I don't think the complex issues around mental illness and medication can be discussed on a talk show format--instead they get cheapened by it. You can't reduce the issues to a celebrity taking meds and chirping she's fine.

This issue rather reminds me of a current controversy in the fashion world, in which an anorexic woman weighing 68 pounds posed for a billboard as part of campaign to create awareness about how fashion impacts eating disorders. She wants to raise awareness, which is admirable, but it seems exploitative to me. And confusing, given that anorexia is a mental illness that frequently has nothing to do with fashion.

Regarding Kay Jay, yes, I was upset how little time she got.

Then I remembered editing. I was once on a talk show . They shoot more and edit out. I wonder if any studio audience members could enlighten us to see if she had more studio time only to loose it on the cutting room floor.

I almost wish Oprah''s protege Dr. Phil had done this show. He at least knows what bipolar is, and may have picked different albiet less shocking guests.

I guess it comes back to one of the first rules of Journalism 101. If it bleeds it leads. Psychotic mothers killing children and handsome gorgeous actors trump any one who has read this blog and struggles day to day with this illness. To me, these are the heroes. We just aren't good TV.

It's bizarre that the Bipolar industry has such an easy time recruiting celebrity spokespeople, but then, we haven't heard all that much out of Sinead O'Conner since her head shaving stunt backfired, now she gets to be on Oprah and possibly be a paid spokesperson for whatever psych drugs she prefers and then what's next, a feature article in Bipolar Magazine, and the hit single, I was gonna kill you then I took my pills?

And of course, in the legal, not guilty by reason of insanity world, Bipolar is the perfect mental illness for those already caught having commited a violent crime because it has such vague symptoms. With schizophrenia, it's pretty hard to fake being delusional in a convincing way, but with bipolar, all you need is a few friends willing to say, "well a few days before this happened she had trouble sleeping and bought a new pair of shoes she couldn't afford and you've got enough for a psych expert witness to slap the bipolar label on an actual violent criminal. In Atlanta, it's starting to happen with Brian Nichols, the guy who escaped from jail and fatally shot a judge, court reporter, several law enforcement officers - his only chance in avoiding the death penalty is to claim mental illness and since he was employed as a computer programmer with no history of delusions, schizophrenia will be a tough one (apologies to people labeled schizophrenic for this over simplification), so he's bipolar now. So these violent acts are then attached in reverse to people who never hurt anyone, who were diagnosed bipolar, not after they commited a violent crime, but in the office of a pshrink.

I haven't seen the show, but Kay Redfield Jamison has run a rather TAC-y line in the past (see for example, Lancet (2006) 367: 533-34); emphasising the risk of violence in order to emphasise the need for treatment.

In the article quoted above, just before she makes the violence/treatment connection, she writes "Studies of animal behaviour make it very clear that animals discriminate not only against those who are markedly odd, but also against those who are different in more subtle ways. I believe that the expression of stigma or discrimination is deep-wired into the brain." (Emphasis added). Who knows, maybe we will see some anti-stigma medication on the market, once the underlying neurochemistry has fully elucidated (or sh#t made up). Perhaps you could run a name-the-compound contest...

As for something weird in Virginia, since you mentioned it, Virginia is also the home of the Treatment Advocacy Center, and the place where Michael Vick tortured the pit bulls. Coincidence, or too many psych drugs and too much hatred, who knows?

Oprah has never been known to have any empathy with people who have any type of mental illness diagnosis. She has always been of the mind--pull yourself up by your boot straps--kind of logic.

I haven't seen the show nor do I care too. I see many people such as myself living a full life with Bipolar Disorder or other forms of severe mental illness. We are the true examples despite main stream societies ideas.

I'm not sure Oprah is out to "paint bipolars as violent and dangerous" as much as see is trying to get ratings. That statement implies she has an actual agenda and has put some thought into this. I don't give her that much credit.

I think she and her producers are victims of big pharma ads just like everyone else. When they start seeing them pop up everywhere, she perceives it to be a problem and must jump on the bandwagon. She isn't exactly known for hard core journalism as much as human interest stories. Her producers are going to tell her that there's not much human interest in talking with Joe Smith who is bipolar, getting treatment, holding down a job, and being a good father and husband. She does this about every issue: gorgeous missing children (interesting that there are more black missing children than white but she only chooses ones like Madeline that everyone else covers and "cares about"), Hurricane Katrina, her South African school, her book club, gay governors and football players, and getting big ensemble casts together for what are sure to be blockbuster movies so she can hob knob with them. As much as I'd like to hold her feet to the fire over this, I'm not sure she would get it. I think the Abilify and Cymbalta and Seroquel ads of the world have made it impossible for her have raised bipolar's profile to the level where she can't ignore the subject, and she approached it in typical Oprah fashion - ratings versus hard core journalism. She can always take the position that there is some modicum of connection between bipolar and violence and that the stories she profiled were true. That they aren't representative is a whole other matter, but that's true of everything she touches. I don't think she has any other agenda than ratings and money.

I am puzzled why nobody seems to pick up on the fact that Andrea P. was taking antidepressants before the murder. She was possibly in withdrawal which is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than actually being on the drug. People who have a bad reaction to these SSRIs become insane in a way that is not seem with 'natural' mental illness. They become much more delusional and irrational. This is why we are seeing such bizarre cases of murders and suicides on www.ssristories.com Even the illegal drugs seldom caused such havoc to our society - as witnessed by the school shootings, etc where the perpetrator was taking an antidepressant.

The massive use of antidepressants in our country since the introduction of Prozac in 1988 has caused an increase of over 5 million people to be diagnosed as bipolar. In 1993 only 1% of the population was bipolar. Now over 3% are bipolar according to statistics on the Internet that have been verified.

SSRIs are really giving "mental illness" and especially "bipolar a bad name. It is a National Tragedy.

I feel badly for the 1% of the population who actually do have real bipolar disorder - not antidepressant induced bipolar disorder. They are struggling against tremondous odds fighting the stigma of all this violence being attributed to 'bipolar' disorder when actually the violence is being caused by SSRIs.

we're picking up on it. but until i know more about how close to the murder she was taking an anti-depressant and which one it was, then i am going to keep my thoughts low-key.

btw you only need to push post once. it will go through. just takes a while depending on your connection at the moment.

While I agree the husband dropped the ball, having been in a similar position, I can understand how it happened to be honest. First of all, I think there's some underlying intuition that your loved one (assuming he loved her) is being messed up by the medical profession and therefore a reluctance to propel them back into the system even though you know something awful is up. And second, there is denial that it's as bad as it is and a desperate wish to keep things "on track". It's always easy to have hindsight but having lived through it myself when it's playing out right in front of you, you get scared and paralyzed. And if you don't understand just how suddenly these (IMO drug or withdrawal-induced) impulses can come over someone then the likelihood of being vigilant enough is low.

I understand where you are coming from Sara. I also know that I would hope if I sliced myself up someone who lived with me would get me to an ER and especially if I am a mother in charge of a little kid. I mean it's not the everyday behavior, and that guy dropped the ball. I also believe it's denial and lack of concern for the entire family on his part. Been there, so this is just an opinion not a judgement on the woman or her husband, who without knowing I can't really speak. But when it came down to the wire with my daughter needing help--her father's head was up his ass. Sorry, but true.

In regard to Andrea Petrosky and whether she was in withdrawal from an SSRI or SNRI: I worked closely with the Prozac Survivors Support Group for 10 years from 1992 to 2002. I probably talked to over 500 people in person and on the phone who had a bad reaction to Prozac.

If the side effect experienced by a bad reaction to Prozac was a psychosis, then it took an average of two years for that person to recover from the psychosis. Some recovered in 6 months - one woman said it took her 5 years. So, unless it had been more than 5 years from the time his mother took the SSRI, I believe that the antidepressant was the main cause of the murder of Garrett Petrosky.

If the Prozac Survivor had only had a bizarrre behavioral reaction, then, upon withdrawal from the drug, it usually took only about 4 to 8 weeks to recover.

Oprah is just following the company line. Whatever will get ratings for her, she will air. She says she is going to do more 'bipolar' stories. Heaven help us.

Please go to Oprah's message boards and scan the comments. Notice those that comment 'I didn't now that Bipolar caused people to kill - what can we do'?

Nice job Oprah. I agree that she was looking for ratings and for a nice sensational topic at the expense of truth. Regarding Jamison, it is a shame that she associated herself with this but I am sure she knew what she was getting into and was interested personal popularity versus disease clarity - too bad for patients and science.

How many times in my own life have I told someone about my diagnosis of multiple personality disorder and immediately followed it up with, "but I'm not like the ones they show on talk shows, ok?"

This post was a nice eye-opener to why I defend my diagnosis and avoid that comparison!

As a journalist it seems you would have evaluated the show in the context of being infotainment. Infotainment compromises people advocating for causes as their message gets distorted in a format fueled by drama and controversy. The trade off is that they're able to reach a much larger audience with their message than they otherwise could.
I don't agree with your perception of Oprah. What Oprah was doing was asking provocative questions (playing the devil's advocate) which represented the stereotypes/stigmas about bipolar. By addressing these issues head on she was able to shed some light on them rather than avoiding them. Several times throughout the show, Oprah did make the point to say that there are a wide range of people with bipolar disorder. I agree it would have been good to quote the statistics on how people with a mental health diagnosis aren't any more likely than the general population to engage in violent crime. Perhaps she'll get enough feedback on this point to introduce it in her next show about bipolar disorder on 10/04/07 with Sinnead O'Connor.
It was a really bizarre bait and switch that Oprah was trying to pull off with her guests. From my point of view, she used the stigma of bipolar to lure the audience in to watch the show so her guests would then have the opportunity to give the message that they can get help for it. It's debatable whether her show reinforced the stigma or reduced it. In any case it will be talked about in the public which I think is always preferable to keeping it in the closet.
After her opening comment voicing the publics skepticism about mental health diagnoses being used as an excuse for criminal behavior, Oprah made no attempt to invalidate Andrea (who killed her son) or her friends comments in support of the idea that the tragedy could have been avoided if she'd had better diagnosis and treatment. Oprah in fact encouraged her audience members to seek help if they were experiencing any similar symptoms (which was in fact the whole point of having Andrea's story on the show IMHO and why the guests agreed to participate in the show). Obviously Andrea and her friends were trying to make some sort of lemonade out of her tragedy: more people will get help and it won't happen again. Clearly Oprah was exploiting her story for her show too. Perhaps Oprah felt everyone won as they were able to promote their get help message too.
You might want to think about whether or not your own sensitivity to the stigma of bipolar made it difficult for you to see what Oprah was trying to do. Perhaps she could have done so in a more skilled manner, but that's a far cry from her trying to paint people with bipolar as being violent.
Quite frankly, I feel Jamison has worked long and hard on behalf of the bipolar community and that she understood what Oprah was doing. Jamison did stand up, didn't try to white wash anything. She was very frank about how her colleagues have both over diagnosed and under diagnosed bipolar disorder and that they have to do a better job. I'm very thankful and proud to have her representing and advocating for us.
I think it's naive to think that Jamison didn't weigh whether or not to participate on the show or not. I'm sure she would have liked to have been able to address the issues about people with mental health diagnoses being not any more likely to commit violent crimes than the general population. Once again though, the show is edited. Perhaps the producers felt they'd diffused the violence issue enough?
It's conceivable that a certain amount of stigma would lead to optimization-- i.e. the stigma would draw people in to watch the show and the show's message about getting help would diffuse the stigma leaving people with the message they can get help. This seems like it'd be a very tough calculation to make. I know I wouldn't take such a gamble.
It's unrealistic to expect people to know what to do when a loved one is first experiencing psychotic/self harming symptoms. My parents were clueless. Even after being diagnosed after 10 years my father didn't take my talk about suicide seriously even though I had made a few attempts and never attempted suicide as a way to seek attention. This highlights the need for more education among the public. I do think the mental health system in this country has failed me too so there have to be significant improvements in the system so people can have something to be educated about.
In many ways I feel I've fallen through the cracks of the mental health system. I think the amount of time doctors spend doing diagnosis is often insufficient. In general I found the medications didn't prevent episodes. Being pressured to take medications to placate doctors, family, and my work place didn't help matters. I had my worst suicide attempt following a mania (in less than a week) induced by prozac. If I hadn't had enough will to live to call 911 after I OD'ed and before I passed out, I would have died alone.
So could Oprah have done better despite her limited format? Yes, if she'd had enough interest and gotten enough feedback from the community. At least we now can use the attention she's brought to the issues to express our perspective to a larger audience, unless of course we're too inhibited because we're linked with child murders. Of course that stigma was out and about long before Oprah came along...
For me the bottom line is that we live in a culture that is very polarized. We're in a recursive cycle with the media who whips up anxiety and fear along with their advertisers (to sell us things). We then need to know more about what we can do to protect ourselves feeding into the next cycle... This high drama environment leads to higher stress levels and a perception that there are fewer options with respect to how to deal with them. Another perception/attitude that can arise from this dynamic is apathy and skepticism-- i.e. we have no control over what happens to us and we can't believe anything anyone says.
High stress is like a high tide which lifts all levels of disease to greater heights. If we want to turn the corner on improved health, we need to figure out how to depolarize our society. In this regard, Oprah is just a larger cog in the same machine we're all running around and freaking out in.

Don't blame Oprah. She's just doing her job. She's a very savvy businesswoman and I admire her.

And don't blame Virginia -- it's a lovely state filled with lovely people. "Misty of Chincoteague" came from Virginia, for crying out loud!

Blame the general public for being gullible enough to abandon science.

Blame Tom Cruise for taking a great opportunity and dropping the ball. Mr. Cruise screwed us over.

Blame the media for equating rigorous analysis of a pseudo-science with "Scientology."

Blame the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for running a series on the horror of mental illness without presenting even one crazy person's point of view.

Blame Senator Kirby for wasting even more tax dollars to determine that "person living with a mental illness" is less offensive than "fucking nutbar."

But, above all, blame E. Fuller Torrey. Mr. Torrey is advocating legislation which puts a subgroup of the population at risk of injury and death. History has shown what happens next. Order your yellow star from the Treatment Advocacy Center. See you in the gas chamber.

I don't know Francesca, if it were up to Fuller Torrey, who you are right to blame, "Misty of Chincoteague" and the other Assateague ponies would probably be on AOT, after all they're wild.

Sally, you are too brilliant. Let's leave it in the hands of the authorities.

To: info@treatmentadvocacycenter.org
Cc: efallan@canada.com
Subject: Treatment Needed - Please Help!!!

It has come to my attention that there are a group of homeless critters living just off the coast of Virginia. They are unkempt. They're
dangerous. They can't even speak English. I used to think they were just wild and should be left alone. But, boy, was I wrong!

Check out www.furiousseasons.com and see what's going on:

http://www.furiousseasons.com/archives/2007/09/oprah_on_bipolar_disorder_par
t_2_1.html

I know you're in Virginia. There's a rumour going around that Virginians are nuts. It's not true but, still, it's really hard to shake a
stereotype. God bless you, Mr. Torrey.

Francesca Allan
Concerned Citizen

Gosh, I just had a look around TAC's website and came across this:

"Each year, the Board of Directors of TAC formally recognizes the vital role of selfless advocates by giving the Torrey Advocacy Commendation (TAC) Award. The TAC Award rewards the courage and tenacity of those who selflessly advocate - despite criticism and opposition - for the right to treatment for those who are so severely disabled by severe mental illnesses that they do not recognize that they need treatment.

The title of the award fittingly honors the man who inspired the Treatment Advocacy Center - the most fearless and dedicated advocate for the most severely ill - Dr. E. Fuller Torrey."

Evidently, I'm not allowed to nominate myself. That sucks. Would somebody mind nominating me? Or interviewing me? Could I appear on Oprah? I support humane and effective treatment for ANYBODY WHO WANTS IT. Now I'm off to Virginia to offer subsidized housing and psych meds to little Misty's ancestors. On the off chance that they say "neigh," I'd like to have TAC assess the situation.

Sally, you rock!

Sally, before you nominate me for the E. Fuller Torrey award, please read this hard-hitting interview:

TAC: Nominees should have a continued and long-term focus on advocacy.

Francesca Allan: Yup.

TAC: They are strong advocates, paid or unpaid, in the field of mental illness.

Francesca Allan: I'm an unpaid freelance mental health advocate. 20 years with a psychiatric label and still raging against the machine. Spirited? Does the name "Misty" mean anything to you?

TAC: Their advocacy supports securing humane and timely treatment for individuals suffering from the most severe mental illnesses.

Francesca Allan: Yup.

TAC: And assisted treatment for those who do not recognize that they are ill.

Francesca Allan: What does "assisted treatment" mean? Why don't you call it forced drugging? Or even coerced drugging?

TAC: Nominees have made a substantial difference for a community, local or national, in terms of advocacy, awareness, research, or legislation in this field.

Francesca Allan: I've made an impact on many police departments and several mental health professionals. If you'd like to see my medical records, please send a SASE to:

E. Francesca Allan
Treatment Advocacy Centre
Canadian Branch
General Delivery
Lasqueti Island, BC
V0R 2J0

TAC: Anyone who has worked for the care of those abandoned to the symptoms of SMI is eligible.

Francesca Allan: Yup.

TAC: Past winners have included family advocates, psychiatrists, a legislator, and a sheriff.

Francesca Allan: Wow, I'm so honoured. I'm a two-time university drop-out and I exist on a disability cheque of about $780 a month. Luckily, I come from a wealthy family and have a supportive husband. I can get cash any time I want it. But "rules is rules" and if the Canada Pension Plan people say I'm permanently disabled, then so be it.

From http://ballastexistenz.autistics.org/?p=426#comment-91246

I’m trying to get in touch with Irit Shimrat. She’s in Bellevue Hospital in New York City and she may or may not have access to the internet. Irit, if you read this, please call me collect. Your friend Laurence has the number. Take care. Please come home.

Hey, check this out. TAC's opened a British Columbia branch. Good news for all you loonies up in Canada! http://www.breadnroses.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21395&highlight=&sid=3b4329d46ef5064e80b01e059a2bf4f1

In early August, I had a meltdown. After many false starts, I accepted help and arrived at the hospital. I was pleasant and cooperative and ignored. The triage nurse said there was one doctor on duty and 30 patients ahead of me. She was straight forward with me and I decided to leave.

After a taxi ride and a short walk, I got more stressed out. I flagged someone down and got them to call 911 for me. I told the police and the ambulance attendants that I wanted to be admitted. Again, I was pleasant and cooperative and ignored. The same 30 patients appeared to be there and the line wasn't moving. So I left again.

I was out of funds so had to walk home. It was a very warm day and I had no water and no food. I had been awake for almost 72 hours. I stumbled into a volunteer fire department and the man put me in the shade, brought me water and food. I said I needed a ride home. I couldn't get in touch with my husband so I contacted our local volunteer first responders. They were unaware that I had been turned away twice already. They had assumed that I was in the hospital.

The police and ambulance arrived. I was confused because I had merely asked for a rest and a ride home. The police officer said I had to go to the hospital. I said there weren't any beds. The police officer said he'd make sure I got seen.

The officer did not say he was arresting me under the Mental Health Act. Only my husband was informed of that fact. In my opinion, this was a wrongful arrest and an abuse of the Mental Health Act and a waste of precious public resources.

For the third time, I was taken to the hospital. The waiting room was still packed. The staff were still standing around gossiping. I started to scream. Screaming is evidently a symptom of a mental disorder because I was rushed by a team of security guards, strapped to a table and injected with Loxapine.

After a nap, they let me go. My father drove up to get me. My parents were very worried about me. They wanted me to get help. I wanted to get help. They took me to another hospital, where I know everybody. I said I didn't want to be admitted, just fed and given a quiet place to sleep. They chose to incarcerate me instead.

During the month I was involuntarily hospitalized, I was subjected to various forms of torture and humiliation. Eventually, I found a mental health advocate and we presented my case to an independent review panel. The panel concluded that, although I have a diagnosed bipolar disorder, there are sufficient supports in the community that I don't need to be hospitalized. I thanked them and thanked my advocate and then took a taxi home.

The next day, my parents drove me back up island. I stayed in a motel and tried to get some rest. The next day, I came home. During these past couple of weeks, I have learned a lot about my mental disorder and have concluded that it doesn't exist.

I get very stressed at times and act strangely. So does my border collie. If I drink too much, I can be argumentative. So do a couple of my friends. If I don't sleep, I go crazy. If I don't eat properly, that also makes me crazy. Whatever disorder these symptoms add up to, I'll admit to having. But I don't think it's a "mental" one.

A few days ago, I was feeling very stressed again and went to stay in a motel. I called the non-emergency police line and they came to assess me. We all agreed that I didn't need to go to the hospital. I told them what had happened in August and September. After many phone calls, I came home. Things have been great since then.

I'm trying to sleep and eat well and not take on too much all at once. I think I'll be okay. I'm not on meds, except that I use Seroquel as an emergency brake sometimes.

E. Fuller Torrey is wrong to allege that, by virtue of my "brain disorder," I'm lacking insight. I have too much insight and it makes me a little crazy every now and then.

E. Fuller Torrey spouts hate speech. Torrey is a nasty little man who is only interested in agenda-driven research that supports what he wants to hear. That's not science. That's politics.

I just want to be left alone, unless I request some help. But I can only get help if I don't want any. So, am I mentally ill or is the system broken?

News from WE THE PEOPLE

For more information contact: Lauren Tenney, 516-319-4295

Esmin Green Did Not Survive. Survivors of Psychiatry & Allies Demand Report from NYC Dept of Investigations

WE THE PEOPLE to Hold a Demonstration and Vigil in Her Memory, June 19, 2009 at Kings County Hospital Center Psychiatric Emergency Room, Building R. from 5-10 Pm. Justice for Esmin Green. Justice for All

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY (05/29/2009; 1149)(readMedia)-- W E THE PEOPLE is reaching out to friends and family of Esmin Green who was murdered-by-neglect at the Kings County Hospital Center Psychiatric Emergency Room June 19, 2008. They are also looking for survivors of psychiatry, anyone affected by mental health or psychiatric systems, and allies who want to see change and make their voices heard.

Facility staff looked at Esmin face down on the floor - did nothing - and then tried to cover it up. The blatant negligence that was exhibited by facility staff should not be allowed to be brushed under the carpet - or excused for lack of team spirit, which Mr. Aviles, the President of Health and Hospitals Corporation which oversees Kings County Hospital Center, has tried to do. WE THE PEOPLE is demanding criminal charges in this murder-by-neglect and attempted cover-up. This ultimate violation of human rights can not be accepted by our society.

WE THE PEOPLE is demanding that the N! ew York City Department of Investigations release the report of the investigation into the death of Esmin Green and asks why the city is holding back such information?

On June 19, beginning at 5 PM, WE THE PEOPLE will be holding a demonstration calling for human rights in psychiatric systems. A candle light vigil to remember Esmin Green, a woman who should still be alive, will begin at 8 PM.

Sa nford Rubenstein, the attorney for the family is a confirmed speaker at the demonstration. He states,
"It is really important for people to make their voices heard so that what happened to Esmin Green never happens again".

WE THE PEOPLE invite you to stand with them in front of Kings County Hospital Center on June 19, 2009 from 5-10 PM to demand human rights in the psychiatric and mental health systems. Justice for Esmin Green. Justice for all.

Contact: Lauren Tenney (516) 319-4295 Daniel Hazen (301) 395-5378 website: www.TheOpalProject.org/Vigil.html
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