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Professional Help?

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Replies

  • GemstoneofHeart
    GemstoneofHeart Posts: 865 Member
    Incorrect

    You said "we lay people are not equipped to deal with such possible disorders"

    And also "I can't imagine seeking professional help".

    Don't try to make it sound otherwise.
    Polo265 wrote: »
    msjennigirl wrote: »
    I interpreted the OP as being sad that people struggle and are unable to seek help. I didn't interpret a sense of superiority, rather empathy.

    Thank you msjennigirl. That's exactly what I meant, but sadly rather clumsily expressed myself. Many, many folks do not have health insurance or the co-pays for treatment are outrageous. Some health insurances do not cover counseling, but I think more are doing so. I had occasion to see a counselor several years ago. My session was $75.00 for 30 minutes. My own father was hospitalized for 3 months following a nervous breakdown, so I understand the value and necessity for mental health treatment. I apologize for my clumsy post. I did not mean to offend.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    kenyonhaff wrote: »
    If you are able to sort things out without help, good for you. But sometimes it is not so simple. And that's why we have professional people.

    A good analogy is I can sew. Pretty adequately. But I wouldn't try to sew a silk bridal gown. Someone else could but I have limits.

    Same with emotional or mental stuff.

    And mental health may not actually be accessible for many US citizens. Many do not have insurance or adequate leave time. Or transportation if one does not have a car. Or a provider... Wait time for intake can be weeks or months if openings available at all. The barriers are real.

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (aka ADA) requires employers to allow leave for any health related issue, including mental health. If you have a therapists appointment, they need to let you go. Whether or not you get paid for that time is up to the employer so yes, some cannot afford to lose 2 hours of pay.

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    I wonder if there is a correlation between higher education and acceptance of mental health treatment.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I wonder if there is a correlation between higher education and acceptance of mental health treatment.

    I don't know. Many campus counseling centers, though they meet or exceed accreditation staffing levels have weeks-long wait lists.

    For the students, they pay fees which enables them access with no parental knowledge or involvement. That could be part of it as I see cultural stigmas for some students in seeking help no matter how serious the issue. For some, cutting is a more acceptable release than seeing a licensed counselor.

    There are lots of issues and behaviors which must have been presenting for years, which remain undiagnosed until college. This is also true of learning disabilities. And schizophrenia often emerges during the early 20's. I have seen a number of students not seek help until they're forced to (involuntary commitment for suicide ideation or attempt). And even then the families can cause greater damage.

    Last year, a student was hearing voices telling him to kill himself. When he didn't, they started telling him to kill his mom, too. He tried to throw himself off a bridge on campus, but two other students were nearby and restrained him until campus police arrived. He was hospitalized. His parents picked him up and brought him immediately back to campus, with mom telling him not to miss class. They did not follow the doctors' recommendations about withdrawing him from school of filling his prescriptions. They didn't believe in seeing doctor's for head issues and said he just needed to focus more on school. I have lots of anecdotes like that, unfortunately. Both the parents in this case had advanced degrees.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    Psychgrrl wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I wonder if there is a correlation between higher education and acceptance of mental health treatment.

    I don't know. Many campus counseling centers, though they meet or exceed accreditation staffing levels have weeks-long wait lists.

    For the students, they pay fees which enables them access with no parental knowledge or involvement. That could be part of it as I see cultural stigmas for some students in seeking help no matter how serious the issue. For some, cutting is a more acceptable release than seeing a licensed counselor.

    There are lots of issues and behaviors which must have been presenting for years, which remain undiagnosed until college. This is also true of learning disabilities. And schizophrenia often emerges during the early 20's. I have seen a number of students not seek help until they're forced to (involuntary commitment for suicide ideation or attempt). And even then the families can cause greater damage.

    Last year, a student was hearing voices telling him to kill himself. When he didn't, they started telling him to kill his mom, too. He tried to throw himself off a bridge on campus, but two other students were nearby and restrained him until campus police arrived. He was hospitalized. His parents picked him up and brought him immediately back to campus, with mom telling him not to miss class. They did not follow the doctors' recommendations about withdrawing him from school of filling his prescriptions. They didn't believe in seeing doctor's for head issues and said he just needed to focus more on school. I have lots of anecdotes like that, unfortunately. Both the parents in this case had advanced degrees.

    That poor boy.
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