# Mental illness is exaggerated **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 9, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522 "2013-06-09T03:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/141 "2013-06-10T19:43:29Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I’m guessing not, but he might have stayed at a Holiday Inn last night though… Could be. I’m no expert by any means, I’ve only visited one such facility (Eastern State Hospital here in Kentucky), and it was not “the same or in some ways even worse than prison”. At all. I’m sure some facilities are better than others, but that sort of sweeping generalization is pretty silly. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/142 "2013-06-10T19:45:47Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > A psychiatric facility is the same or in some ways even worse than prison. In prison your allowed to go outside every day for a hour, get commissary, not forced to take medication ect. You’ve been watching too many movies. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/143 "2013-06-10T19:51:43Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Could be. I’m no expert by any means, I’ve only visited one such facility (Eastern State Hospital here in Kentucky), and it was not “the same or in some ways even worse than prison”. At all. I’m sure some facilities are better than others, but that sort of sweeping generalization is pretty silly. I’ve been inside both prisons and mental hospitals, and I’ve never found it the case that mental hospitals are the same or worse than prisons. If the OP would like, I can arrange a tour of either a prison or a detention center, and he can compare and contrast that to several mental hospitals I can also arrange tours of. I think he will find it most educational, and a bit different than the Hollywood cartoon version he seems to have. Granted, there might still be some mental hospitals in the US that aren’t great, and we don’t spend nearly what we should on them, but it’s ridiculous to assert that they are the same or worse than prisons, or that it’s un-Constitutional or ignores Due Process. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/144 "2013-06-10T20:12:55Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Have you ever been to a psychiatric facility? No but I have visited an uncle who was in one so I know what horrible places they are. They were not allowed to go outside at all, were woken up every 15 minutes all night long with the light in the rooms being turned on. The place was dirty and cold and he was not even given a nail clipper despite having a hang nail. Really a horrible place worse than prison. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/145 "2013-06-10T20:21:20Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > They were not allowed to go outside at all, were woken up every 15 minutes all night long with the light in the rooms being turned on. How do you know this? And more importantly, as bad as that experience may have been, do you really think it gives you enough experience to generalize about them like this? ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/146 "2013-06-10T20:21:58Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > My girlfriend would self medicate with alcohol and drugs when she went into her manic states. She would be a danger to herself and others. More than once I had to lie and tell them she was suicidal to get a 72 hour lock up. It really wasn’t a lie as she would walk out in traffic, or if she could get keys to a car she would take it and in most cases wreck it. This is a perfect example. He would lie to the doctors, they would believe him and lock her up with no proof. Even though she was not suicidal. This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the abuse of the system goes. It must be changed. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/147 "2013-06-10T20:23:44Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > This is a perfect example. He would lie to the doctors, they would believe him and lock her up with no proof. Even though she was not suicidal. This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the abuse of the system goes. It must be changed. The problem in that story is that even though the person was abusing drugs and endangering herself and other people, nobody would do anything unless they also thought she was suicidal. But that’s a different problem than the one you’ve been talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/148 "2013-06-10T20:23:48Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > It seems like it’s always a quick trip, in these threads, from “the methods of identifying mental illness are dubious and invalid” to “involuntary commitment/compulsory treatment are wrong.” > > I wonder why it seems impossible to sustain a discussion of the former? Certainly the latter is an important topic, but it is quite distinct. Because people know that except for a hardcore few, the idea that the entire field of psychiatry exists largely if not solely to turn independent thinkers into conformist sheeple is a non-starter among fighters of ignorance, so they turn to something more obviously objectionable. > [@nickak2003](#): > > First off, you can refuse to take your medication for any reason. Eh. You can, but in a psychiatric ward/facility, you are likely to have (or be perceived as having) a condition of which refusing to take medication is deemed a symptom. So there are consequences to exercising that right that lessen its power somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/149 "2013-06-10T20:26:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The problem in that story is that even though the person was abusing drugs and endangering herself and other people, nobody would do anything unless they also thought she was suicidal. But that’s a different problem than the one you’ve been talking about. Abusing drugs is not a “grave danger to herslef or others” as the law states it must be for action. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/150 "2013-06-10T20:27:50Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Abusing drugs is not a “grave danger to herslef or others” as the law states it must be for action. Please read more closely: > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It really wasn’t a lie as she would walk out in traffic, or if she could get keys to a car she would take it and in most cases wreck it. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/151 "2013-06-10T20:29:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Please read more closely: Well then arrest her for DUI or public intoxication. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/152 "2013-06-10T20:30:56Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Abusing drugs is not a “grave danger to herslef or others” as the law states it must be for action. You do realize that the person using that anecdote was saying she would deliberately walk into traffic and attempt to drive while under the influence if someone was foolish enough to give her the keys, right? The later would get her put into a detention center if she were caught driving under the influence, especially in the reckless way HoneyBadgerDC was describing…right? ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/153 "2013-06-10T20:31:47Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Well then arrest her for DUI or public intoxication. this ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/154 "2013-06-10T20:32:56Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > No but I have visited an uncle who was in one so I know what horrible places they are. They were not allowed to go outside at all, were woken up every 15 minutes all night long with the light in the rooms being turned on. The place was dirty and cold and he was not even given a nail clipper despite having a hang nail. Really a horrible place worse than prison. Well, I’ve visited one that was quite nice. Thus, you are wrong that they are all horrible places. What proportion are like the Eastern State Hospital, and what proportion are like what you’re describing? I don’t know. Have any cites on the matter? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/155 "2013-06-10T20:33:40Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > this Why do you feel that’s a preferable solution to someone who is obviously self destructive? I mean, besides your apparent belief that mental health hospitals are as bad as or worse than prisons or detention centers? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/156 "2013-06-10T20:33:51Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > this Just let her loose and hope that the police stop her before she kills herself and/or somebody else? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/157 "2013-06-10T20:35:10Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Well then arrest her for DUI or public intoxication. Ok, so you agree that wandering out into traffic and stealing and crashing cars does create a danger to oneself and others, but you’re saying the law shouldn’t do anything until she’s already out on the road. In this kind of situation I’m not sure that’s a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/158 "2013-06-10T20:36:44Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Well then arrest her for DUI or public intoxication. It takes at least 72 hours to break the cycle of them drinking. If they are arrested they will be out in about 6 hours and drunk before they get home. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/159 "2013-06-10T20:37:27Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Ok, so you agree that wandering out into traffic and stealing and crashing cars does create a danger to oneself and others, but you’re saying the law shouldn’t do anything until she’s already out on the road. In this kind of situation I’m not sure that’s a good idea. ok lets lock up all drunks coming out of bars for 60 days mental evaluation because they might drive home right? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/160 "2013-06-10T20:39:09Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > ok lets lock up all drunks coming out of bars for 60 days mental evaluation because they might drive home right? Is straw on sale this week? There seems to be a fundamental disconnect between you and just about everyone else in this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=9)