The Mental Health Crisis in America

Before the Pandemic America was gripped with a mental health crisis. Addiction, suicide, violent crimes were on the rise. Mental health was hard to access and almost inexistent in some places. Depression and anxiety were the most reported issues, with poor resources and over burdened and poorly paid mental health workers expected to be magicians with no wand and no trust. 

The situation became alarming as the Pandemic wore on and we are now at a crossroads of addiction, severe mental health and isolation that is leading to urban decay, chaos and fear. There are no resources still, the moneys always promised fall in the pockets of ex-politicians, their buddies and relatives and by the time any resources trickle down to those in need, it is neither sufficient nor effective. Yet the facile ways in which leaders and those politicians (some dare call themselves “activists”) speak of the "need for more mental health" makes it seem as if they have the will and the way, but a shadowy figure is stopping them from showering communities with those much needed resources. It's a farce, a joke and it gives mental health workers a reputation of not working hard or well enough. We are in general, poorly paid, overworked and well-meaning professionals, being pushed around by corrupt institutions who pocket the grants and provide little above minimum wage for highly qualified and often dangerous work. The lack of oversight, the cronyism, the outright corruption seen in many community non profits needs to be addressed, before any change ever takes place. Of course corruption is an equal opportunity vice. The well connected and well spoken, the snake oil peddlers get wealthier and everyone else becomes more desperate. 

No, there will not be any change coming to this country in the mental health landscape. There will be a few more thousand people who will be wealthier, have better homes and bigger cars, who can eat in fine restaurants, and get well trained but unconnected chumps to write their proposals and account or not, for their expenses. 

After all, there are some philanthropists out there who are handing out the billions they got through divorces or deaths, and who think that just handing out money is sufficient. No accountability, just graft. And the poor and the addicted and the mentally ill never reap the benefit of their "generosity".