Mental Health

[sarahboo]

Just looked at a padi ok to dive medical questionaire. It said that you shouldn't dive without seeing a doctor if you have any mental health problems.
Anyone know why?
Sarah - just curious

 

[DocVikingo]

Depending upon the particular disorder, mental health problems can affect a range of functions required for safe scuba.

The include attention, concentration, problem-solving ability, judgment, impulse/behavioral control & reality testing.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[annie]

When I was doing my training in Perth WA there were several kids with Attention Deficit Disorder (or supposedly). Looking back I wonder why their doctor didn't think that might be a problem; they did have big trouble concentrating in class and on the tests. However I didn't witness them having any problem during dives.

 

[sarahboo]

So someone with depression should haver no problems then?

 

[canuckdiver]

I think it depends on the severity of the clinical depression.

I know a few divers that suffer from mild chemical-imbalance caused depression, and they do fine.

OTOH, I know a couple of people that are on heavy meds, and I would not suggest that they be put in stressful situations.

 

[Ontario Diver]

DocVikingo once bubbled...
.. judgment, impulse/behavioral control & reality testing....

Gee, that doesn't describe any divers I know....


($1400 for a new set of doubles......sure!)

 

[DocVikingo]

"So someone with depression should have no problems then?"

I'm afraid that this cannot be automatically concluded. It's pretty much a case-by-case clinical decision.

Depressive disorders often involve impairments of vigilance, attention, concentration, short-term memory, judgment, decision-making & stamina. The issue of suicide also can complicate matters.

In addition, the medications used to treat depression can make some of these signs & symptoms worse, and add concerns as a result of somatic effects.

The upcoming June/July '03 edition of DAN's "Alert Diver" magazine contains a very detailed article on diving & depression that I believe you would find informative.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

I don’t' suppose any of you have a clue how hard it is to get people that fall into this category out doing anything at all. Then when they do go out they get plagued with crap like padi spills, then the medical community spills it's share, it's enough to make anyone hesitant to dive. The real solution should be encouragements to get these people out doing things that's productive in their lives, not plague them with hypothetical scenarios and give no concrete proof to back up these theories.

Ed

 

[canuckdiver]

blacknet once bubbled...
Hello,

I don’t' suppose any of you have a clue how hard it is to get people that fall into this category out doing anything at all. Then when they do go out they get plagued with crap like padi spills, then the medical community spills it's share, it's enough to make anyone hesitant to dive. The real solution should be encouragements to get these people out doing things that's productive in their lives, not plague them with hypothetical scenarios and give no concrete proof to back up these theories.

Ed

actually ed, that was exactly my point.

A person with clinical depression quite often has more of a problem dealing with people's preconceptions than actually dealing with the depression!

Motivation can be in very short supply when faced with a lot of people's attitudes, and encouragement is critical.

everybody, no matter what, can do anything that you put your mind to!

 

[blacknet]

canuckdiver,

Agreed! I see this spill a lot. So far no one has shown me any studies dealing with depression and diving. I have known several depressed people and would rather dive with them and many non-depressed divers I know. The bottom line facts are overweight and/or smoking causes more health risk with diving than depression. The medical community is afraid the patient will do the suicide option and tends to blanket everyone that falls into this category and discourage any diving activities, thus hindering the patients treatment.

Ed