More crimes highlight mental illness concerns

[The Straight Story]

More crimes highlight mental illness concerns

SACRAMENTO, CA- The shooting in Tucson and the threat against Sacramento's mayor have shed more light on mental illness.

In many cases, friends and loved ones said the suspects needed help.

Police arrested UC Davis student Nicholas Benson last Friday after a relative called authorities concerned that Benson was distraught, armed with a rifle and was planning to hurt himself and others. Inside Benson's truck, police found a loaded semi-automatic rifle with a telescopic sight, a loaded shotgun, and hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition.

Benson's attorney said Benson is a good person who had a meltdown and needs help. The attorney is looking to move Benson to a locked mental health facility to be treated.

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=120089&catid=2

[KillCapitalism]

1. Another thing we can thank Reagan for.

In the early 80's funds for mental health services and institutions in particular were cut sharply. As a consequence of this, institutions had to release many patients or just close down altogether.

Institutions are not great places to live by any means, but there are a good number of people out there who are just too unstable to live in society even with meds.

[Forkboy]

2. There are people in my city who have been homeless since the 80's.

I still see them all the time. I know for a fact that many of them came from an institution that closed down nearby.

I know Shrub is fresher in people's minds, but Reagan is still the one I hate with a passion.