A very hard pill to swallow (pun semi-intended). It was difficult for me to read the article; nevertheless, a worthy read.
I’ve had the experience of trying to navigate my own trials with mental illness for decades, including here in Buenos Aires. Committing myself to a private short-term psychiatric care facility that “accompanies the patient toward a better quality of life,” according to their website (side note: *internal screaming*) was traumatic, ultimately leaving me closer to the edge than I had ever been. I’ve also visited a close friend following her attempt at a public hospital (literally strapped to a bed when she could not supervised by staff or a trusted friend/family member). Stuff you can’t forget or unsee.
Knowing now that funding has been decimated to nearly nothing due to the austerity measures, and given the economic crisis, compounded by a myriad of any other potential factors affecting somebody’s life, is a Molotov cocktail waiting to happen. I’m saddened but not surprised in the slightest by what I read.
Not to be a negative Nancy, but I don’t foresee the situation or the statistics getting any better with the convoluted direction things have been going… but I am not just referring to the economic factors, but I’ll spare you going down that rabbit hole for now.
And with that, I just want to leave you with this thought: you never know what someone else is going through. Be kind
