Written by Scott Simmie and Julian Nunes
Reviewed by Penny Costoglou
Published December 2002
This book discusses mental illness and its stigma, but it also talks about recovery and readmission into society. Each idea connects to produce a well-rounded account. It includes facts, statistics, and information, as well as heart-wrenching private stories dealing with mental illness. It can be an emotional rollercoaster.
The first person to describe the life history of his illness is author Scott Simmie. He draws many pictures, that eventually run together like a movie, about his initiation into bipolar depression. He discusses his manic highs (when he bought a lot of Chinese furniture) and his lows (when he couldn’t get out of bed). His long-time companion, Julia stood by his side throughout.
There are many determinants today that make up the “mental illness” label. Most researchers now agree that there is no single cause. The “bad mother” ideology used to be popular, namely, that the mother treated the child meanly and with a lack of respect, and physically or sexually abused him (sexual and physical abuse could be, in fact, by anyone). The resulting stress caused the child to become mentally ill. A recent study found that 58% of women with a mental illness had experienced childhood trauma, whether physical or sexual.
Although scientists do not exclude the nurture theory of mental illness, they mostly favour the “nature” theory, that is, that mental illness comes from a chemical imbalance. Too much dopamine, for example, causes schizophrenia.
Simmie and Nunes describe mental illness in such a way that the reader can understand the many complex form experienced by individuals. The following are some summaries of these forms.
What are some symptoms of mental illness? The commonest form is depression, with its symptoms of little pleasure intake, suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, weight gain/loss (side effects of the medication) and an inability to get out of bed in the morning. A more potent type is bipolar depression. Here there are many highs (mania) and many lows. When you are high, you think you’re omnipotent (God or some famous person). You also spend money uncontrollably, talk non-stop and need very little sleep. You are geared up to challenge anything that comes your way. When you crash, you become quite incapacitated. Modern medication helps stabilize the mood swings, so a person can function more normally.
Another mental illness is generalized anxiety disorder with its telltale panic attacks, jittery nerves, sweaty palms, and excessing worrying.
Schizophrenia, a neurobiological disorder, is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, a dullness of feeling and thoughts spit off from reality. Antipsychotic drugs can help with the symptoms, but the many side effects are unpleasant.
That is why asking for help takes time. A person must feel so miserable and frightened by odd behaviours that he/she will seek voluntary hospitalization. Involuntary admission is possible when a mentally ill person is a danger to himself/herself or others.
Besides seeing a psychiatrist or a psychologist, psychiatric patients can go to drop in centres, coffee houses, hospital day programs, and work or school programs where they can feel safe, wanted, supported and able to connect with others.
Self-education is the best way to understand mental illness. The stigmas and myths are certainly out there. Eighty-eight percent of people interviewed believed that the mentally ill were dangerous. As more people get involved in the lives of mentally ill persons, this stigma will shrink. As a family member, or a friend, you can provide support by offering encouragement, setting the individual up with community support, and, most importantly, listening and respecting the individual.
For some (and no figures are given), mental illness can be treated by herbs. There are also vitamin-based therapies, acupuncture, reflexology, and other non-traditional therapies. The authors advise consultation with one’s psychiatrist before taking anything else, because some herbs are very potent and could causes harm. Some people swear by these non-traditional therapies, and some see no value in them whatsoever.
The final taboo is suicide as a factor in mental illness. Suicide is unspeakable both within families and in society generally. The majority of suicides are men, Native Indians, and substance abusers. Contrary to popular belief, suicide among schizophrenics happen most often when they are in remission, as they experience chronic unemployment, poverty, isolation and stigmatization.
I found this book easy to read, up to date, with major research material readily at hand. It answers many questions about mental illness. Mental illness robs individuals of their self-control and reduces them to regulation by medication and psychotherapy. (In Ontario, more by medication than psychotherapy.) The Mentally ill exist on a dismal government pension that has not increased in almost ten years. Many live alone, on the streets, in halfway homes and with their families.
This book is on the side of psychiatric survivors and pro-education and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in learning about mental illness.
Penny Costoglou is a writer who has worked for the Ontario Social Development Council and the Workers Educational Association.
