Should people with mental illnesses be given the same (or situationally comparable) consideration as the physically-handicapped?

I think that society gives sufficient empathy for those impacted with severe mental illness who absolutely cannot garner a better standard of life through treatments available the same way that a man with no legs or hips simply cannot walk, however on the opposite end I think that a huge number of people with less severe mental illness handicap themselves instead of seeking and fully taking advantage of the help that exists to make life more manageable. In many cases self-victimizing of those with mental illness causes the illness to become more exaggerated.

Of course that is my personal opinion derived from personal experiences.

This past year as a freshman in college, my best friend went through a very traumatic and scary ordeal with her (now ex) boyfriend. She was too depressed to get out of bed some days, and it bothered her that her friends could legally miss class for a stomach bug or something, while she couldn’t receive any accomodations during a bout of severe depression. And for someone with an actual mental illness, not just situational depression like my friend had, I think it would be even more frustrating and difficult.

I absolutely think people with mental illnesses should be eligible for handicap accomodations, and I don’t think society views mental illness as being on par with physical illness. Many people who don’t have loved ones or personal experience with mental illness just have a hard time wrapping their minds around the fact that mental illness is as much a disease, and can be equally as uncontrollable, as physical illness. The brain is just an organ and can be sick like any other organ.

Of course, I think that in order to receive any accomodations, one should have to be evaluated by a professional in the field and confirmed to have an illness, just as someone with a physical illness would need to do. One can’t be excused from class (for example) every time one feels sad, just as one isn’t excused from class if one is tired or has a headache or something. Even if someone doesn’t have a chronic mental illness, but just a situational thing like what happened with my friend, I think accomodations should occasionally be made. It’s sort of the mental equivalent to breaking a bone, I think.

@Mariah

I’m sorry to hear about your friend but am also concerned about the situation you described. I personally was given tremendous amounts of support in high school and in college for depression including unlimited absences as needed and extended times to complete assignments and exams so perhaps the school that your friend attends is out of line.

In addition I know several people who collect social security for being “manic depressives” aka bipolar and at my place of work people go out on “stress” or “depression” leave of absence with pay all the time.

With that being said, perhaps your friends parents could get involved in speaking to the campus health dept or the dean to ensure she has the appropriate accommodations?

And here’s another side of the problem. Over 10 years ago my son was in high school. He apparently had some enemies, but instead of the enemies going after him themselves, they got a hold of their “buddy”, a kid with Tourettes. They told him that my son wanted to fight him, that he hated him, that he was going to sneak up on him and knock him down, etc. So the poor boy believed them, and they led him to my son and sat back to watch the “fun”.

The end result was that my son thought he was going to be killed. He ended up beating the tar out of this boy, and they both ended up being suspended, although the Tourettes kid got a longer suspension. In my interview with the principal, I demanded, “Why don’t you put a leash on that poor kid? It’s obvious the other kids take advantage of him!”

He replied that the law would not allow it because of his special needs status.

@Mariah I have the same concerns as abysmalbeauty. The university health department has to improve either their services or their outreach (they may exist, but your friend doesn’t know about it).

@snowberry I’m confused. How does the kid’s Tourette’s factor into this situation? I don’t think vocal (or even physical) tics affect gullibility or violence.

@Nimis Tourettes is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder (emphasis on psychiatric). That sounds like a mental illness to me. Edit “Many with TS experience additional neurobehavioral problems including inattention; hyperactivity and impulsivity (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—ADHD) and related problems with reading, writing, and arithmetic; and obsessive-compulsive symptoms such as intrusive thoughts/worries and repetitive behaviors. For example, worries about dirt and germs may be associated with repetitive hand-washing, and concerns about bad things happening may be associated with ritualistic behaviors such as counting, repeating, or ordering and arranging. People with TS have also reported problems with depression or anxiety disorders, as well as other difficulties with living, that may or may not be directly related to TS. Given the range of potential complications, people with TS are best served by receiving medical care that provides a comprehensive treatment plan.” http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.htm

@snowberry Yes, it’s a neuropsychiatric disorder. But it doesn’t mean they’re more prone to violence or that they’re developmentally-slower (more gullible to be lured into a fight). Tourette’s displays with vocal and physical tics. More peculiar than threatening.

EDIT Even with comorbidity (ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety), there’s still isn’t much to blame for this situation. None of these are developmentally-slower, more easily taken advantage of. If anything, I would guess that this kid may lack some social skills because the parents have kept him apart from other kids.

@Nimis This kid was off the charts violent in that his “friends” could pull his strings regarding anxiety, or whatever, and get him to anything they wanted. (they gave him a baseball bat to beat up my son, which he was fully trying to do). They must have thought it hillarious. Anyway, the principal told me he couldn’t do a thing, even though he was clearly taken advantage of by these brats.

Anyway I told this because it’s an illustration of another side of the story.

@snowberry I don’t think Tourette’s can be blamed for his actions. But I do think it’s wrong if it can be used as an excuse (in this situation). I’m glad he got a longer suspension and not just a slap on the wrist. And also glad your kid stood up for himself.

Thanks for sharing.

@abysmalbeauty Really? Gosh, I had never heard of people getting excused from class for depression. I think it’s entirely possible that my friend didn’t even realize she had the right to ask for that. Thanks for the info.

In my experience, people with mental health difficulties are given quite a bit of consideration in regard to assistance, whether it be governmental, educational, etc.
In the University I attend, there’s a huge amount of support available to people experiencing depression, etc. A lot of people don’t reach out/find it hard to so they may not be getting all of the help available to them.
Mental illness is classed as a disability here and as such people are entitled to state help.
The big problem here is the adequacy of the help available to public patients. The mental health system is deplorable(where I’m from). Unless a person can fund private treatment, they’re simply not getting adequate help.

OK, here’s a situation I’m currently involved in. I have a friend who is in treatment for cap-gras syndrome. This is a mental illness where someone thinks that the people or objects in their life are imposters. Sometimes this involves them thinking just a few family members are imposters, while in other situations they think that a great many people and objects are imposters.

She is a concert quality musician, and she has played for our church for years. The problem is that she has a history of refusing to take her medicine, and she shows up basically unable to perform as she always has. We want her to continue playing, but we cannot have her show up freaked out, late, or unable to recognize her music or the people who play with her. Performing is her life, and her mother has already told us how devastated she’ll be if we don’t allow her to play.

It may be another month or two before she gets out of the hospital, but we are thinking we won’t be able to support her playing at church anymore, because she has such a spotty history, and is so difficult to work with when she’s off of her medicine.

I would appreciate any suggestions you have for how we can support her, but not get into more troublesome situations. (I’m thinking there is not going to be an easy solution.)

@snowberry I’m not that familiar with capgras syndrome, but I’d imagine a lot would ride on how well treatment works out for her. Are the meds working? Is she lucid enough to know why she needs to take them?

Also, what are her episodes like? Is she violent? Does it pass on its own? Does she need to be physically and/or medically-sedated? Are there certain things that trigger her episodes?

Is she more likely to have an episode while performing than while attending service? Is her going to service also a concern?

@Nimis For reference: http://www.damninteresting.com/an-impostor-in-the-family/

Our friend hates to take medication. (she won’t even take vitamins), and although she’ll start out taking her medication long term, she’ll end up tapering off. Her mother tells us part of the problem is that the side effects of the medication are not good, so she hates to take it. She doesn’t have episodes. I’d say that it creeps up as the medication works its way out of her system, and then it’s just on-going.

Of course, we have no way of knowing if we’re dealing with someone with no medication or a little. The result is that her behavior is unpredictable to say the least, and because in full blown stage, she believes we or her possessions are not real (imposters), she can be down right rude, or barely able to function (can’t find her place in the music because she thinks it’s not the real music) which is unacceptable during a church service. Her parents insist she is not violent, but we’re not so sure, if she were provoked too much- another deal breaker at church.

My last contact with her, I noticed she had recently been in a car accident, and I tried to speak to her about it. She became quite angry, and demanded I leave her alone, even though the car was unsafe to drive, and she had just arrived in it. In the past she’s been known to show up at our house and refuse to leave, couldn’t recognize her own car, and couldn’t be convinced it was hers.

Off of her medication I believe she at times can be danger to herself or others because of her inability to deal with reality (what’s real, the car accident, etc). She is a very private person, and is incredibly embarrassed about her condition when she’s on her medication (and of course when she’s off it there’s no talking to her at all), so speaking to her about the problem is difficult at best.

Her parents tell us that being able to perform is essential to her mental well being (I think I mentioned before she’s a concert- quality musician) and performing is a great part of her identity.. But the present situation appears to be a no win situation. We’re thinking we’re going to have to tell her she can’t play which grieves us all.

Shortly after the incident with the car wreck she was involuntarily committed (this is the third hospitalization in the last few years). She’s been there for several months, and is slowly improving.