This is probably going to sound callous in the wake of the most recent school shootings, but while everyone is screaming for more "gun control", I hear very little about increasing spending for mental health issues - which is the underlying cause in almost every one of these incidents.
I'm not condoning what the shooter did. It was wrong, evil and altogether loathsome to end the life of others in such a chickenshit manner. He had no right to do what he did and I hope they now fry him as an example - after they wring out of him every last bit of remorse. But, once again, the media, sensing high ratings (meaning profits) by pushing an emotionally-charged agenda, concentrates on the wrong aspect.
I have to wonder something: I mean, how much money is the school now spending on those students traumatized by the shooting? What might have happened if that same amount had been applied to the mental health treatment of the shooter when they symptoms were first revealed?
Sadly, mental health is still considered "too expensive" for general coverage by most insurers, and still has too much stigma attached to it. Unfortunately, we, as a nation would rather react with knee-jerks, demanding that politicians "do something" about the symptom (guns), rather than do anything pro-actively to nip the problem before people start getting hurt (recognizing the signs of mental health issues and directing them towards affordable - or free - healthcare so that they don't grab guns and begin shooting things up).
In some of the volunteer work I do, I meet several people each week that could benefit from even a little therapy. Yes, some are drug addicts, some are alcoholics and others simply have those chemical imbalances in the brain that cause them to hear voices, see things or feel isolated from the world around them. Many of them are veterans who have been traumatized by what they saw in combat. Others are simply people who broke after a lifetime of abuse. Unfortunately, the non-profits that work to help these people have too few resources and clients with too many complicated issues. Social workers at these places suffer a much higher rate of burnout than those working with folks that have less-severe issues.
Many of those that do seek help for mental issues risk the potential of being taunted by others. And, while I agree that racism is an issue in this country, if we didn't have skin-color or other ethnic differences, then others would just use other dissimilaries, such as height, weight, appearance, speech, religious belief or other impediments and mental conditions to hate, look down upon, and simply treat with disrespect. History is full of examples. I know first-hand, having grown up in a wealthy, lily-white hometown where I was "poor" compared to my peers.
We need to correct the thinking of society as a whole and get them to quit being so emotionally judgmental about those that are "different." But, that's been a problem throughout history. "Normal" society doesn't like anyone that is too "different" and they tend to persecute them.
Doesn't make it right. Then again, neither does the killing of the innocent and unarmed.
Let's start by educating those that interact with kids on a daily basis - the teachers - to look for signs of mental instability and problems and direct these kids to places where they can get help. Let's set up counselors at the school and even the local/county/State level to treat these stressed-out kids and help them to develop tools that will allow them to deal with their emotions. Lets do it quietly and privately to avoid the stigma.
Lets make mental health a priority, not taking away the rights of those in the majority who are law-abiding and within their rights. I mean, how would you feel if I began to demand that automobiles be made illegal because of a few folks who have road-rage issues and happen to kill themselves or others through their foolish emotional outbursts?
I thought so.
