Hello, sometime in the near future, I will be giving a speech to a group of doctors and cops on the topic of mental illness. Please ask questions that you believe to be relevant to the progression of education on the topic of mental illness, or suggest relevant topics for me to discuss.

thanks,
Bob

What type of doctor will be in the audience?

What do you hope to accomplish?

What do you consider to be the largest problem in the current environment (relative to doctors)?

Addressing how to remove the stigma attached to mental illness, thereby increasing the number of sufferers who would then be willing to seek treatment, has to be near the top of any discussion, imo.

This is most succinct. Nice.

Mostly psychologists and psychiatrists I would think, but I think most doctors can probably join if they choose.
Little olive branch never hurt anyone.
How do you think most parents react when their kids get mentally ill? It's not always a smooth transition, to put it lightly. With the more acute symptoms, people can get hurt when words turn hurtful and push comes to shove. A lot of people with behavioral disorders and diseases have a huge problem to overcome which is rarely addressed:

Unacceptable behavior is not tolerated by mentally healthy people.

Since "unacceptable" is subjective, people take it upon themselves, totally naturally, to make the decision of what will be deemed unacceptable behavior. Some even take it upon themselves to have lots of serious talks with the sick person if they feel like he or she isn't behaving correctly.

With behavioral disorders come behavioral problems.

are psychotropic drugs overprescribed?

I don't know. I'm not going to tell the drs how to do their jobs.

sorry, i assumed you are a dr. in what capacity are you giving this speech?

Why do I need a capacity?

When you say you're giving a speech to a bunch of doctors and cops i assume that means they will be congregated at some type of event. I suppose most events would not grant just anyone the opportunity to give a speech. Usually it requires some type of "qualification" or known experience on the topic. I'm happy to see that opportunity opened to others.

Regardless, im trying to get a sense for the scope of your speech.

I hope to speak to them as I would someone on the golf course, or at a birthday party. I know that I'm going to be speaking to some very intelligent and accomplished people. They are not my peers, but I wish to speak to them as if they are my peers.

Ok im a little confused about what you mean by this.

When you say "the progression of education" do you mean advancing the professional understanding of mental illness?
OR
Advancing the understanding of the general public toward that of the current professional understanding?

Yeah, the context of the “speech” is important especially since you’re now making it sound as though it will be informal chitchat as opposed to a speech. You seem to be a little evasive on the details of your impending scenario. The context of the conversation makes a big difference on what topics may or may not be of interest/relevance.

The details have not been worked out yet. Basically I expect to be given a time frame of a few minutes and that’ll be it.

As dr meh said, we're still trying to figure out the context here.

Considering your response to my first question, I'll assume that you do not wish to discuss potential improvements to the professional understanding/treatment of mental illness and that you are primarily concerned with educating the public on the current professional understanding. Do i have this right?

Can you elaborate on what you mean by this...

What are your thoughts on physical activity as treatment for mental illness?

Me too, actually. I have a rough outline in my head and nothing more.

I can't help doctors understand mental illness any better, but I think what I have to offer is a reminder to law enforcement that the mentally ill population, while sick, is still just a group of people.

I feel a kinship with sick people, as I'm sick myself. If my kin hurts another, I may not feel responsible for the harm, but I still feel like I can do some good. I have a message of peace, particularly aimed at law enforcement that I believe may help remind them that we're all just people. Some may have badges and guns, neither of which I have, but on some level we're still just people. I wish to reach the humanity in their hearts with my words.

It's a temporary fix. For years, I found solace in working because having a task to accomplish took up my time and grabbed my attention. It's when I'm alone with my thoughts that my mind wanders the most.

If you want to remind law enforcement to show more humanity for the mentally ill, I would start by talking about the statistics of mental illness and point out how a large number of people in that room likely have some sort of mental illness be it depression, anxiety, PTSD, or whatever.

I would then speak to the number of people with a psychosis (since this is who law enforcement may think of when they think about responding to a call with someone acting bizarrely) and point out how most are not dangerous and that it is sad to think about how they are unable to discern what is real and what is not. Their hallucinations and delusions are just as real to them as you are real to the people in the room. I would also remind them that people with psychosis were once children who were, and hopefully still are, loved by their parents. Children who had dreams of the future and goals to make something of their lives. Some may have dreamed of being involved in law enforcement. But through no fault of their own (typically), they now find themselves looked at as “crazy” and a scourge on society. Remind them that they are still able to be happy, to be sad, and to show and accept love. I would even consider mentioning how just because someone is psychotic doesn’t mean they have no redeeming qualities or are unable to contribute to society. I would talk about John Nash and look up other famous people with a psychotic disorder who have contributed to society in some way.

Very well said. Thanks.

What would you consider the best long-term ways to fix mental illness?

Unfortunately there’s no fix, there’s only management.

^ That is not correct.

Not sure what isn’t correct. Unless there’s a cure for schizophrenia in my lifetime then I will always have this disease. Meds help with suppressing symptoms, as well as symptom management, but I’m still sick.

There are more mental illnesses than schizophrenia.