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A self-determined life despite psychosis – Miesbach success story!
In the Miesbach district, the Oberland Care Association supports mentally ill people in order to promote self-determination.
A self-determined life despite psychosis – Miesbach success story!
The challenges faced by people suffering from mental illness are often complex. An impressive example of this is the story of M., a 75-year-old former beautician from the Miesbach district who, despite suffering from a stressful psychosis, has not lost her courage to live. M. lives in a therapeutic shared apartment and receives support from Oberland Care Association, which is a ray of hope for many in similar situations.
The legal care that M. accepts is ordered when adults are no longer able to make decisions about their well-being due to physical or mental limitations. In M.'s case, the problematic journey began with psychosis in 2016, which occurred after numerous stresses, including the loss of her son to mental illness. The delusions she experienced led to her being admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Since then, she has lived in the shared apartment, where she not only feels in good hands, but also actively participates in social activities such as crafts and cooking.
Stigmatization of mental illness
Nevertheless, M. is not alone in her fight. Stigmatization plays a central role in the lives of many people with mental illnesses and often leads to exclusion and disadvantage. Loud German centers, describes Prof. Dr. Nicolas Rüsch, expert in public mental health, the dark side of this stigmatization: withdrawal, demoralization and even an increased risk of suicide are often the consequences of social exclusion.
According to a global study, over 80 percent of respondents with schizophrenia and depression felt stigmatized. Relatives of those affected are often not safe from discrimination and have an increased risk of developing psychological problems themselves. The German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) has made it its mission to counteract stigmatization, among other things through the “Stand with dignity” project, which helps those affected to communicate their illness more openly.
Practical support through care offers
M. himself is an example of the positive influence that such care offers can have. Despite her psychosis, which she is treated to stabilize, she says that she feels like a “free person”. Her gratitude to the care association that takes care of her financial, health and housing matters is clear. Her legal guardian, Sebastian Schmidl-Wolf, has, among other things, paved the way for her to find a place in the therapeutic residential community, where she establishes social contacts and takes an active part in life.
The need for contact and understanding in society is great. Direct, personal interaction is still the most effective way to reduce prejudices and integrate people with mental illnesses. Programs that promote exchange between those affected and those not affected are promising approaches that unfortunately still take place far too rarely.