I'm having my own problems at the moment, with life in general. My friends are worried about me and are thoroughly convinced that I should go back to the hospital and get some help.
The hospital. I was referred there due to my own problems with depression, to see a psychologist. It cost me nothing, which was good, because financially, we simply couldn't afford to pay for one. The services offered at the hospital are good. For some. I didn't find it overly fruitful myself. I suppose towards the end I stopped putting the effort in, because I felt as though I was getting no-where. Thats how it goes. After a while you feel like your going no-where.
Some people find it very helpful. I have a friend who goes religiously, week after week, in the hope of finding answers. And sometimes she does.
I think my answers are hiding elsewhere.
The point I want to make today, is about the lack of services available. See, whilst this service is available in my neck of the woods, it's not available elsewhere. And, whilst it exists here, not everyone gets in. Not everyones problems are deemed as important as others, which really annoys me.
I mean, I know that some people don't have a mental illness, but how can they be sure? What criteria do they use when their turning people away? It would be all well and good if there were appropriate councelling services in the community, but there isn't. theres not enough. And they all cost alot. This sort of thing isn't covered by medicare.
When my mum was really worrying for me, she went and asked medicare if anything was covered.
Yes, there was something. Under medicare we could be covered for 12 appointments with a psychologist. 12 only.
Yes, theres good money in all aspects of the medical profession these days. These people charge hundreds of dollars for help, that I believe should be free or atleast heavily subsidised.
Back to the criteria, I really want to know how they decide who to take in. I remember when I first went there, I had to fill out alot of forms that asked all these questions about my feelings and reactions to things. It helped that I had a referral from my doctor. Some kids don't feel like their problems are bad enough to warrent help. They feel like, because they have a mental illness, regardless of the fact they feel miserable all the time, they can hardly get out of bed in the morning and most of the time they just want to die, because they have a mental illness or because their problems arn't visible to the human eye, that their not important. That they don't mean anything, that they don't deserve the help they so depserately need and want.
The fact that these thoughts have entered their heads suggests theres something seriously wrong. If kids have to start cutting themselves up, just get some assistance...then there is definately something wrong with the system.
