h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I agree that what mentally ill patients need is humanity and treatment. But the treatment of the mentally ill is in many cases the problem. I once spent time in a state-run mental hospital. They gave no conclusive diagnosis. There was no individual or group psychotherapy. No family therapy. They did, however medicate me. Almost immediately I was placed on Risperdol - I later found out that it was usually given to schizophrenics, which I am not. All it did was place me in a zombie like state - nothing much mattered. I had trouble sleeping. No problem! They put me on Trazadone. No trouble sleeping after that - I fell asleep constantly.

That pales in comparison to the treatment of the children there. As I was in the adolescent ward, we were in contact with the younger children - some of whom, I found out, were not mentally ill, but unwanted children in the foster care system, too young for a group home. I saw a four year old girl placed in an isolation room for acting out. I saw people restrained in terrifying and inhumane ways; I was given no school work or help in finishing my education. I was not allowed to have my books brought from home, so I just sort of sat on a couch all day and stagnated.

I was soon transfered to a long-term facility where I was able to finish the school year on time - and given an accurate diagnosis and the proper medicine.

I saw one psychiatrist on the outside who was rude, abrupt and unresponsive to my needs. I finally worked up the courage to tell him off and quit seeing him. My therapist congratulated me - he was a former patient of this psychiatrist.

A final note: I no longer see a psychiatrist. My prescriptions are written by a family doctor. A psychiatrist is virtually useless outside a hospital - all he does is write presciptions, something a family doctor can do. Much cheaper to see a psychotherapist and have a family doctor write prescriptions. Perhaps it's different in Europe, but as an American struggling to keep up with medical costs, a psychiatrist's fees are prohibitive.