We need to make treating mental illness a priority

[ZRT2209]

too many are suffering

[YarnAddict]

1. Yup

Maybe it's the stigma, but this is a problem that has been ignored for too long.

[virgogal]

2. I agree,but what do you think shoud be done differently?

Much depression in my family and it's tough,very tough.

[pacalo]

3. More federal money for mental health care costs could be given to states, but then, that's where

the stonewalling begins -- in the states where the vulnerable population is being held hostage by Republican governors. I could easily see Bobby Jindal, the career polititian & GOP performing seal, refusing federal money (from a Democratic president).

Bobby Jindal has closed a number of hospitals that treat (& I use that term loosely, because currently there's no such thing as long-term treatment) mental patients. His budget has also reduced staff & resources for state clinics to bare-bone necessities; computers work half the time, for instance. At the same time, Jindal wants to get rid of the income & franchise taxes of corporations who do business in LA. How twisted are those priorities?

[liberalhistorian]

4. As long as it is

TREATMENT and concern and NOT even more of the stigmatization and criminalization that is so common today. Since such treatment and better access will cost money, I'm not holding my breath that it will become more available to whoever needs it, no matter how desperately. We need to work on getting rid of the stigmatization and increasing criminalizing of mental illness.