Mar
6
2012
I have to ask, again and again: Are we our brother’s keeper? You read repeatedly how state after state is slashing their budget for mental health services. Sure, states can’t afford to continue to pay for upkeep of their mental health hospitals so many of them are closing. The services in the communities are often not supported; even services that have proved to be cost effective like peer centers.
People will still suffer. The jails, not hospitals, now contain the largest population of the mentally ill. Many are in for minor offenses. Is that right? As if the politicians don’t know that? This population is the most vulnerable. ER’s are increasingly being filled with those in crisis and it is very difficult to find an appropriate place for them to go.
We will be judged by how we treat the weak and vulnerable. I will ask the politicians, again, are you your brothers’ keeper? It costs a lot of money to treat the mentally ill in jail. The money could be better spent in the community. The mentally ill do not belong in jail.
People are suffering unnecessarily. The general public is also complicit in this situation. There was a reason state hospitals were often in the country. Out of sight, out of mind although it is true decades ago they were called rest homes. There were none of the medications available and often all some of the people in crisis needed was some peace and quiet and time to regain their equilibrium.
The public and the politicians need to ask themselves are we our brothers’ keeper? And support the services that are needed to humanely treat the mentally ill. By all means the states need to spend their money wisely. But acting as if the problems will vanish and expecting the jails to treat the mentally ill is not right.
It could be your loved one? After all, one out of four have been diagnosed mentally ill in their lifetime. And you would want proper and humane treatment for your loved ones. Or even you? So we have to keep asking ourselves (and the politicians) are we our brothers’ keeper?
