Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Colorado will no longer lock up people who are suicidal or in mental health crisis

That is the title of this article I reviewed today. "It soon will be against the law in Colorado to lock people in jail when they are picked up on mental health holds. The legislation signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Thursday also increases funds for a network of crisis-response teams, walk-in mental health treatment centers and transportation to treatment from rural areas. The legislation, which takes effect Aug. 9, was passed in combination with a state human services department budget request to spend $9.5 million in marijuana tax funds, which will pay for two-person mobile crisis teams to intervene in mental health-related police calls, among other new services." Why am writing about Colorado is because I was in jail when I had my breakdown for committing a crime while I was mentally ill. When I first arrived at the jail they had me visit a psychiatrist she took an immediate dislike to me. She told me she did not like me and would not put me on medication. I went back to the cell block six and  for the first time in all the time I did in prison and the county jail I got into a fight. They put me in the infirmary and I did about four months there. I never ordered commissary all the time I was locked up I had money but I thought the jail was trying to get my signature and would not sign for my commissary.  I did not buy cigarettes until I was at the state hospital and on medication. Usually when you go to jail your actually go to the commissary and purchase without your signature. Although because I was in that fight I never went back to general population. When I was at the state hospital I tried to get out and had to meet the board and who was on the board but that psychiatrist and she went out of the room I did not bring up what she did to me because I wanted out. I did not get out.
The article continues: "'Colorado had been one of only six states that allowed putting people who are suicidal or having mental health episodes behind bars. The law, Senate Bill 17-207, bans the use of jails to house people who are a 'danger to themselves or others' but have not committed any crime.
'This bill is a huge step toward removing the stigma associated with mental health crises,' one of the legislation’s sponsors, Sen. John Cooke, R-Greeley, said in an emailed statement. 'We want people to know that a crisis is not a crime, and that they can get the help they need in times of emergency.'" Why do I feel this is a good idea and practice is because it is hard if you are insane and in jail. I did not get out of the state hospital that time and I said to myself the only way I will get out is myself so I asked to go to the circle program at the time it was the best drug and alcohol treatment center in Colorado. After I did three months there I did about six more months and they release me on conditional release that was five year of UAs and other hoops to get off.
The article ends: "Current state law allows for detainment in a jail for up to 24 hours for a person on a mental health hold. Within a day, the person must go to a health facility for evaluation and treatment, but in rural areas, the nearest mental health center often is hours away. The situation leaves sheriff’s departments with three options: driving the person to another town and leaving the community with one fewer law officer; holding the person in jail; or releasing the person back to the community." I was respected though in jail when I came back to Denver to ask the Judge to release me and I was on medication they other inmates did not mess with me this time because they found out I was from the state hospital and did not mess with me or my things in fact I was on the phone and a guy who stole some cigarettes from me gave them back when I was on the phone and said he was sorry so there is a lot that goes on in jail considering mental illness.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Severe mental illness linked to much higher risk for cardiovascular disease

That is the title of this article I reviewed today. "An international study of more than 3.2 million people with severe mental illness reveals a substantially increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease compared to the general population. Led by King's College London, the research shows that people with severe mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, have a 53 per cent higher risk for having cardiovascular disease than healthy controls, with a 78 per cent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease over the longer term. Their risk of dying from the disease was also 85 per cent higher than people of a similar age in the general population. Published online in World Psychiatry, these findings highlight the importance of regularly screening SMI patients for cardiovascular risk and also point towards a number of potentially modifiable risk factors. It is well documented that people with SMI die 10 to 15 years earlier than the general population, largely due to cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, heart attack and stroke."They are things I do not want in my life.  I want to live as long as I can especially now that I have a great grandson and a granddaughter on the way.
The article goes on to say: "This new study is the largest ever meta-analysis of SMI and cardiovascular disease, including over 3.2 million patients and more than 113 million people from the general population. The researchers examined 92 studies across four continents and 16 different countries, including the US, UK, France, Australia and Sweden.10 per cent of people with SMI had cardiovascular disease, with rates slightly higher in schizophrenia (11.8 per cent) and depression (11.7 per cent) than bipolar disorder (8.4 per cent), with a substantially increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease over time. The researchers identified some important factors which increase risk for cardiovascular disease, including antipsychotic use and higher body mass index. Based on these results, it is crucial that clinicians where possible choose antipsychotics with lower side effects related to weight gain, high blood pressure and glucose abnormalities."I have high blood pressure have had it for years now that is one medication that I always take along with my antipyschotic.
The article ends,"'Clinicians should also screen for emerging and existing cardiovascular diseases, as well as proactively managing risk factors such as weight and body mass index, according to the study authors. Dr Brendon Stubbs from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, said: 'These findings are a stark reminder that people with SMI are being left behind, at a time when the health of the general population as a whole appears to be benefitting from public health initiatives to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease. We found that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in people with severe mental illness (SMI) was higher in more recent studies, which suggests that our efforts so far have been unsuccessful in reducing the health gap between people with SMI and the general population. 'People with SMI die much earlier than those without these disorders, yet the majority of these premature deaths may be preventable with care that prioritises lifestyle changes, such as exercise, better nutrition and stopping smoking, along with cautious prescribing of antipsychotics.'"I am on a weight neutral antipyschotic Geodon. I walk because one I take the bus.  I am also proud that I do take it though because It allows me the chance to walk and exercise. If I had a car I do not think I would ever exercise.