It is not irresponsible to say. It is my opinion and I know the opinion of many of other health workers.
Medic alerts are there for conditions which are life threatning such as Diabetes, severe allergies, heart failure, people whom have pacemakers or other implants, epilepsy, asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease, strokes, cardiac arrythmias the list goes on.
Yes ok mental health problems can be life threatning too i dont disagree with that but i dont think wearing a medic alert for MH is warranted. If someone is behaving strangely we would pick them up anyway and take them to the hospital and it usually after 5 or so minutes with a patient it becomes clear that their problems are mental health related whether it be an OD, dissociation, mania, severe depression. Having a card in your wallet is a better idea. I wear a medic alert for health problems but i havent included my mental health problems.
When you wear a medic alert you will find alot of people even strangers will ask what it is for and would you really feel comfortable explaining your mental health to them?
Domino effect If you are a mental health patient when you become a patient in a general hospital they should send a psych liaison staff member either a nurse or a dr. to come and asses you. Then they should talk to the other nurses treating you to make sure all your mental health needs and issues are being respected and followed. Have they never done that?
And yes mental health conditions or any psych meds do not alter the treatment descisions in the emergency setting.
|