Stop Bashing Trump, Arguing About Guns & Stick To Focusing On Serious Mental Illnesses Distraught Mother Writes

(8-27-19) Dear Mr. Earley,

I am a mother of an almost 18 year-old with a severe mental illness. I read your book and have followed your blog posts for a while now.

It seems that the last few blog posts have been full of disrespect and disdain for our president and anyone who does not see gun control as an answer to a complex problem.

When my daughter, Raven, is psychotic and has homicidal obsessions she is not thinking clearly and will not abide by any law that is on the books. Other times when she is manic, her view is that of being above the law.

It is the job of a gun owner to lock up guns. That’s being a responsible person. Or choose, as we have, to not have guns at all.

If your gun control message is aimed at the mass murderers who are evil and not at serious mental illness (SMI), then that argument should be separate from the disaster that is our mental health care system.

As a fearful mother, I want the focus – your focus — to remain on the much needed services for the most vulnerable population. PLEASE use your platform to be my voice and leave the anti-Trump and gun issues for a separate topic.

Let me explain why I feel so passionately about this by telling you about my daughter and what my husband and I have been through trying to help her.

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Blaming Mental Illness: “It’s a lot easier to focus on us than on the complex social factors that contribute to mass murder in America.”

by Pete Earley

(8-21-19) Dear Pete,

Would you be kind enough to share this edited version of an Op Ed that I published in USA Today?

It calls on policy makers to reject false connections between mass murder and mental health conditions and to take on meaningful gun control legislation, a commitment that the White House is now walking back (see Jonathan Capehart’s passionate piece in the Washington Post.)

My original submission used different language in several places, called for the rejection of discriminatory mental health data bases that advance surveillance based on the unfounded threat we pose and emphasized that:

“it’s a lot easier to focus on us than on the complex social factors that contribute to mass murder in America, the political divide, racism, economic inequality and hopelessness and the lack of political will to pass common sense gun control laws. At the same time, our political leaders in the White House, Congress and State Houses must make it explicitly clear that promising Red Flag’ laws and Extreme Risk Protection Orders are not intended to target any one group like ours, but extend to all and everyone who has access to guns and who is deemed to pose a danger to themselves or others.”

Thank you, Harvey Rosenthal

Don’t Scapegoat, Institutionalize People Like Me After Shootings

By Harvey Rosenthal USA Today Opinion Contributor

I was first diagnosed with bipolar illness more than 40 years ago, after a six-week stay in the psychiatric unit of a Long Island, New York, community hospital. I entered into a personal process of recovery and, five years later, began my life’s work as a ward aide at a New York State Psychiatric Center in Albany and ultimately as an advocate for people like me.

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Advocates Ask 2020 Presidential Candidates To Add Mental Health Reforms To Their Platforms.

by Pete Earley

(8-19-19) Dede Ranahan, an author and mental health advocate whose son, Patrick, died in 2014 because of “our inept, non-existent mental illness system,” has launched a national effort to get 2020 presidential candidates to discuss serious mental illnesses.

Her effort began before recent mass shootings and discussions by President Trump about mental health and violence.

Along with other advocates, parents, authors, and mental health professionals, Ranahan is urging candidates to adopt a five part plan. It already has been submitted to Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, and Tim Ryan.

“It’s not comprehensive,” she said in an email about the plan, “our mental illness system needs much more, but it’s a beginning. We’re asking our 2020 presidential candidates to take our plan, make it their own, and talk in their campaigns about serious mental illnesses. We’re telling them we want to see mental health/illness plans on their campaign websites.”

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John Oliver Explains Why Our Mental Health System Is Broken: Please Watch It!

by Pete Earley

(8-16-19 ) It’s August, which means I will be taking a short, but much needed vacation with my family, and also finishing my new novel, entitled SHAKEDOWN. The comedian and social commentator John Oliver does a tremendous job examining our broken mental health care system in this segment. Take special note of his comments about blaming individuals with mental illnesses for mass shootings. Please take time to watch it. You won’t be disappointed.

Anderson Cooper Questions Me About Mental Illness and Mass Shootings/ A Different View From Dr. E. Fuller Torrey

by Pete Earley

(8-12-19) In this 3 minute video, I explain that one-in-five mass homicides is committed by someone with a diagnosed mental illness. The other four are primarily by angry white men filled with hate. Hate is taught. Hate is promulgated. If we want to stop mass shootings, we need to focus on the 80%, not further the myth that the 46 million Americans with a diagnosed mental illnesses are dangerous.

After appearing on CNN, I received several emails reminding me that while most persons with mental illnesses are not dangerous, a small percentage of the 11 million Americans with serious mental illnesses are more dangerous than the general public if untreated.

This is a point that often is made by Dr. E. Fuller Torrey and the Treatment Advocacy Center. In an Op Ed published in The Wall Street Journal after the shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Dr. Torrey presented a different point of view.

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Hate Is Not A Mental Illness: I Respond in Washington Post Today To President Trump’s Words

by Pete Earley

(8-8-19) I felt compelled to interrupt my vacation and write an Op Ed for The Washington Post about President Trump’s recent comments about mental illness and mass homicides.

No, Mr. President. Hate is not a mental illness.

By Pete Earley

Published in Washington Post 8-8-19

Pete Earley is the parent designate on the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, created by Congress. He is the author of “Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness.”

“Mental illness and hatred pull the trigger, not the gun,” President Trump announced when he condemned shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, which together left at least 31 people dead and dozens wounded.

Mr. President, what you said about hatred rings true. But you are wrong in blaming mental illness.

As the father of an adult son with a mental illness and one of 14 nongovernment experts appointed by your administration to a panel that advises Congress about serious mental illnesses, I’d like to recount some well-established facts.

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Pete Earley

Stop Bashing Trump, Arguing About Guns & Stick To Focusing On Serious Mental Illnesses Distraught Mother Writes

Blaming Mental Illness: “It’s a lot easier to focus on us than on the complex social factors that contribute to mass murder in America.”

Don’t Scapegoat, Institutionalize People Like Me After Shootings

Advocates Ask 2020 Presidential Candidates To Add Mental Health Reforms To Their Platforms.

John Oliver Explains Why Our Mental Health System Is Broken: Please Watch It!

Anderson Cooper Questions Me About Mental Illness and Mass Shootings/ A Different View From Dr. E. Fuller Torrey

Hate Is Not A Mental Illness: I Respond in Washington Post Today To President Trump’s Words

No, Mr. President. Hate is not a mental illness.

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Stop Bashing Trump, Arguing About Guns & Stick To Focusing On Serious Mental Illnesses Distraught Mother Writes

Blaming Mental Illness: “It’s a lot easier to focus on us than on the complex social factors that contribute to mass murder in America.”

Don’t Scapegoat, Institutionalize People Like Me After Shootings

Advocates Ask 2020 Presidential Candidates To Add Mental Health Reforms To Their Platforms.

John Oliver Explains Why Our Mental Health System Is Broken: Please Watch It!

Anderson Cooper Questions Me About Mental Illness and Mass Shootings/ A Different View From Dr. E. Fuller Torrey

Hate Is Not A Mental Illness: I Respond in Washington Post Today To President Trump’s Words

No, Mr. President. Hate is not a mental illness.

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Search the Site

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Testimonials

Press

About Pete Earley

Latest Posts from the Blog

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