Sandy Hook shooting highlights deficient access to psychiatry in the U.S., expert says

[davidthegnome]

11. Yeah, it's hard to get access.

Five or six years ago I needed help badly. So I was referred to a psychiatrist in my small town. I remember very well going up to the window to check in with the clerk - and being told that I needed to pay up front, in full, or there would be no appointment (though they would still charge me full price for missing it). Full price, for a 45 minute appointment came to 350 dollars. This was in a very small town, with only one mental health organization that I know of. I had no insurance, so I had to pay up front in cash - or rather my parents did, because I could never have afforded it.

This so called Doctor sat with me for 45 minutes, asked me questions about my feelings and thoughts... and when I answered, attempted to diagnose me and prescribe me an anti-psychotic medication. I met his eye, got up out of my chair and threw the prescription in the trash bin. I left his office and never went back either to him or to the organization he worked for.

Some times the help can be nearly as bad as the problem. Mental health in America, particularly in regards to psychiatry... is heavily focused on treating symptoms through the use of powerful, mind altering drugs - that are often prescribed without much thought. Diagnosis is often given based on brief meetings without sufficient knowledge of medical history, biology, or even adequate knowledge of the patient's thoughts.

The focus (IMO) needs to be on understanding the factors which cause the illness, ruling out purely physical ailments (Heart disease, bronchitis, various forms of deficiency and toxicity etc.) that can mimic various forms of mental illness.... and actually finding a way to treat it or even cure it through regular appointments and responsible practices.

Frankly, given my more than fifteen years of experience with psychiatry and psychology in America... I have to say that I do not think highly of the practice. If we are going to heal the mind, we need to do more than alter it's chemical makeup for 350 bucks an hour.