On Tue, 14 Oct 2003, Alex R. wrote:
From: "sannse"
<sannse(a)delphiforums.com>
Stevertigo wrote (in part)
Not to mention-- a "mentally ill"
"diagnosis" should
not be taken pejoratively -- it may in fact be a very
NPOV term to use for people whose behaviour is
extremely irrational. Compare this to calling "jerks"
for example. Theres a difference.
A very good point. I think such a "diagnosis" /is/ often taken
pejoratively, but you are very right that it shouldn't be. And as Jimbo
said (paraphrasing) some speculation about causes and motives can be
useful.
I guess I need to look at my own attitudes to mental illness here.
This organization is a good place to start understanding
what "mental health service consumers" or just "mental
health consumers" (the terms used by most individuals
who are or should be under some kind of treatment)
have to deal with on a daily basis:
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=Living_With
Uh, what is wrong with the term ``patient"?
If I see a doctor or LPN about a broken arm or hayfever, I am
considered a patient. If I see a therapist or psychiatrist about
depression, schizophrenia, or Attention Deficit Disorder, I
should also be considered a patient.
We are talking about illness, yes?
Geoff