How do you feel about politicians saying the recent surge in gun killings are due to mental health

[debm55]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by hunter (a host of the Mental Health Support group).

and the use of Anti-Depressants? Thank you.

[Timeflyer]

1. The politicians who do nothing to control out of control production, sale of guns and ammo

and the increasing gun killings are the ones suffering from mental health problems. Or just out of control greed and ambition--they're making mass murder by gun legal by lack of legislation.

[debm55]

7. Yes, I agree. But they seem to like to put us in a pit of blame, that it is the mental illness and

not the guns. Thank you.

[marble falls]

2. You mean other than the more a politician supports selling guns to anybody, the less likely ...

... he is to support any sort of public mental health care?

[debm55]

8. There was a GA politian saying it was the Anti-Depressants. I guess that way it's not the guns. I

have never felt the desire to kill anyone and never held a gun in my 68 years.

[BlackSkimmer]

20. Which Georgia politician said this?

Tia.

[debm55]

22. Black Shimmer,MTG of all people. But there are others less known stating this. Thune said shooters

are deranged and Tucker Carlson said the same about the A.D You know for sure the NRA are saying-mental health, mental health. It's the go to--call out all people who have mental health issues who are on meds.

[debm55]

12. marple falls, I was just asking about MTG and others saying it is not the guns but people who are

mentally ill. It seems to be the go to answer now. So we are all painted with a broad brush.

[marble falls]

24. Exactly right. And they never, ever advocate for publically funded mental health programs ...

... it is telling that something over 10% of police interactions involve someone who is mentally ill:


https://www.npr.org/2014/06/14/322008371/when-cop-calls-involve-the-mentally-ill-training-is-key

When Cop Calls Involve The Mentally Ill, Training Is Key
June 14, 20145:03 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
4-Minute Listen


Increasingly, law enforcement has become the first line of contact for people with serious mental illness in crisis. Approximately 10 percent of police calls involve someone who is mentally ill, and how officers handle these calls can make the difference between life and death. Michael Woody, retired police officer and president of CIT International, talks with NPR's Arun Rath about what he has learned about how to best handle those situations.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Every country in the world has mental illness.

And every modern country uses antidepressants.

As to how I FEEL about this statement from politicians,
I cannot express my feelings without using a lot of cuss words
so I will stop here.

[grumpyduck]

5. Yup. My thoughts exactly.

I'd love to see their reactions if doctors start telling them how to do their jobs.

Unfortunately people listen to these pricks because they're in the news and doctors aren't.

[debm55]

9. Agree.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. By that logic depressants are the answer, so cue up the 'ludes

Put everyone in the safety of a vegetative state.

[debm55]

10. I am being weaned off of two of mine. I don't feel rage or anger toward anyone.

[emulatorloo]

6. 1. That they have no expertise to discuss medications. 2. That they are hypocrites who are

always cutting funds and access to mental health.

[debm55]

11. I feel we who use the Anti-Depressants and those with mental health problems are the scapegoat for

keeping the sale of guns legal. Just my opinion.

[emulatorloo]

14. I agree with you. They are ignoring the real problem: easy access to assault rifles.

[Irish_Dem]

17. I agree, the GOP is going to demonize mental illness next.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

13. Shifting blame again...

Onto a group with very little capacity to defend themselves.

Pukepublicans aren’t MAGATs. They’re maggots.

[gibraltar72]

15. Why are there so many mental health problems in America.

Do other countries have mental health problems? Do they kill students in those countries? Nobody is even close in school shootings. Just a reason to not do anything, because it is complex.

[Irish_Dem]

18. Most countries have similar rates of mental illness.

Without the violence we have here.

[gibraltar72]

23. Absofuckinglutely!

[Irish_Dem]

16. Sounds like the new tactic is to get people to stop taking their antidepressants.

Which will make the severity and occurrence of depression rise sharply.
The GOP goal seems to be to make American society as sick as possible.

The development of anti-depressant and anti-psychotic medication
revolutionized the treatment of mental illness.

People who previously had to be hospitalized were able to function normally in society.

My mother was an R.N. who did her training just after WWII,
before psychotropics meds had been invented.

When she did her psych rotation in a Catholic psych hospital one of the standard
treatments for psychotic and severely depressed patients was exorcism by a priest.
The other treatments were like something out of a medieval torture chamber.

Fast forward to her daughter becoming a psychologist who provided
outpatient therapy with patients who were taking medication which
enabled them to live normal lives.

My mother's account of how it had been for such patients not that long ago,
always stuck with me. I was so thankful these meds were now available.

[cyclonefence]

19. Politicians who say that need antidepressants.

[2naSalit]

21. Their mental health is a major...

Reason.

[debm55]

25. Not if they are being treated.

[BlackSkimmer]

26. Unfortunately, the Atlanta bank shooter was being treated, according to his parents.

He even stated he bought guns to show how easy it was.

[debm55]

27. Wasn't he there to get anti-anxiety meds? At the time. I recall reading he was a member of the Coast

Guard and I wondered why he wasn't going to a VA hospital or clinic.

[BlackSkimmer]

28. No, you are thinking of a different shooter. That was not the bank shooter.

The Nashville shooter was also undergoing treatment.

[debm55]

29. I know there are so many anymore. The one I was thinking of was the man who went with his mom to the

doctor's office--4 women shot, one of those four was killed. Didn't the bank killer have to wear a helmet while playing basketball because of the concussion he suffered. Sorry, I got them confused, I got them mixed up. BlackShimmer, do you know if the bank shooter was on meds or did he or his doctor pull himself off? Thanks.

[hunter]

30. As some of you know, I've got a PTSD diagnosis...

... and a large portion of that is related to gun violence, the worst of it being stuff I don't discuss here on DU. I take meds for that.

I was very reluctant to dive into this thread with my usual fiery anti-gun rhetoric since this group is supposed to be a safe place where we can all lower our shields a bit while seeking support. When I reply to gun threads in General Discussion and elsewhere I go in fully armored with my shields up. I shouldn't have to do that in this group.

Another member of this group has alerted this thread as violating the Statement of Purpose for this group and I agree with them, much as I despise those who want to blame gun violence on mental health issues. But that's a political issue more suited to other DU groups and forums, not an issue of personal support.

I'm locking this thread.