duty

psychiatrists* come closer to human suffering than any other branch of medicine. so we should be aware of the fact that poverty and political, social and economic inequalities between groups predispose to conflict. they directly contribute to psychiatric morbidity by increasing the disparity between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. the greater global psychiatric community has a moral duty help such. conflict is greater in semi democracies or governments in transition like east Africa and democratic institutions must be inclusive at all levels

*A physician (an M.D.) who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists must receive additional training and serve a supervised residency in their specialty. They may also have additional training in a psychiatric specialty, such as child psychiatry or neuropsychiatry. They can prescribe medication, which psychologists cannot do

*A*

its been almost a year a half since we left niger. traces of africa still occupy my mind. i cannot forget. perusing the hundreds of photographs daniel and i , took caused memories i had thought forgotten to resurface. and its now never been more alive in my mind. i suppose i've become almost obsessed with the idea (see previous post). i stumbled across this photo of *A*.

now i recognise his suffering. i was never really convinced of it until now. im sure he had the so called 'supreme affliction' - a disorder of the mind. left undiagnosed. misunderstood and stigmatised - this young man lived a life that was ridiculed. i feel sorry. i feel angry at myself for not seeing it-if i had would i have been able to help him? to our credit we offered him our friendship - but certainly this was not enough. i yearn to see good health return to people like *A*.
is hope a mystical thing?

i've long had an inkling that i might die young. all i ask is that i live long enough to see some sliver of resolve.

hope rising now.

...

forgive the title. its a little broad. but i think its apt. don't worry this entry will not take long to read...not that im really worried about what you think.

plenty has happened in this whalefarmers' life since his last post in october. i won't go into detail as the sensitive nature of the material could invalidate the reputations of certain persons. but, i'll just mention a few things here and there.

so, i have a new job. and i love it. for the first time in a long time, i find myself happy -actually happy- to go to work. the thrill of being able to help a person both physically and mentally is exciting. the outcome rewarding. i smile all day. once again i am inspired and at the same time encumbered also by a burden. i read articles of the atrocities taking place in darfur - get itchy. i must go there. but i reckon finishing my specialist examinations first would be a good idea - i'll be in better stead then. my dream of starting up a mental health service in central and west africa remains. the mentally afflicted are treated like animals, thrown out onto the streets - beaten , scolded, scalded, humiliated, killed. i hurt. you should too. i fear this goal given me tunnel vision. i have no time for wasting time. consequently people get hurt. i sometimes wonder if im being narcissistic or economical.