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Where are we on the pecking oder?

kenny66Senior Contributor10 Aug 2014, 10:48 am AEST

Where are we on the pecking oder?

I have been reading a whole lot written about mental illness, disability,and other discrimination over the last month. From all this material it makes you wonder where we with MI fit.

The Minister for Social Services, who by the way is opening some World Congress of Families conference in Melbourne I think soon (this is a homophobic-anti womens right to choose far right group that praises the Russian Government for its antii gay persecution) has been attacking the majority of DSP welfare recipients with MI as not needing support because their illness is "episodic" and they should be able to work between the episodes.

This shows a great deal of insight into how MI works!!!! I also read the new impairment tables for people with MI which is being implemented now.

To get the DSP based on mental illness you i have to be virtually institutionalized and completely non functioning. This is totally removed from the original purpose of the DSP which was to assist us financially so that we could eat, pay rent and take part as a member of society because we couldn't work and had little or no assets. Well, what about working between those episodes?

The unemployment rate has climbed up to 6.5% and rising. Youth unemployment is about 17% and rising. There are almost no effective strategies to place people with mental illness in the work place, even if there were jobs available.

Leave aside regional Australia, where the unemployment rate is through the roof, the general availability of jobs for MI people is at historic lows. MI people are competing against a young demographic of job seekers who are perceived to have no "complications" in being employed and are cheap to employ and train, due to government subsidies.

Included in this are a large group of other discriminated against disabled people. Add to this people discriminated against because of Age, Aboriginality and a whole lot of other reasons.

So people with MI are not only competing against the non ill workforce but a large group of other disabled and disadvantaged groups as well, all with their own financial and work demands, which seem to get more sympathetic air play and attention than those suffering M!.

It seems to me that these various disadvantaged groups, are out their pitching for their own groups interests, often at the disadvantage of people with MI who pretty well get no good press and even less dollars. Media, has been vicious in their portrayal of DSP recipients with MI.

I am still trying to find some concrete practical strategies which actually forward the interests of people with MI. I am still looking!!!!!!

37 replies

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In response to: Where are we on the pecking oder?

kenny66Senior Contributor14 Aug 2014, 5:29 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

Hi Kristin

I had discussed this issue in detail quite recently so wih na couple of other schizophrenics and I wanted to post a bit of a blurb about it.

In my case "stream of consciousness" is a style of writing that arises from schizophrenia with the forward motion of ideas and thought processes converted to text as they happen and all that. I am sure many schizophrenics write this way.

Its actually not by choice but is hardwired in as I think Jake said in a discussion recently. As you know this is characterised by lack of punctuation and sometimes syntax and thought processes which might be illogical to the casual observer.

I used to be sensitive about this way of written communication as in the past it was often used to substantiate a diagnosis of a person as "mental" in a derogatory sense.

It wasn't until I read the essay about this by William James, late nineteenth century, that I understood that it was another way of communicating albeit, unusually. A number of American and English writers took up the style intentionally,as in the case of Virginia Wolf etc.

Now I consider it a part of my identity and an addition to the creativity which has been enhanced by my MI.

It is not possible in this style to write with page breaks and paragraphs, as it is with others, because the thought processes don't allow for interruption.

Stopping to edit ruins the flow and then the "spell"of the experience of writing and communicating the "now experience is lost. The whole process allows the reader to briefly glimpse the thoughts and ideas occurring at that point in time, and that point in time only.

Anyway I have talked my flatmate into editing posts for me because once it is written, it is written, the thoughts are gone and I never return to it.

Interestingly, apart from the enormous frustration, from the lecturers when I was doing creative writing at the uni, it was considered an acceptable and unique style of writing.

I am glad you mentioned the term. I hope someone finds the info of interest

Kenny

In response to: Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

kristinSenior Contributor14 Aug 2014, 9:39 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

Hi Kenny,

Thanks so much for sharing all that and helping us (me) understand a bit better. Don't feel like you have to edit it - it just makes it easier to read and digest. I do kind-of get the stream of consciouness thing, because I often write poetry out of that space. It's hard for me to turn of or ignore my internal editor though. But you're right, quite necessary in order to be able to write in that way.

The main reason why I raised it was because I'd read enough of your posts to find them really interesting and worthwhile, but I find huge blocks of text rather confronting. I started finding myself baulking at reading your posts when feeling a bit pressed for time, I didn't want to miss out, nor for others to potentially be put off by a block post. You have shared many interesting things, and there's a crackling passion to your writing too. I wouldn't want to pull the teeth out of it, so I'm sorry I mentioned it.

Best regards,

Kristin

In response to: Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

kenny66Senior Contributor14 Aug 2014, 10:51 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

Hi Kristin

I am really glad you mentioned it and raised the topic. I understand totally about block text being off putting and confronting for people. It drives my flatmate crazy/ier, and he is a paranoid schizophrenic, There's got to be a message in that!!!!!!! So that's why he willingly took on the job of editor.

Anyway I wanted an opportunity to write about the positive aspects of being a schizophrenic, and there are some, for me anyway. One of them is that style of writing. So you have given me the perfect entry point on that. I hope that becomes an interesting topic for the forum.

All the best

Kenny

In response to: Where are we on the pecking oder?

NebSenior Contributor12 Sept 2014, 8:56 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

As a MH person, over the course of decades, the public health system was unspeakable...all really horrible association with it, a criminal was better treated, because of my vulnerability I suspect.The private system was the better system, but still a lot of custodial mentality, changing but ...

The vulnerable and chronically ill are at the bottom of the heap, because of the lack of political will, the stigma associated with such people.

Still better than in say India, where a madman was collared like a dog and there was a leash, on the bus most of the other passengers gave him a kick as he went by. His custodian did nothing!

In response to: Where are we on the pecking oder?

katoSenior Contributor13 Sept 2014, 12:18 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

Umm so yeah new here diagnosed 6 years ago as bi polar. I suffered as they called it a psychotic break from reality with severe anxiety depression and paranoia... was alot of fun trialling heaps of different med combos after 4 years I decided to wean off all meds I was feeling okayish.
The next 2 years unmedicated and dropping away from counsellers were in my mind good..... I jave just come to realise now that I have lost my job and my mood spikes are so noticeable that I was disillusioned. I went to my gp wanting to find a psychiatrist to hopefully get a proper diagnosis and treatment but I can't find any psychiatrist s. I dont want to go to a hospital. I have irrational fears of them lol.... but trying to find one close to home is making me feel worse and worse does anyone know good psychiatrists in the south east suburbs og Melbourne vic? Help would be greatly appreciated I don't want to call and speak to lifeline I tried the online chats but they don't operate until later and I am having a manic phase not severe not scary but enough for me to want to find something quickly I am safe and well just looking for some help with finding a good psychiatrist
Thanks

In response to: Where are we on the pecking oder?

katoSenior Contributor13 Sept 2014, 12:19 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

Why

Never mind f u sane.org shit would have loved being able to communicate but no no help at all

In response to: Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

NikNikSenior Contributor13 Sept 2014, 5:17 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

Hey Kato,

I just responded to your other thread, so I hope that has been helpful.

The safety of the forum members is our highest priority. This means that all posts have an eye scanned over them. From 5pm - 10pm AEST the forums have a moderator online and it's our busiest time. We try and make this clear when a comment is posted.

As our forums are very new (though they may not seem like it - there are a lot of posts!) we are still building and growing and hope that we can have longer hours.

Many apologies that you found this frustrating. The forums aren't a crisis support service, but rather a place that people with similar experiences can connect.

I hope you continue posting because I know alot of members have similar experiences.

NikNik

In response to: Where are we on the pecking oder?

katoSenior Contributor13 Sept 2014, 9:24 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

Apologies for my ridiculous over reaction not seeking crisis help just very annoyed with victorias mental health search capabilities online.... are so ridiculously ignorant of giving a clear and concise idea of where other then handing myself in at a hospital, that I can get information on psychiatrists near me. It is fantastic to get a first initial and last name and rough location of someone who could be jot even registered, or accredited right.
Again apologies I was taking my frustration out here, I didn't realize and in my short sighted ness couldn't find anything here regarding comments being held/ for several hours until a mod looks it over

In response to: Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

NikNikSenior Contributor13 Sept 2014, 9:28 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

No worries Kato.

I'm really glad you've come back to the forums.

I responded to your original post, which you can find here

Welcome again & I hope to "see" you around the forums.

In response to: Where are we on the pecking oder?

ivanaSenior Contributor16 Sept 2014, 2:03 pm AEST

Re: Where are we on the pecking oder?

I agree with what everyone had wrote.
My concern is that this Government has a poor understanding of mental illness,however they arn't fully to blame as they've received this information from somewhere (eg:psychiatrists or websites about MI)
They've incorrectly formed a belief that some people with Schizophrenia have “episodes“ and that they are completely “normal“ and functional between these episodes.
This is possibly how it works for some with paranoid type schizophrenia,however this Government appears to have zero insight (and often neither do some Psychiatrists) regarding the severe cognitive loss that some people with a diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder,Autism,Disorganised Schizophrenia,or some without a clear diagnosis, have.
I believe it needs to be recognised that some people have extreme cognitive loss,at the same level as Dementia,and I believe that some with a diagnosis if Schiziaffective etc have a Dementia process going on and that it should be labelled as such.
I'm concerned how this Government expects them to work-in a shop for example-when they might stand there rocking back and forth,in another world,and not be able to comprehend any instructions given to them.
I think people's disabilities are being down played by this Government.

At the same time,the Government should be doing much more to encourage Employers to support those with M.I who do have the capacity to work.They could provide Employers with financial inventives to employ them etc.
Employers and the community need to think of people over profits (within reason) and have the same compassion for people with M.I as they do for people with Cancer.

I'd also like to see “celebs“ on TV doing phonafons to raise money for Schizophrenia (for example) instead of always just for cancer or the Westmead Children's hospital.

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