Doctors Robert Isaacs and Yuhuan Xie Speak About Mental Illness
Our guest speakers for December 14, 2023, were Drs. Robert Isaacs and Yuhuan Xie, mental health practitioners. Dr. Isaacs is a board certified family physician and currently works at Santa Rosa Behavioral Hospital. He obtained his medical degree from UC San Diego. He also worked at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore. Dr. Xie is a board certified psychiatrist and is also board certified in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She did her psychiatric training at Duke University and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at UC Davis. She also worked at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore along with her husband, Robert.
Dr. Isaac’s presentation focused on key myths about mental illness. These include: people with mental illness are dangerous and violent; there is no hope of recovery for people suffering from mental illness; mental illness is caused by character flaws and weakness; people suffering from mental illness can’t hold down jobs; therapy and self-help are a waste of time; teenagers don’t suffer from mental illness (their problems are too much “drama” and “hormones”); children doing well in school with good home lives will not suffer from mental illness; and bad parents are the cause of mental illness. These are all myths that taint the public view of people with mental illness and make it difficult for people to seek treatment. For example, there is little correlation between people with mental illness and violence; it happens but is largely limited to drug abusers and people with specific types of mental illness, such as severe paranoia. Likewise, mental illness can be treated and those suffering from it can be returned to “normal” or “near normal.” And, therapy is not a waste of time, especially when combined with a multi-disciplinary approach, such as psychiatry and social work.
Robert also introduced the myth that Cannabis is a natural substance and not dangerous. The Cannabis sold today is not the Cannabis of the past; it is far stronger than it was in the past. Cannabis use in younger people can cause a psychotic state which can be a warning sign of future problems if use continues. Dr. Xie noted that young people using Cannabis often do not have the ability to fight off the adverse effects of Cannabis. In her career she has seen teenagers who used Cannabis once and became permanently ill.
Dr. Xie also recommends lifestyle changes to protect ourselves from mental illness and treat those with mental illness. She noted that Chinese medical concepts and approaches can help deal with mental illness. Healthy food, sleep, relaxation, and engagement with others are all key factors in improving our mental health. Dr. Xie provided us with this very helpful one-page “prescription” for mental health.
Many thanks to Dr. Isaacs and Dr. Xie. This was a timely, well-organized, thoughtful, and persuasive presentation! Keep up the good work!
