In the 1970’s, with the backing of psychologists RD Laing and Thomas Szaz, California led the nation in shutting its mental institutions. Liberals and libertarians agreet: The theory was that those schizophrenic patients needed to be ‘free’ and it was not fair to require meds to keep their demons under control.

California then saved money by putting the mentally ill on the streets where they no longer had modest treatment, safe beds and 3 meals a day — and refusing to fund the ‘alternative’ community mental health facilities. Schizophrenics did not choose to come in for their medications, and often self-medicated with alcohol or heroin. The outcome is denziens of mentally ill homeless, and people (probably like the Virginia Tech shooter) with serious mental illness who cannot be easily hospitalized or treated — even when their behavior is obviously inappropriate or might be dangerous.

Reconsider this policy now, suggests Kellerman. How do we protect peoples’ civil liberties, but provide the dignity of treatment and safe care for people who are seriously mentally ill, and may harm themselves or others.

She said that the murderer who took his life was also part of the communal tragedy, and that his life also had had value. She spoke of the incident, apparently one of many, when the younger Cho was called on to read out loud in class, and when he stood mute, and finally attempted to read, the class hooted with laughter and invired him to return to China, until Cho fled from the room.

It is disturbing, at least to me, to see so many armchair diagnoses of mental pathologies which consciously or not ignore some of the reasons for aberrant behavior.

I am reminded of Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket” and the writings of James Baldwin and Malcolm X.

Yes, there are underlying causes which, in the case of minorities and immigrants who crack, as Cho did, that white America conveniently continues to ignore. Sometimes we truly reap what we sow.

‘Morning, FirePups. Happy Monday! Here’s wishing for a week like last week: multiple resignations by Repugs from committees and at least one more senior administration official on the hot seat.

Woodhall Hollow @
28

I really expect better of Firedoglake.

Then take a role as a responsible advocate and educator here. People cannot be excellent at everything; many of us are excellent in the study of the law, technology, arts, etc., but may have gaps in knowledge about the nature and treatment of mental illness at any given time, depending on the FireDogLake commenters present. Keep in mind this thread and the comments in it were posted on a Sunday night — not exactly an optimum slot for FDL folks who are our experts in the subject matter in question.

My apologies, my criticism was not directed at commentors, as from what I could tell they were simply following htge lead of the post author. And his post shows tremendous ignorance, not only about mental illness, but of psychology in general.

And I don’t see what difference it makes what time of day this was written. I saw it here when I came to read on a Monday morning.

I love what I read here at Firedoglake–and the community of commentators. But this post was so very far off the mark I had to say something.

These disagreeable women just need a good s…ing.

This bullshit is so old and disgusting. Can’t we let it go.

Joel Mael

L.S./M.F.T. @ 124

TRex @ 75

Can we get Maureen Dowd’s mouth sewn shut until after the 2008 elections?

I’m sure out there… Somewhere… There would be one of you… Who’d like… Or…. Rather likes… MoDo, (not Mulder) Likes MoDo enough to er… um… Y’know… Keep her sati… er (ahem)… Keep her … B-U-S-Y???

Willing to… (ahem)… Take one for the… Team??? Until… er… Say… January of 2.. 0…0…9???

I don’t think it’ll…er um er… Hurt THAT… much.

Whaddayasay?

Take it from someone with whom she’s been flirtatious and coquette-ish over drinks — that’s a major ask. Up close, not so pretty.

Could you indulge your misogyny somewhere else?

Joel Mael

It does bear bringing it into the realm of Autism and Asperger’s.
This is complex stuff.

Angryoldbroad, you practically make the case in point that typically these kids are almost Down’s syndrome-like in their kindness — and lack of social agenda (and that your loving home has been a buffer to mitigate your son’s daily harassment).

AS kids can be straightforward in social interactions, while grasping complexities of concepts (think Autistic Savant). Regular people, imho, tend to be the exact opposite, Karl Rove is a good example. Convoluted to the nth degree in social relationships, while aggravatingly ignorant when it comes to understanding the details of the impact of his actions.

It’s a continuum. And we’ve yet to find a balance.

Shorter everyone on the Internet:
Look at what our DoD spending and agenda is doing to everything else (health care, mental health, education, elevation of the absurd)
Shorter Cho: I concur

Kids with Asperger’s have such a hard time as it is,I don’t think it’s wise for any lay person to try to diagnose someone’s mental health issues. Asperger’s is a physical problem too,it doesn’t go away with drugs or therapy or any combo of the two.

Under state law here (may be different from state to state), if a school asks for a diagnosis because of challenges in the classroom, it assumes responsibility for treatment and therapy. Consequently Asperger’s is “ignored” although it can be highly disruptive in a classroom, depending on the severity. Learned this after coaching an afterschool program with an Asperger’s child; more than half my attention was spent on the one child and the other half on the remaining 15 in the program. Very challenging to persons who are not trained in this area; the child was equally disruptive during school, and the school refused to do anything because of the liability and expense. It was compounded by the child’s parents who appeared to believe the behavior was normal…

AAOB, I also didn’t take katymine’s comments as a diagnosis, only as an acknowledgment that Asperger’s would complicate the situation. A child or adult that does not have the physical capacity to interact socially within norm in a school environment where there are many other highly-gifted technically-oriented individuals and a likely higher-than-average incidence of Asperger’s in the population may not be perceived as readily by others as having a problem with mental illness. Note that it was a non-technical instructor who ejected Cho from their class and not technical instructors.

Tell Me How All This Ends—-II