I do believe another problem with our system is a legal aspect. If one is feeling suicidal and tells someone, a mental hygiene order can be done, the person picked up, and put in a lock down facility for a min. or 72 hours. Those places are often horrible, at least here where I live in the US. They are put on some meds and the hospital stay is generally short (crisis unit), and they are released when they tell the psychiatrist that they no longer have those thoughts, or they just said that. They are given a list of treatment to follow after their release, only to find out that these resources are not available at this time, their insurance does not cover the order, theres a waiting list, or any of many other loopholes. It is like a punishment when the person needs to be treated with some compassion and dignity.
Where I live, the local crisis unit has very strict dress policy for safety reasons,(no belts, shoe laces, draw strings, etc), but also no caffiene or tobacco use. The place is dirty and below standard. The beds are about 80 yrs old. They come in every 15 minutes all night long and shine a light in your face to document how patient if and how patient is sleeping and then reset alarm in room as proof they checked. This is due to staff that has neglected to do room checks and patients being sexually assaulted. They lack any real treatment. They have groups but get no individual counseling, there are no activities, no outside or exercise, and many are afraid of other patients.
We had one man that told dr he was still suicidal and homicidal and they sent him home anyway because of insurance. He went and killed his 3 daughters and wife, then to his mothers and killed her and a brother.
I clearly understand that measures need to be taken to prevent the suicide, but often the person will not share the next time, they just do it.
