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How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

DaughterdidSenior Contributor30 June 2018, 11:33 pm AEST

How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

It's amazing how reading someone else's post makes me realize so many things! A guy was talking about how the loved one he cares for hears voices that tell him not to eat. My mom's altar Godd commanded her to go on a 40 day water fast, and she was starving to death. She couldn't even get off the couch. We went to the authorities (I'm an American) and they went to the house to talk to her. Well, she managed to get off the couch then and do what she has always done, take on the wonderful sweet old lady disguise. They went away thinking we were horrible children and that was that.

Luckily, her hatred for us interfering with "God's will" popped her out of it and she survived.

My question is, does Australia (and wherever else you are from) handle mental illness differently? Is there a way for you to get help for someone that's resisting it, or is it just like America and individuality gets in the way?

3 replies

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In response to: How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

Unknown userMember01 July 2018, 4:19 pm AEST

Re: How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

Hello @Daughterdid

Australia pretty much follows the UN convention on human rights of mental illness.

This means a patient can only be treated involuntarily if they are deemed to have lost capacity and or are a risk to themselves or others.

The only difference I think Aust has vs UN resolution is that informed consent must be obtained from a patient to be involved in a clinical trial (99% certain our laws do not permit involvement in clinical trials involuntarily).

http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/46/a46r119.htm

In response to: Re: How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

DaughterdidSenior Contributor01 July 2018, 9:27 pm AEST

Re: How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

I understand why it is in place, I've seen the damage done without said rights, but people like my mom that only need a couple of week's worth of a chance to get help are left out in the cold. No easy answer. Thanks.

In response to: How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

eshawijeContributor03 July 2018, 10:20 pm AEST

Re: How Different Countries Handle Mental Illness

in our country ethiopia there are less than 100 psychatrists for the whole country.so, most mentally ill people do not get a chance to be seen by them . they often go to traditional healers like holy water places because their awareness is not enough on mental illness as a whole. anyways i am not against them because me my self have attainded once for my illness schizophrenia thinking it was devils possession but i was not healed till i have got my medication from my psychatrists

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