Do you think should spent money on mental illness?

1. 59

   Penny Gposted 9 years ago

   Do you think should spent money on mental illness?
   
   Do you think if we spent as much money on mental illness as we do housing the mentally ill in Prisons we actually could save money? Did you you know that 57% of Offenders with mental illness return to prison within 5 years?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 81

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   I suspect most people don't believe mental illness can healed or cured. Another issue is even those who are prescribed drugs to control their behavior oftentimes refuse to continue to take them. You can't baby sit or force people to take their meds at home.
   Therefore much of society would feel safest knowing a mentally ill person is locked away for life.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      Penny Gposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunatly they  leave in the same condition they went in, have you watched the news lately? When i time is served they are release. They have programs that come much cheaper than Prison. Visiting case managers who do watch take meds by court order

      replyreport
   2. 81

      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Penny G, It would be more cost effective to invest in such programs however I believe most people would "feel" safer knowing these people aren't on the streets. Anytime a crime occurs & we learn of their mental illness we play the blame game.

      replyreport
3. 59

   Jennifer Bartposted 9 years ago

   Yes mental illness is just like any other form of illness.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      Penny Gposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It is not something they choose to cause in themselves. It is better for them,their families and surrounding communities to get them the best help possible, so they can live normal lives. People need to be supportive.Public awareness is needed also.

      replyreport
4. 60

   deathwalk60posted 9 years ago

   Yes, let's spend money on mental illness, for it's a neurological condition that has an affect on the chemicals over the brain.  How this occurs no one knows.
   
   I have bipolar disorder.  I take medication for it, and never have been in danger of committing murder or anything that you hear about over the news.  I'm more danger to myself than to other people.  I use to cut myself.  I am struggling with binge eating. 
   
   I and many people who live with mental illness daily fight stigma.  Some are scared to get the help that they need because they will be marked as a crazy person, and lose their job and their place in the community.
   What is stigma?  When a shooting occurs every report all media automatically  blames a person who has mental illness.  Never do they blame a person who has high blood pressure or diabetes, but they do say mental illness.  I do know that shootings are an evil act done by evil people.  They should just say that, but that don't sell newspapers, get everyone worked up.Majority of us find ourselves victims of violent crimes.
   
   I see the "57% return to prisons within five years" comment, I bet that is due to addictions, for many people living with mental illness because they are afraid to receive help with their mental illness,  self- medicate with alcohol and drugs.  Some people with mental illness just plain self- medicate.
   
   It's sad that newspapers and TV media don't report the many great things that people living with mental illness do everyday.  It's sad that the focus with the media is filled with negative and violent news.  We need to remember that evil acts are caused by evil people, not by people living with mental illness.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      Penny Gposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      THank you so much for your first hand information and your observation of those returning to prison due to addiction. You are so corect. I am your #1 advocate in spending money on mental illness. I have two adult children with schizophrenia.

      replyreport