Posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 21, 2006, at 5:53:13 [reposted on November 22, 2006, at 12:58:25 | original URL]
In reply to New Mental Health Laws in UK, posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2006, at 14:45:34
This is wholly subjective and probably I've got it all wrong, but in essence the laws are about forcing people to take their medications so that they're not a 'risk' to society. Medication is better than having people in long-term therapy, appropriate residentual settings, proper care etc. Their attidude is 'dope 'em up'. Well anyway, thats how I see it, and well, I could be wrong.
The differences in mental health are so apparent now I'm in Finland. Here, I see a pyschiatrist no problem (and its virtually free, well I had to pay about 3 bucks/3.5 Euros) Anyway, I couldn't believe it! She's talking about long-term pyschodynamic therapy for me, meaning 2 years at 2 sessions a week. Plus, this is will be mostly paid for my the state mental health services. I honestly can't believe it. In the UK you're extremely lucky to get some simple counselling and even thats often for only 6-10 sessions. Its a whole different world here. In the UK it was an extreme battle just to see a (useless) psychiatrist in the first place on the NHS!!
The pyschiatrist here in Finland is actually coming in just to see me on Monday. She doesn't even work mondays. She's thinking about my medication until then, and psychodynamic therapists how can speak english. Can you believe it? I'm like 'wow'.
Anyway, its a question of cash in the UK system. There simply isn't enough.
poster:Meri-Tuuli
thread:706184
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20061009/msgs/706188.html