Discussion should mental health care be forced?

[willitpass]

NOT PSYCHIATRY BASHING
should everyone be forced to have a psychiatry evaluation if they're suicidal? obviously if you have a decent life and are physically healthy then you should seek treatment for a little while because you have a decent shot at getting better, at least in my opinion. however should someone who has been through a lot of trauma or has a physical disorder be forced to try some sort of treatment at least once?

 

[demuic]

A thousand times no.

 

[Onthe29th]

I think everyone should be evaluated for mental health problems because it's not always obvious that someone is suffering. I also think extensive mental health education should be a requirement in schools along with what to look for. It should be like when they teach us about sex and drugs. They can point us in the right direction when we recognize that something is wrong. I think it's also important to come from a place of empathy and acceptance.

The only people who need mandatory care are the ones where their problems are more obvious or if they're a danger to themselves and others. Opp

 

[willitpass]

I think everyone should be evaluated for mental health problems because it's not always obvious that someone is suffering. I also think extensive mental health education should be a requirement in schools along with what to look for. It should be like when they teach us about sex and drugs. They can point us in the right direction when we recognize that something is wrong. I think it's also important to come from a place of empathy and acceptance.

The only people who need mandatory care are the ones where their problems are more obvious or if they're a danger to themselves and others. Opp

why should care be mandatory for people who are a danger to themselves if they have been through much mental health care already and have not gotten better from it? i meant if someone should be forced to attempt it for a little bit. but why should someone have to receive more treatment if nothing has helped after years?

 

[Depressed Cat]

I find it difficult to answer this question with a simple "yes" or "no". So my answer would be, it depends.

I'm against forced psychiatric evaluations for those who are feeling suicidal and their placement in psychiatric wards.

I'm strongly against and harshly condemn the utterly barbaric practice of forcibly administering ECT or shock therapy. I was shocked to learn that it happens in the United States even today.

Not all mental illnesses are the same. There are people who are not of sound mind who could be a danger to others or who could behave in a harmful way in public. In such cases, it's unfortunately necessary to force them into psychiatric treatment and care.

 

[willitpass]

I find it difficult to answer this question with a simple "yes" or "no". So my answer would be, it depends.

I'm against forced psychiatric evaluations for those who are feeling suicidal and their placement in psychiatric wards.

I'm strongly against and harshly condemn the utterly barbaric practice of forcibly administering ECT or shock therapy. I was shocked to learn that it happens in the United States even today.

Not all mental illnesses are the same. There are people who are not of sound mind who could be a danger to others or who could behave in a harmful way in public. In such cases, it's unfortunately necessary to force them into psychiatric treatment and care.

i 100% agree that someone who is a danger to others needs care whether they want it or not because it is not someone else's choice to end or hurt someone else. however suicidality is a difficult one for me to know what to choose because if someone has only been suicidal for a month to put the people around them through that trauma without giving help a shot it feels like throwing in the towel. yet someone who has been through treatment (i myself have been given ECT amongst MANY other treatments) should not be forced to continue receiving the same treatments that have not done anything for them and continue to suffer

 

[ForeverLonely82]

Very much NO...Given my personal hell with the mental health system I don't care for the lies and drugs that do more harm than good. Some "doctor" that is paid to talk to you...I find that to be disgusting, but at the same time if you have no one else and have the insurance/money to afford it then perhaps it's the only choice for interaction with someone. Ultimately, Mental Health care should be a choice and not forced in any way.

 

[Onkyo74893]

NOT PSYCHIATRY BASHING
should everyone be forced to have a psychiatry evaluation if they're suicidal? obviously if you have a decent life and are physically healthy then you should seek treatment for a little while because you have a decent shot at getting better, at least in my opinion. however should someone who has been through a lot of trauma or has a physical disorder be forced to try some sort of treatment at least once?

Due to a non-terminal but aggravating medical conditon that cropped up a year ago, I fell into a deep depression. I'm 62, and hadn't felt this depressed since my teenage years. Suicidal thoughts. I made the mistake of checking myself into a crisis stabilization unit. What a joke. They just sat me down in a recliner chair where all there was to do was watch DVD movies chosen by the staff. I was given a couple of pills so I could sleep overnight. In the recliner. In the morning, I was seen by a psychiatric practitioner who put me on a script of anti-depressants and sent me on my way. And due to the high demand for psychiatric practioners due to the pandemic, It's next to impossible to find psychologist who aren't completely booked. People who are a clear danger to themselves or others should be forced into a psych evaluation. I'm a danger to myself, but not to others. When I'm asked the stock question by a doctor, Do you feel like harming yourself or others? My answer is an automatic no. I DO want to off myself, but if I told him that.....off to the psych ward I'd go. No thanks. I've been going through this for a year now. Zero interest in things that used to make me happy. I'm close to ctb. Probably with CO using charcoal. A few benzo's chased with a couple drinks, lay down, go to sleep, forever.

 

[Crazy4u]

of course not

 

[lostautist]

Only if I can be deemed of sound mind and then euthanized. Otherwise, of course not.

 

[myopybyproxy]

What the fuck even is this question lmao. NO.

 

[WrongPlaceWrongTime]

Hell no. Isn't that part of why we're on SS? To talk about problems without being forced into anything?

 

[Wrennie]

NOT PSYCHIATRY BASHING
should everyone be forced to have a psychiatry evaluation if they're suicidal? obviously if you have a decent life and are physically healthy then you should seek treatment for a little while because you have a decent shot at getting better, at least in my opinion. however should someone who has been through a lot of trauma or has a physical disorder be forced to try some sort of treatment at least once?

I can understand where you're coming from, but I personally don't believe that 'forcing' one's will upon someone will ever get the desired results. It certainly had the opposite effect on me.

 

[StarryStarry]

NOT PSYCHIATRY BASHING
should everyone be forced to have a psychiatry evaluation if they're suicidal? obviously if you have a decent life and are physically healthy then you should seek treatment for a little while because you have a decent shot at getting better, at least in my opinion. however should someone who has been through a lot of trauma or has a physical disorder be forced to try some sort of treatment at least once?

I think ONLY if the person is a danger to others. If there is someone with mental issues who wants to kill someone else, then yes BUT only then. If someone has mental issues and is suicidal then NO

NOT PSYCHIATRY BASHING
should everyone be forced to have a psychiatry evaluation if they're suicidal? obviously if you have a decent life and are physically healthy then you should seek treatment for a little while because you have a decent shot at getting better, at least in my opinion. however should someone who has been through a lot of trauma or has a physical disorder be forced to try some sort of treatment at least once?

 

[Chiisai]

NOT PSYCHIATRY BASHING
should everyone be forced to have a psychiatry evaluation if they're suicidal? obviously if you have a decent life and are physically healthy then you should seek treatment for a little while because you have a decent shot at getting better, at least in my opinion. however should someone who has been through a lot of trauma or has a physical disorder be forced to try some sort of treatment at least once?

If its free and no societal judgement, why not? Make it part of a company's or government's annual medical checkup. But if its forced and not free and be labeled or be discriminated because of mental health issue then no

 

[waitingforrest]

I don't think I can say yes or no as the circumstances affect the decisions.

In an ideal world, I would absolutely recommend mental health care, but sadly we don't live in such a world. There is a reason why this site gets more views than the suicide hotline prevention.

I know that some mental illness may affect thinking but I don't think that gives me the excuse to decide for them. I know this is a hot take, but I don't want to make decisions for someone's life. Even if they aren't "sane" they are still human, they have the right to be treated as such.

I don't hold these views just because I believe in people being able to decline help, but it is because of my experiences. I have been in the health system ever since I was young and when you are a minor that is deemed irrational, you have no rights at all. Any attempt to resist is met with punishment in my cases. I was a vegan that couldn't eat the food they gave me. The hospital did not accommodate for this. They then diagnosed me with a eating disorder and proceeded to force feed me through tubes.

I can't support forced mental health care because of the fact that people with physical illnesses can decline treatment. Even if they are told they will die from not receiving health care. This is not the case for mental illness. A person with a terminal illness can stop their treatment at any point, whereas a mentally ill person cannot. I feel like this fact is dehumanizing to mentally ill people. People like me are treated as too messed up to make our own decisions.

Forced treatment is the reason why I refuse to seek help from hotlines. I would rather die than have what little rights I have taken away from me.

Sorry if I came off as heated. Forced hospitalization makes me bitter no matter how hard I try to stay empirical. Just so you know, this is not intended to be an attack on you op. Sorry if it came off as that way though.

 

[willitpass]

i guess rereading that my post came off the wrong way. when i said forced i didn't mean fighting hands on to get someone to do something, more of VERY strongly advised. and by treatment i meant outpatient therapy and maybe medication, absolutely not hospitalization as that is the main cause of most of my trauma

 

[Toonloon]

i guess rereading that my post came off the wrong way. when i said forced i didn't mean fighting hands on to get someone to do something, more of VERY strongly advised. and by treatment i meant outpatient therapy and maybe medication, absolutely not hospitalization as that is the main cause of most of my trauma

IDK. I don't want to take meds at all. I don't mind going to see my shrink but on my terms. If i was forced to see one I'd get mad and just lie about any symptoms i would be having. I have lied my way out of being sent to facilities before and just gone MIA from therapy. So forced treatment would not help in my case, Other's IDK.

 

[NearlyIrrelevantCake]

It should only be forced if they're a threat to others' safety.

IDC if or why someone wants to kill themselves. But if they say the family dog is telling them to kill their wife or child, that needs immediate locking up to prevent murder.

 

[Kristicide]

I don't think forcing it will work. If someone doesn't want the help it likely won't work. That's not to say it won't help some that are forced. I was forced into a psychiatric hospital by friends after I had multiple suicide attempts and a drug overdose. I hated being at the hospital at first but didn't mind it towards the end of my stay. But did it work? No, I've attempted suicide many times since. I think you have to want to make it work.

 

[Onthe29th]

why should care be mandatory for people who are a danger to themselves if they have been through much mental health care already and have not gotten better from it? i meant if someone should be forced to attempt it for a little bit. but why should someone have to receive more treatment if nothing has helped after years?

The question didn't say that they received mental help for their complicated psychiatric illness and I'm not going to assume that they did.

I rushed my answer a little because I was busy so let me explain.

The term "forced" has a negative connotation to it so I understand the negative response to my answer. I interpreted that to mean it was mandatory and in that case, I'm assuming a few things.

*people who have looked for it have already received it and are not included in my answer

*people with complicated illness who have consistently looked for assistance but we're failed by our mental health system are not included in my answer because they tried

*mandatory mental health can be anything from seeing a counselor to being placed in a psych ward

*that there are certain conditions that need to be met for it to be mandatory like with healthcare like a physical except for mental health to reach baseline functioning and not to reveal health information to our jobs.

I also understand that psych wards need a major overhaul since mentally ill people hate places like that and I also understand that facilities are seriously under-staffed and the staff is overworked. What a lot of people have experienced is the side effect of that as well as burnout and compassion fatigue on their end.

If mental health services were mandatory, the government would have to figure out a way to fix the staffing problem because everyone would need services of varying degrees.

In an ideal world, I would hope that if all services were exhausted that people could ctb in a clinical setting where it's safe too.

 

[Hirokami]

Well, I do think it should be encouraged if the means are there. I would like to live in a world where people could access mental health services with ease. I would like to live in a world where people could be carefully evaluated and treated in good faith before making the decision to end their lives, where there wasn't that looming fear of involuntary hospitalization because they commited wrongthink. And I would also like to live in a world where ctb could be viewed as an option in the mental health field, especially if all else fails, and one could do so with dignity. However that sort of world does not exist, at least at an ideal capacity. Even if it did, though, one cannot make anyone do anything. Even if it could benefit them, people would still need to desire such care for themselves. Otherwise, it leads to resentment and the opposite effect.