In the same week that debate over the Home Secretary’s remarks on the ‘grooming gangs scandal’ filled social media and the news another abuse scandal of equal depravity was only mentioned in a couple of mainstream papers. Just like the systematic abuse of vulnerable girls by gangs of men across England, this other scandal involves ‘the wrong type of victim’ and a coverup over decades. Most people would not even be aware that there is an ongoing public inquiry into approximately 2000 deaths over 20 years that occurred in Essex NHS mental health units. That’s approximately 2 deaths a week of vulnerable mentally ill patients in one single county partnership of NHS trusts for 20 years.
You're spot on, Romy, attitudes have not moved on from victorian times. In fact it's worse, because people pretend to care about mental health without any real understanding of what it's like to struggle with real problems, and I don't mean the normal ups and downs of life.
It's horrific and heartbreaking in equal measure to imagine what people endure at the hands of bullies who should be caring for and nurturing their patients. And yet they are deified....similar issues in senior care, I believe but less widespread than it used to be as a result of many a public outcry.
I think the issue is we aren't seen as human, or contributing anything to society. Which is of course utterly wrong. Until that mindset changes, the treatment of people with mental illness or disabilities won't change.
You're spot on, Romy, attitudes have not moved on from victorian times. In fact it's worse, because people pretend to care about mental health without any real understanding of what it's like to struggle with real problems, and I don't mean the normal ups and downs of life.
It's horrific and heartbreaking in equal measure to imagine what people endure at the hands of bullies who should be caring for and nurturing their patients. And yet they are deified....similar issues in senior care, I believe but less widespread than it used to be as a result of many a public outcry.
I think the issue is we aren't seen as human, or contributing anything to society. Which is of course utterly wrong. Until that mindset changes, the treatment of people with mental illness or disabilities won't change.