Blog Archives

Arapahoe H.S. & the divergent failures in the Public School & Mental Health Systems

4/30/2019

In some ways, Public Schools have the mirror opposite problem of the Mental Health System-- and yet in many ways it is the SAME PROBLEM .

The Mental Health System during the last few decades has not had the resources to serve people with Intensive Mental Health Needs --- so they haven't -- and those people along with assorted other folks with brain injury, developmental disability and/or substance use problems have gone to the Streets & the Criminal Justice System.

There has been A LOT MORE PRESSURE on the Public School System to serve students with very high mental and emotional needs.

So what has been the TENDENCY of ERROR in the Public School System --- FAILING TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES FOR HIGH NEEDS INSTRUCTION WHILE KEEPING STUDENTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

  So for both Mental Health & Public Education -- there are inadequate resources & options --- that lack of options can potentially lead to the Criminal Justice System, and at Middle Class Schools it can and has led to an unsafe environment.

  On the one hand, UPPER Middle Class School Districts are much less likely to be accused of participating in the School to Prison Pipeline. On the other hand, bullying and other behavior issues within the school may be rampant -- but School officials issue a never-ending series of WARNINGS that may never ultimately SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

I don't believe in PUNISHMENT, but I do believe in SOLVING THE PROBLEM and the MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM and the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM represent two systems that have been greatly challenged by the reality of young people and adults with serious mental, emotional & behavioral issues that can and will quickly become the COMMUNITY's issues if not handled appropriately.

  Public School Systems, the Mental Health System and Citizens have A LOT OF HARD WORK TO DO when it comes to having an adequate array of options to deal with mental, emotional and behavioral issues within our Communities.

HOW ARAPAHOE HIGH SCHOOL & THE REST OF THE COUNTRY GOT TO NOW: MENTAL HEALTH, UNCERTAINTY, & A CYA CULTURE

This page was Orchid's #1 Viewed Resource Page for April 2019

In praise of D.J. Jaffe & SB19-222 -- the unacknow-ledged Debt the State & Traditional disability advocates owe the conserva-tiveS & Moderates & Orchid

4/26/2019

SB19-222 requires the State to strengthen and expand the behavioral health safety-net system so that individuals who are the hardest to serve do not end up in jails, caught in the child welfare system or homeless.

This really marks a major shift in policy and position -- for the State, State Government & the Disability Community.

What role if any did Orchid play in that?

How does that inform what we will be doing going forward?

What we really did was MARRY the CONSERVATIVE DISABILITY ADVOCACY of D.J. Jaffe and the Mental Illness Policy Organization & Treatment Advocacy Center with the Traditional Disability Activism & Sensiibilities symbolized by Olmstead.

We think that is the MIDDLE GROUND that the Community & Many Advocacy Organizations & Institutions can EMBRACE.

SB19-222 really embraces that and we know that some within State government and advocates are familiar with our criticisms of Colorado's Mental Health System & its "Continuum of Care Hell."

We think it is that Middle Ground that can be embraced nationally by:

Mental Health America,
NAMI
the National Disability Rights Network [the Nation's federally-mandated Protection & Advocacy Offices],
SAMHSA, &
CMS

We don't agree with everything D.J. Jaffe and the Conservative Mental Health Advocacy Movement want -- BUT they FORCED a CONFRONTATION with REALITY that the Mental Health Advocacy & Activist Community was doing its very best to ignore.

That reality was largely related to the GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS against people with cognitive disabilities in the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM & HOMELESS.

NOW the Activist Community is Embracing those concerns of people in the Criminal Justice System and Homeless and involved with the Child Welfare System.

Further, Mental Health Advocates and Disability Advocates in general had gotten so pressured into believing that the ECONOMIC CASE for SERVICES was more IMPORTANT than the MORAL CASE that the SYSTEM that was CREATED was INCAPABLE of adequately serving people with intensive needs.

AND make no mistake about it the Disability Community got co-opted by States into going along with inadequately resourced systems because there was no clear vision of a Continuum of Care just a disdain for Institutionalization.

So this brings up one of the REALLY INCONVENIENT SYSTEMS FAILURES --the Mental Health Profession itself.

Where is the LEADERSHIP in the Mental Health Profession to address this -- we don't know.

We definitely need the American Psychiatric & Psychological Associations to step up to the plate & take responsibility and remedy the DSM 5 debacle.

That could be accomplished by just acknowledging their IGNORANCE -and stop allowing themselves to be improperly used by the Criminal Justice System.

Most specifically mental health professionals need to stop handing out those DAMNING "anti-social personality disorder" diagnoses -- when they really don't have knowledge to know what's going on.

Further, the mental health profession needs to wait for the National Institute of Mental Health's Research Domain Criteria Program to reform the DSM 5.

This is necessary in order to avoid the unscientific pronouncements the mental health profession is currently making that have the potential and often reality of greatly HARMING the lives of poor marginalized people with only partially understood cognitive issues.

There does seem to be INSIGHT & LEADERSHIP in the RESEARCH COMMUNITY and the Mental Health Activist Community to address what appears to be pretty inadequate mental health care in many cases.

We are interested in MARRYING the insights of the Immune-Brain-Gut Triad with approaches such as "Open Dialogue."

We're not for letting the Mental Health Profession continue to BILL for "CARE" without any commitment to address the HAVOC caused by a SCIENTIFICALLY INVALID DSM 5.

So what we really brought to the Table over the past 5 years was:

Information
Systemic Focus
Root Cause Analysis
& a willingness to Address Reality
while respecting Individual Rights & Needs

We've said this situation with THOUSANDS of Coloradans with cognitive disabilities in the Criminal Justice System & Homeless did NOT happen because 1 System FAILED.

Multiple Systems have FAILED. We will be continuing to provide information, a systemic focus and root cause analysis regarding those SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF SUPPORT EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS THE INDIVIDUALS WHO DEPEND UPON THEM.

Of course, NONE OF IT WILL WORK WITHOUT INCLUSION.

SB19-222:

Individuals At Risk Of Institutionalization
Concerning the improvement of access to behavioral health services for individuals at risk of institutionalization, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

BILL SUMMARY

The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to develop measurable outcomes to monitor efforts to prevent medicaid recipients from becoming involved in the criminal or juvenile justice system.

The bill requires the state department to work collaboratively with managed care entities to create incentives for behavioral health providers to accept medicaid recipients with severe behavioral health disorders.

The bill requires the state department to determine if seeking a 1115 demonstration waiver is the necessary response to the requirements of 42 CFR 438.6 (e) to ensure inpatient services are available to individuals with a serious mental illness.

If the state department determines it is not appropriate, the state department is required to submit a report to the general assembly with the state department's reasoning and an alternative plan and proposed timeline for the implementation of the alternative plan.

The bill requires the state department to develop and implement admission criteria to the mental health institutes at Pueblo and Fort Logan.

The bill creates a community behavioral health safety net system (safety net system) and requires the department of human services (department), in collaboration with the state department, to conduct the following activities:

Define what constitutes a high-intensity behavioral health treatment program (treatment program), determine what an adequate network of high-intensity behavioral health treatment services includes, and identify existing treatment programs;

Develop an implementation plan to increase the number of treatment programs in the state;

Identify an advisory body to assist the department in creating a comprehensive proposal to strengthen and expand the safety net system;

Develop a comprehensive proposal to strengthen and expand the safety net system that provides behavioral health services for individuals with severe behavioral health disorders;

Implement the comprehensive proposal and the funding model no later than January 1, 2024; and
Provide an annual report from January 1, 2022, until July 1, 2024, on the safety net system to the public through the annual SMART Act hearing.

The bill makes an appropriation.

Beyond "Psychological Fitness for Duty"

4/24/2019

Art is not very good @ working out the "detailed solutions" to problems.

BUT Art often does pick up on the internal conflicts plaguing the Society and puts them into High Relief.

There's a REASON why there are so many TV shows exploring policing, lawyering, being on the wrong side of the law, etc.

Now a lot of people would say that those shows are not "realistic" -- BUT in many cases the objective is to:

Elevate the tensions so they will be perceived [maybe some in the Society are already keying in on those tensions, maybe a lot of people aren't]

When it comes to "psychological fitness for duty" --- some writers and dramatists have recognized that's not just a question of what one initially brings to the table:

In extreme cases, it could involve anger & aggression from PTSD brought on by a violent work environment.
It could also be shaped by a WORK CULTURE that has its own problems and we haven't figured out how to solve them.

Sweden's Linköping University

SCIENCE NORDIC
EVEN IN SUPPOSEDLY
"ENLIGHTENED" SWEDEN -

FEAR OF REPRISALS MUZZLES SWEDISH POLICE
JULY 8, 2018
THE CONSEQUENCES OF WORKING IN A CULTURE OF FEAR CAN BE SERIOUS.

We expect law enforcement officers to pursue wrongdoers and speak the truth. But it turns out that some men and women in uniform don’t necessarily feel free to do this when it comes to their own workplace.

A Linköping University researcher found that the majority of 33 Swedish police officers she interviewed about their working conditions said they did not want to speak up about problematic situations on the job because of fear of reprisals.

"I felt it was wrong to hold back, but I knew: If I open my mouth now, it’s all over. I won’t be welcome here anymore. So I chose to remain silent," one of the officers told researcher Malin Wieslander, who is a postdoc at the university.

"Most people reported that they or others have encountered unpleasant consequences when they have spoken up," Wieslander said.

Her interviewees reported hearing rumours about colleagues who have been cut out, frozen out, relocated in a worse position or bullied until they quit. But where did this information actually come from? Wieslander wanted to know.

http://sciencenordic.com/fear-reprisals-muzzles-swedish-police

AD SEG: Making things worse with the ultimate secular in-group & OUt-group -- officers & Inmates

4/22/2019

So when people start to think about AdSeg -- the thoughts are often formed by:

FEAR of the BAD PEOPLE in Jail, and
The desire to SUPPORT the GOOD PEOPLE -- Law Enforcement.

Well, one might instead identify with the people in Jail, so it's:

FEAR of the BAD PEOPLE in LAW ENFORCEMENT, and
The desire to SUPPORT the GOOD PEOPLE in Jail -- often poor people experiencing cognitive disabilities for all kinds of reasons.

It's pretty clear that both these groups have some significant BEHAVIORAL ISSUES and where we come down on that DEPENDS on whose TEAM we're on.

You can object to the BEHAVIOR -- we're NOT for IGNORING BAD BEHAVIOR [that can be a popular idea for how to deal with some bad behavior.]

Ignoring BAD BEHAVIOR really has its limits, especially when its done in the context of also IGNORING the UNDERLYING DRIVERS of the BAD BEHAVIOR -- which is almost always the case."

So with DIFFERENT UNDERLYING ROOT CAUSES THE SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT:
If it really is bad behavior on the part of the inmate driven by cognitive disabilities -- that's a different fix than --
OFFICER RETALIATION.

A couple of weeks ago, we gave the STATE a HEADS UP that we might be requesting a REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION on behalf of an inmate with mental health issues.

Inmate had been on Medicaid:

prior to arrest
was on Medicaid for prescription Medication in Jail [or that's the inmates understanding], and
would be on Medicaid upon release.

The ACCOMMODATION REQUEST: Pharmacogenetic Testing to inform medication selection.

THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT: The problem really seems to be with some pretty SCARY OFFICER RETALIATION, including EXCESSIVE FORCE.

It's NOT very clear to us that Pharmagenetic Testing is going to address this.

SHOULD WE REQUEST ANYWAY -- JUST TO RULE IT OUT?

We're NOT for DESTROYING anybody -- inmate or officer.

AND we gotta look @ this -- and step out of our "in-groups" and see things from the perspective of our "out-group."

If we have the COURAGE to do that -- we're gonna realize pretty quickly this system isn't working & it's making things worse.

2.4 Disrupting or interfering with the security or the orderly operation of the institution or encouraging others to do so.

2.5 Refusing to obey a direct order of any staff member.

2.9 Misuse, abuse, or alteration of any inmate communication, via paper, video or electronic device. This includes any abuse of the grievance process

-- Well, these provisions are designed to CYA LAW ENFORCEMENT for a vast legion sins.

Punishment If found guilty after a hearing - before the CAB, a Class 2 Rule violation could result in separation from the jail population, and/or loss of specified privileges for not less than 10 days or more than 40 days for all violations arising out of one incident.

All or part of the punishment may be suspended for a period up to 60 days. If corrective confinement is ordered, there shall be an administrative review within 7 to 10 days after the hearing.

Continuous confinement for more than 30 days shall require the review and approval of the division chief or designee.

3.3 Using loud abusive or obscene language towards a staff member. Being disrespectful toward or harassing a staff member. (This includes, but is not limited to, gender, racial, religious and other slurs.)

3.11 Smoking, second offense.

3.12 Writing or marking (graffiti) on any facility property, to include, but not limited to, walls, ceilings, doors, furniture, floors, windows, mirrors, bedding or linen items.

Punishment If found guilty after a hearing before the CAB, a violation of a Class 3 Rule could result in separation from the jail population, and/or loss of specified privileges for not less than 5 days, or more than 20 days for all violations arising out of one incident.

All or part of the punishment may be suspended for a period up to 60 days.

If corrective confinement is ordered, there shall be an administrative review within 7 to 10 days after the hearing.

"Grievance Procedures" -- food for thought

4/20/2019

Even some in the Business World are calling out the "Grievance Procedure" as something less than effective.

Some are arguing that what we need to do is to move from a "Grievance Procedure" to "Conflict Resolution":
"Conflict Resolution" is less formal -- and everyone will play well together. Well, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

We're not against CONFLICT RESOLUTION -- but largely what is driving the CONFLICT are UNCLEAR EXPECTATIONS and FAILURE TO SUBSTANTIVELY ADDRESS CONCERNS.

Now UNCLEAR EXPECTATIONS can be created by Inadequate Enforcement of the LAW -- that's certainly been the case with Olmstead, Parity & Medicaid Network Adequacy.

Further, there's a Role for DISCRETION -- AND we're for it. BUT it generally works best in the context of CLEAR EXPECTATIONS -- not as a substitute for them.

Ironically, FAMILY LAW really had similar problems with respect to child support for many years, and States finally developed DETAILED Child Support Guidelines.

That's really what an "Olmstead Plan" is -- CLARITY for the Disability Community and its already required by Law.

Now Gov. Polis' plans for a "Behavioral Health Blueprint" -- @ least on the face of those plans -- look
very in-line with Olmstead.

So in looking @ the PROBLEMATIC NATURE of "Grievance Procedures" -- there need to be CLEAR EXPECTATIONS with regard to:

Available Individual & Systemic Remedies , &
What it takes to access each of those remedies,
With DISCRETION available where reasons are specifically provided in writing and meet a threshold of legal compliance.

Right now -- in the Employment Context, we're asking people to risk their jobs to complain --- often with very unclear expectations about outcomes or the expectation is CLEAR -- nothing is going to be done or we're going to try to figure out a way to fire you. ]

Well, many of those entities (private & public) are trying to PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST LIABILITY by being VAGUE.

In the Governmental Grievance Procedure context involving DISABILITY SERVICES or the LACK THEREOF, -- what's the STANDARD:

Generally, it's just being polite
Even getting back to the person is pretty catch as catch can -- or we might have a PROCEDURE that requires a response. [I'm going to get struck by lightening @ this point.]

Historically, in Colorado & across the Country-- individuals, family members, & advocates are often sent on a WILD GOOSE CHASE for RELIEF for months if not years.

The JAIL WAIT case seems to be getting a HELLUVA LOT of Relief --- of course, we thought that about Goebel & Neiberger.

Ultimately we need A LOT MORE THOUGHT into AVAILABLE INDIVIDUAL & SYSTEMIC remedies that people can potentially access without a lawyer(s) and a lot of money or somebody having a lot of RESOURCES.

that's needed at both the State Executive Agency Level, AND
the FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCY LEVEL

Also we need a lot more thought into how we can make it SAFE for HR, managers & politicians to be HONEST about the DIFFICULTIES they're facing and get the SUPPORT they need to provide the remedies that are needed to COMPLY with the LAW.

With respect to governmental subdivisions, complaints regarding INADEQUATE DISABILITY STAFFING need to be made available to FUNDING ENTITIES & available to the PRESS & PUBLIC.

Issues of Confidentiality should be used to protect the Complainant --- NOT the ENTITY that maybe FAILING to provide ADEQUATE STAFFING.

The ADHD Garden Party

4/17/2019

"People with ADHD often say they “get in the zone” or “hit a groove.” These are all ways of describing a state of hyperfocus – intense concentration on a particular task, during which the individual feels she can accomplish anything. ... The ADHD nervous system is interest-based, rather than importance- or priority-based."
------ HADD Ireland

I think this distinction between the "interest-based" nervous system and the "importance-based" nervous system reflects a whole lot of UNCONSCIOUS BIAS and a MISUNDERSTANDING of what may be going on @ least in some cases.

The person is focusing on "interest" but there often has been an INTERNAL DETERMINATION that the INTEREST is MORE IMPORTANT than EXTERNAL DETERMINATIONS of IMPORTANCE.

Most people with ADHD have lax filters -- so they are taking in MORE INFORMATION -- they have MORE INFORMATION upon which to make a DETERMINATION of IMPORTANCE.

Now, someone might DISAGREE with that DETERMINATION of what is MOST IMPORTANT but ultimately that is a SUBJECTIVE DETERMINATION.

With respect to INFORMATION that is being taken in -- that INCLUDES --- the person's own BIOLOGICAL responses which MUST INFORM what is MOST IMPORTANT to focus on.

To some extent this may be SEMANTICS -- but the TRADITIONAL VIEW is really saying that if the person with ADHD determines something is MORE IMPORTANT to focus on -- if it doesn't agree with the MAJORITY VIEW -- it's NOT VALID as a DETERMINATION of IMPORTANCE.

We don't agree with that.

We think that one of the greatest challenges for the person with ADHD as a "SLOW PROCESSOR" of a GREAT AMOUNT of INFORMATION is that -- they really don't have the BANDWIDTH to PLEASE EVERYONE.

As difficult as it is, people with ADHD have to prioritize THEIR OWN DETERMINATIONS of IMPORTANCE --- not external determinations.

That can make TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT very problematic to say the least -- and we think that is one of many reasons why ADHDers so often choose the ENTREPRENEURIAL ROUTE.

For a lot of people with ADHD -- ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT makes a lot more sense than trying to shoe-horn them into a TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT situation that largely due to their own biology is if not DOOMED to FAILURE is often unlikely to succeed.

BUT those challenges are NOT the result of the person not considering IMPORTANCE -- they are the result of the person often making IMPORTANCE DETERMINATIONS that do not agree with a MAJORITY VIEW.

Ricky Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band (1972) -- "Garden Party"

Brandi Carlile -- Austin City Limits
(2018) with twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth as well as drummer Chris Powell.

LYRICS FOR "MAINSTREAM KID"

Canada's RISE Asset Development Program: Supports Entrepreneurs Overcoming Mental Health & Addiction Challenges

Part I: Asynchrony from childhood to college

4/17/2019

  Well, I was not a child prodigy. I was smart and certainly emotionally intense and also I had these weird "overexcitabilities" or something in my hands.

I didn't have a perfect family BUT after all was said and done IT WAS PRETTY DAMN FUNCTIONAL -- and I always knew everyone loved me.

Most people don't GET ME -- my Dad was one of the few people who did. My grandmothers idolized me -- Hey, I was the 1st grandchild. My mother didn't always know what to make of me -- and she loved me nonetheless.

    After 56 years, I have really come to recognize the importance of ENVIRONMENT and while it may not totally eliminate weaknesses -- it can certainly enable the person to THRIVE.

I take in A LOT of INFORMATION so it takes me more time to process ALL THAT INFORMATION -- am I really a "SLOW PROCESSOR" or am I just processing more? -- Well, the practical reality is really BOTH.

I'm very internally motivated -- and I was certainly very motivated to please my teachers -- and it served me very well. I was NOT in the situation of some "gifted" people -- that I thought I knew more than the teachers -- although I was in advanced classes pretty early on.

Fourth grade really stands out because I was put in a small advanced math group with 3 boys and myself --- the CHARGE -- GO AS FAST AS YOU CAN!

Well, I pretty much had a nervous breakdown in 4th grade or at least daily temper tantrums @ home. Why @ home -- Hey, I really TRUST these people.

There's also some other context to this which one might guess if you've followed this website -- I'm interested in a lot of things -- @ this same time I was also taking Karate Lessons, Ballet Lessons, Tap Lessons, & Jazz Lessons

Well, I am kinda interested in math sometimes -- BUT I'm interested in A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS -- A WHOLE LOT MORE.

My parents did the only thing good parents could do-- they took me to the CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST. This was a very nice older man who spoke to my parents, had me draw a picture and determined the problem was really with MY MOTHER.

Well, I did think there was room for IMPROVEMENT in that area -- so I didn't necessarily disagree with this. It sorta lessened the TANTRUMS [Hey, I don't want the continued MORTIFICATION of being called out of class to be seen by a PSYCHOLOGIST -- even if I'm the only one who knows]. Of course, the UNBEARABLE PRESSURE of the MATH CLASS was unrelenting.

By 5th Grade, I was initially placed in a LOWER LEVEL Math Class. This has to be some HORRIBLE MISTAKE! Well, I made my way back to the handful of kids in the top math group.

I pretty much stayed @ the top ACADEMICALLY through college.

Part II: social Asynchrony as an adult

4/16/2019

Well, in High School & College -- I had a lot of friends who were gay, gifted young men. We had a lot in common -- intellectually and emotionally, and we both liked men so that was kind of a bummer.

   Really because of some pretty overwhelming emotional intensity -- I was pretty reluctant to get involved in any kind of serious relationship -- unless I had some realistic expectation it wasn't going to fail -- well that turned out to be very ELUSIVE.

By my late 20s, I was pretty desperate and lonely. So when I was walking in a park with my pet raccoon [don't ask], a man came up to me and started talking and asked for phone number -- and I was very flattered.

I had little to nothing in common with this person -- but he didn't seem to be gay -- and I really didn't know what to think about romantic relationships @ this point.

Well, it turned into a HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE in which I was raped. The person had some very significant problems and ultimately did time on a separate sex crime.

Well, I am nothing if not persistent. I tried to analyze this situation and determined -- well, I did need to find someone who wasn't gay -- but maybe someone I had more in common with and who wasn't a sex offender.

So next up was a man 25 years my senior, a super cool accent, vegetarian, passionate about the environment, and an Engineer who showed me his patents -- be still my wicked heart! Of course, there was that string of marriages -- but he seemed to have grown through that. Well, he hadn't quite grown enough!

Well, -- not gay, not a sex offender, smart, @ least a little closer to my age, and not a string of failed marriages.

There was the MENSA-head who had had a pretty troubled childhood -- unfortunately, I was having a pretty troubled adulthood -- and we weren't on the same page for life goals.

I had a few more traumatic experiences, before I met my husband. I got married when I was 35 to a incredibly smart, responsible, and often infuriating man 13 years my senior. In Oklahoma, where people tend to get married early & often -- I was pretty ancient.

Despite the fact that I have routinely reminded my husband that he is not 1/2 the man my father was, we've somehow managed to stay together for over 20 years and have 2 wonderful, intense, smart, creative children.

The cratering of the DSM & our notions of "intelligence" -- Could open the way for More valid & Just understand-ings

4/14/2019

Britain's "Time Team" dug trenches all over Britain to REVEAL some pretty amazing archaeological history.
We're Considering Some of Society's Most Problematic "TRENCHES"--

It's Time To Dig Deeper & In Some Different Places

As a Society, we've not only been struggling with the "lack of validity" of the DSM 5 AND a horribly antiquated Criminal Justice System, but on a separate track our society has been wrestling with what it means to be "INTELLIGENT."

Traditional Notions haven't really held up to reality -- so we've recognized different types of intelligence and the Society has really gone off on EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE -- since so many TRADITIONALLY INTELLIGENT people -- don't seem to have it.

We would say maybe we're onto SOMETHING -- BUT We Need To DIG DEEPER.

We would suggest that digging in INFORMATION PROCESSING and the BIOLOGICAL ROLE OF EMOTION IN THAT PROCESS as it relates to the IMMUNE SYSTEM -- would be a good place to DIG OUR TRENCH.

It's NOT that people don't have Mental Health Issues or "Intelligence" -- BUT our Society doesn't have a Valid Scientific Understanding of those things.

So in Mental Health and elsewhere we have a whole lot of scientific sounding terms that imply there are scientifically valid and precise definitions for these terms.
Largely, that is NOT the case.
We also don't think it is the case that the concerns behind these TERMS are made up.
The CRATERING of the DSM 5 also came @ a time when people were questioning "What is INTELLIGENCE?"
The rise of "EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE" became very much in vogue and still is.
Well, it is pretty clear that our TRADITIONAL NOTIONS OF INTELLIGENCE have CRATERED TOO -- that our minds and bodies have some real limits to how much stimuli they can actually process and not run the risk of things going off the rails.
Additionally, there are A LOT OF BIOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS that influence how sensitive we are to all this information.
Further, while there may be more sophisticated ideas about EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE out there -- it seems to DEVOLVE into recriminations against the TOXIC PEOPLE by the EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE -- a fair amount of the time.
We don't really think that represents reality either.
Emotion is very much involved with information processing -- it's NOT all that is involved but it seems to be on the FRONT END.
AND that was really one of the BIG POINTS of Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio's book in the 1990s -- "Descartes Error." EMOTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR HUMAN REASONING -- far from being Mr. Spock -- HUMANS CAN'T REASON without EMOTION.
We don't think it is any accident that many so-called "gifted" people have emotional & physical overexcitabilities.
EMOTION is NOT LOGIC'S OPPOSITE -- it's part of the BIOLOGICAL PROCESS of HUMAN REASONING.
Just as we've recognized the need to INTEGRATE PHYSICAL & MENTAL Healthcare -- we have to INTEGRATE our Understandings of INFORMATION PROCESSING with DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, MENTAL ILLNESS & PHYSICAL ILLNESS.
The problems of COGNITIVE DISABILITY within the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM are EXTREMELY COMPLEX -- and we've tried to be very clear about who we think should bear the BURDEN of that COMPLEXITY -- the STATE.
Right now, we MIGHT recognize that someone who is floridly psychotic is incompetent to proceed or not guilty by reason of insanity -- BUT what about:

the large numbers of people with brain injury
HIGH IQ ADHD
HIGH IQ Autism
Developmental Disability & Mental Health muddy classifications that seem to have A WHOLE LOT of GENETIC overlap

This is ALL A LOT MORE COMPLICATED than we've realized -- and that has HUGE IMPLICATIONS for not only the Criminal Justice System BUT ALSO our Society as a whole.

"Blurred Lines" Between Some Developmental Disabilities & "Giftedness"

Bring "Giftedness" Down to Earth So We Could Start Recognizing It In Unlikely Places

High IQ and Psycho-Neuro-Immunology

The "Epidemic" of "Misdiagnosis In the "Gifted" Community

Immunology & Mental Health

Discusses Temple Grandin's call for more research into Sensory Overload. Video relates that Grandin observes the challenges of trying to "socialize" someone who is experiencing extreme Sensory Overload.

Excitabilities and Gifted People: Characterized by Complexity and Unique Developmental Trajectories

Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio observes -- "The Brain Is the Servant of the Body" -- upon reflecting on feelings as the origin of the Human Brain.

Antonio Damasio makes clear that we descend biologically, psychologically, and even socially from a long lineage that begins with single living cells; that our minds and cultures are linked by an invisible thread to the ways and means of ancient unicellular life and other primitive life-forms . . .

----Amazon

In this wondrously engaging book, Damasio takes the reader on a journey of scientific discovery through a series of case studies, demonstrating what many of us have long suspected: emotions are not a luxury, they are essential to rational thinking and to normal social behavior.

----Amazon

The rise of the "Guardians"--Keepin' the faith

4/12/2019

Look, as much as we might like to believe otherwise we can't have Systems in which:

Large numbers of the population don't have access to the "Social of Determinants of Health" and wealth & power are concentrated in a few [basically an Oligarchy]

AND

Law Enforcement sent out to patrol this mess -- and make not only split-second judgment calls, but have their very biology changed by the Stress of the ENVIRONMENT and the AGGRESSION needed to survive it.
So sometimes these Law Enforcement Officers are more DANGEROUS than the people with whom they are engaging.
So Law Enforcement have their own "Social Determinants of Health" to be concerned about.

In fact in Colorado, Law Enforcement and other First Responders have sought funding for their own mental health needs.

We may not be able to provide 100% SAFETY, BUT we could do a lot better than what we're doing for CITIZENS & LAW ENFORCEMENT if we:

Had the COURAGE to acknowledge the DAMAGE some of our ENVIRONMENTS cause.
That includes BIOLOGICAL DAMAGE -- this is INDIVIDUAL -- it's NOT everybody.
BUT these ENVIRONMENTS are HUGE RISK FACTORS for such DAMAGE & COGNITIVE PROBLEMS.

We're in favor of the move to a "Guardianship Model" in Law Enforcement -- & we're also working with Stakeholders on making "Limited Guardianship" an option in Criminal Justice.

It really is ridiculous that Law Enforcement may have to engage with a Struggling Person numerous times, there may be numerous arrests and convictions-- AND that person never gets the LONG TERM SUPPORT he or she needs.

We can stop that & respect INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.

Law Enforcement will often correctly point out that they often do face legitimate DANGEROUS situations --

Ironically, they may be ratting themselves out.

Aggression

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Val's Blog

Arapahoe H.S. & the divergent failures in the Public School & Mental Health Systems

In praise of D.J. Jaffe & SB19-222 -- the unacknow-ledged Debt the State & Traditional disability advocates owe the conserva-tiveS & Moderates & Orchid

Beyond "Psychological Fitness for Duty"

SCIENCE NORDIC
EVEN IN SUPPOSEDLY
"ENLIGHTENED" SWEDEN -

FEAR OF REPRISALS MUZZLES SWEDISH POLICE
JULY 8, 2018
THE CONSEQUENCES OF WORKING IN A CULTURE OF FEAR CAN BE SERIOUS.

AD SEG: Making things worse with the ultimate secular in-group & OUt-group -- officers & Inmates

"Grievance Procedures" -- food for thought

The ADHD Garden Party

LYRICS FOR "MAINSTREAM KID"

Part I: Asynchrony from childhood to college

Part II: social Asynchrony as an adult

The cratering of the DSM & our notions of "intelligence" -- Could open the way for More valid & Just understand-ings

The rise of the "Guardians"--Keepin' the faith

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Val's Blog

SCIENCE NORDICEVEN IN SUPPOSEDLY"ENLIGHTENED" SWEDEN -FEAR OF REPRISALS MUZZLES SWEDISH POLICEJULY 8, 2018 THE CONSEQUENCES OF WORKING IN A CULTURE OF FEAR CAN BE SERIOUS.

Author

Archives

Categories

SCIENCE NORDIC
EVEN IN SUPPOSEDLY
"ENLIGHTENED" SWEDEN -

FEAR OF REPRISALS MUZZLES SWEDISH POLICE
JULY 8, 2018
THE CONSEQUENCES OF WORKING IN A CULTURE OF FEAR CAN BE SERIOUS.