Bravo.
What happens on meds and recording ALL stats, what a simple thing to ask. Bravo to you for listing in one entry a list of items that my young daughter has had to face in too short of a lifetime. She was suicidal on antidepressants, (at age 11 and 13), I have been telling doctors for 6 years. She has Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome as a result of Depakote use from age 11-17. (black box warning, no one monitored it but me, and it took me 6 months to get that answer).The first thing a nurse asked me when she arrived at Western State Hospital, in a 'premiere' ward was if she could say NO to sexual assault.Stop right there. In a most vulerable state of mind, ALL patients have the right to get well in a safe environment, and the requirement while you are at youre sickest, should not be to speak and say no to rape. That goes for men as well as women. Being so young, and having a forceful advocate behind her, my daughter was given what is called a 'line of sight'. Staff had to see her at all times, 24/7 in full view. I was there the night a new male arrival was able to corner my daughter, and it took several staff to yank him off of her,right in front of me. (meaning even the best plans dont always work) Gender separation might reduce these incidents, that for my daughter, was lucky she had so many people watching her, and was still compromised.What about the other patients? Watch your back, while youre really sick, that's how it goes, get over it. Not exactly what we all want to know goes on is it? Then read up on reasons for stressors regarding psychotic breaks, sexual assault, right in there.
I want answers, data, and honesty too. I give credit to the staff member at Western that was honest and warned me about the 'patients pre-occupied with sex' and for helping me get into place a one -to one staff for her. I will also note here, staff for the floor of 35 patients down to 2 many nights, one for my daughter and one for the rest. Oh there is a lot of data doctors, drug companies, and hospitals would rather not be public. I was recently told by a nurse, that "lady it is either home or a hospital, there isnt anywhere inbetween" for my daughter to live. I have been told by staff that if I didn't take her home, she would be sent to the streets sick. This is unacceptable. I am not the average Woman/Mother who sits back and watches this shit go down, and because I speak up, I have been slammed down by Chiefs of Staff, Psychiatrists, Social Workers and others. What they do not realize, is when they try and shut me up, that makes me push harder. Patients, as consumers need to realize they have the right to know data, know exactly what could and might happen on a med, and yes anecdotal stories count,patients have the right to sleep and live in a hospital when they are at their sickest, and darkest moment of their life, and not sleep in all of their clothes due for fear of them being stolen, they should be able to sleep without fear of rape. I dare one doctor to sleep for 14 nights(at the minimum) in one of these hospitals, have their clothes stolen, end up in a gown, share a room, and watch their back for sexual assault, all the while being given medications that are making them unable to think straight. I dare the doctors to think RECOVERY beyond an appointment to check in with a clinic as a discharge plan. I dare the doctors to get on the same page as their clients and fight for them. Follow up, and call without charging over a hundred bucks for the phone call. It is time for the Mental Health providers to think recovery, the minute they meet a client, and don't forget these are human beings that deserve dignity and respect, compassion and love.

Yes, they do seem rather obsessive in presenting evidence that links mental illness with violence. For example, in one recent account I read on their site they presented a case of a "mentally ill" woman who had attacked her husbands genitals. They neglected to mention that the wife believed her husband had been unfaithful and the marriage was reputed to have a history of violent interaction between both husband and wife. Violent acts committed by those who are not considered mentally ill are apparently not worthy of comment even though the represent the majority of those who commit violence.



None of the above justifies spousal abuse but the additional details reveal a different picture than the scenario presented by TAC of a deranged psycho who goes off her medication, skips out of the hospital, and then attacks an innocent and loving husband without provocation.



To help balance TAC's perspective I've begun reading the blog "Psych Watch". Today, for instance, they have an interesting entry on a recently discovered "poverty gene". Reference: http://psychwatch.blogspot.com/2006/05/discovering-poverty-gene.html