How should we define mental illness?

[Votto]

The reason I put this in the political section, is because the definition seems to be heavily influenced by political leanings and has many political implications.

For example, to be trans or gay, it was once declared a mental disorder by the established medical community, but today, they say just the opposite.

What changed?

The same can be said for those wanting to kill themselves. It used to be that these people were viewed as mentally ill, so everything must be done to prevent them from harming themselves. However, in certain countries it is legal to do so, with next to no, if any, questions asked. They obviously cannot label such a condition as a mental illness and then help them kill themselves, specifically because they would not be of sound mind to make such a determination.

And the recent shooter in Dallas that tried to take out ICE agents come to mind. Many here labelled him mentally ill for what he did, which was shoot and kill a bunch of people and then himself. How is that to be determined, especially in hindsight that some who have tried to kill others, such as the squad that tried to assassinate Hitler, are viewed by all to be universal heroes, even though their attempt failed. Maybe the kid thought that ICE agents were Hitler's henchmen like he is told every day of the week by the media and the DNC.

 

[Meathead]

The reason I put this in the political section, is because the definition seems to be heavily influenced by political leanings and has many political implications.

For example, to be trans or gay, it was once declared a mental disorder by the established medical community, but today, they say just the opposite.

What changed?

The same can be said for those wanting to kill themselves. It used to be that these people were viewed as mentally ill, so everything must be done to prevent them from harming themselves. However, in certain countries it is legal to do so, with next to no, if any, questions asked. They obviously cannot label such a condition as a mental illness and then help them kill themselves, specifically because they would not be of sound mind to make such a determination.

And the recent shooter in Dallas that tried to take out ICE agents come to mind. Many here labelled him mentally ill for what he did, which was shoot and kill a bunch of people and then himself. How is that to be determined, especially in hindsight that some who have tried to kill others, such as the squad that tried to assassinate Hitler, are viewed by all to be universal heroes, even though their attempt failed. Maybe the kid thought that ICE agents were Hitler's henchmen like he is told every day of the week by the media and the DNC.

Trannies, their lovers and TDS definitely qualify.

 

[Zincwarrior]

I would leave it to the medical professionals and not us mouthbreathers.

 

[martybegan]

The reason I put this in the political section, is because the definition seems to be heavily influenced by political leanings and has many political implications.

For example, to be trans or gay, it was once declared a mental disorder by the established medical community, but today, they say just the opposite.

What changed?

The same can be said for those wanting to kill themselves. It used to be that these people were viewed as mentally ill, so everything must be done to prevent them from harming themselves. However, in certain countries it is legal to do so, with next to no, if any, questions asked. They obviously cannot label such a condition as a mental illness and then help them kill themselves, specifically because they would not be of sound mind to make such a determination.

And the recent shooter in Dallas that tried to take out ICE agents come to mind. Many here labelled him mentally ill for what he did, which was shoot and kill a bunch of people and then himself. How is that to be determined, especially in hindsight that some who have tried to kill others, such as the squad that tried to assassinate Hitler, are viewed by all to be universal heroes, even though their attempt failed. Maybe the kid thought that ICE agents were Hitler's henchmen like he is told every day of the week by the media and the DNC.

There is deviancy from the norm or default, and then there is clinical mental illness.

The dividing line is what society is willing to tolerate, or accept, or even advocate.

 

[Mack The Finger]

What changed?

The way people think.

IMHO...I think the Vietnam war added to the mix.

 

[The Irish Ram]

The reason I put this in the political section, is because the definition seems to be heavily influenced by political leanings and has many political implications.

For example, to be trans or gay, it was once declared a mental disorder by the established medical community, but today, they say just the opposite.

What changed?

The same can be said for those wanting to kill themselves. It used to be that these people were viewed as mentally ill, so everything must be done to prevent them from harming themselves. However, in certain countries it is legal to do so, with next to no, if any, questions asked. They obviously cannot label such a condition as a mental illness and then help them kill themselves, specifically because they would not be of sound mind to make such a determination.

And the recent shooter in Dallas that tried to take out ICE agents come to mind. Many here labelled him mentally ill for what he did, which was shoot and kill a bunch of people and then himself. How is that to be determined, especially in hindsight that some who have tried to kill others, such as the squad that tried to assassinate Hitler, are viewed by all to be universal heroes, even though their attempt failed. Maybe the kid thought that ICE agents were Hitler's henchmen like he is told every day of the week by the media and the DNC.

We have a set of social norms. Acting outside of those norms might show the need for intervention.

 

[kyzr]

There is deviancy from the norm or default, and then there is clinical mental illness.
The dividing line is what society is willing to tolerate, or accept, or even advocate.

Do we have to wait for one of them to stab someone in the neck on a train before we say, ooops?

 

[BlindBoo]

For example, to be trans or gay, it was once declared a mental disorder by the established medical community, but today, they say just the opposite.

What changed?

As we claw our way out of the grasp of puritan ethics the medical community realized that a small percent of the population has always been that way and it is normal for them to be that way. They shouldn't be demonized, discriminated against, or put in jail just for being gay, or libertine. Most people are not that way.

 

[Foxfyre]

The reason I put this in the political section, is because the definition seems to be heavily influenced by political leanings and has many political implications.

For example, to be trans or gay, it was once declared a mental disorder by the established medical community, but today, they say just the opposite.

What changed?

The same can be said for those wanting to kill themselves. It used to be that these people were viewed as mentally ill, so everything must be done to prevent them from harming themselves. However, in certain countries it is legal to do so, with next to no, if any, questions asked. They obviously cannot label such a condition as a mental illness and then help them kill themselves, specifically because they would not be of sound mind to make such a determination.

And the recent shooter in Dallas that tried to take out ICE agents come to mind. Many here labelled him mentally ill for what he did, which was shoot and kill a bunch of people and then himself. How is that to be determined, especially in hindsight that some who have tried to kill others, such as the squad that tried to assassinate Hitler, are viewed by all to be universal heroes, even though their attempt failed. Maybe the kid thought that ICE agents were Hitler's henchmen like he is told every day of the week by the media and the DNC.

To assassinate an evil person, which this country has done numerous times, is not the same thing as indiscriminately trying to kill people, people you don't know and wouldn't recognize if you met them face to face. It is not the same thing as doing what you know is criminal and wrong so that you kill yourself to avoid consequences for your actions. No normal person thinks like that.

 

[marvin martian]

I would leave it to the medical professionals and not us mouthbreathers.

Behold, the "medical professionals":

 

[martybegan]

Do we have to wait for one of them to stab someone in the neck on a train before we say, ooops?

Those people are already seen as having a clinical mental illness, either inherent or drug induced. The problem there is the lack of will to isolate them from society until such a time as them being ready to re-join it.

If ever.

 

[martybegan]

As we claw our way out of the grasp of puritan ethics the medical community realized that a small percent of the population has always been that way and it is normal for them to be that way. They shouldn't be demonized, discriminated against, or put in jail just for being gay, or libertine. Most people are not that way.

That's advocating for tolerance, not acceptance or celebration.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

I would leave it to the medical professionals and not us mouthbreathers.

.

Speak for yourself.






.

 

[toobfreak]

How should we define mental illness?​

In the broadest sense, mental illness is the failure of the person to adapt to and be able to cope with their environment.

1. The first stage of mental illness is sociopathic. They might function / act normally in all situations except specific social situations.
2. The second stage is emotional. The individual fails to adapt and tries to cope by putting up hostile or escape defenses which are only partially effective as the person's failure to wholly adjust leads to some loss of reality.
3. The final stage of mental illness is when the person utterly fails to cope and becomes overwhelmed with fears and securities--- due to mental breakdown or even organic damage of some kind; at this stage, any number of psychotic disorders appear and the person loses all track of contact with reality.

 

[Votto]

I would leave it to the medical professionals and not us mouthbreathers.

Right, as politicians determine things like can you own a firearm if you are "mentally ill"?

What if they declare us all nuts?

The Russians would just declare the political opponents "insane" and lock them up.

 

[Votto]

There is deviancy from the norm or default, and then there is clinical mental illness.

The dividing line is what society is willing to tolerate, or accept, or even advocate.

In other words, the goal posts keep moving.

 

[martybegan]

In other words, the goal posts keep moving.

When dealing with human thought and behavior the goal posts are wide enough you don't need to move them.

The line is set by what society decides is actionable mental illness.

 

[White 6]

The reason I put this in the political section, is because the definition seems to be heavily influenced by political leanings and has many political implications.

For example, to be trans or gay, it was once declared a mental disorder by the established medical community, but today, they say just the opposite.

What changed?

The same can be said for those wanting to kill themselves. It used to be that these people were viewed as mentally ill, so everything must be done to prevent them from harming themselves. However, in certain countries it is legal to do so, with next to no, if any, questions asked. They obviously cannot label such a condition as a mental illness and then help them kill themselves, specifically because they would not be of sound mind to make such a determination.

And the recent shooter in Dallas that tried to take out ICE agents come to mind. Many here labelled him mentally ill for what he did, which was shoot and kill a bunch of people and then himself. How is that to be determined, especially in hindsight that some who have tried to kill others, such as the squad that tried to assassinate Hitler, are viewed by all to be universal heroes, even though their attempt failed. Maybe the kid thought that ICE agents were Hitler's henchmen like he is told every day of the week by the media and the DNC.

I define them, often, as batsh#t crazy or maybe fkd in the head. I stay away from clinical definitions, most of the time. Some lawyers, judges and juries, have been known to accept mental illness criteria, that lets the batsh#t crazy off with just treatment, instead of deserved punishment. I believe in capital punishment for these crazy fks. That crazy never gets to be a danger to society again, and I do not care about age. It lets parents and family members know to watch their crazy fk kids and family members, if they do not wish to see them, also parted from the mortal coil, as the crazy fk killed others. I don't do or approve of doing crazy crap. I am old, and had good examples. I remember a gym teacher/coach, beating some kid's ass in front of the entire class with a 3/4 inch thick oak paddle, punctuating his sentences with ass pounding pain, yelling "You stipid lil shit! Your daddy shoulda beat your ass, every damned day. It was a lesson, not on to the perp, but to everybody that witnessed that ass beating. Nobody would ever get away with crazy crap in that man's presence. The kid had taken a dodge ball off the rack, intentionally throwing at a kid, about 15 feet up the peg board, hitting him in the head, knocking him off to land on the gym floor, breaking his arm. If you teach them not to do crazy crap when young, fearing punishment, maybe they won't do crazy crap as adults, even more dangerous or deadly. Accept no defense on mental or anything else. Of course they are crazy. Who cares. Punish for the act, for the good of all. But, that's just me.

 

[Meathead]

As we claw our way out of the grasp of puritan ethics the medical community realized that a small percent of the population has always been that way and it is normal for them to be that way. They shouldn't be demonized, discriminated against, or put in jail just for being gay, or libertine. Most people are not that way.

There is a veritable ocean between being gay and thinking you're not the sex you were born. One is a bit weird to me at least, the other is mental illness.

 

[BlindBoo]

That's advocating for tolerance, not acceptance or celebration.

Tolerance is legally not allowing discrimination and or criminalization. Acceptance varies by location as does celebration.

I don't accept the notion that men who want to look like women and augment themselves, should be allowed to play in professional leagues competing with women. (Or do I have to say biological females?). I don't think they should be able to compete for scholarships against women (BF's) either.