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[LiberalEsto]

35. Another problem is that families are helpless

It is incredibly difficult to push someone into treatment. In Maryland the standard is that a person must be an imminent danger to self or to others. I'm not sure what criteria exist in other states. The laws changed about 30-40 years ago to protect people from being involuntarily committed and forced into treatment for mental illness. I agree with those changes to some extent, but they created new problems.

I've heard personal story after story of people suffering from the actions of mentally ill family members who refuse to seek help, but who are making life utter hell for their families. I've talked to police who say they are extremely frustrated about wanting to help, but find their hands tied by existing laws.

There are not enough places for treating the severely mentally ill, and not enough funds to treat them. Thanks to Ray-Gun, most of the large psychiatric hospitals in the country were closed, and their populations were dumped in the streets.

Too many people today lack jobs with health insurance or the money with which to purchase coverage. They can't afford the medications they require in order to stay stable.

With fewer treatment options available, there are more unstable individuals walking around. Most people with mental health problems are harmless, or at most are only a danger to themselves. The few really unstable people who desperately need help but aren't getting it are the problem. We need some way to provide treatment for them, protect the public, and keep them from acquiring weapons.

And if I had the answers to this situation, I'd probably be a multimillionaire.