1975 Sears Catalog

While it is important to have due process to prevent such a mental health system from being abused (akin to red flag laws), we need a better system for mentally ill people to be able to get help. I live in Los Angeles and see mentally ill homeless people on the streets daily, all over town. Many of these people are already a harm to themselves and others but nothing is done and police officers have their hands tied. Mental health reform is a real issue, not a retort for people to deflect away from gun control, because it would be better at solving the mental health and violence crisis better than any gun control plan proposed. As for the some of the treatment drugs I’ve had theories about it myself. I was on antidepressants for a couple years when my depression was at its peak and I stopped taking them once I got my life back on track. They robbed me of energy, vigor, and emotion. They soften the blow of depression but only temporarily, then I would have to switch medications and change dosages frequently in order to maintain such softening. Also, while I personally didn’t experience this, SSRIs can have side effects relating to homicidal and suicidal ideation, and I believe this potential danger is underreported and unaddressed. Mental health needs an overhaul but more pills is not the answer.