Thread by @frankievallll

Have you noticed that the only time #mentalhealth ever really enters the national conversation is when it’s being used as a scapegoat for violence? [Thread]
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This despite the fact persons w/ mental health conditions are significantly more likely to be victims of violence, including gun violence, than perpetrators.

This despite the fact most Americans don’t have access to quality mental health care services & programs.
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As we struggle w/ the heartbreaking news of 2 #MSDStrong students—Sydney Aiello, a 2018 grad/FAU student, & Calvin Desir, a sophomore at MSD—and Jeremy Richman, father of #SandyHook victim Avielle Richman, dying by suicide, we must discuss our national mental health crisis.
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And more specifically, we must address the traumatic mental health impact of #GunViolence on #survivors. Gun violence (GV) is a public health epidemic, and must be treated as such.
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There is no panacea—the factors that contribute to GV are multi-faceted and require a multi-faceted response. Recent efforts have focused heavily on prevention, specifically efforts to reduce GV risk by limiting access to firearms by individuals with a history of violence.
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This is an important piece—we have evidence that such efforts reduce risk of GV—but it is critical that we recognize this is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.
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We must also better understand & address the interconnected social & systemic factors & disparities—in health, education, employment, housing, criminal justice—underlying community, self-directed (eg, suicide), and domestic violence, the primary contributors to the GV epidemic
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But as important as prevention efforts, it is critical we recognize the victims are not just those who were injured/killed, but every #survivor whose life has been forever changed by such senseless violence; that long after the event, countless Americans continue to live as...
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victims of GV, often suffering in silence; that each day, 100 more American families & communities become survivors.

The victimization & trauma of GV extends well beyond the initial event. It’s critical we support the health & well-being of every impacted American.
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We must more openly discuss and destigmatize mental health, not treat it as weakness or a shameful act to be hidden. We all need to be better able to recognize the signs of depression and suicidal thinking, in ourselves and others.
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Encouraging people to reach out for help—for example, sharing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)—is important, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH.
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As someone w/ lived experience with depression, both personally & w/ loved ones, I can tell you that reaching out for help is not always easy; in fact, it can be nearly impossible at times. Instead of putting the onus to act on someone in crisis, make it your responsibility.
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Check in with your family and friends, especially those who have experienced trauma—let them know you love them and are there for them, whatever they need, whenever they need—and continue to check in with them.
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Be especially mindful of “anniversaries,” recognizing these times are particularly difficult for survivors and a simple phone call or message can make a world of difference to someone on the edge.
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Think not only in terms of prevention, but also #postvention—suicide begets suicide, and it is especially important that we recognize the contagious nature of suicide in the wake of a suicide and offer support and friendship to those who might be at risk.
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We must invest in mental health & social services in our schools. Instead of devoting time & resources to arming teachers—which will only increase the risk of GV in schools—we should be expanding the availability of mental health services & hiring mental health professionals.
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We should be training teachers to recognize & help address the needs of children dealing w/ trauma, including the traumatic impact of actual gun violence as well as preparedness activities (e.g., active shooter drills), which can also be traumatizing.
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We must also recognize and address the traumatic impact on teachers and faculty, who play a primary role in the health & development of our children, ensuring they too receive needed care & support so they can better serve & protect their students.
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We must end criminalization of mental health & disability. Children & adults w/ mental & developmental disabilities are significantly more likely to be targeted by juvenile/criminal justice systems and victimized by police violence, lethal and non-lethal.
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We should be training police officers in recognizing the signs of mental health conditions/disabilities & employing techniques for de-escalating violence. We should be integrating mental health and social work expertise in police departments and response activities...20/

instead of simply increasing the number of police & further militarizing police departments in response to upticks in violence. We should be investing in #ViolenceInterrupters in our communities who can help break the cycle of community violence.
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We are facing a #NationalMentalHealthCrisis, which is intimately interconnected w/ the #GunViolenceEpidemic.

We must act now.

We must destigmatize mental health, engage in real conversations about mental health, and encourage help-seeking behavior.
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We must ensure all Americans, especially those who have experienced traumatic events like gun violence, have access to quality mental health care & support networks.

We must demand an end to the criminalization of, and violence perpetrated against, people with disabilities.
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We must recognize that violence begets violence.

We must take action to break the cycle of violence that is tearing apart American families and communities every day.
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