I make no secret my disillusionment regarding mental healthcare in the United States, and I know from many of you that you’ve had a tough time getting good treatment as well.
With that in mind, a US senator has checked himself into the hospital for depression. Maybe it’s just interesting to political junkies like me, but I’m curious how it makes you feel. Not getting into any political BS, just a point of interest that a public figure has willingly checked in, and admitted to the public that it’s due to depression.
I know for my part, it’s hard to imagine someone that successful experiencing something similar to what I do. It didn’t seem like an option when I was working to just go check into a hospital, it was ride or die, keep the job or collapse, and it’s usually collapse.
I’m also bracing for the unavoidable backlash from people in the public… how do you say? less informed on matters of mental health. That’s going to hurt. I think I’m going to up my self care tomorrow, just in case. It’s a bittersweet thing for me, a part of me glad we’re talking about it, the other part oh crud we’re talking about it. The discussion probably won’t reach suicide, though to be honest I can’t imagine a situation dire enough for inpatient treatment that doesn’t include some element of suicide.
Here in the US, we believe in the “community treatment” model, which is that unless you’re dying, you’re shuffled off to outpatient therapists and doctors. heh, which is part of why I am no longer professionally in mental health. I can’t abide by such neglect.
I don’t know where I saw this going, just that it’s something I can’t talk honestly about with my family, and there are some here I would value perspective from.
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That news story caught my attention too, I saw it on BBC headlines which means it made international news I guess. And I got pretty charged up thinking about it (both good and bad). My first reaction was, wtaf Why is this international news? Would this story get the same headlines if he checked himself in for lyme disease or some physical ailment?
The real headline is like you said, that a politician *publicly admits* to having mental health issues. And I guess that’s a good thing. We all know that politicians are some of the most unhinged, unstable individuals on the planet. I wouldn’t trust any politician to park my car. But politicians have always hidden behind a ridiculous plastic facade, worse than any fake ass celebrity I’ve ever seen. I guess for the first time the plastic facade is taken off, willingly and unapologetically. And definitely that act deserves headlines even though it’s no more newsworthy than if OJ admitted he killed Nicole, we all know it so whatever.
This week a similar story is making the news, that the first minister of Scotland has resigned, citing personal struggles associated with the job. And last month it was the prime minister of New Zealand who resigned in an emotional statement saying she just didn’t have enough stamina to keep going.
I can only imagine the mental pressures these people have to deal with. On day 1 the job comes with almost half the population of haters, an opposing party eager to tear you down at every misstep. And don’t get me started on how I think you gotta be a little nutty to get into politics to begin with…
idek my point. Like I said, the story stoked a lot of thoughts on both sides of the coin. It made me think of the infamous Bud Dwyer case, the guy who blew his brains out on live tv back in the 80s or whenever, because he was facing a vicious criminal investigation and court trial….. which, years after his death, turned out to be false He was innocent and killed himself because he couldn’t clear his name. Hows that for a political fairytale.
I forgot about Bud Dwyer, I think it comes down to that he couldn’t live with the shame. I must admit, I’m only able to live with my shame because relatively few people are allowed to see it.
I couldn’t survive being a public figure. That kind of pressure is insane. I’m used to having my motivations picked at and analyzed, but by people that want me to function better, not by people looking for a weak spot.
You know, we were talking about making the end to your own story, Bud Dwyer might be the exception, the person made more interesting by his public suicide. I still don’t advocate for such things, because that kind of thing just happens, you can’t plan it.
https://apnews.com/article/john-fetterman-politics-united-states-government-iraq-edward-kennedy-f0b7c038575db78ba01394a85c359e57 S
Brave of him to seek out help. He’s a good role model in regards to that. As far as feeling sympathy for a powerful person like him, I can’t. Spotlights like fame are guaranteed to bring the famous/powerful person criticism. A politician signs up for it. If anything, it isn’t sympathy I feel, but pride. Good for him.
Celebrities like Anne Heche are a different story, though. Sometimes the world just stomps on people… in her case, she was fired from Hollywood for coming out as gay… she was also severely mentally I’ll and everyone just “exposed” her like it was juicy gossip. Nobody came together, showed support. Things like that make me cry. Then, another opposite end, lol where Piers Morgan says “usually it’s the one’s that say be kind that aren’t kind at all” … and You hear about some celebrity beating down a homeless and severely mentally ill person… “because they didn’t get a good review that day” or you know, “their bad day with fame” justified their shit. Idk, “mental health advocate + celebrity” … so many fakes out there.
““This is a moment for us to tear down the stigma of depression and anxiety,” said Kennedy, who retired in 2010 and has become a leading voice on mental illness.”
Yeah, I’m not holding my breath on that. That stigma doesn’t seem like it’s going to go away for a LONG while. Not unless a MASS of ppl come out about it all at once, kind of like a #MeToo except for depression instead.
That’s interesting i haven’t watched the news in forever but good for him. I’d rather hear of a person going into a psych ward than hear that they took their own life personally.
Also you are right, if you’re not immediately suicidal, it’s better to get treated outpatient than going into the ward. BUT, if you’re looking for methods, if you’re constantly sad, if you’re hurting a lot, fuck it, go in. The worse they could say is no. And even if they say no, they’ll try to find you help on the outside.
Honestly sometimes it’s best to go in. That’s actually how we found out there was something very VERY wrong with my psyche.