Everyone has heard and read and seen the news about what happened, horrifically, tragically, in Newtown, CT, a town the world outside of America had not heard about until two days ago. All around the world, this continues to be making news and it only seems to be happening more and more, the same story over and over again – someone, later found to be mentally unstable or ill in some way, who acquires firearms by whatever method and proceeds to gun down innocent people.
This tragedy is made more poignant by the fact that this was an elementary school – so many young children, so many innocent, as yet untainted lives lost. What heartbreaking news for everyone, no matter who you are. It’s impossible not to feel saddened by this tragedy.
Here is a story from a mother from America whose son suffers from a mental illness of some sort, a young boy of 13 whose undiagnosable illness makes him violent and angry and full of rage, dangerous to himself and others when the mood turns, yet she feels helpless. Mental health continues to be so, so underdeveloped in America. In light of this incredibly sad story, it’s really time now to have a serious talk about what measures need to be put in place to deal with mentally ill people. Maybe if that happens, more people can finally get the help they need and more of these terrible tragedies can be prevented.
No one wants to send a 13-year old genius who loves Harry Potter and his snuggle animal collection to jail. But our society, with its stigma on mental illness and its broken healthcare system, does not provide us with other options. Then another tortured soul shoots up a fast food restaurant. A mall. A kindergarten classroom. And we wring our hands and say, “Something must be done.”I agree that something must be done. It’s time for a meaningful, nation-wide conversation about mental health. That’s the only way our nation can ever truly heal.
Rage of the Honey Badger 