Here in Maryland, the issue gets treated differently depending on the political circumstances surrounding it.
Last week, hundreds of activists descended on Annapolis to support draconian new restrictions on private gun ownership. Ostensibly they support this legislation to save lives, even if the evidence is questionable.
In 2013, Maryland banned capital punishment. Ostensibly, this was not just to ensure that the state did not executive an innocent person, but also because it was immoral for the state to take a life.
Just last week, Anne Arundel County declared suicide a public health crisis. The resolution sponsored by County Councilman Nathan Volke identified suicide as a crisis and directed the county Health Department to take “immediate steps to identify residents living with mental illness and offer treatment and services to help those affected by mental illness and at risk of death by suicide.”
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4 comments:
Excellent article, Very good point !
Yeah, good luck with that. More paperwork and prescriptions to hide the facts that pop culture, social media, irrational peer pressures, social isolation, parenting deficits, family history, family stability, race, socioeconomic status, gender, "perceived" gender, underlying mental or physical illness, education system emasculation and politicization, irresponsible drug use and dozens more, are all contributing elements, so how can a county health department even begin to address the problem in other than a kneejerk call-us-if-you're-feeling-blue program? This is a national phenomenon, not one unique to AA County.
HIPPA prohibits the county from obtaining a patient's mental health records without a patient's permission. That's not going to happen. It's the same reason that gun control laws that prohibit the mentally ill from purchasing or owning guns is useless. The public can't find out who they are, and it's why we become their victims. HIPPA needs to be changed to exclude the mentally ill that are dangerous to themselves and others. Right now psychologists and psychiatrists keep that info to themselves, for fear that the mentally ill won't seek treatment, and the professionals won't receive payment for their livlihood, if the patients fear others finding out. It is a conundrum for sure. For the sake of the mentally ill and the safety of the public, HIPPA laws need to be changed. Until then, we, and the mentally ill, will be victims of their disease.
Feel good proposals, that's all. HIPPA prohibits them from obtaining that information. Typical bureaucrat response to a problem. Make a useless, unenforceable proposal (resolution) that accomplishes nothing.
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