Do you believe having more accessible, affordable, non-stigmatic mental health care available could

[uppityperson]

Poll question: Do you believe having more accessible, affordable, non-stigmatic mental health care available could

could have prevented the recent rash of shootings?

I vote yes,it could have. And yes, we need more accessible, affordable, non-stigmatic mental health care

[varelse]

1. Another yes vote for a sane response to the recent rash of preventable tragedies

:thumbsup:

[uppityperson]

4. I know there are other issues, poverty, education, etc, that also impact

things. Societal cultures, worshipping the almighty dollar, etc.

But wanted to limit this poll to this one thing

[uppityperson]

2. I am wondering why the vote for no. I'd like to hear reasoning.

thanks. I have been wrong before, and will be wrong in the future. Am wondering why you voted no.

[Posteritatis]

6. I'd assume that'd be a "some folks are just assholes" type of thing

Which is true, of course, but I'd also bet the overwhelming majority of these situations were people who had some mental issue or another that could very well have been addressed beforehand.

I wonder if the discussion of the mental aspects of the shootings lately is going to help or harm the stigma problems about mental illness, though. It feels like a catch-22 sort of situation, and that depresses me.

[The Straight Story]

3. Yep. Preach it from the rooftops.

Ask yourself why people do what they do when it comes to killing others. Is it because they own a gun?

I don't think anybody kills other people because they own a gun.

Stop violence by preventing it by dealing with the issues that cause it, not the tools used by the perp.

[uppityperson]

7. Nice to know I'm not alone in this thought.

There are other reasons, big reasons, that contribute. Poverty, USAnian pop-culture, worshipping the almighty dollar that the cost of losing your soul, etc.

Deal with the issues. Next up, why do mass deaths get more notice than the higher numbers of individual deaths due to preventable causes or murders or accidents? But that is for another topic.

[The Straight Story]

9. I was thinking about writing an OP on just that

How many people die while we wait on real health and mental care, and to top it off we see some companies as too big to fail but we see the little guy failing as nothing and their own fault.

You reduce crime not by controlling what people use to commit it, but by removing the reasons for it.

[slackmaster]

5. Yes, also more effective enforcement of existing laws

And maybe an English language proficiency requirement.

[uppityperson]

8. An "English language proficiency requirement" for what?

To be in the USA? To own a gun? To kill people? To get mental health care?

[slackmaster]

10. To buy a gun

It seems that poor English was at the root of Jiverly Wong's problems. If he really couldn't hack the language, he would have failed a proficiency test just as James Poprowski would have failed the Brady background check had he attempted to acquire a firearm through lawful channels.

I am being sarcastic BTW - I don't believe in English language proficiency requirements other than for positions where it is obviously necessary.

[uppityperson]

12. Thanks for the clarification.

Re the sarcasm, I can't keep everyone straight who supports which views around the gun issue.

As far as legal requirements for buying guns, problem I run across is those of us who are law abiding citizens follow the law but seems most of those who end up shooting people like this aren't law abiding citizens, can get guns outside the law.

But that is for another topic.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Yes, and recommended

.
.
.

[TahitiNut]

13. Single-payer health care, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health.

The "loss of job" MUST be understood as both a loss of 'identity' (particularly for males) and a loss of all forms of health care. It is, in effect, a disenfranchisement ... and the 'message' is that the person isn't even worth keeping alive. We live in an increasingly narcissistic society where we only exist to the extent we're USEFUL to someone with money. Attaining and maintaining one's own mental and emotional health while IMMERSED in such a flood of dysfunction is a task not many are up to.

I would also say that our public schools are remiss in not including, as a part of the core curriculum, "Health" classes that include physical education (exercise and activity) as well as emotional/mental health. It's ridiculous that someone can graduate high school and not comprehend the basics of depression, codependency, and other common mental health issues. We pretend to "prepare the mind" but we fail in teaching critical thinking ... or thinking at all.

[Donnachaidh]

14. yes, but as a society we're not mature enough to NOT stigmatize the mentally ill

This country is so self-absorbed, so CHILDISH - we won't have a decent mental health program even if we get universal health care. :shrug:

[uppityperson]

15. As individuals though, we can. And we can work towards getting decent mental health care

[Posteritatis]

17. Right, let's just not bother trying, then! (nt)

[ColbertWatcher]

16. Yes real healthcare, not cult healthcare! k+r, n/t

[treestar]

18. Definitely. Sometimes I think this country is insane

We let everything go to hell in the name of capitalism.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

19. K&R

[upi402]

20. and a fairer country as a whole, and a rational criminal justice system

and I'd like a pony too!
I voted YES of course.

[dysfunctional press]

21. so could an authoritative totalitarian regime that outlawed guns, and harshly punished offenders.

i grew up in a town with a state 'mental health center'- and 'non-stigmatic mental health care' is more about changing long-ingrained public perceptions- which would require a somewhat enlightened populace- which is still a very long way off. they have to want to be enlightened first.

[L0oniX]

22. Yes and in Florida you can't pass a background check if you have a record of a mental health problem

A record of a mental health problem should be a disqualification for anyone applying for a gun permit of any kind.

[babylonsister]

23. Not really.

You have to admit you have a problem before doing something to solve it. I guess it depends on the case.

[EFerrari]

24. Of course. And it's not really even about stigma at that level.

We don't have a mental health care system that works, period.

[undergroundpanther]

25. I don't know

Because sociopaths are not mentally ill.
They do not change with therapy or meds or anything else.

However if you want to help the really mentally ill or those with psychiatric injuries,yeah having more accessible, affordable, non-stigmatic mental health care available would help.
But be aware it won't help any sociopaths,narcissists or those with authoritarian personalities learn to care or to empathize or do the right things because sociopaths cannot 'grow' a conscience..from nothing.

[uppityperson]

26. I agree, having lived with one. Hence the "could" in my OP

It won't solve all violence, in no way. But I think it could help, esp with those who are capable of having a conscience, but having difficulties. Having lived with one of those also.