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Friday, August 17, 2007

Mentally Ill Americans

Yesterday Joey at Wide White linked to a commentary at WorldNetDaily on mental illness in America. Since mental illness is a topic I blog about often I want to post the link as well to get it in my archives.

Why so many Americans today are 'mentally ill' is a fantastic commentary even thought I don't agree with the premise that people are born with a "good side" that we just need to listen to more often.

Heads are turning, people are seeing more and more that pharmaceutical treatment of mental illness has horrendous side effects - the wonder drugs are not all they are cracked up to be. There is another explanation for all our psychosis and thus another answer. The WorldNet commentary provides another perspective.

3 comments:

Jeff Burton said...

I read the article and though it had some good points, it also repeated the unfounded claim that psych meds cause people to go crazy and kill themselves and others. This simply is not proven, and a moments reflection will offer a simpler solution: People who are put on anti-depressants and other psych medication are already more likely to go crazy and kill themselves or someone else. It's as silly as saying, "Gee, there seem to be an awfully lot of bad people in prison. Maybe prison makes people bad."

ron said...

Prozac was originally released for with an intended maximum of six months use for an individual. People now take it for six years or more.

"People who are put on anti-depressants and other psych medication are already more likely to go crazy and kill themselves or someone else."

This may be some of the time, but not all the time. I know for a fact that I can get prescribed Prozac if I want. I have bad days/weeks, and that qualifies for many doctors to prescribe an anti-depressant when it's the last thing I need.

Joey said...

Good point on the "born with a good side" line of thinking. I didn't think twice about it as I read it. If we are born in sin - total depravity - than can we have a good side?

I think the point can be made that we have a conscience, which is really God's moral laws, telling us what is right. I think every human knows what is right and wrong. And in that sense, we have a "good side." Since the article is on mental health, I think he's speaking of a "good side" from a mental perspective, and in that sense, I would say there is a "good side" trying to persuade us to do right: our conscience.

But, those are just my quickly-formed thoughts on the matter.