Re: Support System -- Years ago I thought LPA had one/sign name on registration form?

[Guest guest]

Before I get involved in this discussion, I just want to note that illness

is illness whether is be mental or physical. When someone passes away due

to illness, we should honor their memory and accord their families respect,

courtesy, kindness and dignity.

That being said, , I think your idea is noble and generous, but I do

believe there is liability and privacy issues involved. For legal reasons,

LPA can't get into the mental health referral business. Whether this is an

issue the Medical Advisory Board should address is another question. I

would like to see more psychiatrist and psychologist on the MAB.

did have a " buddy " -- his wife. She is a professional in the mental

health field, as is her mother. Also, had a lot of family and

friends. So I think he had a fairly adequate support system, and if

anything, this tragedy was due to illness rather than isolation or

loneliness. Could it have been averted? Only God knows. was a

good guy and whatever happened, and why, shouldn't distract us from that.

Bill

On 1/1/07, <REDHAWK4@...> wrote:

>

> Years ago -- I thought LPA had a " suport system " , where right on the LPA

> registration form -- you put your name/phone number/e-mail etc. -- IF

> you wanted to be contacted in emergency or non-emergency situation, when

> another LP was having a " crisis " and needed someone to talk to.

>

> I've often thought of " " and others also, and though " maybe " if he

> just had someone to talk to -- things would of been OK. Kinda like the

> 12 Steps support system, and having a " partner " or buddy that I " m vaguely

> familiar with.

>

> I volunteered for this on the form, some years ago, but nobody ever called

> me. And today -- I noticed it isn't even an " option " anymore. I think more

> personal one-on-one help would be better than just having a person write

> on the (public) dwarf list-serve. I know I wrote and helped a few fellow

> dwarfs

> out, who were having trouble, just on a personal level.

>

> WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS?? Or are today people worried about liabilities

> and stuff, and saying the wrong thing and " causing " something bad to

> happen, instead of preventing it? If that's the case that's sad. And I

> think

> it's always better to do something, than to do " nothing " and say or feel

> " so

> sad " after the fact, in any type of situation in life. Cuz then people

> start

> asking, " What COULD have been done? " .

>

> So WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS AGAIN?

>

> MARY

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bill,

I agree with you completely. I would like to also tell you and others that

there is a psychiatrist on the MAB. Since our MAB members cannot actually

treat our membership, they can offer consult advice and suggestions, that is

all. In general, the brief 15-30 minute appt.during the conference is a

" free consult " as an educational means only. It is meant to inform and maybe

suggest a course of action. That is all! In the past years we had

advertised in the conference booklet for anyone interested in speaking with

a psychiatrist,to contact her directly. This was done to maintain a privacy

concern for the individual, not to have to sign in with the clinic setting.

In the beginning, we had a number of average size parents interested and a

few lp individuals sought out this help. It has been proven that those who

could benefit most are those who do not come forward. Because our MAB

members volunteer their time and their own expenses, it is not always

possible to offer the full slate every year. In recent years, there has

been a psycho/social workshop planned for the first Saturday of the week.

During this time our genetic counselors and our psychiatrist were available

to discuss some of the issues that may come up during the week and answer

questions. It is very difficult to provide services to all our members who

may have special needs when you only have 3 days in which to do it.

Dee

On 1/1/07, Bill Bradford <tslug1@...> wrote:

>

> Before I get involved in this discussion, I just want to note that

> illness

> is illness whether is be mental or physical. When someone passes away due

> to illness, we should honor their memory and accord their families

> respect,

> courtesy, kindness and dignity.

>

> That being said, , I think your idea is noble and generous, but I do

> believe there is liability and privacy issues involved. For legal reasons,

> LPA can't get into the mental health referral business. Whether this is an

> issue the Medical Advisory Board should address is another question. I

> would like to see more psychiatrist and psychologist on the MAB.

>

> did have a " buddy " -- his wife. She is a professional in the

> mental

> health field, as is her mother. Also, had a lot of family and

> friends. So I think he had a fairly adequate support system, and if

> anything, this tragedy was due to illness rather than isolation or

> loneliness. Could it have been averted? Only God knows. was a

> good guy and whatever happened, and why, shouldn't distract us from that.

>

> Bill

>

>

> On 1/1/07, <REDHAWK4@... <REDHAWK4%40prodigy.net>> wrote:

> >

> > Years ago -- I thought LPA had a " suport system " , where right on the LPA

> > registration form -- you put your name/phone number/e-mail etc. -- IF

> > you wanted to be contacted in emergency or non-emergency situation, when

> > another LP was having a " crisis " and needed someone to talk to.

> >

> > I've often thought of " " and others also, and though " maybe " if

> he

> > just had someone to talk to -- things would of been OK. Kinda like the

> > 12 Steps support system, and having a " partner " or buddy that I " m

> vaguely

> > familiar with.

> >

> > I volunteered for this on the form, some years ago, but nobody ever

> called

> > me. And today -- I noticed it isn't even an " option " anymore. I think

> more

> > personal one-on-one help would be better than just having a person write

> > on the (public) dwarf list-serve. I know I wrote and helped a few fellow

> > dwarfs

> > out, who were having trouble, just on a personal level.

> >

> > WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS?? Or are today people worried about liabilities

> > and stuff, and saying the wrong thing and " causing " something bad to

> > happen, instead of preventing it? If that's the case that's sad. And I

> > think

> > it's always better to do something, than to do " nothing " and say or feel

> > " so

> > sad " after the fact, in any type of situation in life. Cuz then people

> > start

> > asking, " What COULD have been done? " .

> >

> > So WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS AGAIN?

> >

> > MARY

> >

> >

>

>