Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

47,612Members
1,358,869Posts
1,400,000Visitors

How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

ivanaSenior Contributor26 Nov 2014, 12:12 pm AEDT

How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

Some people with mental illnesses have a life span of approximately 20 years lower then other people,and even lower then Aboriginals.
It's primarily due to neglect from doctors.
Articles/studies like the below have been coming out for years,but no one takes any action regarding it.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/disease-kills-mental-health-patients-earlier-report/story-e6frg8y6-1227132368477?nk=e9720421abecab3bc31263098e4cdff2

Often people try to say it's the Governments fault and they should provide money for this area but to me the fault lies not just with limited funding but also the pure stigma and neglect that comes from many in the Medical Profession that no one seems to have the desire,or courage,to address.
Reality is,doctors often view a person with severe mental illness as that is their IDENTITY,instead of seeing them as a person like every other person.
When they complain of physical issues it is often not taken as seriously as when others do and is dismissed as either anxiety,Somatisation disorder or delusion from their Mental Illness.
Many doctors have a polarising attitude where it's like they believe a person can either have a mental illness or a physical one but not both.
I don't see the life span and health of people with M.I increasing until the deeply ingrained stigma from the Medical Profession is also challenged.
For example:if someone with Schizophrenia sees an Endocrinologist for physical symptoms that doctor will minimalise and dismiss all their complaints due to the judgments and preconceived notions they hold about them and same goes for Neurologists etc so how can such a huge problem be addressed?

19 replies

11 - 19 of 19

1 2

In response to: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

RickSenior Contributor28 Nov 2014, 6:51 pm AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

It's true.

As you've all pointed out. Just this group here are enough to be regarded as a sample population. From here studies could be begun and stats statted.

People talk about the mental illness stygma.

No one really understands just how many aspects of life it pervades.

There is a physician ib Redcliffe who refuses to administer to the mentally ill. I've met this man,

The irony for me was he was completely covered in psoriasis. An autoimmune disease triggered by anxiety and stress.

Seems to be, just my opinion that he's afraid the seeing someone mentally ill would be like looking in the mirror.

And I think that perhaps the beginnings of all stygma is merely that

It's fear. Fear that this could happen to me.

And fair enough. We deal with fear hourly, many of us, don't we. It's not pleasant, it's challenging, it's tedious and it does'nt go away no matter how well you rationalise.

People are afraid to be afraid. It's the single commonality in all mental illnesses. There is alwyas fear.

We fear new meds, we fear judgement, we fear our symptoms, we fear our lives, we fear our deaths.

And we have every right to be fearful. It's scary being ill.

For 30 years I've bben ill.

I still am afraid.

But fear that drives people away is a dangerous fear. And that's what these doctors are doing. they are driving us away.

How do we stop them neglecting us.

refuse to be driven away. Let's face it. We have the guts to get up every day and face another day of uncertainty. We have the guts to face up to this lot.

A specialist said to me not long ago.

Everyone has problems you know.

I said yes we all have problems, challenges and issues. All of us. The difference is that I;ve got all the same issues you have plus all the ones that my illness supplies as well.

We are a tough breed. Simply because we carried the same burdens others carry and then we carry the burden of illness as well.

Generally we only bitch about the illness related stuff. Whereas we've all heard people go on about how crap their lives are and how difficult everything is.

Most of us don't do that.

We are strong.

Perhaps the only reason we could possibly have to actually be mentally ill is to be stronger. If there is a why? for it, maybe that's it.

Keep bringing these topics up. I know that I raise them on different committees and discussion groups.

Keep it coming. Sooner or later change will come and we are to be part of making that change happen.

In response to: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

BatGuanoSenior Contributor30 Nov 2014, 2:14 pm AEDT

Re: Warning: this skull may contain some sanity

Hi Ivana,

I have been my usual flippant and sarcastic self, pardon me. That was not a sarcastic 'pardon me'.

What I should have made clear was that the doc needs to believe that they and you are having a consult in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding that can be of benefit to you both.

The doc might be ready to decide that you are unable or unwilling to listen, interact positively, and implement plans that will be mutually agreed upon.

You might be ready to decide that the doc will be authoritarian, condescending, dismissive, and un-professional.

No, I was not advocating that people dissemble, or conceal the very conditions that have necessitated the consult.

In interpersonal relations I aspire to politeness and etiquette. Aspire to, and not always acheive.

If the consult goes well, you both get to work in harmony. If not, the consult is a WOFTAM (Waste Of F****ing Time And Money), and there'll be tears before bedtime all 'round.

Case in point is the recent relations of Tony Abbott and Vladimir Putin. What a pair of putzes.

In response to: Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

BatGuanoSenior Contributor30 Nov 2014, 2:26 pm AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

Pride. Mad Pride. I would join a Mad Pride March. I would wear a shirt that said Bat Sh*t Crazy. I would have a bumper sticker that said I'm Insane And I Vote.

In response to: Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

RickSenior Contributor30 Nov 2014, 5:48 pm AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

Hey Bat

I'm digging the huour.

it's a big gun is'nt it?

I have a badge I like to wear.

It asks

"DOES THE NOISE IN MY HEAD BOTHER YOU?"

My 12yo daughter cackles when she sees it.

Hope endures

Rick

In response to: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

tabbyContributor09 Dec 2014, 7:55 pm AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

We all have a right to be treated with respect, in still fighting the demons in my. head from a "stuff up" many years ago from a wrong diagnosis from a gp that wouldn't pass me on to a specialist. And recently an operation that i had earlier this year was very anxious before and then after as well, they just pulled the curtains around me, it was like i was an imbarrasment, i cant hide my mental health when i am not well and we shouldn't have to it will just manifest into something very ugly

In response to: Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

BabooSenior Contributor09 Dec 2014, 9:09 pm AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

i have had a conversation on this topic with a friend before- we joked and shock our heads: Some times you feel like you need to keep copies of all your medical history in one big folder to present to your doctor- like a resume- but its proof of what issues and treatments you had when- and then their out comes. But of course then you may be seen as a hypochondriac for being so organised.

In response to: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

Alessandra1992Senior Contributor09 Dec 2014, 10:12 pm AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

Then I am a hypochondriac!! I think it is vital we know our own histories as we know at this point, we know what medications we have used, but the people we see may not.

I am allergic to penicillin and some other meds, my local GP knows, but when I needed antibiotics in NSW, they didn't.

In response to: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

NebSenior Contributor11 Dec 2014, 1:37 am AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

most medical people and well everyone deep down think MI is contagious and social death to be seen with one. Mentally ill people are very vulnerable aka easily bullied and sidelined. Maybe it is a modern spin of Adolf Hitler's eugenics thing ....weeding out the undesirables. The fact is that MI is a long term condition and just not good for the medical business bottom line. Health is a business, so chronic conditions get the least funding...look at aged care and in CHF, vasculopathies,acquired brain injuries etc.

If you break your arm, try getting a holistic approach....in my case and they were not aware of any MI so I was just a busted arm...it healed but the medico was not very interested in that it did not work very well and after some pointed questions by me acquiesced into referring me to physio.

I think we have a long long way to go, but at least one is not locked away in an attic or chained to a wall any more

In response to: Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

ivanaSenior Contributor11 Dec 2014, 6:10 pm AEDT

Re: How do we stop doctors neglecting Physical Illnesses of people with Mental Illnesses?

That's right Neb.
However I'm not sure about the "no longer chained to the wall bit"
Google the term James Pascoe

11 - 19 of 19

1 2