COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON MENTAL HEALTH and MORE

On Orcas Island we have the makings of an opportunity to get at least “something” done on the issue of mental health and therefore improving the safety and well-being of all our citizens both young and old. In late February a citizen’s consensus group of about 35 diverse individuals met to discuss just that. A few wanted only to take the most extreme application of total gun ban possible locally and nationally as well as publicly condemning United States as a violent nation which inflicts and promotes violence, death and destruction on the children and citizens of the world. Fortunately, the sane minds in the group prevailed and the consensus document focused mainly on mental health issues which are the cause of violence in the home, workplace, schools and public places.

Thanks to Margi Doyle of “Orcas Issues,” a series of community monthly meetings hosted by her and Undersheriff Bruce Distler have proven to be a great success. The first meeting in February focused on meeting several of our outstanding local deputies, overall community safety and how law enforcement deals with mental health issues in general here on Orcas Island. The second meeting held this month focused on mental health and included individual, private, County, law enforcement and state involvement with an emphasis on funding. A great cross-section of concerned private citizens, mental health workers, psychiatrists and psychologists, County Council member Rick Hughes, local educators and others brought a great deal of insight to the Q&A discussion.

In evidence was the fact that there are several wonderful organizations and programs currently in place as well as many waiting in the wings to be implemented. The hard struck reality is funding for these organizations and programs (federal, state, county or private) is nowhere near enough. I am truly hopeful that this discussion, when it resumes next month, will focus on some hard-core brainstorming as to what it takes to achieve funding for these wonderful people, their mission and programs.

For those that want the emotional, quick and easy “I feel good because I’ve done something about it” without much effort approach, some sort of gun-control legislation seems to be the answer. As history has proven, gun bans or controls do not reduce violence. In some cases, gun bans increase violence. What truly reduces violence is good mental health. Mentally well-adjusted citizens do not commit violent acts. Dysfunctional citizens commit violent acts with our without guns. Cities, counties and states in our country with the most restrictive gun controls have the highest violence rates. The same with a heavily armed and informed citizenry have the least.

Therefore, where will we have the greatest opportunity to achieve safety and well-being all of our citizens? In the 21^st century, as experienced in the latter half of the 21^st century, the mental health of all our societies is becoming increasingly problematic. Everyday more people are becoming more disconnected, dysfunctional and hopeless in an age of technology and information they cannot possibly keep up with. Regardless of our efforts this gap will no doubt only continue to grow. That thought in mind, is the future hopeless? I think not. The answer is in good mental health focused on realities and not pipedreams.

Pray tell, how will we achieve good mental health in both the individual and community? Well, that is a really good and huge question. Understand without equivocation that it will begin, continue and end with rational thought and not emotionally driven principles. Know within the deepest recesses of your heart and mind that without a large amount of sacrifice and funding from all of us, nothing will be achieved.

Please join the conversation at the next community meeting with Undersheriff Distler and Margi Doyle. Bring a friend, relative or neighbor. Support the mental health of our community financially, publicly and it everywhere you can. If you do, it is a true win-win.