Shootings Trigger Debate On How US Cares For Psychiatric Patients.

The Time (12/20, Szalavitz) “Healthland” blog points out, “While it’s not clear whether mental illness — alone or in combination with a developmental disorder — played any role in the devastating tragedy in Newtown, CT, the shootings have triggered a much-needed discussion about how we care for psychiatric patients. The debate has thrown a harsh light on the piecemeal nature of America’s mental health system, which is leaving too many children and young adults…without the resources they need.”

APA’s Jeste Sends Letter To Congressional Leaders On Issues Raised By Connecticut Tragedy. Psychiatric News (12/20) reported that on Dec. 20, “APA President Dilip Jeste, MD, sent a letter…on behalf of the Association to leaders of both the Senate and House of Representatives responding to the massacre in Newtown, Conn., and emphasizing that psychiatrists ‘stand ready to do whatever we can to help alleviate the suffering caused by the tragedy and to help the survivors cope with life after a trauma of this unimaginable magnitude.'” In addition, Dr. Jeste “expressed APA’s concern about proposals that have been voiced that target the mentally ill and media accounts that inaccurately portray people with mental illness.” Finally, Dr. Jeste “called on Congress to address the abundance and easy availability of guns, saying that APA believes that ‘any discussion on fostering a robust mental health delivery system must not be isolated from discussions of strategies to reduce gun violence.'”

Related Links:

— “America’s Failing Mental Health System: Families Struggle to Find Quality Care, “Maia Szalavitz, , December 20, 2012.

Posted in In The News.