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Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

newyorker.com

21–30 of 113 posts

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#21
post #11
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and then send them home In a lifetime of debt

Contrary to the stereotype, most Americans have health insurance that covers inpatient and outpatient mental health care. That's why we can't get a universal socialized system implemented: too many Americans already have good enough insurance that they don't want to change it.

The problem is the people who need help most won't seek it because it will get them labeled. There are plenty of mental illnesses that create situations where doctor-patient confidentiality has to be breached (legally). This restricts their care. A more mundane example, in some states with red flag laws a lawful gun owner could potentially introduce liability by seeking a diagnosis for depression or anxiety. Even if they don't present as a threat to themselves or others. The diagnosis alone can form a legal basis for disarmament given the right DA.

We need to fix the legal system to allow people to get the help they need. If you even remotely think asking for help will get the cops sent to kick down your door and shoot your dog you won't go get help. Often times when you do get help it's too late.

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#22

Alternative title: "Bringing back the asylums without admitting we were wrong about closing them"

AI and computer vision could surely be helpful in a modern asylum or hospital setting, at least to help the humans better triage who most urgently seems to need their attention. The AI could also be used to communicate with patients but that's a bigger more long term goal with many more ramifications.

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#24
post #16

Something is seriously wrong with our culture the past 10-15 years to have contributed to such a dramatic rise in mental illness.

At best, our technology messes with our heads somewhat. At worst, it leads to serious mental illness. Silicon Valley is creating the digital equivalent to forever chemicals in our drinking water.

[deleted]

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#25
post #18
post #16

Something is seriously wrong with our culture the past 10-15 years to have contributed to such a dramatic rise in mental illness.

Is there a rise in mental illness or more people simply being diagnosed now? We're more aware of mental illnesses, leading to more diagnoses, leading to what appears to be a spike in mental illness. I haven't dug deeply into this but I wonder if studies on this have attempted to separate the two. Psychology is notorious for it's crisis of reproducibility. I take everything related to mental illness with two heaping s…

I don't know there seems to be a few things culminating - the pandemic and inflation. There are a lot of people that did not get the $10-25k pay raise that was necessary. Lots of people have gone homeless. Being without a home is one reason you can lose your shit. Also with the pandemic a lot of loved ones are gone forever. Some lost parents that takes a huge hit on ones mental state.

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#26
post #16

Something is seriously wrong with our culture the past 10-15 years to have contributed to such a dramatic rise in mental illness.

The juice ain't worth the squeeze. Social media has disconnected us all. DNGAF. Amen.

If you don't have anything to add to a discussion on social media then don't post.

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#27
The article has an insert section stating "Get Support If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988"

It's worth noting that this number has been associated with police interventions and a rise in psychiatric detentions: https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/05/psychiatric-detentions-...

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#28
post #20
post #16

Something is seriously wrong with our culture the past 10-15 years to have contributed to such a dramatic rise in mental illness.

I wonder how much can be attributed to legalization/decriminalization of drugs. Because if someone is on drugs but that is “fine” now are the classified as a mental illness incident?

Have you actually googled this at all? This reads like a question made in total ignorance of legal recreational substances, as well as their effects.

I'm trying not to be insulting, but as someone who's social circle nearly universally consumes recreational drugs (not counting tobacco or alcohol), this comment is cringe-inducing how out of touch with reality it is.

To answer your question, 0% can be attributed to it. Alcohol has been legal forever, but medicine still recognizes what alcohol-related addiction, psychosis, and liver cirrhosis are. Medical diagnoses don't really care if the drug involved in a drug related symptom is legal to purchase or not. There are people who don't consume drugs of any kind and have many mental illnesses, and there are people who consume many drugs and don't have any mentally illnesses at all.

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#29
post #20
post #16

Something is seriously wrong with our culture the past 10-15 years to have contributed to such a dramatic rise in mental illness.

I wonder how much can be attributed to legalization/decriminalization of drugs. Because if someone is on drugs but that is “fine” now are the classified as a mental illness incident?

So you are talking about illicit drugs? Likely, none at at all. At least in the US, drug use is not considered sufficient to diagnose a mental illness. I'm honestly kind of confused by your question. What is a mental illness incident? I've never heard this term.

Re: Reinventing the E.R. for America’s mental-health crisis

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read the article? It seems like this model actually results in fewer patients behind sent into hospitalization (which actually is like an asylum).

Hospitalization is very different from an asylum.

Length of stay is different, but the nature of confinement, and also the abuse and trauma the patients frequently experience sure is similar. While we all know asylums were horrific, I'd caution readers against underestimating just how awful some "modern" facilities are. Regardless, my point was that releasing people to their homes is the opposite of asylums, and should be preferred to hospitalization where possible.
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