Mental Health, Gun Control and Homeland Defense

Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I wish mental health care were as easy to get as, say, a gun. - Andy Borowitz

While I've used this blog mainly for the purpose of giving out information to my patients and to comment on the state of maternity care in the US or talk about child birthing and midwifery, I break now to talk about one thing political that I feel is utterly important. Yes, gun control is an issue here and is a serious issue in relation to what happened today, but so is the lack of mental health services in America.

Today, I need to say something about the state of mental health in our country. I've always told my husband that If we ever won the lottery, I'd like to devote most of these talents to fighting global warming, human trafficking or slavery, and improving mental health in America. For a country that is so "rich" we are so poor when it comes to mental health services.

In 2005, a NIH $20 million study found that one-quarter of all Americans met the criteria for having a mental illness, and fully a quarter of those had a serious disorder that significantly disrupted their ability to function day to day.  This puts American in the number 1 slot for mental health issues in the world.  We also are an "epic fail" when compared to other industrialized countries on mental health services.
Mental illness is really a disease of youth.  Half of those who will ever be diagnosed with a mental disorder show signs of the disease by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24.  However, less than half of youth that need treatment, get it. Those who seek treatment usually don't do so until a decade or more.  The reason for delays include insurance restrictions and lack of access. And the treatment they receive is usually inadequate. These are real brain disorders and they desperately need treatment.

And yes, I'm just going to come out and say it that it is a travesty when you think about how much we spend on defense in this country when we have sick people out there who are like ticking time bombs.

Obama was wrong when he said that the United States spends more on defense than the next 10 countries combined, we spend more the next 13 countries combined. When we allow mental health to rage out of control, we have a real threat to our neighborhoods and schools. We have what happened today in Newton, CT. Good God be with us now, when we are in trouble.

It brings me to a second issue and that is gun control. I'm going to also come out and say: I can accept the right to bear arms. But, my question is: what do you need to bear arms for?  I get that you want to protect yourself, but are you starting up your own military?  The weapons that were used today were a .223 caiber rifle and a Glock, which can carry up to 32 rounds of magazines.  Is that your plan when someone breaks into your home to attack you? To go through 32 rounds? Hardly, the most appropriate weapon for homeowner self protection.  Sure, a handgun or a pistol, but a rifle?  We have to think about when the second amendment was written, they didn't have these types of weapons. Come on, let's get serious about homeland defense and get a little bit more serious about gun control.

 .223 caliber rifle