The Arizona Tragedy and Mental Health Care
Statement by Michael J. Fitzpatrick,
Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
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NAMI is an organization of individuals and families whose lives have been deeply affected by mental illness.
We share the sadness of other Americans over the Tucson, Arizona tragedy and extend our sympathy to the families of the six individuals who died. We pray for the recovery of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the 13 other persons who were wounded.
Representative Giffords is a NAMI friend who has served as co-chair of the NAMIWalk in Southeast Arizona and has supported our missions of education, support and advocacy.
When tragedies involving mental illness occur, it is essential to understand the nature of mental illness?and to find out what went wrong.
The U.S. Surgeon General has reported that the likelihood of violence from people with mental illness is low. In fact, ?the overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally small.? Acts of violence are exceptional. They are a sign that something has gone terribly wrong, usually in the mental healthcare system.
Nationwide, the mental health care system is broken. Arizona, like other states, has deeply cut mental health services. Arizona has a broad civil commitment law to require treatment if it is needed; however, the law cannot work if an evaluation is never conducted or mental health services are not available.
In specific cases such as this, authorities and the news media should seek to objectively determine every factor that may have contributed to the tragedy?so that we can act on lessons learned
.... more
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Comment:
This is a complex tragedy. As a psychiatrist who daily evaluates and recommends treatment for persons who are involuntarily committed I can say that access to mental health treatment is important but insufficient. As the legal proceedings develop I will add comments along the way. Our prayers go out to all the shooting victims, their families and all those who suffer due to this.
JT
Statement by Michael J. Fitzpatrick,
Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI Newsroom
Breaking Updates and News on Twitter
Mental Illness Facts and Figures
Mental Illness, Treatment and Medical Care
Mental Health Treatment and Parity
State Mental Health Budget Cuts
Media Contacts
NAMI is an organization of individuals and families whose lives have been deeply affected by mental illness.
We share the sadness of other Americans over the Tucson, Arizona tragedy and extend our sympathy to the families of the six individuals who died. We pray for the recovery of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the 13 other persons who were wounded.
Representative Giffords is a NAMI friend who has served as co-chair of the NAMIWalk in Southeast Arizona and has supported our missions of education, support and advocacy.
When tragedies involving mental illness occur, it is essential to understand the nature of mental illness?and to find out what went wrong.
The U.S. Surgeon General has reported that the likelihood of violence from people with mental illness is low. In fact, ?the overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally small.? Acts of violence are exceptional. They are a sign that something has gone terribly wrong, usually in the mental healthcare system.
Nationwide, the mental health care system is broken. Arizona, like other states, has deeply cut mental health services. Arizona has a broad civil commitment law to require treatment if it is needed; however, the law cannot work if an evaluation is never conducted or mental health services are not available.
In specific cases such as this, authorities and the news media should seek to objectively determine every factor that may have contributed to the tragedy?so that we can act on lessons learned
.... more
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Se...anagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=113184
Comment:
This is a complex tragedy. As a psychiatrist who daily evaluates and recommends treatment for persons who are involuntarily committed I can say that access to mental health treatment is important but insufficient. As the legal proceedings develop I will add comments along the way. Our prayers go out to all the shooting victims, their families and all those who suffer due to this.
JT