NEW ORLEANS -- In the race to "explain" the Tucson shooting, the sprinters have been those who've found the cause in the rhetoric of one side or the other of the political spectrum. Close behind them have been those who see once again the folly of a society, almost unique in the civilized world, that views gun possession as a birthright.
Now comes another view, at least from me. This country has had toxic political rhetoric since its birth pangs, and there has undeniably followed in the past two centuries an occasional outbreak of political violence. But now we're being told that toxic political rhetoric is dangerous, because of its possible effect on the less rational, more mentally unhinged folks among us. So, maybe it's time to ask this question: Why are they among us?
In the bad old days, this nation had a system of mental hospitals -- sad, dreary institutions in which the unhinged were quite often warehoused, sometimes for life. The worst of them were exposed as "snake pits," cruel and uncaring, and a reform movement sprang up. We should, we were told (by, among others, then-California Governor Ronald Reagan), close down these shameful institutions, and return the patients to their communities, where a system of community-based mental health clinics would administer care that was, well, more caring.
So we closed down the mental hospitals. And we neglected to set up community mental health clinics. And suddenly we had a crisis of homeless people, many if not most of whom were mentally ill.
And now we have this: a society where we're being lectured to temper our political rhetoric lest we inflame the crazies to acts of violence.
This moment is, of course, perhaps the worst possible moment to remind ourselves of our unfulfilled pledge to the mentally ill, that promise that warehousing would be replaced by accessible, community-based care. We don't have the money. We could call off our adventure in Afghanistan and we would have the money, but I don't advise holding your breath about that one.
I'm the last person to advocate re-instituting the old system. I personally helped get someone who was involuntarily, and improperly, committed to such a hospital out, when I was working for a state legislator. But the least we can do is acknowledge, amid all the fun finger-pointing, that we all, Dems and Reps, libs and cons, have failed the mentally disturbed among us. And the bill continues to come due.
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Douglas LaBier: The Changing Face of Psychological Health
In a country badly governed wealth is something to be ashamed of
-Confucius
It has been said that you can judge a society by how it treats its weakest members.
USA - EPIC FAIL
If we would address the root causes we might reduce the number of US citizens in psychological distress. Some of those problems and/or troubles are evidenced by this young man who needed an intervention, but also got caught in a spiraling state of "why not me?" or "why me."
Perhaps we foster the notion that we are all immediately able to live the 50s American dream, 60 years later, with overpopulation and fewer services and resources, a desire that doesn't work anymore.
Many of my solutions would be seen as "social democracy" or even socialist because I believe as a nation we could improve many of our internal and external ills with more social justice and a sense of convivium that may not hold for a country of more than 300m.
Why so many paragraphs? Try, "Because we're selfish, lack compassion, and don't care for them."
Yes, we routinely toss all the people you mention out on the streets. Living in the "land of opportunity" means that everyone is free to succeed. Consequently, Americans judge people by their circumstances. We're a country where poverty is a moral failing, and - having a large population of vicious religious hysterics - we love to punish people for their moral failings.
We abandon nearly all the needy and desperate, and then run heart warming stories about the homeless man with "the golden voice" who makes good telling lies for advertising.
It is darn hard to be healthy in this society. You have to be smart, informed and vigilant, and it's exhausting.
The family is falling apart. (It's clear Loughner came from a horrible family, and is the victim of psychological, if not physical and/or sexual, abuse.) Our social services are scant to nonexistent. Often, the only institution remaining to catch people falling through the cracks is organized religion, which is in itself a form of mental illness.
Not to mention all the poison and chemicals in our food and water supply, and harmful overuse of psychiatric medication, the effects of which remain questionable. Americans are literally being drugged without their consent.
All of which is fantastic for corporations. People spend money recklessly when they are "crazy." They also spend more when they are alone. I am not one for conspiracy theories, but it almost looks like the "Powers That Be" do not WANT people to be healthy. After all, if someone is - quite justifiably - literally driven mad by the society in which he lives, we can always Blame the Victim.
sociopaths and psychopaths, often under the radar, holding positions of power. These are the people I would like identified and weeded out. Far more people are killed every year by people society deems 'normal' than by the homeless. Please try to keep your language moderate when discussing others, however elevated you may feel by comparison.
Dr. Paul Appelbaum, Columbia University psychiatry professor has said ."We are being misled by our own fears," "We ought to be concerned about providing good treatment and helping people lead fulfilling lives, not obsessed with protecting ourselves from phantom threats that appear to be unrelated to mental illness."
Articles such as the one posted by Harry do nothing to alleviate such phantom fears, they serve only to promulgate them.
It neglects the its indigenous people and their culture. It lies about history. It is still ruled by a conquistador mentality. Domination is the rule. The method of control is creating insecurity.
The government doesn't care about the very people it is supposed to be taking care of.
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 is about the right to health care.
"The US did not ratify the social and economic rights sections, including Article 25's right to health
The U.K. Italy Spain Nordic countries etc can provide universal health care. The U.S. could but chooses to spend money blowing up people in other lands instead.
1 800 273-talk (8255).
What we need is a functioning 800 Mental health line staffed with both medical professionals, law enforcement reps, as well as legal advocates that anyone can Nationally find assistance with: Medical possibilities, care both out patient and in patient, laws pertaining to the individual's home states and how to find advocate programs locally, hot lines for mental patients and families in crisis, and any other local resources available.
maybe if we had such a program, the scared students would have had a place to call to express their fears, and someone would have found out about the kid in AZ with a "Wellness check" of his home.The college would have some place to call to alert authorities that could act as both protection and as advocate for both the mentally ill and their families. It would be a start.