I'm a bit simplistic, but it seems to me ...
If only good, accesible mental health care was as easily available as guns, we might all be a lot better off.
@StephanieResists So true. If the shooter is white they do. If the shooter is black, they just use 'thug' or whatever, no mental health defense. All of this, all of it, stems from this inability to really LOOK at what's going on.
I've suffered gun violence and fought for better and more sensible controls for 42 years now and sometimes I feel like I'm hitting my head against a brick wall.
We need less hate. THAT is the crux.
@StephanieResists @Florence Mental health has been an issue that is ignored forever by the GQP. They fan the flames and send thoughts and prayers. Policy is not something they do. On the other hand, culture wars is all they do. If you don't have ideas for building, you just burn the mother down.
@Teach4Democracy @StephanieResists @Florence I agree they use it to divert attention of the need for gun control, but there are a number of Rs who can be counted on to sponsor federal legislation supporting improvements to the treatment of mental illness and substance use disorder. Shelly Capito (WV) and Markwayne Mullin (OK) are two that immediately come to mind, both now in the Senate.
@Florence I think that's a little too simple because it would mean that the people who need mental health care take action to receive mental health care. And there is a community of people who don't believe they need mental health care; they just believe they & their leaders are right.
That said, I do agree that we desperately need quality accessible health care (mental & physical) in the USA.
@Florence 10 years ago the average age of a psychiatrist in this country was 50. It's a workforce issue.
But as the recently retired policy guru for the National Association of State Mental Health Directors, I can assure you some aspects of the system are improving rapidly. Twice as much federal money to the states. The 988 number. A whole new system of emergnecy treatment by mobile units . Cops being educated how to respond to calls involving individuals having psychotic breaks.
@syael1339 You're preaching to the converted.
@Florence We can blame that on Reagan. Now the GQP blames these shooting solely on mental health, Dems bring bill to fund mental health and GQP votes against it.