I was inspired by my interview. Because disease conditions vary from person to person, and I wanted to gather more information about bipolar disorder patients living in China, so that I could learn about the current situation of patients living in China, where their suffering comes from, and whether the prevalence and awareness of bipolar disorder in China is a common problem. In this way, I would like to know if awareness can be raised to provide a better environment for them to live in.
I opened a community forum using RED. It allows patients with bipolar disorder to express their concerns and doubts freely and allows them to talk and discuss so that I can get better examples and perspectives. patients can also share their experiences and encourage each other through comments.
Thought
- I learnt a shocking point from their discussion. In China, if a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the diagnosis is reported to the community and recorded in a file. The patient’s whereabouts are monitored by the community manager and regular visits are made to make sure that the patient is good, that it is not life-threatening, and that it is not affecting the public. The record may affect the patient’s ability to go to school or get a job, so many patients refuse to go to the hospital, and in some cases, when the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is confirmed, the doctor writes down the name of the disorder as “mood disorder” so that it won’t be reported to the community.
I find it ridiculous that AIDS, with such a high rate of transmission and heredity, is not required to be monitored and included in the records, not even by the partner. Whereas bipolar disorder has to be reported. I think social care is a very important aspect. This kind of control invades the privacy of the patient and interferes with the patient’s normal routine. It is also damaging to the patient.
At the same time, I searched what would happen if bipolar disorder is diagnosed in the UK, and the schools in the UK do a very good job of caring for mental illnesses, such as applying for an extension for homework, extending exam times, priority appointments for free counselling at school, and extra care from tutors. There are no such measures in China.
- In the forum, a girl said she felt she is not a good daughter to her parents because she had nothing to do during the depression period, she didn’t have the strength to support herself to get up, and she didn’t want to eat the lunch that her dad had made. Her dad didn’t know what to do. After her dad left for work, he sent her a message saying, “My heart is bleeding”. The girl felt so sad when she saw it and hated herself for not being a good girl who could make her family proud.
I felt a sense of powerlessness. I think the father was trying to save his daughter, but he probably didn’t really understand her situation, so the salvation he gave her didn’t work. Instead, he sends this message which puts the daughter into a self-blaming mood.
Conclusion
To sum up I think that the general environment in China is not convenient for people with bipolar disorder to live in, excluding the high cost of medical care, society as a whole is not tolerant of this group of people but rather puts pressure on them. They don’t even want to be diagnosed because if they are diagnosed they will be reported to the community, and due to the stereotype of this type of mental illness, the normal life of people with Bipolar Disorder will be affected, and they will be classified as a danger, such as being rejected by schools and not being able to find a job. I think that raising awareness of bipolar disorder and giving people a proper understanding of the disorder and reducing stereotypes and prejudices is the only way for them to know how to relate to patients. Patients can express themselves and listeners can understand, so that we can have a better environment for people with bipolar disorder.
At the same time, I have found that even without stereotypes and bias, people around patients who want to help them often feel unable to do so. While people with bipolar disorder struggle with themselves, they have the motivation to live if they have the understanding and support of loving people.
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