Sherrod Brown: Tucson Tragedy Highlights Poor State Of Mental Health Safety Net

[Joanne98]

Run time: 03:36 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4xaj5MKomE   Posted on YouTube: January 11, 2011 By YouTube Member: ThinkProgress2 Views on YouTube: 80   Posted on DU: January 12, 2011 By DU Member: Joanne98 Views on DU: 422

 

[fascisthunter]

1. Very Rational Conversation... Thank you Joanne98

this made me feel a little better

[gibby2433]

2. Crazies roaming the countryside is apparently part of Right-Wing Utopia

They want to abolish everything that isn't private sector capitalism. They don't care about mental health care, because it goes against "freedom" and "personal responsibility." Let the insane get their own help, or wait until they do something like in Tuscon then just execute them and shake their heads and wonder, "Why?"

[Cowpunk]

3. Two Words: Single Payer

This very night I was talking to a bipolar/schizophrenic friend who relies on lots of expensive medications to keep him stable. He is able when medicated and would like to have a job, but the system simply won't allow it. He told me he had been hoping that his doctor would take him off lithium so at least he could donate plasma and make a few bucks beyond what he gets from Social Security every month(he is lucky to have worked for a few years before his illness became debilitating). He was told that he would lose his Medicaid coverage if he even tried to have such a meager supplemental income. My best friend has been sentenced to a life of poverty and dependence on the government by this ridiculous health care system we have.

What really worries me are the medicated children of people in similar circumstances, who may never know a life different from the one my friend faces. I know some of them, too.

[slay]

4. So true

mental health is so important - and so ignored. Until something like this happens. But then it just gets ignored again once it is out of the news cycle. :(