Random Spiel, Mental Health Stigma

If you ask a random stranger about their stance on whether they support measure to promote mental health, you'll probably get a positive response, why yes, I support mental health and I really do. But ask them if they're interested to book an appointment for consult and you'll get a mixed response but a predominant no for an answer.

People involved in the health service industry often report being mentally drained on top of the physical fatigue that comes with the job. And these are populations that need their mental health in check because their psyche can affect how they render care. But in practice, it's rare to get someone in this line of work voluntarily be coming in for consult unless they are acutely distressed or mandated to get some evaluation done.

That's why it's a lip service to say one cares about mental health care but would hesitate at the proposition of booking an appointment. If your initial reaction is to say no cause you ain't going nuts, do understand that not all that seek consult are crazy and some of these people just find themselves in a difficult situation that their mental resources are taxed.

I'm talking about people that are undergoing their grieving process manifesting depression, being depressed and anxious about losing a job, having difficulty adjusting in school or work, poor sleeping patterns, or malingering.

Everyone has problems but we differ in how we deal with those problems. Take for instance this one case of a woman I encountered recently that came in for thoughts of suicide and preoccupation with other morbid thoughts. She presented all the text book signs of a major depressive disorder but putting in more context, to her situation, she recently lost her child due to an accident and has been blaming herself ever since.

The story isn't that rare and most people can at least empathize what it's like to grieve for a loved one. However, each person has their own way of processing and coping through different life events. Most people that grieve don't necessarily get brought in by concerned folks for consult, that much is obvious. That woman is closely monitored and under suicidal precautions with some meds to help her sleep.

Losing a job isn't so bad for most people, but imagine if you're the breadwinner in the family with a lot of bills to pay. One could lose sleep and trigger a series of anxiety symptoms right after that makes them less functional to cope.

The stigma that sticks is that image of a psychotic patient who has a disorganized behavior and having hallucinations. It's granted that we do get those patients in but a lot of times, the cases we also get in high quantities are medico-legal related (violence against women and children), adjustment disorders, and intellectual disabilities.

It just grinds my gears hearing patients would come in depressed due to the lack of social support their folks have for their condition. There's that Filipino mentality to avoid seeking psychiatric consult because folks tend to be in denial about their patient's condition until they start getting violent and disorganized, then they start bringing their loved one in a worse shape. Stories about coming in for consult in secret because they don't want their parents, parents or school to know they got a problem.

It's cases like these that delay treatment and people wait for stuff to get worse before they come in. There are medical conditions that could've had good prognosis early when help was sought after but ended up being poor because of how the stigma prevented them from seeking care early.

Thanks for your time.