Blog - Page 2 of 5 - KARTAR DIAMOND

Board and Cares by Kartar Diamond

One time, after a failed attempt to get my son hospitalized, I spoke briefly with a police officer outside my son’s Board and Care. The officer asked me, “Is this a Halfway House?” A Halfway House is an older, informal name for a transitional home, where people with drug abuse or criminal backgrounds get counseling and support so they can return to normal and more permanent housing. The current Sober Living Houses fill some of those needs. It was obvious, however, that this [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2022-03-22T03:07:39+00:00March 22, 2022|Treatment|0 Comments

A Hospital Run By the Patients, Entry #1 by Kartar Diamond

I’m sure I will periodically post excerpts from my memoir, Noah’s Schizophrenia, but the incident I’m about to recount wasn’t included in the book. It just surfaced from the memory banks as I lay awake in bed this morning. It’s a worthy illustration of what kind of behavior falls under the category, “a hospital run by the patients.” Unfortunately, I have many of these stories, alarming behavior by mental healthcare providers, which no one ever seems to be held accountable for. Back in [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-12-26T23:08:02+00:00December 26, 2021|Advocacy, Mental Illness, Treatment|0 Comments

Mental Illness and I.E.P. Programs by Kartar Diamond

I.E.P. stands for Individual Educational Program. Since a child who is a U.S. citizen is entitled to an education, the I.E.P. programs exist for those children who cannot effectively participate in a regular public school setting. These programs cater to any number of developmental or behavioral disabilities in minors., which inhibit their ability to learn with other students in a regular school environment. Additionally, when it is determined that a child cannot receive an adequate education while living at home, some I.E.P. programs [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-09-07T21:50:01+00:00September 7, 2021|Advocacy, Mental Illness, Treatment|0 Comments

What Are ADL’s by Kartar Diamond

When a person is seriously mentally ill, health care providers will take note of something referred to as “ADL’s.” This stands for “Activities of Daily Living.” People with serious mental illness often have trouble accomplishing these activities of daily living, most of which the non-mentally ill take for granted. Activities of Daily Living include: bathing, brushing teeth, other aspects of personal hygiene like washing and combing hair, changing regularly into clean clothes, and eating sensible meals on a consistent schedule. ADL’s can also [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-08-22T21:28:20+00:00August 22, 2021|Advocacy, Mental Illness, Treatment|0 Comments

What Is A Mental Health Case Manager? by Kartar Diamond

Each jurisdiction has its own terminology, so the job description of a case manager may be called something else in other areas. In our experience, a “case manager” is a social worker who assists a person with mental illness. Case managers may work in conjunction with a therapist or psychiatrist, as part of a mental healthcare team and they work for the Department of Mental Health directly or through an agency that is contracted with the Department of Mental Health. Case managers may [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-08-02T15:22:10+00:00August 2, 2021|Advocacy, Policy, Treatment|0 Comments

Gravely Ill Versus Danger to Self and Others by Kartar Diamond

There are a couple of terms or phrases which get the attention of law enforcement, as well as mental healthcare providers. One phrase is “gravely ill.” Anyone can assume correctly that this implies someone is very sick. In a medical context, it means that a person is very close to death. In a mental health context, “gravely ill” implies that a person is so disabled by their mental disorder that they could easily be vulnerable to a variety of circumstances which could result [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-05-31T17:45:16+00:00May 31, 2021|Mental Illness, Treatment|0 Comments

Do Euphemisms Help When It Comes to Mental Health? By Kartar Diamond

I try to make a point of referring to myself as a mental “illness” advocate and not a mental “health” advocate. Why? The reasons are varied, but the literal truth is that I advocate for those who suffer from serious mental illness and who cannot advocate for themselves. The rest of us who enjoy reasonably good mental health, and as highly functioning individuals, we know how to seek professional help when or if we have a set-back or psychological issue we cannot resolve [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-05-28T01:37:20+00:00May 28, 2021|Advocacy, Mental Illness, Treatment|0 Comments

What Is SSI? by Kartar Diamond

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. It is a monthly Federal stipend provided by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) to those who qualify. You can also find out about SSI from the Social Security Administration website, but this article serves as overview with some editorial comments. Disability benefits can be granted to those with either physical disabilities or mental illness, or both. In order to qualify, Social Security has to verify that a person legitimately has a serious disability which prevents [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-05-16T22:31:26+00:00May 16, 2021|Mental Illness, Policy|0 Comments

Government Discrimination Against Those With Serious Mental Illness by Kartar Diamond

There are many ways in which people with serious mental illness are discriminated against by the U.S. government. This article exposes just one area, in contrast to those with Developmental Disabilities. The current phrase “Developmental Disability,” or alternatively “intellectual disability,” refers to those with Autism, Downs’ Syndrome and other causes of mental retardation (which is a medical term that has somehow become politically incorrect). Those with Developmental Disability need moderate to significant amounts of long term treatment and services, as well as supportive [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-05-03T15:24:09+00:00May 3, 2021|Advocacy, Treatment|0 Comments

Cannabis and Mental Illness by Kartar Diamond

The subject of marijuana and mental illness is a very touchy, controversial topic within the mental health community. This article will highlight just a few of the issues, but I’ll say at the outset that I see both sides of the arguments for and against. Everything has to be taken into context and factoring in the unique situations for each person, should they choose to “self-medicate” with weed. After attending years of NAMI Family Support meetings, hands down virtually all parents in attendance [...]

By Kartar Diamond|2021-05-16T14:46:48+00:00April 9, 2021|Mental Illness, Treatment|0 Comments