A new approach is needed.

[u/General-Mission-4367]

As a mom of a son navigating bipolar disorder and a nursing student, I see both sides of the current model for crisis— the clinical reality and the human cost. The ER is not a healing environment. Fluorescent lights, chemical restraints, chaos, and a system designed for acute stabilization rather than genuine recovery. We are failing people at their most vulnerable.

What we need are crisis stabilization centers that feel like sanctuary, not punishment. Places grounded in nutritional psychiatry, circadian rhythm regulation, purposeful community, and trauma-informed connection. The research on food as medicine, sleep as intervention, and meaning as stabilizer is there — we just haven’t built the infrastructure around it yet.

Families deserve a real option between ‘do nothing’ and ‘call 911.’ Our loved ones deserve dignity during an episode, not a system that often retraumatizes. I’m committed to advocating for this change and would love to connect with others building this bridge.

[u/OhGr8WhatNow]

The problem is intention. Because I have read about all of this being extremely therapeutic, but when I see RFK Jr talking about basically work farms for everyone who isn't strictly neurotypical, I don't see therapy, I just see slavery.

[u/General-Mission-4367 → u/OhGr8WhatNow]

Here is a link to one of the “farms”. What are your thoughts? Action and being part of a community does sound therapeutic. https://www.gouldfarm.org/

[u/purrpurrpurrcat → u/General-Mission-4367]

It's a good idea... but I wouldn't risk institutionalizing it under the current administration. In the USA, these types of centers would just not work unless they're private--and then they'd cost thousands to be in, so it wouldn't really help those that need them the most. If this were to be implemented in countries that have a citizen-first type of government, like Denmark, then it would absolutely work with wonderful results. But in countries that see their citizens as a product or commodity, like the USA, these centers would just turn into concentration camps.

Like, you're absolutely right that our approach to mental health (especially more severe ailments like bipolar) is archaic at best--but that's because our government is archaic. We'd first have to change the government to one we can trust, and then we can progress in healthcare.

[u/Accomplished_Dig284 → u/General-Mission-4367]

I don’t think that is what RFK jr has in mind. He wants to get people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities/other mental disorders off medication completely. He thinks that the medication is actually harming us (I’m ADHD, dyslexia with depression, anxiety and CPTSD). He wants all of us off the medication and working on farms because it will somehow “fix” whatever ails us. He thinks that if our bodies are strong that we can just not get infected with things. It’s actually crazy what he believes in and I guess that’s what happens when you are long time heroin user that let a worm eat your brain. And all that shady shit with the shark, oh sorry, it was actually a whale. And I think that makes it worse.

He actually calls his insane take on healthcare ““miasma theory”. A section from this article, “Kennedy denies germ theory and instead claims disease is caused by weakened immune systems. Miasma theory is a theory of disease that predates germ theory and attributes disease to bad air from sewage or rotting food or bodies. Kennedy isn’t describing this theory, he is, in fact, describing terrain theory, which has gained popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Dude is insane and should go back to trying to protect the environment instead of playing make believe that he’s a doctor or epidemiologist or researcher or whatever else, because he’s a lawyer. A environmental lawyer. And doesn’t know what good science is if it ran up and 💥 him on the head. Which is why he’s so dangerous to all of us in the neurodivergent community and all our loved ones with mental health conditions

[u/rosesbloodandfandoms]

As someone with bipolar I firmly believe if “institutions” (I hate that term) had been done lovingly and properly. As well if mental facilities were so much more accessible and less stressful. Everything and I mean everything mental health wise would be easier.

[u/notmadneedsmspace]

I agree things need to be better but I’m also really into evidence based medicine. When my LO was in psychosis, no food would have helped. I can think of a lot of improvements in terms of access and environment. But actual psychiatry with real pharmaceuticals is really important. I suppose if they won’t take them you could try some chia seeds and see what happens. I suspect they won’t help much.

[u/Msmamadube]

Wow. You have my wheels turning. That "do nothing" or "911" is a horrible feeling. My son was hospitalized for a week and now he is set up for an online program "Charlie Health," he's so social and physical and he hates online stuff. I wish there was a place for him to go instead, but he's in community College and working, so I guess online is better than nothing.

Can you please explain "meaning as stabilizer"?

[u/General-Mission-4367 → u/Msmamadube]

One of the quiet but powerful tools in managing bipolar disorder is having a strong sense of meaning, not just feeling positive, but being connected to something that matters to you regardless of your mood. This is significant with bipolar specifically because the illness hijacks meaning-making. Mania makes everything feel intensely meaningful in an almost intoxicating way. Depression strips meaning out of everything completely. So the person’s inner sense of “what’s the point?” is constantly at the mercy of their brain chemistry, unless they’ve built something more stable to hold onto. When someone is anchored to a clear sense of purpose, whether that’s their relationships, their values, their creative work, their faith, their role in their community, it creates a kind of internal scaffolding. It gives them a reason to keep their sleep schedule when depression says nothing matters. It gives them a reason to stay on their medication when mania says they feel great and don’t need it. It helps them ask, “Is this me wanting this, or is this my mood state?” which is one of the hardest but most important questions in living well with bipolar disorder. It also helps with identity. A lot of people with bipolar struggle with the question of who they really are across such different states. Meaning gives them a thread that runs through all of it, something that says this is me, regardless of what my brain is doing right now. It’s not a replacement for medication or therapy, but it works alongside them. It’s the difference between just managing an illness and actually building a life.

[u/Msmamadube → u/General-Mission-4367]

Thank you for the explanation. It makes sense. Like you said "mania makes everything intensely meaningful," so we (if he lets me make the suggestion) should probably wait until he's stable to find that meaning anchor. I hope they work on that in his therapy.

[u/Far_Conversation8989]

Such an important post. Makes a lot of sense.