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Sadly, country lacks mental health education

CHRISSY FRIDAY

Tyrone

It seems like every time I turn on the news or open the paper, there’s another horrendous story about murder, mass shootings, bomb threats, or other violent acts.

For whatever reason, people think violence is OK and the most appropriate way to end disputes.

Our culture has less and less tolerance for people who are different than we are, whether it be gender, sexuality, religious beliefs or simply personality.

We breed bitterness and hatred when we ostracize and refuse to give others a second chance or realize that not everyone is the same.

While it’s true that people who break the law and commit violent acts are responsible for their actions, it’s also true that society hasn’t helped the problem.

If we look at the history of people who have committed suicide in a very violent way or those that have gained media attention through mass shootings, we see a trend.

Most of these people had one thing in common: mental illness. Rather it was a war veteran who suffered PTSD, a paranoid schizophrenic who believed everyone was out to get them or a kid who was relentlessly bullied in school — they all share the commonality of being diagnosed or under-treated.

People who suffer from mental illness are often laughed at or belittled by people who either fear them or don’t understand.

The person may be dismissed from jobs due to a “bad attitude,” despite functioning quite remarkably at their trade. People may ignore them, failing to return phone calls or texts.

And don’t count on mental health professionals to catch a brewing problem and address it as we would hope. Psychiatric clinics are overrun with patients and lack of staff and funding, leaving those that need help to fend for themselves.

Coupled with this can be the lack of health insurance or ability to pay if the person has lost a job, allowing their condition to deteriorate without medication or the proper monitoring needed.

While only a small percentage of mentally ill individuals respond violently, when it happens it further reinforces the stigma attached to the illness. Not every act of violence can be prevented, but education and understanding go a long way to improving the outcome of those suffering and reducing the amount of violence we are currently seeing.

If you are suffering from mental illness, talk to a trusted friend, call your local crisis center, or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. Without proper treatment, your condition will only worsen and affect every aspect of your life.

If you know someone suffering, be patient. Allow them to vent and know it’s not personal. Your focus should be on getting the person help and making sure everyone is safe. Never punish.

Understand that the person will regret what they have said once they calm down.

Hopefully those that need help can receive it and the country can return to a more peaceful way. Violence solves nothing.

Prayers to all those affected.

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