Continuing to put the blame of gun violence as a simply a "gun" problem isn't going to achieve anything but fill the coffers of politicians on both sides of the political aisle. It's flashy and dramatic to go after and/or defend guns but it's an intellectually shallow representation of the societal problems at hand.
The most destructive weapons on the planet are nuclear weapons. We haven't started lobbing them at each other because sane people understand the concept of mutually assured destruction. A maladjusted, poorly socialized 18 year old doesn't get that concept and is likely so nihilistic that they simply don't care. They are a ticking time bomb. When they finally snap and rage at the society that plagues them, they will do it with whatever tool is at hand.
Gov Abbott was correct when he stated we are experiencing a mental health crisis in our communities. However, I have seen little from the federal/state/local government to address the problem. Until there is legislative resolve on this issue, we will continue to see school massacres regardless of any gun restrictions or reform.
I am a pediatric provider. When I first started my practice over 20 years ago, I treated primarily infectious diseases and helped to monitor proper growth and development in children. Over the past 5-6 years, there has been a dramatic increase in need for mental health intervention/treatment. Covid exponentially accelerated a problem that has been brewing for some time. The mental health system in this country has broken and we are seeing the failure to address the crisis. It currently takes me, in a major metropolitan area, 4-6 months to get counseling and greater then 12 months to get psychiatric care for a pediatric patient... and that is if you have the money to pay for it.
I have a patient who for quite some time has shown sociopathic tendencies. Understand that you cannot "cure" personality disorders. Personality disorders can only be managed and there will likely be breakthroughs throughout a person's life. It is important to identify patients with antisocial, oppositional defiant d/o because if you don't help them develop a moral compass when they are young, they often progress to the diagnosis of Conduct disorder. These people will forever be a burden and menace to society. Both his parents work and they have private insurance but they couldn't afford the co-pays for weekly counseling and therapy. Over the years, he has failed to consistently get the intervention he needed. This past fall he got arrested when he took a gun to school "just to show his friends". Now he is in Juvenile detention surrounded by other sociopaths. The evidence is clear that that is likely to make him worse and place him well on his way to the Conduct disorder diagnosis.
I have another patient with Medicaid. Mom has schizophrenia and ran out leaving the dad with 2 kids. Dad works 2 jobs and provides what he can. The patient has been struggling with depression and was referred for counseling. The Dad was/has been unable to find a provider that will take their Medicaid; The fact is that most counselors are "cash pay only". They have so much demand for their services, they don't need the hassle of accepting and dealing with any insurance companies; Additionally, they aren't going to take a $20-30 payment from Medicaid for an hour of counseling when they can charge a cash paying patient $100 and not have to deal with a government bureaucracy and regulation. The patient started hearing voices several months ago which lead him to try to kill himself. He was admitted to an inpatient facility in town. He was started on meds and stabilized. He was discharged after only 5 days and told to find a psychologist for counseling and psychiatrist to manage the possible onset of schizophrenia. The sick joke is that now they are back in the same boat, no provider will take their insurance. It would be unconscionable for me to discharge a patient without knowing that outpatient care was established but the reality is that it has become the standard of care in this community. Now I'm left struggling to get him plugged in somewhere before he relapses and hurts himself.
We need to accept responsibility that our culture is rotting and work individually to fix and address what we can in our community. We need to get back to promoting the value of having intact families and encourage that where possible. We need to get back to the ideas and philosophy of having a Creator we are beholden to. It is an indisputable and scientific fact that those are things that strengthen people for the challenges of life. Even an atheist such at Jonathan Haidt understands the value of having God in a person's life. Additionally, we need honest and real discussion on the changes in society and culture that have weakened our ability to handle life's challenges.
We also need to understand that there are mental health problems that are real medical problems. The people that experience those issues are likely going to face major barriers to getting the help they need. We neglect them at our own peril. But go ahead and keep arguing about guns. Just understand your just passing time until the next massacre.
edited to say: sorry, that rant went on longer then I realized.
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