Why can't we start with universal free mental health care?

[Duer 157099]

Free mental health CARE (not insurance) for the whole population. Not just dispensing meds, but actual psychiatric care, including counseling and other therapies. Think of all the jobs that would be created!

Who could argue with that? Who could be against that? (don't answer, I know)

Why the fuck can't we as a society have something like that?

[Cleita]

1. Who could argue against that? The same people who

argued against universal health care, the for profit insurance companies and big PhRMA.

[SharonAnn]

2. And the unfortunate thing is that people like Jared probably would refuse to use it.

They think they're normal.

And laws prohibit hospitalizing them against their will for more than 72 hours and then only if "they're a danger".

I have a nephew like this and there seems to be no way for him to get the help he needs. He was hospitalized for 72 hours last October because of his threats against a person, but then released. He's obviously seriously mentally ill, but he's over 25 years of age and there seems to be nothing we can do until he kills himself or attacks or kills someone else. AI think he shows the signs of schizophrenia but he really needs a professional evaluation and treatment plan.

Yet, even if he were willing to get help, he's uninsured and there's nothing available for him for free.

[JVS]

3. The only way the public wouldn't be suspicious as hell about such an offer is if it were...

offered as part of a comprehensive HC system. Otherwise you're pretty much saying "How about you come in and we'll see if you're crazy? Nevermind the fact that we don't care about your health in general. We'll help you out here. And no, this isn't some kind of attempt to medicate or institutionalize you into passivity at all."

[Bluerthanblue]

4. sadly stigma and the ingrained notion that our thoughts are something

we can control are nearly as big a problem as access to services.

personal experience speaking.