Bark at me all you want! My denial won't change!

In Mental health, there is a great division in the area of denial and non compliance. Family and caregivers want earlier intervention, and the mental health professions want compliance.

I have often suggested that my daughters denial was part of her illness, that she is unable to see her illness as anything but normal to her. Many people just laughed at me, leaving me to believe they didn’t agree. There is documented proof this condition does exist and Dr Xavier’s studies concur.

A Doctor Xavier Amador, psychologist did studies to determine why patients had denial. He also did studies into an effective method of treating the issue of denial and non-compliance, which he encompassed into 4 books.

Although largely used to describe unawareness of impairment after brain injury or stroke, the term ‘anosognosia’ is occasionally used to describe the lack of insight shown by some people who suffer from psychosis, and who therefore do not have the insight to recognize that they suffer from a mental illness. There is also evidence that schizophrenic anosognosia may be the result of frontal lobe damage.^[7]

Given this definition of ‘ Anosognosia ‘ How can we legislation the need to be complaint for voluntary treatment?

This voluntary component excludes a large percentage of the serious mental ill patients from receiving programing or medical attention before self endangerment may occur. Is it justifiable to exclude a percentage of mental ill, because of a medical condition, we don’t accept nor understand?

Canadian Mutts Rights to Healthly Life VS Choice to be Sick

The onset of mental illness most often occurs in the age group 15-25. While the child is under the age of 19 parents have guardianship and if this child was hospitalized, parents can request a ‘condition of release.’ This document is a very powerful tool , giving parents and Doctors the right to admit to hospital of intervene if negative symptoms appear or if non compliant issues arise.

Now this ‘condition of release’, or some call it ’extended hospitalization conditions’, this is like a probation clause. The problem is this information isn’t explained or given to loved ones, who care for mentally ill after release from hospital, nor is it used in very case. My daughter was under age— so not needed, because we had guardianship.

For over three years, our daughter was compliant and did everything required to support a positive healthy healing life style. Before she turned 19 no one discussed the other clause which is a legalized document, that basically stated ‘if said person is showing signs of stress and negative symptom, caregivers have the right to step in and demand treatment’. Baring in mind doctor approval is still required, which is harder than it seems.

The reason the legalized Guardianship wasn’t discussed– basically no one, even myself thought this would be an issue, and secondly she was NEVER consider to have a sane mind for this document to stand up in court. So we were left without any rights, to kept her healthy and on the road to recovery. When all else has failed, then hospitalization is considered. Seeking hospitalization for a person with mental illness is a very desperate act and the last resource.

19 – 25 Children – because for many their mind broke down in adolescence, so how can a healing mind mature into adulthood? But Canadian Law states, 19 is adult ,and a person can decide to do things even if it places a person in endangerment. Canadian Law states, that a 19-year-old ,who professionals consider not sane enough to give over guardianship legally, can under the Canadian law make adult decisions? Does this make sense? Is there not a serious lapses of government legislation here?

Today in Canada, we don’t have the human right to decide to ride a bike without helmet this law made to protect from injury. We don’t have the human right to smoke in public places or now outside in front of businesses this law made to protect health issue. We don’t have the human right to talk on cell phones while driving – law made to protect from unnecessary accidents. So why can’t the government make laws to protect the mentally ill’s right to be a healthy person?

I’m only asking Government to make policies, procedures, and legislation changes that will save us money. Legalizing ” The Ulysses Agreement” could protect our mentally ill, while maintaining human rights. Pro active treatment, preventative treatment, to protect and save lives. Write your local MLA’s, to bring this issue to BC government. Without action we are harming young lives with future potential.