Certainly evidence is out there that dietary changes/exercise can assist brain functioning. This often requires major changes involving the person believing that such changes will benefit them; having the motivation to change, and sticking to it long enough to judge outcomes. It also requires self-efficacy. Unfortunately those who suffer from abnormal brain chemical functioning frequently exhibit low motivation and low self efficacy/self esteem. Of course if the MHS operated efficiently then there would be support for people who do respond to lifestyle changes to attempt to undertake them. Presently the daunting task of attempting change will fall back to relatives/carers or themselves.

As I have said in response to another article, it will always come back to the MHS exercising the cheap option, i.e. drugs and minimal supervision. As many others are aware drugs only work to a point, then more are needed. We can know the side effects of one drug (maybe), we have some knowledge about the interaction of 2 drugs (my research would indicate only a small knowledge). After that we are guessing. Yet frequently people with major disturbances are on 3 + drugs,without supervision, adding street drugs/alcohol to the mix. What a lethal cocktail.

Oh MHS records will show person No 87900 received help - medication and a brief chat. This is just a band-aid for an open wound. Who is there to make sure the bleeding actually subsides - noone. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. What happens to the seriously mentally ill when parents/carers can no longer be there. Add that to the fallout yet to come from long term effects of pharmacology, toxins, chemicals in diet, and long term drug use and I shudder to think of how many more people will be recounting similiar tragedies to Julieanne. Severally our opinions fall on deaf ears - it requires a collective nationwide lobby.

Julieanne when you are stronger I feel you may just be the person to lead such a lobby.

Val,

Re "new findings that 'harmless' marijuana has been strongly linked to schizophrenia and other mental health problems". You might be interested in ongoing studies and findings being carried out in this area at the University of Wollongong.

Alchy

I am sure that your views on diet are correct but as pointed out by others the problem is too far past that point. We need resources to allow the stabilisation of people with mental illness.

If we as a society can find a way to give these vulnerable people a safe and caring place to get well again, then we can look at diets etc.

The more I look at this issue the more angry I get, people are needlessly dieing.

I am only here for a short time but I am willing to help push this issue. Julieanne if I can help let me know bimini2@bigpond.net.au

Silverbeet yum, my dog loves the stalks, but she likes brussel sprouts as well, at least she is healthy.

Coraliz - what are they? Link?

Lobbying lobbying lobbying - that's what it's all about - we are lobbying the politicians who are the only ones who can do anything about the appalling state of mental health in Australia.

We are emailing all the A.C.T. and Fed Govt polies and I suggest anyone who can lobby their State govts do so. They do listen. We have talked to a number of polies who are very very concerned about the extreme costs of mental illness, the cost of running the judicial system, the cost of prisons (where about 75% of prisoners suffer mental illness), the cost to families both financial, mental and emotional etc etc. Talk money and the polies will listen.

I understand, from the lobbying that is happening, that mental health is on the next (Council of Australian Governments)COAG agenda. Lobby the PM, and Health and Police Ministers (State & Federal).

I work in Federal Government and have seen the power of lobbying.

About assistance by improved diet - it is a load of rubbish re serious mental illness such as paranoid schizophrenia. Our son was on a tremendously healthy diet - high in anti-oxidents - we spent a fortune on his food - bio-dynamic and organic (we are bio-dynamic farmers). He continued on this diet after he dropped his medication and still went spirilling down. It is brain chemistry (it is now proven that a person with schizophrenia has frontal lobe and some temporal lobe differences to a person not suffering this terrible disease) and there are chemicals misfunctions.

Christopher Pyne made the same silly suggestion - diet and exercise. Our son rides his bike for hours each day and so exercise hasn't helped him either!!

Please see the 'Not for Service' report on the Internet and you will read of many other appalling situations.

Many thanks to you all for involving yourself in this issue.

Anomie,

The following link has a number of articles if you are interested
http://www.uow.edu.au/health/psyc/staff/n_solowij.html

Ashford,
It is true that current evidence suggests that there are at least three specific neurochemical abnormalities that are shown to act concurrently in the brain of those suffering from schizophrenia. Only advances in technology might completely clarify the complexity of the relationship between these chemicals and how they alter brain functioning. There is also evidence in some individuals of structural damage, which seems to accompany schizophrenia, e.g. the size of the ventricles may differ but this is not in all people with the disorder. I agree diet and exercise are probably not going to reverse this damage. I don’t think anyone, including me, is advocating that diet and exercise will return the chemicals to normal and cure mental illness. However, both do assist in many other important ways with brain functioning and in many mental illnesses have positive effects. Especially in regard to warding off depression. Individuals with schizophrenia frequently experience generalised anxiety disorder and depression. I disagree with you that it can be dismissed as rubbish for all mental illnessess – there is too much evidence to the contrary. It may be a combination of drugs, lifestyle and symptom management that work for some people. Whatever works cannot be dismissed. It can only be dismissed for the particular person or persons for whom it does not have any benefit.

Unfortunately in the case of your son it apparently had no positive effects other then the obvious health benefits. However, in some people that may not be the case. Stress is a well-known trigger for a relapse in those with schizophrenia; diet and exercise reduces stress in many individuals. For that reason alone it has merit.

I trust that new advancements and lobbying will benefit your son in the future
Best wishes to you