Mental Illness

rollings

Here is a link to a PubMed abstract regarding research of the use of humor to reduce mental illness stigma.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4059196/

the study found humor to be an effective and positive medium to discuss and deal with mental illness both for the persons discussing it as well as for their audience.

the abstratct linked above also contains links to other research articles:

Similar articles in PubMed
Modifying attitudes to mental health using comedy as a delivery medium.
[Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epide...]
Laughing at the looking glass: does humor style serve as an interpersonal signal?
[Evol Psychol. 2013]
What is a mental illness? Public views and their effects on attitudes and disclosure.
[Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2012]
Humor, laughter, and physical health: methodological issues and research findings.
[Psychol Bull. 2001]
On the self-stigma of mental illness: stages, disclosure, and strategies for change.
[Can J Psychiatry. 2



By making humor "off limits", you are perhaps cutting yourself off from the exact stigma breakthrough you are looking for and may instead be perpetuating it.

HughFreakingDillon

rollings said:

Here is a link to a PubMed abstract regarding research of the use of humor to reduce mental illness stigma.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4059196/

the study found humor to be an effective and positive medium to discuss and deal with mental illness both for the persons discussing it as well as for their audience.

the abstratct linked above also contains links to other research articles:

Similar articles in PubMed
Modifying attitudes to mental health using comedy as a delivery medium.
[Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epide...]
Laughing at the looking glass: does humor style serve as an interpersonal signal?
[Evol Psychol. 2013]
What is a mental illness? Public views and their effects on attitudes and disclosure.
[Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2012]
Humor, laughter, and physical health: methodological issues and research findings.
[Psychol Bull. 2001]
On the self-stigma of mental illness: stages, disclosure, and strategies for change.
[Can J Psychiatry. 2



By making humor "off limits", you are perhaps cutting yourself off from the exact stigma breakthrough you are looking for and may instead be perpetuating it.

As I stated, humour is not off limits. But I think it's important that the person using it disclose their own personal dealings with it. I see the study showed no "significant stigma change" in attitude between the diclosing comic and the non-disclosing comic, but I think at this point in time, it's important to air on the side of sensitivity, since the stigma is still so large. It is, after all, one study. I think it's interesting. I would have thought it would have showed some disparity, but it all depends what the researchers deemed "significant".

HughFreakingDillon

I think it's also important to note that the humour used was in person, which can have a dramatically different effect than humour in print, which, as we know, can be miscronstrued in any number of ways.

chadwick

here i am with my big-huge mental disorder - ADHD - attention deficit hyperactive disorder. do not ever talk to me about psychologists & psychiatrists. at age (whatever age a kindergartener is) the school system noticed i was a odd duck w/ my head placed up my ass. that's also why my location says so on here as such. is a mental disorder the same as a mental illness? i'm looking into it.

i used to have to do the red/white plastic pieces placing them in the shapes shown test. done this so many times it's ridiculous. a school psychologist asked me to walk backwards when i was in kindergarten. I told him no I aint walkin backwards. he begged & begged me to walk backwards. i refused. he was upset. to be honest I don't think I knew how to walk in reverse because i told him my mom & dad taught me to walk forward.

ritalin kids in the 70's & 80's. i was one of those little squirrels bouncing off the ceilings for kicks. you wanna see a kid run circles around grown ass men in the navy seals training program at BUDS? you shoulda got a load of me as a kid. im the definitions of "all over it" or "lost in space" or "up my ass is my head" or "you can't wear me out im a squirrelly carnival" or "solid shit grades goes the daydreamer athlete" or "football, baseball, swimming, boxing, bikes, kick boxing, hide & seek marathons, treehouse madness/forts & chores guy" up at 5am grinding shit down

that was my average day.

as a kid i was embarrassed about taking a "crazy pill." yes i called ritalin "crazy pill." i had to get up from class w/out saying a word to the teacher, walk to the nurses office & take my "crazy pills" then i walked back to class & failed w/ my head stuck up some day dreaming asscloud where psychologists, psychiatrists & i found entertainment.

i was always in the slowed down mental disability werewolf classes. it's funny how i was tested as having a high IQ even though i've no idea where the hell i am at half the time

everything's the opposite, the opposite

i am actually trying to learn how to live my life. up until last year i was a teenager - 20s. i then learned im 43 yrs old. i'll be god damned im a full fledged adult.

this is my mental disorder

congratulation

chadwick

hugh, isn't that something, when i was a kid i called Ritalin "crazy pills"
turns out you do the same thing. that has me amazed at the moment

hedonist

chadwick,

Your honesty, and how you share it, is beautiful.

*edit - I'd be awfully remiss if I didn't say the same for Hugh.

brianlux

I knew we could all come together on this. Honest responses, forthright feelings, putting it out there. Hell, you guys is the bees knees!

mickeyrat

To be a dick, did that meet the "humor litmus test"?

brianlux

mickeyrat said:

To be a dick, did that meet the "humor litmus test"?

I would think it would be obvious if anyone here were making light of mental illness or making fun of someone with a mental health issues. Trying to help lighten things up never seems like a bad idea to me. The other thing is, if someone feels uncertain about a response they can always ask for clarification either on the thread or in a PM. But like I say, I just don't see anyone here as giving anyone else shit about having mental health issues.

Hopefully we're all good here.

mickeyrat

brianlux said:

mickeyrat said:

To be a dick, did that meet the "humor litmus test"?

I would think it would be obvious if anyone here were making light of mental illness or making fun of someone with a mental health issues. Trying to help lighten things up never seems like a bad idea to me. The other thing is, if someone feels uncertain about a response they can always ask for clarification either on the thread or in a PM. But like I say, I just don't see anyone here as giving anyone else shit about having mental health issues.

Hopefully we're all good here.

I agree.

All too often I judge peoples outward exhibitions against my internal ones. Its not fair to either of us. Nor is it an accurate understanding of reality. believe that to be generally true for most.

ledvedderman

Good to see a healthy discussion about mental illness taking place. I was diagnosed bipolar II almost 6 years ago and there hasn't been a dull moment since. I went through a doctor who damn near killed me by over prescribing and now have a doctor who listens and really takes what I have to say to heart.
The stigma around those w/ mental illness (while changing slowly) is still obscene. I've been able to accomplish a great deal in my life while fighting bipolar disorder, depression, addiction and all of the other fun things that come with my diagnosis.
I think going through a mental illness really does lead you to view the world differently. If you're fighting this battle in silence, what else is everyone else fighting without mentioning. It's definitely made me more aware of others feelings and what could possibly be driving them and their behavior.

gibsonguitars

Hi, so sorry to hear that sad news. I've suffered from depression/anxiety for years now, and unfortunately there still remains a stigma attached to mental illnesses. Like other comments, there are good days and bad ones, but I feel so blessed and fortunate for the help I've received and for my family (wife and 3 boys). We live in Canada, and fortunately my employer (I'm a nurse) provided some benefits coverage for the psychiatry visits and for meds.
Music, especially music from the worlds greatest band (you know who) has always provided me with some form of escape from some of what I feel.
Again, my condolences to you as you grieve your loss.
P

Thoughts_Arrive

gibsonguitars said:

Hi, so sorry to hear that sad news. I've suffered from depression/anxiety for years now, and unfortunately there still remains a stigma attached to mental illnesses. Like other comments, there are good days and bad ones, but I feel so blessed and fortunate for the help I've received and for my family (wife and 3 boys). We live in Canada, and fortunately my employer (I'm a nurse) provided some benefits coverage for the psychiatry visits and for meds.
Music, especially music from the worlds greatest band (you know who) has always provided me with some form of escape from some of what I feel.
Again, my condolences to you as you grieve your loss.
P

I was considering being a nurse but was given advice not to as working shifts at night would exacerbate my illness. Do you find working night shift makes it harder for you to manage your symptoms?

Thoughts_Arrive

I read a news article this morning about a girl in her early 30's (my age) has been knocked back from 900 employers due to her mental illness, this discrimination needs to stop!

chadwick

if i may ask, what is her mental illness? she applied for work with 900 employers?

Thoughts_Arrive

chadwick said:

if i may ask, what is her mental illness? she applied for work with 900 employers?

Depression and Anxiety.
Here's the article: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/sunburys-kristy-hansen-says-job-is-meant-to-be-after-900-applications/news-story/d3352de66bca33fdb486d678dabf8461

gibsonguitars

Thoughts_Arrive said:

gibsonguitars said:

Hi, so sorry to hear that sad news. I've suffered from depression/anxiety for years now, and unfortunately there still remains a stigma attached to mental illnesses. Like other comments, there are good days and bad ones, but I feel so blessed and fortunate for the help I've received and for my family (wife and 3 boys). We live in Canada, and fortunately my employer (I'm a nurse) provided some benefits coverage for the psychiatry visits and for meds.
Music, especially music from the worlds greatest band (you know who) has always provided me with some form of escape from some of what I feel.
Again, my condolences to you as you grieve your loss.
P

I was considering being a nurse but was given advice not to as working shifts at night would exacerbate my illness. Do you find working night shift makes it harder for you to manage your symptoms?

gibsonguitars

Yes, I do have to do my fair share of night shifts, and when I finish them each month, I'm not myself for a few days. I just do my best to find the right balance of peace and quiet, and things I enjoy (family time, music, my dog etc).

chadwick

probably over 90% of the population have difficulties in working the night shift. i've done it & it sucks. i've worked all the shifts & night shift is the worst. you do what you gotta do.

HughFreakingDillon

well folks, today is Bell Let's Talk Day. for every tweet or text message using the hash tag #bellletstalk, Bell Canada will donate 5 cents to mental health initiatives in Canada. Since 2010, they have donated over $100 Million.