The product of a single mother, he left behind 3 children. And once again the conversation about what went so terribly wrong in this mans life to have it end in such an undignified manner will undoubtedly cover everything but the topics it should cover.
Addiction and Mental Health are tied at the hip. Both exist in the mental and physical realms simultaneously, and both have a lovely relationship with drugs. Both are greatly misunderstood, and hardly treated at all. And in a lot of cases, those who suffer from life long mental health issues that go unrecognized or untreated turn to drugs to cope.
I say the phrase "mental health system" and I'm sure it brings to mind gleaming white exam rooms, and coordinated information flow...all the benefits of the most advanced health care system in the world. But that is far from the case. Instead we have too few beds, dwindling outpatient care, and many of the mentally ill simply land in jail cells.
Despite claims by the pharmaceutical companies, real mental health doesn't come in pill form, and it's not an instant cure. It takes years of practice and patience to master the art of quieting ones inner demons, and as much as we'd like...they don't ever go away for good. Our system simply isn't set up to handle this kind of long term intimate care.
Nope. Its easier to sell a pill as a cure. As anyone who has taken one of these meds will tell you, it simply masks the symptoms at best. At worst, it will create much more extreme problems. We've already discussed the number of school shootings which have as companion some sort of Anxiety or Depression medications.
Too often we inject morality into this conversations in a way that doesn't serve to help anyone. The stigma surrounding mental health issues force some to go untreated or diagnosed, others turn to drugs, both legal and illegal, and many more suffer in silence, the walking wounded. Hardly anyone learns the physical and mental skill to manage themselves.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of money in both the legal and illegal drug game...manufacturing, selling, regulating, policing, and mental health has no serious advocates. It is my fear we are continuing down a path of destruction and denying people any real chance at hope, in favor of the Almighty Dollar.
You ask, why do these school shootings keep happening? Why did those kids get killed at the mall? Why do these people who have everything destroy themselves with drugs? I have the answer to all these questions, my friends. But you aren't going to like it. This isn't going to be easy, and good mental health isn't a product I can sell you... but I do know this for sure:
No one should have to die alone with a needle in their arm. Inner demons should never be allowed to take control, we have to start teaching people another way. And we all need to agree this isn't an issue of morality...we can either judge each other, or we can help each other. Your call.
Despite claims by the pharmaceutical companies, real mental health doesn't come in pill form, and it's not an instant cure. It takes years of practice and patience to master the art of quieting ones inner demons, and as much as we'd like...they don't ever go away for good. Our system simply isn't set up to handle this kind of long term intimate care.
Nope. Its easier to sell a pill as a cure. As anyone who has taken one of these meds will tell you, it simply masks the symptoms at best. At worst, it will create much more extreme problems. We've already discussed the number of school shootings which have as companion some sort of Anxiety or Depression medications.
Too often we inject morality into this conversations in a way that doesn't serve to help anyone. The stigma surrounding mental health issues force some to go untreated or diagnosed, others turn to drugs, both legal and illegal, and many more suffer in silence, the walking wounded. Hardly anyone learns the physical and mental skill to manage themselves.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of money in both the legal and illegal drug game...manufacturing, selling, regulating, policing, and mental health has no serious advocates. It is my fear we are continuing down a path of destruction and denying people any real chance at hope, in favor of the Almighty Dollar.
You ask, why do these school shootings keep happening? Why did those kids get killed at the mall? Why do these people who have everything destroy themselves with drugs? I have the answer to all these questions, my friends. But you aren't going to like it. This isn't going to be easy, and good mental health isn't a product I can sell you... but I do know this for sure:
No one should have to die alone with a needle in their arm. Inner demons should never be allowed to take control, we have to start teaching people another way. And we all need to agree this isn't an issue of morality...we can either judge each other, or we can help each other. Your call.
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