Mental Health and the tragedy in Tucson, AZ

As our stunned nation moves past the initial shock of the recent tragic events in Tucson, our eyes and hearts are focusing on our country's troubled community mental health systems, and the laws that support them.

In some small way, awareness is now being directed to how our communities address the needs of those of us with serious brain disorders. Understanding, recognizing and addressing mental illness is now firmly planted, at least for the moment, in our collective radar screen.

All issues in mental health law have, as a common denominator, the balance of rights … individual rights versus community rights. The noble purpose of our law is to protect the rights of those with disabilities, while at the same time, recognizing and protecting the needs of the community. It's finding that balance that presents the challenge.

The hyperlinks shown below shed more light on this subject and the surrounding issues. It is our desire to help the tragedy in Tucson to leave something of a positive legacy. A legacy of understanding … and awareness … and action … to help address the needs of our nation's mentally ill, before we read about the next tragedy.