This article is in four parts first a story, second explanation, third the technical ideas, fourth implications and applications.
THE STORY
Recently, in one of our hotels in Uganda, there was a story about a tourist who lost his temper and then decided to descend upon one of the people at the front desk where he assaulted him physically as well verbally. The whole incident was recorded in video. It is said that the culprit was an American born, Christian, Vietnam war veteran that was in Uganda for a holiday whose outburst was diagnosed as bipolar disorder.
This upset many people who wondered why he was allowed to travel in the first place.
THE EXPLANATION
As one who has been through the grind and who knows a thing or two about that thin line between Sanity and Madness I was concerned primarily because on the spectrum or continuum of illnesses, many of us are really not too far for a range of conditions that could place us equally in the same position as him.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
His story carries weight because he illustrates a few important ideas that need to be referenced. First, his experiences, and his service. The Vietnam War Veteran is bound to have scars and there should at least be some method of recognizing and therefore anticipating some effects from this. Experts therefore often split between experiences and environmental effects on one hand and the effects of ageing and genetics on another (neurodegenrative illnesses). Inbetween though there exists a catergory that is a mash up between the age, genetics and environment. Sometimes these can be triggers that 'release' previously undetected conditions. The war and it's effects would in our Days be described as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). The restlessness of children could be a mix of diet, environment and life stressors that we call ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
On the spectrum that I mentioned previously, you have restlessness, stress, depression, a moment of excesses (mania), bipolar disorder (which is a mix of manic and depressive),schizophrenia and then psychosis.
From what we see in the treatment, the blood tests are used to check on the release of certain action or flight controllers which are responsible for the mania and or the depressive tendencies that accompany these illnesses. Bringing the body back into equilibrium is therefore the goal. This can be achieved by rest which is why most medication makes you lethargic. The counseling also helps bring the mind to the place where it can sort itself out vocally.
APPLICATIONS
To date there have been quite a number of discussion that have been centered around health where some experts have sought to create a "tell all" policy for diseases such as HIV. This is troubling given the stigma and discrimination that is still attached to the disease. Even if quite a lot of progress has been made, there still a lot of work to be done in workplaces where people have been denied jobs or even fired on account of testing positive. We see a situation where for example if one disclosed a mental illness, the same could happen.
We also see the need to adopt models such as that developed by Basic Needs In Uganda and Basic Needs U.K where there is focus not just on the people with illness but also their families and duty bearers. The office space thus comes fully equipped to deal with stressors and to help prevent situations that can bring about unnecessary distress.
The disclosure of illness would in some situations be appropriate where we have for example heard of cases where people with mental illness were wrongfully arrested and shot in cities in the U.S.A. Clearly in the case above the signals should be read and clear when dealing with War Veterans both internationally and locally. We also while not aiming at being critical see the need to create room for a future that is sensitive to present and past change pressures such as the Northern Uganda Conflict, Land Disputes and Evictions or other unexpected changes that are bound to affect the manner in which people think and therefore act.
