To be finding the Labour government really hard on my mental health (ironically given Wes Streeting's latest)

[Everythingisnumbersnow]

Why can't they talk about reforms and improvements without having a go at ordinary people?

Is mental illness over diagnosed (as Streeting claims) or is modern life just really really shit and a lot of us are unwell as a result?

im currently waiting to see a new private psychiatrist because my old one took on an NHS contract and now is totally unusable (no need to even mention the NHS services available, we all know the score there). I work and I don't expect any special treatment but it would be nice if the bloody government stopped slagging me off for trying to remain functional.

Is mental illness over diagnosed (as Streeting claims) or is modern life just really really shit and a lot of us are unwell as a result?

both

They can’t not do anything about the outrageously bloated public spending because it upsets individuals.

What other policy do you think government should steer clear of because it may upset individuals?

How do you know? It's just what you reckon based on your gut. And you prefer to accuse patients and doctors of lying than pause to think wait why would a mentally healthy person be feeling long term despair? It's obnoxious. You don't need to agree to pay someone money for being sick but insisting they're well is a dick move.

So are you saying people can't be mentally unwell because the government can't afford it? They must be wrong because there isn't the cash for them to be right?

I think he has something of a point.

I think we all know that mental illness is over diagnosed.

General life and lack of resilience is different from mental illness. Most people suffer from the former.

No. I just think that lots of typical and understandable human emotions are just that. Not necessarily a condition that requires treatment.

Over-diagnosis and over-pathologising of the human condition is much more systemically complicated than doctors and patients merely lying.

It's a shame the previous government of 14 years attacked the foundations of UK mental health support along with so much else. You might not be feeling quite so desperate now, 8 months into this Labour government, if they hadn't.

‘Sad’. Exactly the point Streeting is making.

How do you know? What sort of expert are you? Do you ever wish you were dead? Do you think that's something everyone just needs to accept without any outside help?

I agree with Wes but clearly people aren’t allowed to have a different opinion to you. 🤷

I fear we won't truly ever know the losses that are occurred through other means.

I was in horror at the nonsensical projects we had to nod along to during my time working in local government. Often because a brain dead politician has grasped it and wouldn't let go. It was constant negotiation to try attempt sense to be seen. Smoke and mirrors when it's comes to figures is also readily achieved if you have a public unwilling to dig deeply than a headline. Government's historically have lied to us.

I couldn't believe what I learnt regards the cost of the royal family when I looked into it. It's appalling. I don't know if Government will ever have a role to play in getting rid that useless end.

Bloody big difference between feeling sad and wishing you were dead.

That does seem to be why there's been so many articles lately about how illness, especially mental illness (especially ADHD) has been "overdiagnosed".

I feel like they desperately need public opinion to get behind the cuts to disability benefits and are reaching out to anyone and everyone who can get some PR to support this.

I don't agree with the expenditure on benefits but I don't think the fundamental diagnoses are the issue, I think the system that stops people keeping a job has a lot to answer for. And I don't like the manipulation of public opinion at play ATM.

It's not either/or, OP.
There is certainly a lot of over-diagnosis, but also some people suffer genuine mental illness.
I'm no fan of the Labour Government, but they have to do something about the out of control benefits bill. They are trying to act responsibly, even though some people won't like it. It's not personally targeted at you.

I think that's right. They don't have the guts to say "sorry but you will have to support yourself more" so instead they're denying the problem exists at all. It's revolting cowardice.

It's not a bad idea to come up with people being over-diagnosed when MH services are in tatters.....you don't have to spend as much £ putting them right <cynical>

Don’t listen to them OP. More and more Labour voters are realising how much they’ve been shat on and lied to and how much poorer they’re going to become. Ignore the ones who’ll defend them at all costs.

I am diagnosed with major depressive disorder and have experienced several mental breakdowns and persistent suicidal ideation throughout my adulthood. I hear you OP, I feel your pain and I am sorry you are going through this.

Anger is also a symptom of depression.

Exactly. If they sorted out the mental health services so people could access medication and therapy in a timely manner instead of tentatively diagnosing people after the first appointment (that you've sometimes waited years for) then bunging them on one medication, ignoring any issues with that medication, and basically leaving them to fend for themselves, then maybe people could get their lives back.

Well exactly. I think it's often better for mental health to have people make their own arrangements, stay in work, maintain personal support networks. But what is never going to work is telling people they're fine when they aren't.

This government is moronic. They have no sense of the effect that widespread misery is having, economically and socially.

I see these assertions about over diagnosis of MH conditions a lot. Is there any evidence to support this chronic underdiagnosis?

I am disabled and have long term health conditions which mean I am unable to work now.
I am absolutely terrified with it all.
I understand reforms need to come but it’s like they don’t have any sort of consultation process.
They scare the shit of me and I voted them.