The way the term "Mental Illness" is used in the news and suggested policies needs to be improved

[CreekDog]

First, mental illness is a huge category that includes a huge number of people, nearly all of whom are not a threat, nor any more or less violent than anyone else in society.

But they are being singled out as threatening, menacing people, which is a form of applying a broad-brush and is unfair.

So I just think that the news coverage, and suggested policy remedies should be far more specific than simply saying that "mental illness" is itself an explanation or a disqualifying characteristic.

Whether someone has or does not have mental illness has no bearing on their likelihood of committing a heinous act. Think about all the people that struggle with depression, or other mental illnesses, but are no more threat than anyone else.

But the broad brush is stigmatizing those who struggle with mental illnesses, as somehow threatening, simply for having a challenge that is very common in our society and which effects behavior in ways as diverse as humanity itself.

I wish the media, the news reporters and DUers would pause for a moment before saying something about "mental illness" and before uttering those words, think of whom and what condition they are really speaking of, before they impugn the judgement, sanity and peacefulness of a large portion of society.

[teddy51]

1. Indeed! Like the OP down a few from yours states, 1 in 10 US citizens are on SSRI's.

I would bet that it applies to Canada as well. Yes there are some known problematic side effects caused by SSRI's, but that does not mean all that take these drugs suffer from these effects.

[reteachinwi]

2. Specifically speaking

we want to keep guns out of the hands of people who will abuse them. Law enforcement and the military use the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory to identify personnel that may cause mayhem if given access to unsecured weapons. We should learn from them.

[Cleita]

4. But, but, but...

dontcha know gubmint can't do anything right?

[Cleita]

3. Two things I have gotten from the discussions are:

1) We need universal access to mental health care. Maybe the ACA will be the gateway to that.

2) Families need some kind of guardianship authority to force mentally ill family members into treatment and into taking their medication when they don't want to do it themselves. Right now mentally ill patients can sign themselves out of treatment any time and cannot be made to take medication that can help them with their problems. Families are told they have to go to jail first before they can be forced into treatment.