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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sjb on January 28, 2003, at 18:05:16
Don't know if you all are aware of this story but is very sad. Right now he is reportedly under suicide watch at an undisclosed hospital in San Deigo. If interested, you can find the latest story on ESPN online.
Posted by Greg on January 28, 2003, at 18:10:48
In reply to Oakland Raider's Barret Robbins - Support/Prayers, posted by sjb on January 28, 2003, at 18:05:16
> Don't know if you all are aware of this story but is very sad. Right now he is reportedly under suicide watch at an undisclosed hospital in San Deigo. If interested, you can find the latest story on ESPN online.
>And one of the saddest things is that many of his teammates have said they will probably never speak to him again for not showing up at the Superbowl.
Somewhere along the line I think they forgot it was only a game...
Posted by judy1 on January 29, 2003, at 10:27:06
In reply to Oakland Raider's Barret Robbins - Support/Prayers, posted by sjb on January 28, 2003, at 18:05:16
apparently he had gone off his bipolar meds (I can't imagine being a professional athelete and taking them) and yes he spent Sunday on a suicide watch. I guess his family is asking for privacy.
Posted by Ted on January 29, 2003, at 19:13:54
In reply to more info, posted by judy1 on January 29, 2003, at 10:27:06
>I guess his family is asking for privacy.
Now, if they would speak up instead of "keeping private", it would help the "mental illness stigma" in a big way. To me this is the biggest shame.
Ted
Posted by sjb on January 30, 2003, at 9:22:35
In reply to Privacy, posted by Ted on January 29, 2003, at 19:13:54
Absolutely. I was quite furious when I read the first reactions, and lack thereof, of his teammates and the Raiders organization. However, in the case of the family, my read is that they are currently focused on stablilizing him and keeping the media at bay, which if that is indeed the case, I can sympathize with that. I certainly support them in not disclosing the location of the hospital.
I do worry, however, that the reason the Raiders kept this hush-hush initially, (finally, last night the coach said the right things) is indeed because of the stigma, and that is very sad.
Posted by bluedog on January 30, 2003, at 10:58:45
In reply to Re: Privacy, posted by sjb on January 30, 2003, at 9:22:35
> I do worry, however, that the reason the Raiders kept this hush-hush initially, (finally, last night the coach said the right things) is indeed because of the stigma, and that is very sad.
>Forgive me for not knowing the guys name or the team involved (I live in Australia and don't know much about superbowl etc) but I very clearly remember reading a report on the net recently about one of the star players in one of the teams being treated for social anxiety...Unfortunately I can't for the life of me find this link back.. but apparently this guy used to be shunned by his team mates and considered weird by the media because he used to conduct post game interviews with his helmet still on because his social anxiety was so overwhelming.
I think the reporting about the whole thing was quite open and apparently he was treated with one of the ssri's (Paxil I think) for his social anxiety and his problems were much improved. He apparently left his old team because the lack of understanding displayed by the coach and players of his condition in that team had created irreconcilable differences but another team was willing to snap him up (despite knowing about his condition) and his sporting performance was outstanding in the new team. So maybe not all teams in the superbowl competition are so ashamed about the stigma about one of their players suffering from a "mental illness". I found the fact that an all American sports hero suffering from a mental illness was willing to go public about the whole thing was a pretty good step in the right direction.
Also in Australia past Wimbledon Tennis champion Pat Cash has also recently released an autobiography which goes into detail about his own battle with depression and suicidal ideation. He was interviewed on prime time TV about his book and he was completely open and unashamed that he had suffered from a mental illness. I was very heartened by the whole thing.
YES even All American or All Australian rich and famous tough guy sports stars can fall victim to mental illness and it's nothing to be ashamed about. More of the same I say to lift the stigma surrounding depression and other mental illnesses. The more famous people that willing to come forward and admit they are actually human can lead to more of the same and I believe that this will ultimately improve the lot of us ordinary folks suffering from the same problems considering that Western Corporate culture seems so hell bent on identifying so intimateley with sports culture.
This may sound like heresy but I believe that this is the one and only area where drug company sponsorship of teams and individual sports persons using their products through necessity can actually be beneficial for ordinary people suffering from mental illnesses.
Did anyone also see Jack Nicholson's speech at the Golden Globe awards where he admitted to taking a Valium before the ceremony. I don't know if he really did take a valium or not but I noticed there was some very distinct discomfort and nervous laughter from the other stars in the audience at this comment, but I doubt whether he gave a damn. If it was a true comment I say good on you Jack Nicholson. (I'm sure the manufacturers of valium must have been happy about his comment)
bluedog
Posted by OddipusRex on January 30, 2003, at 11:53:47
In reply to Re: Stigma, posted by bluedog on January 30, 2003, at 10:58:45
That was Ricky williams
http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/0311/1349666.html
> Forgive me for not knowing the guys name or the team involved (I live in Australia and don't know much about superbowl etc) but I very clearly remember reading a report on the net recently about one of the star players in one of the teams being treated for social anxiety...Unfortunately I can't for the life of me find this link back.. but apparently this guy used to be shunned by his team mates and considered weird by the media because he used to conduct post game interviews with his helmet still on because his social anxiety was so overwhelming.
>
> I think the reporting about the whole thing was quite open and apparently he was treated with one of the ssri's (Paxil I think) for his social anxiety and his problems were much improved. He apparently left his old team because the lack of understanding displayed by the coach and players of his condition in that team had created irreconcilable differences but another team was willing to snap him up (despite knowing about his condition) and his sporting performance was outstanding in the new team. So maybe not all teams in the superbowl competition are so ashamed about the stigma about one of their players suffering from a "mental illness". I found the fact that an all American sports hero suffering from a mental illness was willing to go public about the whole thing was a pretty good step in the right direction.
>
Posted by Ted on January 30, 2003, at 12:27:55
In reply to Re: Privacy, posted by sjb on January 30, 2003, at 9:22:35
> Absolutely. I was quite furious when I read
>the first reactions, and lack thereof, of his
>teammates and the Raiders organization.We must remember, however, that jocks aren't exactly "rocket scientists". If any of them had so much as a normal IQ I would be surprised.
Ted
Posted by sjb on January 31, 2003, at 8:23:43
In reply to Re: Stigma, posted by bluedog on January 30, 2003, at 10:58:45
You're thinking of Ricky Williams who now plays for the Miami Dolphins. I wonder if race is at play here? Would the black players on the Raiders reacted the same if Robbins were black?
Posted by judy1 on January 31, 2003, at 10:11:30
In reply to Re: Stigma, posted by sjb on January 31, 2003, at 8:23:43
I don't think so, I think mental illness stigma transcends all others. take care, judy
Posted by OddipusRex on January 31, 2003, at 18:36:18
In reply to Re: Stigma » sjb, posted by judy1 on January 31, 2003, at 10:11:30
This is a little off topic but still...
http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/12/01/schizo/print.html
This is an article about the overdiagnosis of schizophrenia in Black people. It suggests that there is some racism in the diagnosis-that Black people are seen as less valuable and less likely to be harmed by a diagnosis of Schizo. Or that possibly it is the Black person's discomfort with the white MH establishment which may be misinterpreted as paranoia. Or that unfamiliarity with the Black patient's culture may cause faulty diagnoses.
On the other hand they suggest that there may well be some racially based genetic predisposition to schizophrenia that nobody is willing to investigate for fear of being called racist.
Thought it was interesting.
> I don't think so, I think mental illness stigma transcends all others. take care, judy
Posted by noa on January 31, 2003, at 18:58:29
In reply to Re: Stigma and racism, posted by OddipusRex on January 31, 2003, at 18:36:18
I wonder if it also might have to do with access to private psychiatric care vs. public, and ability to pay out of pocket vs. by insurance. I would guess that public clinics and hospitals are more "comfortable" with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, while private psychiatrists might be likely to postpone diagnosing schizophrenia and using less stigmatic diagnoses as long as the insurance can cover the necessary treatment. Or, even moreso if the patient or family is paying out of pocket.
Posted by OddipusRex on January 31, 2003, at 20:03:07
In reply to Re: Stigma and racism, posted by noa on January 31, 2003, at 18:58:29
Well there's definitely prejudice and bigotry directed against poor people of all ethnic groups. Unfortunately nobody seems to get very upset about that. They're the last group it's PC to hate and ridicule.
> I wonder if it also might have to do with access to private psychiatric care vs. public, and ability to pay out of pocket vs. by insurance. I would guess that public clinics and hospitals are more "comfortable" with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, while private psychiatrists might be likely to postpone diagnosing schizophrenia and using less stigmatic diagnoses as long as the insurance can cover the necessary treatment. Or, even moreso if the patient or family is paying out of pocket.
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