Dealing with Mental Health

[TinkerTanker]

Asylums. We should, no - we NEED - to bring back asylums.

If you have a family member that's suicidal or mentally deficient you've currently got two options. Call the cops every time they act up, or spend a ton of cash on doctor visits. Doctors that are afraid to really treat mental issues because they're being pressured from the AMA etc. to be "kind and understanding".

Asylums would solve this. Some people simply can not function in a civilized society. For those people a padded room or a cocktail of drugs to keep them peaceful until they die is the only humane option.

 

[DavidMcmillan]

Almost every time one of these events occur, friends or family members make comments along the line that they were not surprised. The old idea, “see something, do something” needs to be brought back in its relationship to mental illness.

I lost a friend last Fall due to depression that none of us recognized. I currently have another friend dealing with severe depression. I knew that he had a shotgun and I went to him, as a friend, and asked for the gun, along with the promise that I was available anytime of the day or night if he needed to talk. He thanked me for my actions and we talk almost everyday.

 

[Bocephus123]

Almost every time one of these events occur, friends or family members make comments along the line that they were not surprised. The old idea, “see something, do something” needs to be brought back in its relationship to mental illness.

I lost a friend last Fall due to depression that none of us recognized. I currently have another friend dealing with severe depression. I knew that he had a shotgun and I went to him, as a friend, and asked for the gun, along with the promise that I was available anytime of the day or night if he needed to talk. He thanked me for my actions and we talk almost everyday.

A lot of times having a real friend who can be there everyday helps people dealing with things immensely.!!

 

[Snattlerake]

It used to be if a person stated, "I'll just go kill myself." they could be taken into protective custody and institutionalized. Not anymore. Getting rid of the mental hospitals was a major financial and emotional blow to families of loved ones that really needed the care. Nursing homes used to be places where you would "park" the mentally ill along with g'ma and g'pa. I remember as a kid, I hated those places because of the crazy people inside. I refused to see my grandparents because of them. I wasn't scared, I was just uncomfortable in my feelings toward these people.

I know the mentally ill we are talking about here in this thread are the walking, talking semi-functioning members who still have a few ants shy of a picnic, Most of these people have been abused or bullied as a child and some are actual bullies themselves.

Fine lines and slippery slopes are the major reasons we do not have red flag registry. Where do you start the line and where do you stop it? Who should be added to the database? Those who are subscribed to a mental health doctor? Those who take certain meds? Those who have exhibited abnormal, psychotic, antisocial behavior? (talk about a slippery slope)

I could write a white paper on this subject.

 

[Snattlerake]

Almost every time one of these events occur, friends or family members make comments along the line that they were not surprised. The old idea, “see something, do something” needs to be brought back in its relationship to mental illness.

I lost a friend last Fall due to depression that none of us recognized. I currently have another friend dealing with severe depression. I knew that he had a shotgun and I went to him, as a friend, and asked for the gun, along with the promise that I was available anytime of the day or night if he needed to talk. He thanked me for my actions and we talk almost everyday.

You are a good man.

 

[Jgibs0321]

I wanted to post this in here so those of us that support the 2nd Amendment could discuss how to address the problem of mental health and firearms.
When it comes to high visible news and especially "mass shootings" we in the firearms community point out the mental health aspect that most of the perpetrators have. The woman that shot up the Christian school recently was under care for mental health related problems. The shooter that shot up the bank recently was being treated for mental health related problems. Yet both were able to buy a firearm or multiple firearms.
Many point out that NICS is supposed to screen for mental health problems but that's only if someone put them in the system, but it's also not that clear. The only way a person can be put in the NICS system for mental health is if they are judicially put on there or they are committed to an institution. That means simply being treated is not a criteria for being put on the list.

After all that, here's the question. We see that there is a mental health aspect to many if not all mass shooters at least, but they are not enough to have the person committed or appear before a judge. Is there anything we can do to limit their access to firearm while being treated?
Can a family member request them to be put on the NICS list based upon current treatment they are receiving?
Should a doctor be able to put a person on the NICS list for the treatment they are receiving?
If a doctor or family member can request a person be added can another doctor refute the recommendation of another doctor?

I know this is a touchy subject due to Rights like the 2nd but also the 4th, but if a common aspect of many shooters is mental health while some are even seeking treatment, but still murdering people, is there more than can be done, that we in the shooting community can live with. If there is not, can we get the common person to understand why we point out mental health issues, but don't have any real solutions on how to deal with it?

We apply the gospel and see many people with anger, unforgiveness, violence, death wish, suicide, depression and anxiety…and PTSD from traumas of war and any other event, all healed. So long as people keep trying to fix these issues in the same loop of ineffective methods…. You will continue to see people lose self control and do terrible things.

 

[Dr. HK]

Liberalism seems to be the root of most gun related shootings. And all things related to liberalism. We have been conditioned to tiptoe around all things related and it needs to stop. MSM pushes the Repub White Male as the constant perp when that is FAR from the truth. and we just sit and eat it up.

At what point do we stop dropping more laws on those NOT causing the problems and start actually fixing those causing the damage.

if we remove suicide, accidents, gangs, and liberals gun violence would be almost 0. Gangs would most likely fit into liberal anyway.

 

[boocat71]

It's up to family and friends, imo.

Otherwise you are advocating for red flags, universal background and registration. Why is it when we start down the mental health path (which is highly relevant) do we then automatically try to tie it gun access? I mean, why wouldn't they just plow their car through a big crowd if they are intent on mass murder? Or should we just confine everyone that's flagged for an appropriate amount of time to make sure they are 'thinking' right? Should we just give up our rights to prove that there are other, equally effective ways to kill people?

Also, I would like to see an accurate accounting of what drugs (anti-depressants, anti-psychotics etc), all the shooters in the last 10-15 years were prescribed. And what their status was at the time - ie had they been taking them as prescribed, had they quit taking them?

The side effects on the tv ads for a lot of these drugs talk about suicidal thoughts. If that's a thing, it doesn't seem like homicidal thoughts would be a giant leap.

So before we talk general mental health, I'd like to see if a pill is a significant contributor.

 

[boocat71]

Suicidal thoughts and homicidal thoughts are too totally different things. As far as just being in treatment Isn't always a problem.

 

[trekrok]

Suicidal thoughts and homicidal thoughts are too totally different things. As far as just being in treatment Isn't always a problem.

Sure they are different and of course it's only a tiny percentage of people with mental health issues that decide to go kill people. But, if a drug can chemically alter a brain such that it causes suicidal thoughts, why couldn't it also alter the brain chemically to cause homicidal thoughts? Or paranoia, or whatever else might cause someone to snap.