Bipolar Disorder on Trial ... Again
Tuesday August 1, 2006
A couple of times a week I run a quick internet search on the key phrase “bipolar disorder” to get a feel for the latest relevant headlines. Is there any new information coming out of the research institutions? Have the pharmaceuticals released new or changed prescribing information? Today all of the headlines on the first search page returned news of bipolar disorder on trial for being the accused culprit behind criminal behavior. In a forum discussion regarding Dr. Phil, AristaStar wrote, “I'm so sick of all the bipolar stuff in the news right now. The ones where someone kills someone else and says 'I'm bipolar just off my meds' - there's a rash of that going on right now.” Are you fed up? Do you think bipolar disorder is a viable defense? What are your thoughts?
Comments
Read Pete Earley’s eye opening, consciousness raising, new book, “Crazy: A Father’s search through Americas Mental Health Maddness.”
We’d rather have completely educated the public about mood disorders by now, but since we aren’t there yet, stigma prevails and unfortunately, people being successfully treated for a mood disorder isn’t news worthy. Murder and murder/suicide are great news stories.
The only way we are going to change people is to EDUCATE people! I believe that teaching about mental health issues starting in middle school health classes, in a comphrehensive way, is a good place to start. Most states mandate health classes in public school. Not only will we begin to destigmatize, perhaps there will be more early diagnosis and treatment! The cost would be so minimal. The trick is convincing school systems that it’s to their benefit. There are still a lot of myths that make this a big hurdle. I was able to get my school district to revamp it’s health curriculum, but only after I raised cain after his health teacher showed a gratuitiously violent suicide prevention without informing me and getting my consent - even knowing that he was having problems at the time and knew he was bipolar and that his dad died by suicide.
Let’s start a movement - edcuate about mental health and wellness in school health classes!
In real esate it’s location, location, location. In mental health it’s educate, educate, educate!
Kathy
I have been married to a wonderful woman with Bipolar for 6 years. We have our ups and downs but we work through it. This was not the case in the beginning of our relationship.
I was always under the impression that you accept and cope with what life deals to you; people who can’t cope are weak and lazy. Like Tom Cruise, I was uneducated and extremely naive in regards to mental illnesses’.
When I accepted the fact that my wife has a ‘real’ disease, I began to educate myself on the subjects of Bipolar, Depression and Binge-Eating.
Since that time not only has our relationship improved dramatically so has our family life as a whole. I continue to educate myself about the disorders as well as talking with her openly abut treatment and behaviors, both hers and mine.
Based on my personal experiences and the negative attitudes of others in society, including some immediate family, I completely support the idea of educating people about mental illnesses’. Young or old, people need to understand and accept that mental diseases’ are no different than Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s and other debilitating diseases. The only difference is that Psychological disorders are not typically visually apparent.