Mental health community members can only do so much
Preventing shootings takes more than locking people up
This letter is a response to the public health crisis of shooting massacres. These episodes are increasing in both frequency and severity. The national conversation following these bloody tragedies centers on mental health care and gun control. As a licensed mental health provider, I feel morally compelled to weigh in on this discussion. I offer three points for consideration:
1) An enthusiastic yes to more funding for mental health services! Offering more support to our courageous first responders is a top priority. Additional resources for all levels of mental health care will certainly make a difference in our communities.
2) Mental health providers are limited in our ability to prevent mass shootings. Of those at risk for harm to others, it is often difficult to predict who will take action and who will not. If we could accurately predict who will be violent, the protocols for involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital are stringent. Let’s assume that we can predict who will shoot up the next school/church/theater, and we can have them safely committed to an appropriate facility. Eventually these individuals will be discharged. Moreover, the individuals at highest risk for violence are often the least responsive to treatment. Therefore, it is my professional opinion that the mental health community cannot adequately protect society from those most severely dangerous individuals, especially in an environment with easy access to assault weapons.
3) Americans are experiencing collective trauma as a result of this epidemic of mindless violence. First, the loss of loved ones, the violation of our safe spaces, and the erosion of trust in one another traumatize us. Secondly, we are traumatized by the knowledge that many of our elected officials are either unable or unwilling to use their position to address this problem in an effective and meaningful way. Sadly, many seem only able to offer us their thoughts and prayers.
Now is the time to act, to protect our children, to protect the citizens of this country. After all, doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results is the definition of insanity.