In Bjarni Dagbjartsson’s lap is the cocker spaniel Saga. For a long time, she was the only therapist he had to deal with the big changes in his life. Bjarni was 24 when he was diagnosed with MS. Now the 36-year-old sits in an electric wheelchair and has had to quit his job as an economist in the oil industry. – Everyone should have a psychologist to talk to when faced with such crises, says Bjarni Dagbjartsson. Two out of three people with a disability report that they struggle with anxiety and worries. Many of them feel they are not getting the follow-up they need. This is shown by a recent report from the Joint Organization for the Disabled (FFO). WENT FAST: Until 2017, Bjarni Dagbjartsson thought he didn’t have a violent variant of MS. Now he sits in an electric wheelchair. Photo: Frode Meskau / news The change was sudden Bjarni was told that he had a “kind” variant when he was diagnosed in 2011. No one could see that he was sick. He was able to continue working as an economist in the oil industry in Stavanger. The job took him to London, where he planned to stay for a while. But after two years, he started having trouble walking. When he came home to Norway, he found out that he had a “hot” variant. Although he tried to focus on the positive, the physical deterioration became a mental strain. Bjarni was never offered a psychologist or help from the mental health service. He felt well equipped to deal with the crisis he was in. But when he ended up in a wheelchair in 2017, he had to ask for help. – I needed to talk to someone about the uncertainty surrounding my life situation and the future, he says. A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY: For Bjarni, there are constantly new things to deal with while he has become physically worse. Photo: Frode Meskau / news After two months, he was interviewed by the low-threshold service in the municipality. The talks lasted three months. – It was so good to be able to talk to someone, he says. After a few years it became too difficult to work. He became disabled in 2020. – For me, this has been tough, says the 36-year-old. He believes the healthcare system has had too little focus on what the diagnosis has done to his mental health. Half struggle with the psyche FFO has seen that psychological problems are a recurring theme among many disabled people. But there is little research on it. – We lack knowledge about it, which is why we have started a survey among our member organisations, says senior adviser in FFO Anette Remme. The survey shows that half have challenges with mental health directly linked to the physical disorder. MORE KNOWLEDGE NEEDED: Senior adviser in the FFO, Anette Remme, found little knowledge about mental health among the disabled. That is why she took the initiative for the investigation that has now been carried out. Photo: Frode Meskau / news For many of them, the diagnosis they have in the first place is psychologically burdensome. Many carry grief, shame and low self-esteem. Nine out of ten patient and user organizations call for knowledge about mental health in the support system that meets disabled people. – It takes a long time before they seek help. It has been taboo to talk about mental health, says Remme. And when they ask for help, they think the waiting time is too long. FFO believes the report shows that there is a need for more knowledge about how physical illness also affects mental health, and vice versa. Even more difficult when it is invisible Last year, Bjarni married Hanne Johnsrud Fjellheim. She has Crohn’s syndrome. For her, the disease has led to many life-threatening situations and several years of hospitalization. Nor was she ever offered to talk to a psychologist about the years when she didn’t know if she was going to survive. HAVE A LOT IN COMMON: Bjarni Dagbjartsson and Hanne Johnsrud Fjellheim have different disabilities but the same experience when it comes to offering mental health care. Photo: Frode Meskau / news When they met, Bjarni was able to get around a bit by himself, now he is completely dependent on help. He has BPA which helps him several days a week. But his wife often has to help him when the assistant is not there at work. – Hanne is my safety net, he says. Bjarni sees that it is tiring on his wife that she has to do many of the things he can no longer do. It’s tough for both of them. Missing political commitment FFO hopes the health care system and politicians will understand the issue. They believe that the healthcare system has become too specialized and is unable to see the whole person. Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) says specialized treatments are absolutely necessary to ensure specialized treatments. Nevertheless, she believes it is important to see the whole person. IMPORTANT TO SEE THE WHOLE PERSON: Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol agrees that professionals in the health sector see the whole person. Photo: news – Not all health problems can be seen on the outside. The professionals then have to ask the right questions and assist so that you get help for what you actually need help with, she says. She points out that the government is working on the escalation plan for mental health. – There we also want to look at vulnerable groups, and then it may be important to look at disabled people in particular, says Kjerkol. Should have a psychologist once a year Bjarni and Hanne try to help others who are in the same situation. Both are equal. They think that those who come in for a check-up for their disability once a year should also be called once a year to see a psychologist. – Knowing that there is someone you can turn to is extremely important, says Hanne. VOLUNTARY WORK: Both Bjarni Dagbjartsson and his wife Hanne Johnsrud Fjellheim work voluntarily for the MS Association. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Many people have a high threshold for seeking help themselves. And then it may be too late. – If I am to live in society on an equal footing with others, I need help to process these things, says Bjarni.
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More disabled people feel they do not receive mental health care – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
