EDITORIAL

Mental illness and the healthcare debate

Posted

The national debate over the healthcare system always seems to revolve around the same issues: How can it be affordable and accessible for all people? What is the legitimate role of government? What about the problem of skyrocketing premiums for employers?

What seems to be lost in the debate, however, is the important issue of mental illness. It’s unfortunate that the issue seems to be discussed only when a person with a mental illness commits some horrible act, as witnessed in the recent mass shooting in Washington, D.C., or last year’s tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. When mental illness is discussed only in light of these tragedies, it adds to existing stigmas. The truth is that millions of people quietly suffer each day with some form of mental illness.

Mental illness is a painful burden to carry. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately one in four adults in the United States suffers from some form of diagnosable mental disorder, while one in 17 suffer from a more serious form of mental illness.