I'm writing you because I live in your district. I would like to begin a conversation with you about an issue I care very much about.
I'm concerned about the degradation of human rights in mental health. I have grave concerns about the direction that public mental health policy is going. What I am talking to you about is not a theory. I know many people who have encountered the mental health system and come out the worse for it rather than better.
I worry that, as a society, we are again creating "Two Americas." In the 1960s, Dr. King poignantly described two different Americas divided along racial lines. What I now see, increasingly, are Two Americas divided along behavioral health and diagnostic lines.
I am gravely concerned about the growing attitude that fellow citizens are social 'others.' No well society can afford to create a perpetually alienated and hopeless class. These attitudes alone are a great threat to our public health. They could well be perpetuating - if not generating - much of the suffering and violence that all of us so sincerely want to end. Changing them is perhaps the greatest obstacle we face.
I'm concerned about the degradation of human rights in mental health. I have grave concerns about the direction that public mental health policy is going. What I am talking to you about is not a theory. I know many people who have encountered the mental health system and come out the worse for it rather than better.
I worry that, as a society, we are again creating "Two Americas." In the 1960s, Dr. King poignantly described two different Americas divided along racial lines. What I now see, increasingly, are Two Americas divided along behavioral health and diagnostic lines.
I am gravely concerned about the growing attitude that fellow citizens are social 'others.' No well society can afford to create a perpetually alienated and hopeless class. These attitudes alone are a great threat to our public health. They could well be perpetuating - if not generating - much of the suffering and violence that all of us so sincerely want to end. Changing them is perhaps the greatest obstacle we face.
This weekend I am participating in a campaign to call attention to these concerns. There is an article link below that I hope you will make the time to read. It explains what this action is about and why I feel it is important.
I realize that I may be challenging some of your assumptions and beliefs about these issues. I don't expect you to agree with me. I am just asking you to listen. I would also appreciate the opportunity to speak more with you about these issues in person.
With regard,
Your Constituent
Your Constituent
72 Hour Hold for Inalienable Personhood,
https://www.madinamerica.com/2017/09/72-hour-hold-for-inalienable-personhood/
Sarah, as you know, i have been physically and emotionally tortured with deliberation by the mental health system both in Connecticut, esp in Connecticit but also in Vermont, so i applaud this letter to legislators to take part in this 72-hour hold. I forwarded your first letter and i will forward this one.
ReplyDeletePam