No one chooses to have a mental illness. There are good studies to show that the vast majority of people who live with mental illness are never aggressive and that most violent people are not mentally ill. Nevertheless, with the horrendous tragedy in Tucson there are some things we as a society should face. We do not provide enough care for people with mental illness.
The Downtown Eastside has hundreds of people who do not have sufficient care plans and who, by being in that environment, are severely addicted to drugs as they self-medicate. Whatever you think about police use of force, half the people shot by police turn out to be suffering from mental disorders. I understand we have limited resources and many competing demands for tax dollars, but we need to remember to care for those who need help and are often the last ones who will be able to ask for it. We need to fund supportive housing and adequate care plans so people with mental illness can live with respect and poise.
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