This is so sad!

Oh that's terrible.

So much went wrong here - the mother is patently mentally ill and even went for help, but as usual the "services" moved at a speed that makes a snail look like Usain Bolt in comparison, with tragic results.

I can't imagine what she (and the rest of the family) are going through.

Why is it that mental illness is so rarely taken seriously?

Caryll wrote:Why is it that mental illness is so rarely taken seriously?

I suspect that financial considerations come into it, especially when so many people are given to hysteria and over-exaggeration.

My own GP, who I do respect in general, said when my son told her about a panic attack "well, we all feel worried sometimes". One day, when she has 2 seconds to spare (which is rare) I will spell out to her what a panic attack really is - it should be called a "terror attack".

Exactly. Even doctors aren't as clued up about it as they should be. Does your son get many panic attacks? They must, indeed, be terrifying!

My GP is very good, but unfortunately the rest of the services around here are not so good. A lack of money, and a lack of imagination don't help.

All doctors are only human (even if some of them think that they are superior beings - we've all come across those!), and as such have their own prejudices, ideas and hobby-horses just like us ordinary humans.

In my long working life I spent some 9 or so months in a GP practice, and it was quite an eye-opener!

And yes, panic attacks (or terror attacks as I will try to remember to call them if I ever have to again) are absolutely dreadful (I've had them myself), and I suspect more common than people (including doctors) realise.

I would further speculate that a good proportion of the people who are "threatening" to jump off a bridge are suffering from a terror attack and it is a cry for help.

And I hope that this particular girl is getting the help she needs.

Suicide attempts are often a cry for help, but even if they are not, that person is suffering terribly and NEEDS help whether they realise it or not.

That really is sad.