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I’m not sure everyone understands how difficult it is to share one’s story about interactions with the mental health system - ESPECIALLY when one doesn’t get the support one is seeking from that system. Everyone says “get help” but get really upset when you say the “help” sucks. https://twitter.com/lahayden94/status/1296047726644416515
And to make it clear - this post is NOT pill shaming or med shaming or anti-psychiatry. Why? Because I know people who have been helped by the system. They have found what they need. The meds work for them - in a way THEY define for themselves. We see those stories all the time.
But too often, we do not hear from the people who have been harmed by the system. The people for whom the drugs not only didn’t work, but resulted in harm. Those whose brains were damaged by ECT. Those too often denigrated by members of the profession which failed them.
It’s not easy to go against the grain in this space. Trust me - I’ve been in this space for decades. IT IS FAILING FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE. IT IS HURTING FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE. IT IS KEEPING TOO MANY PEOPLE SEGREGATED IN INSTITUTIONS FOR TOO LONG A TIME. IT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
So STOP saying we have a “mental health” crisis. We have a WORLD DYSFUNCTION crisis that is far bigger than the individuals struggling - it is systemic. I’ll go back to this from my colleague Susan Stefan.
