Michael Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and a faculty affiliate, Center for School Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry at the University's School of Medicine, suggests steps for policymakers and the public to improve access to treatment in the wake of the Navy Yard shootings. Reports of mental illness in the alleged gunman's recent past make this an urgent public health matter.
Here is an excerpt from Dr. Lindsey's Sept. 17 blog post, "The Tragedy of Unaddressed Mental Illness," to his blog, "Nerve-Us" Breakdown:
"Twelve victims. And the thirteenth fatality—the presumed perpetrator, Aaron Alexis. Unfortunately, the circumstances surrounding the Navy Yard shootings have become commonplace in our society. And, once again we learn the perpetrator had underserved or inadequately treated mental illness.
How can we learn from these tragedies?First, we can become more impassioned about creating better access to treatment, particularly in school- and community-based settings. Studies show that when mental health services are co-located in communities that tend to have an overrepresentation of mental health need, they create better access to treatment, and thus more use of those services.
Second, we need to have more public health campaigns that target messages toward mental illness stigma.
Third, we need to offer stronger support to those who experience mental illness; family members can be vital cogs to ensure that loved ones connect to treatment. They can offer to accompany a loved one with mental illness to treatment. And, they can offer support by being patient and listening to their loved one's concerns or struggles with life.
There is also an interesting gender perspective to this issue. That is, what we tend to see in mental health services research and practice is that men have a tougher time both connecting to and staying in treatment.
Our society imparts an implicit gender bias in terms of what it means for a man to ask for or seek help when he experiences an emotional, psychological struggle. There is a pervasive masculinity ethic suggesting that men are supposed to “tough it out,” or “show no sign of weakness.” Such perceptions counter positive, help-seeking behaviors one might engage in to get connected to mental health treatment.
Such tragedies as the Sept. 16 shootings at the Navy Yard remind me that we have so far to go in terms of how we as a society view and treat mental illness."
Arrangements can be made for Dr. Lindsey to be interviewed in a studio. Here is a link to his bio: http://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/faculty_and_research/bios/lindsey/
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