|
Post by naominash3 on Jul 6, 2020 10:46:51 GMT
Enjoy your memories for me As I relive mine I find it best not to live in the past, sadly I do too much of it. Memories can be a real pain. Hope yours are more happy. xx Fishing is therapeutic for me. Seeing the young lady try fishing for the first time brought joy to my heart.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2020 14:12:53 GMT
Updated links to articles in blog so are easier to access.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 7, 2020 12:22:27 GMT
I think that is why people are intrigued but sceptical about what good could come from anything that resembles a holistic model for mental health services. They are not entirely sure what it is but they also seem to assume that's what it is about. The Moral Determinants of Health Donald M. Berwick, MD, MPP1 jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2767353"The source of what the philosopher Immanuel Kant called “the moral law within” may be mysterious, but its role in the social order is not. In any nation short of dictatorship some form of moral compact, implicit or explicit, should be the basis of a just society. Without a common sense of what is “right,” groups fracture and the fragments wander. Science and knowledge can guide action; they do not cause action. No scientific doubt exists that, mostly, circumstances outside health care nurture or impair health. Except for a few clinical preventive services, most hospitals and physician offices are repair shops, trying to correct the damage of causes collectively denoted “social determinants of health.” Marmot1 has summarized these in 6 categories: conditions of birth and early childhood, education, work, the social circumstances of elders, a collection of elements of community resilience (such as transportation, housing, security, and a sense of community self-efficacy), and, cross-cutting all, what he calls “fairness,” which generally amounts to a sufficient redistribution of wealth and income to ensure social and economic security and basic equity. Galea2 has cataloged social determinants at a somewhat finer grain, calling out, for example, gun violence, loneliness, environmental toxins, and a dozen more causes. The power of these societal factors is enormous compared with the power of health care to counteract them. One common metaphor for social and health disparities is the “subway map” view of life expectancy, showing the expected life span of people who reside in the neighborhood of a train or subway stop. From midtown Manhattan to the South Bronx in New York City, life expectancy declines by 10 years: 6 months for every minute on the subway. Between the Chicago Loop and west side of the city, the difference in life expectancy is 16 years. At a population level, no existing or conceivable medical intervention comes within an order of magnitude of the effect of place on health. Marmot also estimated if the population were free of heart disease, human life expectancy would increase by 4 years,1 barely 25% of the effect associated with living in the richer parts of Chicago instead of the poorer ones. How do humans invest in their own vitality and longevity? The answer seems illogical. In wealthy nations, science points to social causes, but most economic investments are nowhere near those causes. Vast, expensive repair shops (such as medical centers and emergency services) are hard at work, but minimal facilities are available to prevent the damage. In the US at the moment, 40 million people are hungry, almost 600 000 are homeless, 2.3 million are in prisons and jails with minimal health services (70% of whom experience mental illness or substance abuse), 40 million live in poverty, 40% of elders live in loneliness, and public transport in cities is decaying. Today, everywhere, as the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests make clear yet again, deep structural racism continues its chronic, destructive work. In recent weeks, people in their streets across the US, many moved perhaps by the “moral law within,” have been protesting against vast, cruel, and seemingly endless racial prejudice and inequality. Decades of research on the true causes of ill health, a long series of pedigreed reports, and voices of public health advocacy have not changed this underinvestment in actual human well-being. Two possible sources of funds seem logically possible: either (a) raise taxes to allow governments to improve social determinants, or (b) shift some substantial fraction of health expenditures from an overbuilt, high-priced, wasteful, and frankly confiscatory system of hospitals and specialty care toward addressing social determinants instead. Either is logically possible, but neither is politically possible, at least not so far. Neither will happen unless and until an attack on racism and other social determinants of health is motivated by an embrace of the moral determinants of health, including, most crucially, a strong sense of social solidarity in the US. “Solidarity” would mean that individuals in the US legitimately and properly can depend on each other for helping to secure the basic circumstances of healthy lives, no less than they depend legitimately on each other to secure the nation’s defense. If that were the moral imperative, government—the primary expression of shared responsibility—would defend and improve health just as energetically as it defends territorial integrity."
|
|
|
Post by Bodhitree on Jul 7, 2020 17:31:52 GMT
@blueberry, great writing about SMI and health inequalities, good to read this subject tackled in depth. It seems very convenient that Public Health England can claim the reasons for poorer health 'are not yet fully understood'. Thank you. What I find interesting is their lack of evidence for their statement that work is good for mental health. No links or research article to back that up. I say prove it... bet they can't, especially for people with SMI. Is based on their ideology and not evidenced research. I think so too. I’ve heard anecdotal evidence only of work being good for people with SMI, things like “stability” and “regular patterns”, and I think that “too busy to complain” also plays a role.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 7, 2020 17:39:17 GMT
Thank you. What I find interesting is their lack of evidence for their statement that work is good for mental health. No links or research article to back that up. I say prove it... bet they can't, especially for people with SMI. Is based on their ideology and not evidenced research. I think so too. I’ve heard anecdotal evidence only of work being good for people with SMI, things like “stability” and “regular patterns”, and I think that “too busy to complain” also plays a role. Arbeit macht frei
|
|
|
Post by Bodhitree on Jul 7, 2020 17:58:46 GMT
I think so too. I’ve heard anecdotal evidence only of work being good for people with SMI, things like “stability” and “regular patterns”, and I think that “too busy to complain” also plays a role. Arbeit macht frei Do you think so? I always thought that was a total cock-up of a saying, work doesn’t make free at all, that is ideology twisting people’s thinking. What makes free is money, and not being afraid to go against society’s wishes. I have a lot of respect for Jiddu Krishnamurti, he was absolutely right in saying that most people are programmed by the society.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 7, 2020 18:05:40 GMT
Do you think so? I always thought that was a total cock-up of a saying, work doesn’t make free at all, that is ideology twisting people’s thinking. What makes free is money, and not being afraid to go against society’s wishes. I have a lot of respect for Jiddu Krishnamurti, he was absolutely right in saying that most people are programmed by the society. i was being sarcastic - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbeit_macht_freiThere appears to be 'levels' of conditioning & how much some people are obedient to Authority & the Status Quo.
|
|
|
Post by Bodhitree on Jul 7, 2020 18:08:50 GMT
Oh right, and here I go, sarcasm radar on the fritz. Oh well.
At least I made it to God level!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2020 23:07:36 GMT
Thank you. What I find interesting is their lack of evidence for their statement that work is good for mental health. No links or research article to back that up. I say prove it... bet they can't, especially for people with SMI. Is based on their ideology and not evidenced research. I think so too. I’ve heard anecdotal evidence only of work being good for people with SMI, things like “stability” and “regular patterns”, and I think that “too busy to complain” also plays a role. Well it stops people from planning a revolution I suppose. But 'too busy to complain' is definitely true.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 21:57:51 GMT
It appears that people can drink in pubs, eat in cafes and congregate in shops, but mental health support groups cannot meet up.
So the economy is more important than people's health and wellbeing.
I suppose most people who attend these support groups are not working. Which means they are dispensable. If there is no money to be made then it doesn't matter.
The idea that looking after our mental health is important during lockdown is a farce when there is no support for those suffering mental illness.
As usual, is just words. Lots of public noise making about it but nothing done.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 24, 2020 22:28:45 GMT
So the economy is more important than people's health and wellbeing. Profit before people - money is God. i don't think that society as a whole cares & the whole ideological War over health, compounded by the internet & this virus, has reached insane levels, especially between the wellness community / alternative areas & biomedical / scientific establishment.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2020 12:07:58 GMT
So the economy is more important than people's health and wellbeing. Profit before people - money is God. i don't think that society as a whole cares & the whole ideological War over health, compounded by the internet & this virus, has reached insane levels, especially between the wellness community / alternative areas & biomedical / scientific establishment. Society doesn't care. But society is not encouraged to care either. Money on the other hand, is made the centre of everything, so we are forced to care about it and is no surprise people end up putting financial concerns before the lives of others. That does not make it right, but the system makes it so.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 25, 2020 12:26:22 GMT
Society doesn't care. But society is not encouraged to care either. Money on the other hand, is made the centre of everything, so we are forced to care about it and is no surprise people end up putting financial concerns before the lives of others. That does not make it right, but the system makes it so. 'We' can't make society / people care - we can't change the society / system. 'We' can't change the debate around mental health or the public perceptions on it all. Yes money / Capitalism - the system, it is psychopathological in itself. It's also inherently unsustainable - But by God we shall carry on with it all & Never look at any alternative. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXIRwd1LNVY
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2020 13:18:39 GMT
Trolls: Should we show them empathy and compassion? Back in early 2018, when Trump had not even been a year in office and Ed Sheeran was virtually ubiquitous on the radio, something interesting - some might say ‘inspiring’ happened buried deep amongst the usual Twitter white noise. Comedian Sarah Silverman encountered a rather rude troll and responded with compassion to the point of paying for medical treatment he needed and encouraging him to join a support group to deal with trauma issues from his past. Confession time here; I have never seen this done elsewhere on the internet in my limited experience of it, although it might be widespread in some circles. As part of my personal social media interests (mainly, politics, and mental health), and subsequent online communities I visit or have visited, I haven’t witnessed much time or compassion for trolls, whether that is because they don’t frequent these communities, are blocked precisely because of their trolling, or they are just so annoying and obstructive that people are completely exasperated at them. Of course you also have to take into account professional trolls who are paid to divert discussions and distract those following or contributing to said discussions by others who would rather certain viewpoints were promoted,or conversations avoided/not given screen time. Russia is often accused of this, particularly for influencing election results, indeed rather famously the UK Brexit referendum. (It’s fair to assume it’s not just the Russians who do this however). But some trolls do so purely out of their own personal reasons. It’s hard to argue with anyone who states that trolls have poor mental health. Psychology Today (2019) claims that internet trolling has links to loneliness, feelings of rejection and aggression, and correlates with “Dark Tetrad personality traits of machiavellianism, psychopathy, everyday sadism, and narcissism”. Every person is the way they are because of their past, in some way or another, and for people with dispositions such as NPD (narcissistic personality disorder), while much of the internet is devoted to sharing stories of hatred and resentment towards such individuals, childhood trauma and abuse is often linked to the development of the disorder. Psychopathy is strongly linked to early childhood rejection, especially by parents. Both personality disorders are also said to be partly caused by biological and genetic factors, all which suggests there is little choice in the behaviour of a pathological narcissist or psychopath. Machiavellianism in itself, which is characterised by a desire to ‘take what one from get’ from any given situation, with little or no regard for others whom the Machiavellian individual may manipulate in order to do so, can be caused by growing up in a situation which necessitated a ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality, e.g. being the child of a person addicted to illicit substances, who has no recourse to an adequate means of existence due to their addiction. The child may have been taught to steal, lie and manipulate others to put food on the table and fund their parent’s habit, in so learning that this kind of behaviour is normal. This is just one example of how the traits can develop; running away from an abusive family and having to survive and fend for oneself by living on the streets is another. Ultimately the behaviour is learned and it’s not the fault of the person exhibiting the behaviour; it’s a mixture of circumstances, usually outwith their control. Given all this, it’s clear that if the research cited by the Psychology Today article is correct, internet trolls can’t help the feelings they have and their behaviour is down to a history of deep personal trauma and tragic circumstances. So should we be reaching out to them, instead of calling them out on their behaviour and responding with hostility? Some would argue a big fat ‘no’ as far as this is concerned. Marcia Sirota of the Huffington Post warns that while the likes of Silverman are admirable, “ Killing An Internet Troll With Kindness Isn't Always Worth The Risk”. She points out that anyone with certain personality disordered characteristics that mean they enjoy hurting others might not have any interest in anyone’s ‘help’; their main focus is bullying their target and harassing those who make them feel inferior or uncomfortable. I think this is an important point; but i would go further and say it depends on who you are and how you are feeling about yourself and at the time. As someone with mental health issues myself, or, as the archetypal troll would prefer to say, as a ‘special snowflake’, I don’t think I would be have the emotional resources (read: I have low self esteem and would take on board their trolling comments) to cope with anything abusive personally directed at me online. This might seem like a contradiction in itself; is it not hypocritical not to help others who also have mental health issues - after all, we are all in the same boat, what makes me any more worthy of compassion than them? Wouldn’t I want compassion and understanding from others? If I am honest, of course I would. But does that mean I should afford anyone else with mental health issues the same, regardless of how abusive or sadistic they may be towards me or others? Well, yes and no. A trained therapist, or someone who is confident in themselves, and feels able to deal with any comeback, probably is capable of fighting through the defensive rhetoric of a troll and getting to the root cause of the problem. Someone who has suffered years of abuse themselves and as a result has serious mental health problems and self issues - no. It’s not that anyone in this kind of situation can’t necessarily feel empathy for anyone in this situation. They can understand why someone might have ended up that way. It’s about being able to deal with whatever the troll throws at you that is the issue here. And also, it’s about accepting that you have enough going on to deal with in your own life regarding emotional issues and trauma, that taking on board another’s problems maybe wouldn’t be helpful to you or to them, ultimately, as you can’t help anyone else if you’re not feeling up to helping yourself or in a good place psychologically. ‘Self care’ isn’t just a meaningless middle class mantra designed for professionals who attend neoliberal ‘mindfulness classes’. It is actually a thing, and you have to look after your own wellbeing before you can anyone else’s. It’s not selfish to acknowledge and live by that rule, it’s a matter of fact. But, hats off to anyone who takes on trolls with compassion and wins, I say. It’s possible that for many who seem to devote their life to hurting others online and bringing others down, this is the best approach. Indeed blocking trolls from interacting with others may just feed their sense of rejection and loneliness, and not help anyone, neither the troll nor their potential victims. But leave the untangling of all the trolls defence mechanisms and breaking down of their barriers to those who can deal with the verbal weapons they use to disarm and wound us. This is one Twitter battle I and many others can do without fighting.
|
|
|
Post by snowstorm on Aug 15, 2020 13:57:52 GMT
I'd prefer to make a troll very aware that their behaviour is unacceptable.
Yahoo comments under articles are mostly endlessly undermining - so much so I notice sometimes now they are suspending comments for the sake of the community and asking people to fill out a survey about it.
Surely they can't all have had a damaged childhood, though of course if some of them did it is very sad. Work for a professional in the the mental health field as you say, blueberry.
|
|