Mental Health Lacking in Government Aid

Both of these women are serious about their disorder and take what medications they are given regularly. The younger woman was hospitalized over a year ago and then sent to this center for out patient treatment. She was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder at the hospital. She then was to make any future appointments through this particular center where she would get counseling and be given prescriptions.

The way it usually goes is, you make an appointment with a nurse. Immediately following that you have another appointment with the doctor. They follow what has been written up by the nurse, write you prescriptions and you make another appointment with a counselor. Keep in mind she began this over a year ago, and to date ... as of Tuesday 29th she has seen three different doctors, but only on five different ocassions. She made appointment after appointment only to find no doctor was there. No one calls you to tell you this ... you find out when you arrive. So, if you are trying to get on the right medications it is a s-l-o-w process. The longest gap of not having seen a doctor was three months. Not because she didn't show. She did her part, but doctors have been let go or have left.

If it's towards the end of a month and you've yet to see your doctor, then the patient is asked to begin calling one week prior to the end of the month and call daily until the doctor's schedule is in and an appointment can be given.

I have watched as this young woman eases up just a little and begins to get some kind of trust with the counselor, only to return for the next appointment and find they have left or been let go. You get to start all over with a new one.

Office staff is no better with changes made constantly. No one talks because they are all afraid of losing their jobs. My older friend is in crisis and has been for weeks. We saw the doctor and my friend was given a specific date to return by this doctor. The appointment was for a Monday and on Friday the office phoned her to tell her the doctor wouldn't be in until Tuesday. They told her to call first thing Tuesday and start trying to get in on that day. Now remember, she had an appointment for Monday already. She finally got through around 10:00 A.M. and was told, "Oh my goodness. You're not going to believe this, but the doctor actually did show yesterday and she isn't here today. All you need to do is start calling the first of next week for her February schedule. Just call each day until we have it, okay?"

Well, call me silly, but isn't this the most ridiculous thing to put on someone that is struggling to begin with? I can't imagine this ever happening in an office where the people pay. This wouldn't be tolerated, but these people have no choice ... none.

I sat during a particular session with the younger friend as she was told she may have been misdiagnosed. It was just said ... no explanation, just maybe not what we told you to start with. This young woman's life up until now has been horrible, unspeakable. As we left she asked me, "So what does that mean ... what am I?"

To her and anyone else that is on disability or uninsured I say this ... you are a person. You are not your diagnosis! You should be treated as everyone else is treated, with dignity and respect. You should not be asked to start calling first thing in the morning and we hope to get you in before the month is out. You should be seen monthly and you should have a chance to become comfortable with your counselor. You shouldn't have to wait a year to be put on Prozac and Seroquel! You have a disorder, but you are a person deserving everything concerning treatment regardless of what insurance you have!

In a few months each of us will have the opportunity to vote. Please make certain whomever you choose ... is on the side of mental health issues in these United States.