What should society do with its mentally ill?

We should have private hospitals and let private charities help with those who can't afford them.

Not sure but none of the choices listed.

STOP DRUGS! Legal and illegal. Eat well, sleep well, exercise, love well, keep the faith.

Increase government spending, provide best possible treatment, and special places that are more gardenlike with tiny individual cabins and a lawn area. Supervise gameplaying outdoors, gardening, and crafts they can do to make themselves useful - maybe even to sell the crafts. Emphasize nature-not ugly beige-walled institutions. In a perfect world.... Good survey.

If they've killed people, and they really can't be helped- I think I'd be okay with euthanasia. How will we ever be sure that they're not going to kill anyone else? Unless we find them something to do. That would be my last choice. But public safety would have to come first.

What's the substantive difference between choices 1 and 5? Treat them.

shrug Send them to concentration camps??

This was inspired by a PBS Frontline program I saw recently:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/released/

the option of best possible treatment is quite bias with the prefix of the sign. increased government spending....... i'm surprised this wasn't picked up or corrected. in actuality state run institutions, euthanasia, or adapting/expanding the prison system would all also significantly increase government(whether state or federal) spending!!!! funny how we only bias the choices we don't agree with??

At least we should provide them with the minimal necessities to have a decent life. So many criminals and homeless people are mentally ill - how different could things be if we cared for these people properly rather than leaving them to eke out a living on the ravages of society's edge?

I am one of those with mental health problems and just need all the help they can give me

If someone has a neurochemical issue, the only way to correct it is through neurochemistry.

We should focus on reasons as to why these people end up the way they are. I prefer when the issue is shifted from the effect to the cause.

What causes a neurochemical issue? I assume many things can cause one....unhappiness, depression, lack of love, or being able to love, constant stress, poor eating habits, and DRUGS. Emotions can cause a neurochemical issue.

And that's supposed to cure menyal illness? Are you serious?

while possible, not likely. In most cases, these illnesses are caused by chemical deficiencies in the body...Diabetes, MS, and many more fun maladies. I seldom agree with Linda, but she's spot on here. And I haven't seen any studies about unhappiness and Diabetes.

I think to be a member of SC you have to be a little off your rocker.... so I say beer for all the mentally ill!

Some people are born that way. It is in their DNA, just like with a lot of other disorders and medical issues. Some people's brain chemistry problems run in the family.

The old saying, we are what we eat, I feel is true. You can't separate the mind/body/soul. The body wants to survive. God gave us the herbs of the field as medicine.. What good foods we eat are as medicine. Fasting on occasion, eating appropriately, activity is vital to the person. Good sunlight. Happiness, positive attitude.

I recently had a stroke, and I can see what emotions, lack of activity, and the mind can do to a body. I wish I could go back and change things, because I do have the knowledge, didn't practice it. I know the reasons why I am where I am today.

Mental disease is genetics, poor food, drugs, unhappiness, stress, lack of sleep....the health of the mother during gestation....many reasons.

I think all can be taken care of naturally.

Really? When you had your stroke, did you tell your doctors that you only wanted wellness treatment, or did you allow medical science to use at least some form of pharmacology?

Matty, I'm a diabetic, and I've been under stress for many years. I've always put on a happy face for the sake of my family.

In 1997, I had a breakdown, was in the hospital for 7 days. They stuffed me with all sorts of drugs, and I walked around like zombie. I came home and took anti-depressants for about a month, didn't like how I felt. I stopped cold turkey. Never took them again. From what I understand depression starts in the function of the liver. I, from what I've been told, have a liver that is dysfunctional. The liver performs 500 tasks in the body. The emotion of the liver is anger, stress, it stores there. The breakdown of the liver is directly responsible for diabetes. The liver is involved in the digestive system, and if you eat poor food you're not nourishing the body. I could go on and on about how our nutritional intake, emotions affect everything.

My study of the Chinese Five Element Theory is on the mark. The Chinese learned it from the East Indian Medical Theory, excellent..

But i bet you take medicine or even isulin

What is the DNA? What does a family have in common? Blood. Check the blood types. In my family, my sister is blood type A, my brother, I have no idea, I am a type O. My mother, sister, and one daughter are type A's, they've all fallen to the same problems, health wise. My father was evidently type O. My other children are type O. My two sons, are by my second husband, they're type O because my husband and I are O's. Through allergy tests when young showed they were allergic to certain foods, the same foods the book "Eat Right for (4) Your Type" said they shouldn't eat. My other daughter is an O like me. My ex-husband is an A.

My step-son's son is mentally ill, been in and out of mental institutions, and was put on so many DRUGS. He has been diagnosed with autism, OCD, schizophrenia over the years. I really feel for the boy. I do know the mother had taken drugs when young, and I understand is somewhat confused. When they visited us, I noticed the boy (19 years old) loved Red Bull drinks, begs for them. He also loves sour things, ate a whole big jar of Claussons sour pickles. His mother said he loves sour things... a sign of a bad liver. He loves junk food. My husband went to their house up north, and he said while there, all the kids eat entirely too much junk food. The boys brother has a problem too, but not as pronounced, has speech impairment. The younger sister so far, shows no big problem. It hurts me to see the oldest boy go through what he has.

We inherit the DNA, blood, emotions from our family. Certain blood types, suffer more from some things than others.

I am a zombie on the medications I am taking. They say I'm a candidate for another stroke, heart attack, my family INSISTS I take the filthy medicine. After six months, I'm off of them no matter what. You see the problem Matty is I didn't care about myself, didn't watch my diabetes. When in the hospital I watched some educational films, and I could see I had the signs. I thought some of the signs I was suffering were from a spondo I have...I was wrong.

All I can say is be on the alert when you notice any change in your body. Personally, I think the drugs will kill me eventually, if I continue. The side effects are horrible. After six months, I'm off of them...no matter what. I'm taking some brain, body circulation formulas now, and liver and kidney formula. I recognize the chances I'm taking...

PLEASE take care of yourself, watch for body changes....

Care in the community seems to be appropriate/best for most - as long as there is adequate monitoring for anyone who poses a risk to themselves or others (sadly, the current system in the UK seems to be failing at this). Obviously some individuals need more specialised care than can be offered in the community or are considered too dangerous to live in normal society. Mental hospitals/secure units ought to be seen as positive ways of treating people like that, but that is only possible with adequate funding and a culture that embraces treatment and rehabilitation rather than restraint/punishment/dismissal. It's called mental illness for a reason - we're talking about intensely vulnerable individuals, even if they have committed horrific acts. Labelling them as offenders or criminals is not necessarily going to benefit anyone.

Mental health is not easy - you have to respect the people who find their vocation there. Personally, I'll be interested to spend some time attached to psychiatric services/mental health, but I don't think that I would ever choose to make it my career.

From the information about the rest of your family that you posted here, your father's blood type could have been A, B or O. The only blood type that is (probably, but not definitely - genetics can play some funny tricks) ruled out is AB.

I'm not going to get started on the rest of your interpretation of medical science, as I think we could be here for a long time

> STOP DRUGS! Legal and illegal. Eat well, sleep well, exercise, love
> well, keep the faith.


What about coffee?

I know I'm not a scholar, but have studied some on the Chinese Five Element Theory. Western medicine is different, yet I feel they know of Auyervedic and Chinese medicine theory, but chose to find their own. Western medicine has some good things, but when it comes to disease they're in the dark, I feel on purpose...for profit.

I'm not a coffee drinker, never have been. I know it can lead to adrenal exhaustion. There is a host of things, humans need to do to help themselves, we just need to find them.

We should increase government spending and provide the best possible treatment in Federal and state run mental institutions.

> STOP DRUGS! Legal and illegal. Eat well, sleep well, exercise, love
> well, keep the faith.

Yeah if only they would just think happy thoughts they would cure themselves... ROFLMAO. Hate to break it to you but eating well, sleeping well, exercise, and love doesn't do squat for those who are mentally ill. As for drugs, people turn to drugs because life sucks and being stoned at least helps you face life better. Mental illness is a disease caused by the body screwing up, people are not mentally ill because they choose to be.

We should join them. How do WE know they are the insane we are the "normals". "It's so good to be insane.... no one asks you to explain." I am serious, though. They thought Einstein was retarded (yes, I used "that" word) but he was really a very shy young Jewish boy in an all Catholic school.

I had a neighbor that was depressed, she went to her doctor, and through their discussion, the doctor told her, the reason most people turn to illegal drugs is to "self medicate" themselves out of not feeling well. We are what we eat, feel, think.

The reason people self medicate is because it is easier to obtain illegal drugs than to go through doctors, insurance, being diagnosed, etc. Not only that, but a lot of times when people start experimenting and self medicating, it just plain doesn't occur to them to go see a real doctor.

I know nothing of illegal drugs...but aren't they expensive? Many people just want to experiment too I suspect. In any case, I feel bad for them.

We should stop using so many chemicals and hormones and antibiotics in our food production. We should get more exercise and lose weight instead of taking all these drugs for heartburn, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol.
We should not take medicines for nausea, pain, and labor induction during pregnancy so flippantly.
We should limit imports from countries that use dangerous ingredients in manufacturing.
We should not take so many medicines for depression and anxiety.
We should all smoke more pot.

I think we're crazier because of our environment.

Prescription drugs can be just as expensive sometimes, and harder to obtain. True, many people just want to experiment.

Indeed prescription drugs are extremely expensive, at least 1000% profit. It's a sin.

I would have just as much needed a "fix" to get away from the turmoil of life, but why haven't I chosen to take these illegal drugs. What the young don't understand is, they are falling into the hands of the enemy and becoming docile, easier to manipulate..

Let them live their life. They're people too. You cold hearted bastards.

Put them working in the fast food restaurants. The really crappy ones that are bad for you type of fast food places. Obviously those people don't care what they put into their bodies, so let them work there. Of course, that is cruel, have you ever smelled someone that came straight from working at one? Rancid grease with secret sauce stains. Pretty nasty.

LOL. i love you megan =] hahah i hope your still on this shti

If they are considered a danger to themselves or others, they should be evaluated, kept under observation, treated if they need it.

If they are not a threat to anyone, but are unable to care for themselves or hold down a job, they should be given some sort of living arrangements or assistance.

If they are able to take care of themselves and are only 'crazy' by society's standards of deviance, leave them alone. They aren't a threat.

Give them a job in government.

As much as possible needs to be done to support family care of their members even if handicapped. This is a human responsiblity. The next level of support might be a small group support structure where one or a few more if appropriate are cared for in a home environment- with support. The last level is a hospital/nursing home environment. It is not as simple as "bring back state-run mental institutions. Look up "Titicutt Follies" and you will see why. The state can not be trusted to do so.