Statement of Mental Health America on theTragedy in Arizona

Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or svetzner@mentalhealthamerica.net

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (January 10, 2011)—Mental Health America joins Americans in mourning the loss of those killed in Saturday’s tragic and senseless attack and expressing our wishes for the full recovery of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and fellow citizens who were injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and everyone who is affected by these horrific events. And we join in applauding the brave actions of individuals who prevented greater harm.

It will likely take many days to understand the reasons and motivations behind this national tragedy. Many have pointed to mental health as an issue.

It must first be emphasized that people with mental health conditions are no more likely to be violent than the rest of the population. And we have science-based methods to successfully treat persons with even the most severe mental illnesses. A very small group of individuals with a specific type of mental health symptoms are at greater risk for violence if their symptoms are untreated.

At the same time, we must recognize that the nation’s mental health system is drastically under-funded and fails to provide Americans living with mental health conditions with the effective community-based mental health services they need. Sadly, in the current environment of strained state budgets, mental health services have been cut drastically just as demand for these critical services has risen dramatically.

It is also important that, as a community, we assist persons with signs and symptoms of mental illnesses to seek treatment. Although rare, when a person becomes so ill that he/she is a danger to themselves or others state laws provide a way to get them help even if they don’t believe that they need it. The best strategy, however, is to have an accessible system of care that is easy to use.

Science has not developed tools to predict reliably individuals at risk for violence. But we can reduce the small risk of violence in those with certain mental health conditions by investing in proven intensive, coordinated community-based mental health services and making certain that they can access these services.

We do not know if the mental health system failed in this situation or if there were missed opportunities or if effective treatment might have averted this tragedy.

We do hope that we can find answers and create solutions that prevent this from ever happening again.

Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) is the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our century of service to America and our more than 300 affiliates nationwide, we represent a national movement that promotes mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation— everyday and in times of crisis.

I don’t know how to talk about what  happened here in Tucson yesterday without making someone mad, but I’m going to try.

As a mental health advocate and person who is currently educating high school kids about depression and suicide prevention my initial thoughts (after my shock and sadness) about the gunman was that he must be mentally ill, and as most of you know I am passionate about people receiving proper care for mental illness and reducing the stigma surrounding these issues.  So, initially I was going to write this blog about just that, the inequalities of the treatment of people with mental illness and the shortcomings of the system, but as the weekend progressed I have been struck more by the calls for compassion and the need to temper the on-going bitterness and hate filled rhetoric that seems to be all too prevalent in our society.

Some blame it on the media, some blame it on the Internet and some blame it on dysfunctional family environments.  All I know is that I don’t think this is the time nor place to start placing blame and focusing anger on anyone or any one entity.  If  anything, now is the time for us to focus on restoring Peace, Love and Harmony to society.

Yes, some will think I’m an idealist with no grasp of reality, but it is reality that motivates me to wish and pray for more compassion and tolerance in our world.  There is darkness, but just the light of one small match can illuminate a room.  I think we all have the potential, no the responsibility as humans to be a positive force. I don’t know of any situation where more violence and hate can solve a problem.

Hopefully this senseless tragedy that happened in my home town yesterday will be a catalyst to help us to find our way back to the loving and kind humans were are meant to be.  As mental health advocates teach in Crisis Intervention Training, rather than escalating the situation, let’s try and de-escalate and bring reason and calmness to the situation.

Congresswoman Giffords has the skill to do just that.  I witnessed her ability to reason and respectfully disagree with irate, inflamed constituents at town hall meetings over the last year.  Gabe Zimmerman, her now deceased aid, was a master at conveying how important the well being of our community was to him.  When Congresswom Giffords was unable to attend some of the mental health community events she was invited to, Gabe provided the same kind of support and understanding that she would  have.

In memory of Gabe and the others that died yesterday and out of respect for Congresswoman Giffords, I think it could be a new day for our country if we focus on the healing rather than the negativity.

Talking about mental illness in one’s family has always been difficult.  The issues surrounding mental illness continue to be emotional and sometimes controversial.  Is that why Governor Brewer has abondoned her once passionate advocacy for people with mental illness?

According to recent press releases, Brewer’s involvement in state politics started with her activism pushing better treatment and care for our state’s seriously mentally ill population.  Her son is diagnosed with a serious mental illness and has spent time in-patient at the Arizona State Mental Hospital.  As a Mom with a son who had a serious mental illness, I certainly can understand her motivation to try and make a difference.  Stigma continues to be pervasive and some still believe it’s the Mother’s fault when a mental illness presents itself.  Character flaws, laziness, and violent behavior automatically get labeled as mental illnesses when medical science knows that these illnesses are actual biological brain disorders that are treatable.  With proper medical treatment and support people have and do live in recovery.

Given all the positive news about the potential for recovery, why in the world has Govenor Brewer decided to not only distance herself from the issues, but supported drastic slashes to budgets that assist people with mental illness?  I understand that we need to cut our spending, but why cut spending for our state’s most vulnerable?  In the long run, as Gov. Brewer knows, we will end up spending more for emergency room visits, hospitalizations and incarcerations for ignored people living with a treatable mental illness.  With all the publicity and nation wide visability she has created over the last several months, it seems a shame to me that she hasn’t used the opportunity to advance anti-stigma and the value of  proper treatment to some of our states most vulnerable…….including her son.  Is the illegal immigraton bandwagon the only issue she can focus on now?