Chilean Miners and the Falsely Convicted

The Chilean miner rescue is quite a farce/spectacle.  NASA has sent psychologists to assist with the mental well being of the miners.   Those trapped  have received and once above ground will receive no shortage of moral support.  Of course all hope for the miners' safe return to the surface.

In contrast, those in true need of psychological another help   help are often neglected, such as persons released from long prison terms after DNA tests finally confirm their innocence, and armed forces personnel forever and citizens in war zones scarred by the horror of war.

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selguy wrote on October 16, 2010 at 1:10 am

The miners remained healthy

The miners remained healthy during their entrapment, despite the experts' dire predictions

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/world/americas/14medical.html?th&emc=th

Au1 wrote on October 13, 2010 at 5:10 pm

I agree that there are many

I agree that there are many people in need of psychological help that do not receive the kind of assistance they need, but referring to the Chilean miners rescue as a farce or a spectacle is an insult to both the miners and the people who have been working so hard on their safety and rescue. Either you do not truly understand the definition of "farce," or you are emotionally void.

selguy wrote on October 13, 2010 at 11:10 pm

I intended and should have

I intended and should have written: "The excessive news coverage of the Chilean miner rescue is quite a farce/spectacle."

cberg wrote on October 14, 2010 at 1:10 pm

Sorry but even after

Sorry but even after rephrasing, it is still an insult. While yes, many times traumatic events get overlooked in their need for psych help and people are left in the way side to fend for themselves... But using the coverage of the miners to compare is an insult to all. The situations have nothing to do with each other and either do or do not deserve any more or any less help. However just because one is getting attention while the other issue is still hiding in the background does not make the one in the forefront any less important. The news coverage and aid provided to the miners has not over shadowed other people suffering from tramatic events that would have otherwise gotten coverage. Fact of the matter is, whether or not the chilean miners would have been trapped, or if the news coverage was less, the issue of psychological neglect for victims of war or people falsely imprisoned would remain at the same point. The situations have nothing to do with each other and are not something to be compared.

And I do quote "those in true need of psychological...help." True need? So the miners deserve it less than the others you mentioned? I find that to be a rather disgusting statement.

The story of the trapped miners is a good human interest story. In the face of all the crap out there in the media it's nice to see the coverage of hope, support and teamwork in the face of adversity. And yes there are other people out there who are overlooked when it comes to psych help, but it doesn't make me anyless glad that the miners are getting the help they need.

selguy wrote on October 14, 2010 at 2:10 pm

The miners are celebrities

The miners are celebrities who will need financial advisors rather than psychologists.

Au1 wrote on October 14, 2010 at 3:10 pm

Wow. God forbid you should

Wow. God forbid you should ever go through some kind of traumatic experience that is so extraordinary that it gets international news coverage. I stand by my guess that you are out of touch with reality and emotion.

selguy wrote on October 14, 2010 at 5:10 pm

The miners will have enough

The miners will have enough funds for any psychological counseling they need. Given the culture of support and the companionship during their extended stay in the mine, and their being regarded as heroes, the psychological services they will need will be quite minimal--unlike persons vindicated for crimes after spending years in prison, or children and soldiers who have witnessed the horrors of war.

cberg wrote on October 14, 2010 at 8:10 pm

I really hope you don't think

I really hope you don't think you are actually making a case to defend your post....
First of all explain to me how the miners in Chile are in anyway related to the issues concerning war victims or false imprisonment? I can see no conceivable realm in where you can compare the 2. The miners are not taking away the psychological help of those people nor is the coverage of the miners taking away from the issue. So to take the miners and demonize the help they are receiving for the sole fact that there are other people out there suffering is just plain ridiculous.

Who are you to say the psychological help they need is minimal, and therefore shouldn't be helped out with it? Please do show me your PhD in psychology. And just because they may receive funds (and who knows to what extent), the likelihood for them to spend that money on and actively seek help on their own is slim. Unlike rich white Americans, a weekend trip to the psychologist wouldn't even cross the mind or be an option for many. And if you put money in as a factor, guess what? People who were falsely imprisoned are compensated, and therefore according to you, have the money to fend on their own right? It was no holiday inn down there and being trapped not knowing if you are going to survive and not being able to do anything about it I can imagine can be quite taxing emotionally with or without support. And then for a poor miner from Chile to all of a sudden be thrown into the international eye.. that's a lot to take.

So under your argument, by only citing those who were falsely imprisoned and war victims, you are using this thread to downplay the issue of the lack of psychological support for for those who really "truly" need it like Native Americans.

To say that one group deserves psychological help over another is, like I have stated earlier, a disgusting thought. Anyone who needs psychological help, whatever the trauma or issue, is deserving.

Like Au1 said, you are waaaay out of touch with reality

selguy wrote on October 15, 2010 at 3:10 am

"I really hope you don't

"I really hope you don't think you are actually making a case to defend your post...." If you thought my argument inconsequential, you would not be expending effort attempting to repudiate it

"Who are you to say the psychological help they need is minimal, ...."
One can assume all the correct steps were taken while the miners were trapped.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19375-how-astronauts-experience-co...

" Please do show me your PhD in psychology." Please explain your perceived relevance of having a PhD, a degree which is not required to give psychological counseling

"People who were falsely imprisoned are compensated, ..." Often not.

"...you are using this thread to downplay the issue of the lack of psychological support for for those who really "truly" need it like Native Americans." Incorrect

"To say that one group deserves psychological help over another is, like I have stated earlier, a disgusting thought." My argument concerns the relative need of psychological help.