I have a brother with a mental health issue, that is the extent of my expertise on this subject but it is one that is very much at the front of my mind since the government came up with it’s latest money saving wheeze..testing people on invalidity benefit and sending them back to work. Now we all know there are zillions of scroungers on benefits who have found their way into the labrynith of benefits clauses and got a big old pot full of money, but some people just can’t or shouldn’t work.
We used to have mental institutions, my first proper job was at St.Nicholas Hopsital and I loved it. Firstly that building was incredible, although if you’re living in your own hell that’s probably the last thing on your mind but any how it was gorgeous and cocooning and what ever they did or said was not the subject of a load of gobby teenagers on a street corner, having a good laugh. Now I can only speak for this hospital but the staff were amazing, friendly and professional. Those long term, for ever patients may not have been aware but they had the best possible oasis of care that was possible…then they closed it and created care in the community. I often wonder what became of those individuals who were thrust into the world, lets hope I’m being a pessimist and it was successful. There is so littlefunding for mental health that anyone with problems has to wait a critically long time to see anyone in the field or sees a doctor who knows nothing about mental health..it’s far from ideal.
My parents have suffered immensley through this for many years, going from one crisis to another. They have watched their intelligent son go up and down on a black cloud of hell, coped with crashing lows, whirl wind highs, become experts on prescription drugs and remained calm when they have wanted to just throw in the towel and abandon the whole thing. Thanks to them my brother is independent and has his own flat and although not by any means perfect, is coping with life in his world, but unfortunately he needs that benefit to live. He can’t work, although he has a degree and had a super professional high paid career in days gone by, this is not an option for him anymore and he truly has no control over that. Lets face it, the perfectly able are having a problem getting a job so it’s even harder if you have issues.
Just getting to the interview was a feat in itself but he got there, explained his history and went through his medical notes and all that jazz, we were very confident that they would see he was not pulling a fast one. Apparently not. He was declared fit to work, forget your mental state and the fact you haven’t worked for 20 years and just going to the post office is a major achievement, you’ll be fine, off you go! And while you’re at it apply for so many jobs a week, and they can be hours away in Ipswich, Colchester, the world is your oyster, just get off our benefit system.
To his credit he has done everything asked of him and has had 3 interviews but what do you say when asked why you haven’t worked for 20 years and will you be ok? The lady who is quite literally on his case for getting him back to work obviously has no idea about mental conditions and he has dubbed her Herr Otto Flick, the Gestapo officer who tries to show as little emotion as possible, well you’ve got to laugh about it! The whole experience has brought him right down and he was recently explaining all this to his psycologist,and mentioned his dislike for this woman who was causing him such grief. This caused a flurry of activity, social workers, health workers and even a visit from the police to make sure he didn’t have any murderous intentions towards this woman, who has been removed from his case. He has assured everyone that he has no intentions of killing anyone, but after the initial hilarity of the situation had worn off, because it really is quite amusing, I was left feeling very annoyed that he has been put in this situation.
Unfortunately mental health has a stigma, it is an unseen, distasteful demon in so many peoples lives. You can’t just pull yourself out of it, although you do have to be willing to help yourself, in my opinion. Its not catching and there is no guarantee that you will pass it on to your children. I think there is also a fine line between brilliance and insanity. For once I’m not sure how to finish this blogg, and in a way there is no end, which must be how people with these kind of problems must feel…when and how will it ever end?
bridgetherwin 