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diannemfarrell's comments:
on Juncture at Junction City
"If we build it, they will come." I have seen patients get pushed from the county level to the state hospital because the county "can't overspend its budget." If people have to be hospitalized--and some do--the closer to home the better. Good Sam in Corvallis has an excellent facility. Part of that is, it's not too big. My relative has said, "If there has to be this kind of place, this is probably as good as it gets." And it's way cheaper than the state hospital. Once you get in that place, you don't get out for a long time.
It's needed for forensics patients, but not even all of them need to go to the state hospital. It's used for geriatric patients, I don't know if that's necessary.
If you can't even staff it--why build it?
DF Corvallis
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Involuntary Commitment
I see Mindfreedom as primarily a civil rights organization. I do not see it out there fighting for the kind of services people with serious mental illness do need. I see EASA and Peer Wellness programs (Benton County) and the small Romprey Peer Wellness contingent at the State Hospital as examples of small beginnings in Oregon. If everyone on Civil Commitment had to go to OSH, that would not be good--local treatment is far preferable. (As it is, to get into OSH right away, you have to commit a crime and become a forensics patient.) Actually EASA is a great model to deal with first break patients, and should be extgended to all counties.
I have people close to me who've been 'round the block with meds. All have taken "med holidays," under supervision or not. Some have thrived for quite awhile before relapsing ( 2 yrs, 4 mo in the case closest to my heart).
I don't know of anyone on the atypical anti-psychotics who has tardive dyskinesia. They are managing now to find an atypical for you that doesn't cause weight gain, if you have a doctor who has the patience to try. But I don't know any schizophrenia patients who've been able to stay off meds permanently. I'd like to read about the Scandinavian/Finnish system and will take your suggestion to read Bob Whitaker.
Thanks for your response.
Dianne Farrell
NAMI Mid-Valley
posted 3 years ago
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on Involuntary Commitment
Providing public services for the mentally ill, many of whom wander our streets as homeless persons, is not too much to ask of ourselves--the taxpayers. We build jails....One percent of the population has schizophrenia. That's quite a few in a town of 50,000...
Dianne Farrell
posted 3 years ago
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on Involuntary Commitment
Please find a different peer spokesperson for sufferers from mental illness. Meghan Caughey is VP of Mental Health America of Oregon. She is Peer Wellness Coordinator for Benton County Health Department, which training program she designed and teaches. She is available at 541-766-6107 or (blackberry) 541-207-8133 or meghan.caughey@co.benton.or.us. She is not at war with medication for serious mental illness and is focused on the needs of and empowerment of those suffering from mental illness.
Dianne Farrell
NAMI Mid-Valley
posted 3 years ago
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on Involuntary Commitment
David Oaks' personal experience is from 30 plus years ago, when drugs and treatment generally were pretty much in the Dark Ages. I'd like to hear him update his message with the rather different situation today in all respects--legally, treatment-wise. The tragedy today is the unavailability of treatment for uninsured people without wealth--most schizophrenics.
Dianne Farrell
posted 3 years ago
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on Involuntary Commitment
I'm reading from Mental Health Law in Oregon from Disability Rights. The criteria are, as stated "danger to yourself or others" or "unable to provide for own health and safety." As noted, the number of successful commitments is very low (7%). Is the problem here judicial misinterpretation of the law's intent? Do we need a rewriting of the law?
I want to note the possiblity of Assisted Outpatient Treatment.--you agree to accept treatment under the judge's order. That's easier to accept--if the patient is amenable, and if he/she isn't, they go to the hospital.
At present the law is not being used to it's fullest extent. The danger to oneself or others is often not considered unless the attempt has already been made. I know something about this thru my work with NAMI Mid-Valley. (And have an ill family member.) The bind is apparently that the county doesn't have the money to pay for the needed hospitalization....
Dianne Farrell
posted 3 years ago
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on The State of the State Hospital
Patients describe staff clustering at the front desk behind a glass barrier to chat and enjoy one another's company--for long stretches--ignoring patients. I know this from a family member who has been there recently, and also from other NAMI parents who presently have someone there. In a recent case, the family member called to ask staff to help his son, who he had been talking to on the patient phone, and staff just blew him off. That was 50-D.
I know about the back-to-back shifts, but there is no excuse for this kind of thing.
Dianne Farrell
Corvallis
posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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