jimmy jamesWhistle While You Work
June 18th 2008 05:32
A diagnosis is just a tag. It really doesn't mean anything. It just gives the mental health professionals an idea of what to expect from you. In a way, a diagnosis can give you a better understanding of your illness, it gives you the chance to read up on it. This way you can get a better understanding of all the studies that have been done with people that have the same type of diagnosis as you. If there is substance abuse involved, maybe that is the only problem? For some, a constant vigilance can keep those runaway emotions at bay and that is the cure-all. For some, a diagnosis can cripple them. They feel they are held back from doing what they want to do because of the stigma that is associated with having a mental illness. One of the biggest forms of treatment is work. That four letter word for some. Work sometimes is the reason that lead to the mental illness to begin with,however, that is not always the case.
The biggest movement is something that is called Peer Support. What better way to help those that have the same illness as you, and to get paid for it to boot?. Most of these programs are funded by the government. I had first hand experience of working in a Peer Support environment in a State hospital. I am sure that these programs actually do help some individuals, however this paticular program seemed to lure certain individuals in by offering a stipend position while offering the opportunity to be hired part-time as a State employee.So here you have people that are in "recovery" running the show. It is a great environment for some to continue to talk about "recovery" while making a buck or two. Just because one claims to be in recovery, does not mean that they are in fact recovering. Talk about a stigma. The Mental Health field has always had a stigma attached to it, but one can see that it has indeed come a long way from the "Dark Ages". Patients are no longer called patients, they are called "Consumers". A kinder more gentle way of putting it. These programs and employment opportunities seem to be available only to those that fit the criteria. And they are sometimes run by people that know how to yank the right chain to get the proper funding so they can create positions for themselves and others that give them personal financial security. I observed very little being done for the other "Consumers" that were in need of real help. That seemed to take a back seat as the "Educators" and "Job Coaches" pitched a cushy plan of recovery to ensure more funding from the state to secure their positions in a environment of their own creation. This works like a dream because it shelters them from having to work in the real world where they would most likely be eaten alive. The purpose of this article is not to bash these programs. It isn't for everyone.The purpose is to make other "Consumers" aware of some of the movement that is taking place in the Mental Health field. Like I said, these programs probably do help some. I mean after all, this isn't a perfect world right? So why should we move any closer to perfection when we don't have to.?
Keep The Faith
On the road to recovery
The biggest movement is something that is called Peer Support. What better way to help those that have the same illness as you, and to get paid for it to boot?. Most of these programs are funded by the government. I had first hand experience of working in a Peer Support environment in a State hospital. I am sure that these programs actually do help some individuals, however this paticular program seemed to lure certain individuals in by offering a stipend position while offering the opportunity to be hired part-time as a State employee.So here you have people that are in "recovery" running the show. It is a great environment for some to continue to talk about "recovery" while making a buck or two. Just because one claims to be in recovery, does not mean that they are in fact recovering. Talk about a stigma. The Mental Health field has always had a stigma attached to it, but one can see that it has indeed come a long way from the "Dark Ages". Patients are no longer called patients, they are called "Consumers". A kinder more gentle way of putting it. These programs and employment opportunities seem to be available only to those that fit the criteria. And they are sometimes run by people that know how to yank the right chain to get the proper funding so they can create positions for themselves and others that give them personal financial security. I observed very little being done for the other "Consumers" that were in need of real help. That seemed to take a back seat as the "Educators" and "Job Coaches" pitched a cushy plan of recovery to ensure more funding from the state to secure their positions in a environment of their own creation. This works like a dream because it shelters them from having to work in the real world where they would most likely be eaten alive. The purpose of this article is not to bash these programs. It isn't for everyone.The purpose is to make other "Consumers" aware of some of the movement that is taking place in the Mental Health field. Like I said, these programs probably do help some. I mean after all, this isn't a perfect world right? So why should we move any closer to perfection when we don't have to.?
Keep The Faith
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