Hostage Crisis or Mental Health Crisis – Op-Ed
The headlines scream “Hostage Crisis” when they should be screaming “Mental Health Crisis”. What we are witnessing is the meltdown of Mental Health Systems in America. A leaky, ineffective mental health system turns the disturbed and anguished onto an unsuspecting, negligent public.
The most glaring perpetrator among us is denial. Like the classic response to noticing a disfigured person is to turn away and pretend we did not see a damaged human. This is denial. This is a symptom of yet another form of mental illness. The mental illness is in the American public, who views mental illness as someone else’s problem, someone else’s responsibility. Americans turn away, in denial of the mentally anguished.
Attention is brought to this crisis of the mind more and more often now. We had better get used to it. The mental health system is part of civilized society’s infrastructure. Every day, we watch the failure of the physical infrastructure when bridges collapse, trains collide, water systems collapse and electrical grids fail. Every day America ignores the mental health infrastructure failure. Victims are creating more victims.
- School shootings
- Drug Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Bigotry and Hate Crimes
- Religious Extremism
Maybe some crimes are taking place to just get help from a fatally flawed system. The health system is contradictory. Great health care only if you can afford it.
Eisenberg, 46, of Somersworth, N.H., grew up in Groton, spent time in Massachusetts prisons, and was one of 541 victims of the clergy sexual abuse scandal who received payments in the landmark 2003 settlement with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, according to court records and a source involved with the litigation. He was reportedly due in court yesterday to face domestic violence charges.
Eisenberg knew he had mental problems. His extreme behavior, to get help, caught media attention. His previous misbehavior was just a warm up to taking hostages.
Eisenberg called CNN three times during the standoff and told staff members he wanted help getting psychiatric care because he lacked money, the Associated Press reported.
“I need to speak to Hillary Clinton,” CNN quoted him as saying. “Something’s got to change. Ordinary people need help” with their insurance.
In a way, Eisenberg has done us a favor by pointing out America’s negligence, and health insurance parity, once again.
This country has bitched and moaned about taxes from the beginning. They have gone to great length to demonize the act of paying for the gluttonous society they enjoy. Taxes may not always be spent on programs you approve of, but those same taxes run all the government programs we expect. The American public has shirked its responsibility and is reaping the consequences of their actions. Health care is one of the critical services that no one wants to pay for, but expects.
Again, cause and effect is impacting our safety as a ‘free’ society. “Ignore it and it will go away” has failed. Returning soldiers are a Mental Crisis time bomb that taxes must be spent on. These soldiers are already breaking the miserable health system America should be ashamed of. ‘Entitlement’ is America’s mental illness. Delusion is America’s fatal flaw.
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