Don’t call me crazy!

It was with sadness that I read a review of this program and saw that they were not so impressed but as I have come to expect when such emotive scenes are broadcast the reviews are often from people who either loved it or hated it or increasingly with mental health those who felt it could have been better but we really need it out there. Stigma is a dreadful thing and in many ways those with mental health problems are desperate to reduce it but I am concern that even when people are deeply distressed by what is shown they often end up saying it was a good thing when really all they feel is ‘get it off the screen’ and I do hope that this reviewer has not hidden these feelings.

As you might have gathered I did indeed watch this program and though did find I felt uncomfortable and distressed at times I do not agree with how distressing this reviewer found it. This may in part be because I have not had to go through what they have and as I watched it I was saddened that I felt it was very sanitized. I fear I may be becoming hardened to the suffering and humiliation of others and I do apologize for this. But despite feeling that it was over edited I am glad, in a way, that it was so. The stories are distressing and the treatment process mortifying to see but really I feel it is about time that the general public begin to see it. For too long they have been able to blissfully ignore it. I am also pleased that the program included sections where the people talked about their feelings towards being treated and what it may mean for them and though many may discount them as illogical, irrational rubbish they cannot ignore the fact of these feelings and how that can affect peoples behaviour.

And many people will tell you talking to people about mental health de-stigmatizes (see this article) it and an easy way to bring a conversation to someone is through programs such as this. I feel this program was very tastefully done, although I do have reservations about certain aspects of it, and am glad that the BBC took the time to seek advice and give support to the contributors. As the first part in a series I feel they have just started and I do hope that he rest is as well done. I certainly feel that it highlights a much neglected topic of conversation and will stimulate people to at least think about it a bit more.

I do think it is worth reminding ourselves after we watch the TV, even the documentaries, that these are programmes and they have been edited for content and taste and though it may not always be to our personal liking or depict things in sharp reality it is necessary. I suspect ‘Don’t call me crazy’ did not include many of the more stark realities of life in a secure unit but it really couldn’t have done so and still have maintained boundaries of good taste or the audience’s attention.

As with many I am concerned for those who made the decisions to show their stories as in later years or even in the very near future they may be faced with the known burden of people’s scrutiny and come to regret them. However I am often reminded that regret and disappointment are part of life and though it is difficult to make decisions when you are unwell if, as it appears every effort has been made ( for more details on how the charity mental rethink felt about the process ), to be informed then I feel we should be proud and particularly those who have shared their journeys, of what they have done and I congratulate them on their decisions, they have all be extremely brave.I would also like to say that I would have considered them any the less brave or been less proud of them, had I known them, for tackling their problems in private.

For those of you who have not seen this program then  do remember it can be found on iplayer but as with anything to do with mental health it pays to consider how you may be affected by things particularly if you have been through similar experiences as it can be very distressing/upsetting and trigger responses that are extreme before you start watching. It is certainly well worth watching but approach with caution.

And just in case you don’t think you could watch what happens then maybe reading a more abridged version of the stories on the BBC website would be better. Beth’s story about her being sectioned and how it started journey to health is here and this link will take you to the page entitled Life on the McGuiness Unit where there are various links to other stories from the staff and patients